Mission

The Political Institutions Working Group in the Department of Political Science at Florida State University includes faculty and graduate students with common interests in the study of political institutions. The group focuses on developing and evaluating theoretical claims concerning the effects of institutions on political outcomes, institutional design, and institutional change. The group takes advantage of the Department of Political Science's commitment to supporting solid theoretical and empirical research, without strict regard to traditional sub-field boundaries. Accordingly, the group supports research in comparative politics, American politics, international relations, and public policy.

Faculty affiliated with the Political Institutions Working Group include: Charles Barrilleaux, William Berry, Sean Ehrlich, Matt Golder, Sona Nadenichek Golder, HeeMin Kim, Cherie Maestas, Mark Souva, Christopher Reenock, and David Siegel.

Areas of research conducted by faculty include:

• The relationship between perceptions and institutional performance
• Agency design and environmental policy
• The role of institutions in democratic consolidation
• The effect of electoral rules on party system size
• Coalition theory and the government formation process
• Judicial politics

Recent publications appear in journals such as the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, British Journal of Political Science, Comparative Political Studies, Comparative Politics, Electoral Studies, Political Analysis, Legislative Studies Quarterly, European Journal of Political Research, European Union Politics.