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Course Question & Answer
Readings
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1.1 Reading: eJournal USA: Eric Bjornlund: “More Than Elections” and Valerie Bunce: “Ingredients of a Resilient Democracy”
Links: eJournal USA: Eric Bjornlund: “More Than Elections” (PDF) and Valerie Bunce: “Ingredients of a Resilient Democracy” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click the “View PDF” link and then read pages 4–9, which are two short articles that discuss how democracies transfer power in accord with the will of the people, expressed through free and fair elections.
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1.1.1 Reading: U.S. Department of State: Bureau of International Information Programs’ “What Is Democracy? Elections”
Link: U.S. Department of State: Bureau of International Information Programs’ “What Is Democracy? Elections” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this article. The author discusses the role of elections as the central institutions of democratic representative governments. Government “by the people” (democracy) necessitates a mechanism for free and fair elections.
This reading should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
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1.1.1 Reading: eJournal USA: Eric Bjornlund's: “More Than Elections” and Valerie Bunce's: “Ingredients of a Resilient Democracy”
Links: eJournal USA: Eric Bjornlund's: “More Than Elections” (PDF) and Valerie Bunce's: “Ingredients of a Resilient Democracy” (PDF)
Instructions: Please on the link above, then select the “View PDF” link, and then read pages 4–9 of the document, which covers two short articles that discuss how democracies transfer power in accord with the will of the people, expressed through free and fair elections.
These readings and note-taking should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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1.1.1 Reading: Time Magazine: Jackson Dykman and Sean Gregory's: “10 Elections That Changed America”
Link: Time Magazine: Jackson Dykman and Sean Gregory's: “10 Elections That Changed America” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage, ensuring to click the “Next” button to read about each election. How do you think the 2008 presidential election holds up to other historical elections?
This reading and question should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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1.1.2 Reading: Colonial Williamsburg: Ed Crews' : “Voting in Early America”
Link: Colonial Williamsburg: Ed Crews' : “Voting in Early America” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage, which discusses how the early colonial settlers set up the first system of voting and representation.
Reading and note-taking should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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1.1.2 Reading: The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History: Steven Mintz's: “Winning the Vote: A History of Voting Rights”
Link: The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History: Steven Mintz's: ““Winning the Vote: A History of Voting Rights” (HTML)
Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage, ensuring to click “Continue” to read all three pages to learn how voting rights in the United States became (virtually) universal. Why did this country’s founders initially restrict voting rights to only propertied white men?
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1.2.1 Reading: Constituting America: Dr. Kyle Scott's: “Federalist No. 59 – Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members, From the New York Packet (Hamilton)”
Link: Constituting America: Dr. Kyle Scott's: “Federalist No. 59 – Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members, From the New York Packet (Hamilton)” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 essays from 1787 and 1788 that promote the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. What was the rationale behind the Founding Fathers’ decision to cede most of the power of governing elections to the states?
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 25-30 minutes to complete.
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1.2.2 Reading: Mount Holyoke College: Dr. Douglas J. Amy's: “What Are Voting Systems and Why Are They Important?”
Link: Mount Holyoke College: Dr. Douglas J. Amy's: “What Are Voting Systems and Why Are They Important?” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage, which explains the two types of voting systems most utilized in Western democracies. How does a plurality voting system (used in the U.S.) differ from a proportional one (used mostly throughout Europe)?
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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1.2.2 Reading: Encyclopedia Britannica's: “Primary Elections”
Link: Encyclopedia Britannica's: “Primary Elections” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage to learn about what primary elections are and how they function.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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1.3.1.1 Reading: Pearson Education: Magruder’s American Government Foundations: “Section 4: Presidential Nominations”
Link: Pearson Education: Magruder’s American Government Foundations: “Section 4: Presidential Nominations” (PDF)
Instructions: Please scroll down to “Section 4: Presidential Nominations,” then click the PDF link, and read this entire PDF. Running for president is a long, grueling, and expensive process—from forming an exploratory committee to election day. As a result, most candidates drop out early in the race. Why do you think the presidential nominating system is set up this way? It is beneficial for the candidates and the voters? Why, or why not?
