Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL3226: Money, Lobbying, and Policymaking

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
In-class simulations2 hours each1-7Oral and global feedback
Participation in computer lab sessions5 x 2 hour1-7Oral and global feedback
Participation in classroom discussion20 x 2 hours1-7Oral feedback

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Strategic memorandum503800 words1-7Written feedback via ELE
Research essay503800 words1-7Written feedback

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Strategic memorandumStrategic memorandum (3800 words)1-7Due upon return if possible; otherwise Aug/Sept assessment period
Research essayResearch essay (3800 words)1-7Due upon return if possible; otherwise Aug/Sept assessment period

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Baumgartner and Leech, Basic Interests

Baumgartner, Berry, Hojnacki, Kimball, and Leech, Lobbying and Policy Change

Berry and Wilcox, The Interest Group Society

E. E. Schattschneider, The Semisovereign People: A Realist's View of Democracy in America

Frank J. Sorauf, Inside Campaign Finance

Larry Sabato, PAC Power

Panagopoulos and Schank, All Roads Lead to Congress

Robert M. Alexander, The Classics of Interest Group Behavior

Wolpe and Levine, Lobbying Congress

Amy McKay, “Buying Policy? The Effects of Lobbyists’ Resources on their Policy Success.” Political Research Quarterly Austen-Smith and Wright, “Counteractive Lobbying.” American Political Science Review

Chin, Bond, and Geva. “A foot in the door: An experimental study of PAC and constituency effects on access.”  Journal of Politics

David Lowery. “Why Do Organized Interests Lobby? A Multi-Goal, Multi-Context Theory of Lobbying.” Polity

Denzau and Munger, “How Unorganized Interests Get Represented.”  American Political Science Review

Hall and Wayman, “Buying Time: Moneyed Interests and the Mobilization of Bias in Congressional Committees.” American Political Science Review

Jennifer Nicoll Victor, “Strategic Lobbying.” American Politics Research