From the Course Catalog
Elementary mathematical treatments of voting systems and voting paradoxes; models of escalation, conflict, and deterrence, measures of political power, etc. (Lec. 3 Credits)

In addition this course will explore the following:

• Was the muddled presidential election of 2000 a result of “hanging chads” and “dimpled ballots,” or are there hidden mathematical structures that can cause doubt about an election outcome? Could it happen again? (Depend on it!)
• When is there inherent doubt about “what the voters really want?” Is democracy (in the sense of reflecting the will of the people) even possible?
• How are the irrationality behind both the arms race of the 1980’s and the head-to-head confrontation of the Cuban missile crisis tied together?
• One reasonable calculation suggests that the president has 4% of the power in the United States federal system while another suggests that the president controls 77% of the power. What are these measures and why do they differ so radically?

Although there are no prerequisites for this course beyond college-track high school mathematics, the ideas are interesting and challenging, and students should be prepared to think carefully and precisely. General education requirements at URI now make experience with technology in mathematics mandatory (in this case, experience with symbolic manipulation software).