Reading and answering these questions should take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
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1.3.2 Reading: America.gov: L. Sandy Maisel's: “Congressional Elections”
Link: America.gov: L. Sandy Maisel's: “Congressional Elections” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read this entire webpage, which discusses the unique aspects of congressional elections in the United States.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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1.3.2 Reading: College of William & Mary School of Law: Election Law Program: Elizabeth Birch's: Election Law Manual: “State Regulation of Voters” and “Election Administration”
Links: College of William & Mary School of Law: Election Law Program: Elizabeth Birch's: Election Law Manual: “State Regulation of Voters” (PDF) and “Election Administration” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click the “Chapter 5” and “Chapter 6” links and then read these entire PDFs (36 pages total). Because states govern most elections, it is important to understand how they administer and regulate them. State election law is by no means uniform across the country; however, there are some similarities (i.e., age, residency requirements).
These readings should take approximately 2 hours to complete.
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1.4.1 Reading: Brennan Center for Justice: Justin Levitt and Erika Wood's: “A Citizen’s Guide to Redistricting, 2010 Edition”
Link: Brennan Center for Justice: Justin Levitt and Erika Wood's: “A Citizen’s Guide to Redistricting, 2010 Edition” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, then select the “Download Guide” link, and then read pages 1–71 to learn about redistricting—what it is, how it works, and why it matters. Unlike in many countries, the redistricting process in the United States is viewed as overtly and acceptably political. Why do you think this is the case?
Reading and answering these questions should take approximately 4 hours to complete.
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1.4.2 Reading: Drury University: Maraleen D. Shields' : “Racial Gerrymandering: Enfranchisement or Political Apartheid?”
Link: Drury University: Maraleen D. Shields' : “Racial Gerrymandering: Enfranchisement or Political Apartheid?” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. What is the strongest argument Shields provides as to the pros or cons of racial gerrymandering?
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete.
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2.1.1 Reading: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press: “Who Votes, Who Doesn’t, and Why”
Link: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press: “Who Votes, Who Doesn’t, and Why” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read this entire webpage.
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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2.1.1 Reading: Brookings Institution Press: J. Celeste Jay, James Gimpel, and Jason Schuknecht's: Cultivating Democracy: Civic Environments and Political Socialization in America: “Becoming Political: Local Environments and Political Socialization”
Link: Brookings Institution Press: J. Celeste Jay, James Gimpel, and Jason Schuknecht's: Cultivating Democracy: Civic Environments and Political Socialization in America: “Becoming Political: Local Environments and Political Socialization” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, then select the “Sample Chapter” link, and then read this entire PDF (43 pages). While reading this chapter, think about how your own experiences have informed your political values and preferences.
This reading should take approximately 2 hours to complete.
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2.1.2 Reading: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Bill Steigerwald's: “Why We Vote the Way We Do”
Link: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Bill Steigerwald's: “Why We Vote the Way We Do” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
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2.2.1 Reading: Indiana University: Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis: Nichole Bauer's: “Sticking with It: How Loyalty Explains Political Party Identification”
Link: Indiana University: Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis: Nichole Bauer's: “Sticking with It: How Loyalty Explains Political Party Identification” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click the Bauer link under “Spring 2010,” and then read this entire PDF. Compared to other factors, why is party identification such a strong predictor of how a person votes?
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 1 hour to complete.
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2.2.1 Reading: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press: “Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology”
Link: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press: “Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage about the increasing diversity of political ideologies among American people.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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2.2.2 Reading: Quarterly Journal of Political Science: Larry M. Bartels' “What’s the Matter with What’s the Matter with Kansas?”
