Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Personality In Politics, Rachael Fix

Honors Program Theses

Personality has always played a big part in politics. It is one of the first things voters take into account when they decide which politician to cast their votes for. While personality may certainly play into what kind of person decides to run for a public office, what about the voters? If personality impacts when candidates decide whether or not to run for office, it could also be that personality influences whom voters decide should take office. Perhaps certain personality traits could even be used as a predictor for whether or not someone will vote for a certain politician or …

Variations In State Higher Education Grant Programs: Potential Reforms From A Case Study, Rachael Johnson

Honors Program Theses

As higher education costs continue to rise across the nation, students are increasingly needing financial assistance. State grant aid programs play a vital role for millions of students across the nation when paying for their postsecondary education. This case study looks specifically at Iowa’s, Nebraska’s, and Wisconsin’s state funded grant aid models to understand how Iowa could restructure their current grant aid program to better serve both the students and taxpayers of the state. Specifically, for Iowa’s grant aid programs, four changes are recommended.

1. All higher education sectors should be eligible for the state’s primary grant aid program.
2. At minimum, …

Money Matters: An Analysis Of Campaign Finance In United States House Of Representatives Elections, 2010-2016, Destiny Leitz

Honors Program Theses

Money in politics is the single largest threat to the democratic system in the United States. It influences everything in politics, from the candidates to the issues debated. Every American knows that running for office requires large amounts of funding, and being elected requires even more. People worry that only the wealthiest voices are being heard; of course, candidates who depend on money from wealthy donors for campaign strength would never support unfavorable policies for their donors. Clearly, money in politics threatens the core democratic principles upon which America was founded. However, few people discuss whether the money really makes …