Political Science 348

American Elections and Voting

This is a special edition of this course in elections and voting. There will be an enhanced emphasis on the role of the media in politics. In particular, this course will cover the mechanics of how the media can be used to conduct political campaigns. While the primary emphasis of this course is on American elections and voting, there will be a continual discussion of American politics as it compares with politics elsewhere.

There will be three tests and one optional paper. The three tests will all be weighted equally. The optional paper topic will be available on the web. The paper is due in class on the last day of regular class. The dates of the tests are February 24, March 30, and April 27. (Be sure to purchase your airline tickets AFTER you mark these dates on your calendar.) Class attendance is mandatory.

The Honor Code is strictly enforced in this course. No papers can be used or submitted for in-class exams other than those given out by the professor. Any "extra" papers submitted with an exam or found on a desk during an exam are considered an honor code violation. Signature forgeries on attendance are an honor code violation. Plagiarism is an honor code violation.

Disabilities Statement: It is the policy of Emory University to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. All students with special requests or need for accommodations should make this request in person as soon as possible after first visiting the Office of Disabilities.

Required texts:

In Pursuit of the White House 2000 by William G. Mayer (Ed.)

Classics in Voting Behavior by Richard G. Niemi and Herbert F. Weisberg (Eds.)

(The WEEKS listed below are more accurately suggestive of topics to be covered in class. Some topics will stretch into the next week, and some will be shorter. The videos will take place on time however.)

Weeks 1 & 2: Historical overview of elections from a comparative perspective
Readings: Pursuit..., Chapter 1
Classics..., Chapters 1, 28, 30
Video: The Radio Priest: Father Coughlin

Week 3: Party identification
Readings: Pursuit..., Chapter 2
Classics..., Chapters 2, 21-23
Video: Huey Long, Part I

Week 4: Turnout and models of voting
Readings: Pursuit..., Chapter 3
Classics..., Chapters 2-3
Video: Huey Long, Part II

Week 5: The Congressional setting
Readings: Pursuit..., Chapter 4
Classics..., Chapters 15, 17
Video: Roosevelt, Parts I and II

Week 6: Issues and the vote
Readings: Pursuit..., Chapter 5
Classics..., Chapter 9
Video: Kennedy, The Years of Charisma

Week 7: A recent history of issues
Readings: Pursuit..., Chapter 6
Video: The evolution televised news through newsreels

Week 8: Congressional campaigns
Readings: Pursuit..., Chapter 7
Classics..., Chapters 18, 19

Week 9: Presidential campaign financing
Video: Early televised news: Nixon Meets Kruschev in Moscow

Week 10: Realignments
Readings: Pursuit..., Chapter 8
Classics..., Chapters 29, 31
Video: The Thirty Second President

Week 11: Race as an issue.
Readings: Pursuit..., Chapter 9
Classics..., Chapter 12
Video: The Bush and Dukakis debate

Week 12: Ideological and partisan transformation
Readings: Classics..., Chapters 4, 5, 6
Video: The Classics of Political Television Advertising

Week 13: The masses
Readings: Classics..., Chapter 7
Video: Political Television Advertising, Classics of 1986

Week 14: Review

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