Link: Quarterly Journal of Political Science: Larry M. Bartels' “What’s the Matter with What’s the Matter with Kansas?” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to the reading titled “What’s the Matter with What’s the Matter with Kansas?” APSA 2005 (the second Bartels reading), and then read this entire PDF (43 pages). The central argument of this article is that the Republican party has forged a political coalition of working-class white voters who continue to support the party although it means voting against their own economic self-interest. What flaws of this theory does Bartels point out in his critique?
Reading and answering this question should take approximately 2 hours to complete.
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2.3 Reading: American University: Robert Stein, Jan Leighley, and Christopher Owens' : “Who Votes, Who Doesn’t, Why and, What Can Be Done?”
Link: American University: Robert Stein, Jan Leighley, and Christopher Owens' : “Who Votes, Who Doesn’t, Why and, What Can Be Done?” (PDF)
Instructions: At the above webpage, click on the link to the PDF titled “Who Votes, Who Doesn’t, Why, and What Can Be Done?” Please read the report in its entirety (15 pages).
This reading should take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
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2.3.1 Reading: Fair Vote: The Center for Voting and Democracy: “Voter Turnout”
Link: Fair Vote: The Center for Voting and Democracy: “Voter Turnout” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read this entire webpage. Why is voter turnout in presidential elections significantly higher than in midterm elections?
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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2.3.1 Reading: Information Please: “National Voter Turnout in Federal Elections: 1960–2008”
Link: Information Please: “National Voter Turnout in Federal Elections: 1960–2008” (HTML)
Instructions: Please view this chart, which provides historical voting data, including age of voting population, voter registration, and turnout. The largest voter turnouts (above 60%) for presidential elections all occurred in the 1960s. Why do you think this was the case?
You should spend approximately 15 minutes studying this resource and answering the question above.
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2.3.1 Reading: University of Michigan: Michael McDonald and Sam Popkin's: “The Myth of the Vanishing Voter”
Link: University of Michigan: Michael McDonald and Sam Popkin's: “The Myth of the Vanishing Voter” (PDF).
Instructions: At the above webpage, click on the first link to “The Myth of the Vanishing Voter.” Please read the paper in its entirety (46 pages). According to the authors, why does it appear as if voting turnout has declined so dramatically in recent years? Is this apparent trend a real trend or a statistical artifact?
Reading and answering the questions above should take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete.
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2.3.1 Reading: Nonprofit VOTE: George Pillsbury and Julian Johannesen: “America Goes to the Polls 2010: A Report on Voter Turnout in the 2010 Election”
Link: Nonprofit VOTE: George Pillsbury and Julian Johannesen: “America Goes to the Polls 2010: A Report on Voter Turnout in the 2010 Election” (PDF)
Instructions: Go to the above webpage and click on “Download the PDF” at the bottom of the report’s summary to access the PDF of the report. Read it in its entirety (21 pages). In your opinion, which results were most surprising about voting trends in the 2010 midterm election?
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2.3.2 Reading: The Pew Center on the States: “Demand for Democracy”
Link: The Pew Center on the States: “Demand for Democracy” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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2.3.2 Reading: ThePolity.net: David Hill's: “Age, Race, Ethnicity, and Electoral Competition in the 2008 Election”
Link: ThePolity.net: David Hill's: “Age, Race, Ethnicity, and Electoral Competition in the 2008 Election” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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2.4.2 Reading: Brennan Center for Justice: Erika Wood's: “Restoring the Right to Vote”
Link: Brennan Center for Justice: Erika Wood's: “Restoring the Right to Vote” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the “Click Here to Download PDF of Publication” link, and then read this entire PDF (36 pages) about felony disenfranchisement in the United States. Is prohibiting ex-felons from voting a good idea? Why, or why not?
Reading and answering the questions above should take approximately 2 hours to complete.
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3.1.1 Reading: Boston Review: Stephen Ansolabehere's: “Run for Office”
Link: Boston Review: Stephen Ansolabehere's: “Run for Office” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, read the article in its entirety, and examine the graph at the bottom of the page as well.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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3.1.1 Reading: Slate.com: Jack Shafer's: “When Journalists Repackage Themselves as Politicians”
Link: Slate.com: Jack Shafer's: “When Journalists Repackage Themselves as Politicians” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage, which seeks to explain why reporters and journalists often run for political office.
