Learning Objectives

  1. Do some types of institutions in democracies provide better overall representation of and influence for average citizens?
     
  2. How do institutions affect the representation of ethnic, gender, religious, and other groups?
     
  3. Why do people join political parties and participate in other kinds of political activity?
     
  4. How do different electoral and party systems affect political leaders’ behavior?
     
  5. Are there clear patterns of when and where particular party and electoral systems develop?