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Teaching Electoral Institutions Using In-Class Simulations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 December 2024

Brian Brew Open the ORCID record for Brian Brew [Opens in a new window]
Brian Brew*
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
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Abstract

Understanding how institutions shape outcomes is an important skill for students of American political science. Simulations in which students participate in mock elections structured by real-world institutions can serve as an effective tool to aid students’ learning. This article describes a model for a simulated 2020 Democratic Iowa caucus. Following official procedures, students engage in debates about which candidate to support and ultimately come to a final decision for their simulated precinct. The simulation helps students to understand the institutions that structure Iowa’s caucuses and assists them in forming conclusions about the strengths and weaknesses of those institutions. This simulation was implemented in a course on political parties and elections in the Spring 2023 semester, where it proved to be an enjoyable exercise for students. It was reimplemented in the Spring 2024 semester as one of several simulated presidential nominations, and it proved to be a helpful teaching tool.

Type
Article
Information
PS: Political Science & Politics , Volume 58 , Issue 1 , January 2025 , pp. 163 - 168
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of American Political Science Association

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