Below are some of the topics students have written papers about in previous semesters.

• Do the structure of U.S. primary elections affect partisan polarization?
• Why do some U.S. states use the death penalty while others do not?
• Why do some countries in Latin America have more legal protections for indigenous people than others?
• Why do some countries have an official language?
• Why do some Republican Senators support immigration more than others?
• Why do some U.S. states have stricter animal welfare laws than others?
• Why do some cities in the U.S. spend more on public schools than others?
• Why do some countries have more permissive abortion laws while others are more restrictive?
• Why do minority groups in some countries rebel?
• When do female politicians run for higher office?
• What kinds of gun laws lead to more black market gun sales?
• Does the U.S. get political influence from its arms sales?
• When do mass movements mobilize against authoritarian regimes?
• Why do some countries have higher quality public education systems?
• Did leaks of NSA programs damage U.S. foreign relations?
• Does international conflict lead to more sports violence?
• Do social welfare programs in the U.S. influence family structure?
• Does negative campaigning reduce voter turnout?
• Why do countries change their electoral rules?
• What causes terrorism?
• What causes civil wars to start?
• Do European Union membership conditions improve the rule of law in Eastern Europe
• When do large sporting events promote tourism?