Click on the icon to open a printer-friendly version of our syllabus (in .PDF format)

This course examines U.S. national elections and political parties.  Topics to be discussed include electoral realignments throughout history, voting for President and Congress, party competition, voter turnout, incumbency advantage, and the electoral foundations of divided party control of government.

The course has several objectives:

1. To introduce students to important literature in the field, developing familiarity with basic theories of party organization, election mechanics, and voting behavior;

2. To apply these concepts to recent electoral strategies in both presidential and congressional campaigns;

3. To assess the current state of American electoral politics by probing deeper questions surrounding electoral systems and policy response, democratic accountability, and collective responsibility for political outcomes.

Our emphasis throughout the semester will be on critical thinking and the development of strong, analytical writing skills. Graded assignments are designed to evaluate your growth in these areas. Assignments are also designed to give you many opportunities, using different skills, to build a strong grade in this course.

1. The bulk of your grade will be determined by two take-home essay examinations. The first will be due on Thursday, March 16, and the second on Tuesday, May 9. Each of these papers will be weighted as 30% of your final grade.

2. Two brief quizzes will be administered in class also, each worth 10% of your final grade. The dates for these quizzes are listed below in the class schedule.

3. Finally, your attendance and active participation is essential to the effectiveness and enjoyment of this class. It will account for the remaining 20% of your grade. Opportunities here are many. Your comments and opinions in class are always encouraged, but you may also improve this area of your grade by talking with me privately during office hours and by sending me your thoughts on the course via e-mail.

For your convenience, the following books may be purchased at the college bookstore.

• William H. Flanigan and Nancy H. Zingale, Political Behavior of the American Electorate, 9^th edition (1998). Washington, DC: CQ Press.

• Anthony Gierzynski, Money Rules: Financing Elections in America (2000). Westview Press.

In addition, a number of additional reading assignments are available on the Internet.  Hyperlinks are available under of this webpage under the heading "Class Schedule."

Please note that this instructor and the Department of Political Science have adopted the following classroom protocol.

1. Students are expected to attend and be prepared for all regularly scheduled classes.  (Attendance will be taken and will count toward your final grade.)

2. Students are expected to arrive on time and stay in class until the class period ends. If a students knows in advance that he or she will need to leave early, he or she must notify the instructor before the class period begins.

3. Students are expected to treat faculty and fellow students with respect. For example, students must not disrupt class by ostentatiously not paying attention or by leaving and reentering the classroom during the class period. Actions which distract the class from the work at hand are not acceptable. It is expected that students will pay respectful attention to comments made by the lecturer and by fellow students.

4. Behavior that departs from these guidelines as well as any additional guidelines specific to the individual course is not acceptable and may be cause for disciplinary action.