Assess students' ability to analyze how electoral system design influenced democratic backsliding in Eastern Europe from 2004–2020; quiz items will require comparative evaluation of electoral rules (PR, majoritarian, mixed), thresholds, districting and legal reforms; interpretation of empirical indicators (V‑Dem, Freedom House, election results); causal inference across cases (e.g., Hungary, Poland, Romania), identification of mediating institutions, and formulation of evidence‑based remedies.