ELECTORAL POLITICS                                                     FALL, 2004

PROFESSOR JOHN MURPHY                     Tu, Th, 10:50am-12:05pm, Sci 111
 

COURSE OUTLINE
 

This course provides an in-depth introduction to the American electoral system and its politics. The legal and political structures and politics of elections, particularly for the national offices of the Presidency and the Congress, will be examined. Additional attention will be given to the analysis of citizen participation and voting behavior trends over recent election cycles. Special attention will be given to impact of the electoral college and the controversies surrounding the 2000 campaign and election and to on-going analysis of the 2004 election cycle.
 

TEXTS:   Flanigan and Zingale,
             Political Behavior of the American Electorate (10th ed.)
               Maisel and Buckley, Parties and Elections in America (2004)
               Polsby and Wildavsky, Presidential Elections (11th ed.)
            Additional assignments will be made from various sources on
              the Internet.

REQUIREMENTS: 2 Quizzes (20%), Mid-term (25%) Oct. 19th,
 Election Report* (25%) due Oct. 24-31, Final exam (30%) Dec. 14th.
All students must have an e-mail address and be able to use the internet for research purposes.

* Each student will assigned to analyze pre- and post-election issues and results.
** Send an e-mail message to me at the adress below
    Subject: Subscribe  Electoral Politics
Be sure to provide your real name in the message.
 

OFFICE HRS

E-Mail: J-Murphy2@neiu.edu;
Webpage: http://www.neiu.edu/~jmurphy/
 

TOPICS                                                             READING ASSIGNMENT
 

Introduction                                                                       None

Elections in a Democratic Society                         Flanigan, Ch. 1
                                                                                                                        U. S. Constitution, passim.

The American Voter: Participation                        Flanigan, Ch. 2,
                                                                                 Polsby, Ch. 1, Appendix B
                                                                                                                         Maisel, Ch. 3

Measuring Voting Behavior                                     Flanigan, Appendix
 

Interpreting Voter Behavior: Partisanship             Flanigan, Ch. 3, 4
                                                                                                                        Maisel, Chs., 1-2

Voter Behavior: Social Forces and  Ideology       Flanigan, Ch. 5, 6
                                                                                Polsby, Ch. 2
                                                                                Maisel, Ch. 4

Presidential Elections: Rules and Resources       Polsby, Ch, 3
                                                                                Maisel, Chs. 5

The Presidential Nomination Process                   Polsby, Ch, 4
                                                                                Maisel, Chs. 8-9

Election Reports                                                    Student Reports/Predictions

The Campaign and the Role of Media                    Flanigan, Ch. 7
                                                                                Maisel, Ch. 10
                                                                                                                        Polsby, Ch. 5

State and Local Races                                           Maisel, Chs. 6-7

2004 Election Results in Perspective                    Flanigan, Ch. 8
                                                                                 Polsby, Ch. 6-7
                                                                                                                        Maisel, Chs. 11-12