Investigating Democracy RAP

This RAP offers a group of 30 first-year students an opportunity to gain knowledge, explore perspectives and debate questions such as:

• What is Democracy?
• Is Democracy appropriate for everywhere?
• Why don't all people vote?
• How does Democracy compare to other forms of government? 

When you join this RAP you will...

• Enroll in a small section of Introduction to Political Theory (POL SCI 171)* (rather than the 75 student lecture on main campus).
• Share your living-and-learning experience with other curious and committed students interested in democracy and political theory.
• Make connections with Political Science departmental representative and determine if you are interested in a major or minor related to politics.
• Discover a variety of ways to 'be involved' in politics regardless of your academic area of study.

Students will explore the basic principles and policies of democracy:

• All members of the society (citizens) have equal access to power
• All members (citizens) enjoy universally recognized freedoms and liberties
• Government by the people
• Rule of the majority
• A government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections

These and other exciting conversations will begin in class and since the students will be living together, they will have the opportunity to continue discussing and debating with friends when class is over.

Whether you're a newcomer to political theory and simply want to learn more about how the democratic system works, or have been studying and debating in high school, this RAP could be for you!

Investigating Democracy RAP is intended for students declared in any major or undeclared.

Be sure to visit the How to Join page on this website to learn about the process and important timelines you must follow to become a member of this fantastic program!