| Affiliations: | none |
| Project Leader: | Brenna Armstrong b.armstrong@tamu.edu Political Science |
| Faculty Mentor: | Dr. Brittany Perry, Ph.D. |
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Meeting Times:
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F 4:00-5:00pm |
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Team Size:
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8
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| Open Spots: | 0 |
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Special Opportunities:
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If interest exists, there may be an opportunity to present a poster at the fall Undergraduate Research Expo. There is a possibility that this project will continue and/or similar projects will be offered in future semesters and researchers may be able to become coauthors on the project.
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Team Needs:
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We are seeking 3-8 team members who are enthusiastic women and minority’s representation in politics and/or local government. No coursework requirements necessary! |
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Description:
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It is not enough to simply elect women and minorities to political offices and expect different policy outcomes. Research shows that women and minorities must also be in the right positions. For example, the chairperson of a committee in the Congress rather than a general committee member is positioned to influence the committee agenda. However, most research on political incorporation is at the Federal level, despite most women and minorities being elected to political office at the local government level. In our project, we seek to understand the effects of women and minorities in various elected and appointed positions in city government (mayor, city councilmember, and city manager) on city budget priorities. Team members will collect data on the mayor, city councilmembers, and city managers of cities in the United States with populations over 50,000 (~800 cities) using city websites, local newspapers, and other resources. All meetings and all research can be completed virtually. Through this process, team members will learn about local government structure, public budgeting, women and minorities in politics, and related theories. |