This reading and note-taking should take approximately 1 hour to complete.
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3.1.2 Reading: Boston College: Third World Law Journal: Jason P. Conti's: “The Forgotten Few: Campaign Finance Reform and Its Impact on Minority and Female Candidates”
Link: Boston College: Third World Law Journal: Jason P. Conti's: “The Forgotten Few: Campaign Finance Reform and Its Impact on Minority and Female Candidates” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click the “Download” link and then read this entire PDF (65 pages). Conti notes the inadequate diversity of representation in elective office and offers a unique perspective on the adverse effects of campaign finance reform on women and minority candidates.
This reading should take approximately 3 hours to complete.
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3.1.2 Reading: Real Clear Politics: Jack Kelly's: “The Rise of Black Republicans”
Link: Real Clear Politics: Jack Kelly's: “The Rise of Black Republicans” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
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3.1.2 Reading: Washington Post: Perry Bacon Jr.'s: “Black Politicians Gaining Little Capital after Obama’s Election”
Link: Washington Post: Perry Bacon Jr.'s: “Black Politicians Gaining Little Capital after Obama’s Election” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. Note that even though the details of the article might be somewhat outdated, the general theme—that the election of Barak Obama has not, by itself, made it much easier for Black politicians to win elections—remains true today.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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3.2.1 Reading: Doc-txt: Jody Baumgartner’s “Competition in Congressional Elections: A Thing of the Past?”
Link: Doc-txt: Jody Baumgartner’s “Competition in Congressional Elections: A Thing of the Past?” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and then select the hyperlink for the title “Competition in Congressional Elections: A Thing of the Past?” Please read it in its entirety (5 pages). How is the system set up so that challengers so often fail in unseating an incumbent? Is incumbency a major disincentive for people wanting to run for office?
Reading and answering these questions should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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3.2.2 Reading: Center for Responsive Politics: “Incumbent Advantage” and “Reelection Rates Over the Years”
Links: Center for Responsive Politics: “Incumbent Advantage” (HTML) and “Reelection Rates over the Years” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the links above, and read these entire webpages, which offer charts on the financial advantages enjoyed by incumbents and charts on the historic re-election trends for members of Congress, respectively.
These readings should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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3.3.1 Reading: CompleteCampaigns.com: Christopher Cotty's: “So You Want to Run for Office?”
Link: CompleteCampaigns.com: Christopher Cotty's: “So You Want to Run for Office?” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage, which offers a primer for people interested in running for office and the necessary steps to take.
This reading should take approximately 1 hour to complete.
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3.3.1 Reading: Center for American Women and Politics: Department of Political Science: Rutgers University: Center for American Women and Politics: Susan J. Carroll and Kira Sanbonmatsu's: “Gender and the Decision to Run for the State Legislature”
Link: Rutgers University: Center for American Women and Politics: Department of Political Science: Susan J. Carroll and Kira Sanbonmatsu's: “Gender and the Decision to Run for the State Legislature” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, then select the link for this paper, and then read this entire PDF (23 pages). What are the factors that women consider when running for office, and how do they differ from men?
Reading and answering this question should take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete.
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3.3.3 Reading: Roper Center: “Fundamentals of Polling”
Link: Roper Center: “Fundamentals of Polling” (HTML)
Instructions: At the above page, there are links to five sections (Introduction, Sampling, Total Survey Error, Reading Tables, and Glossary of Terminology). Please click on each, and read the accompanying text in its entirety.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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3.3.3.1 Reading: Carleton College: Steven E. Schier's: “Aiming a Rifle and Missing Millions: Campaign Polling in Contemporary Politics”
Link: Carleton College: Steven E. Schier's: “Aiming a Rifle and Missing Millions: Campaign Polling in Contemporary Politics” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to find the link to this paper, and then read this entire PDF (21 pages). What are Schier’s main criticisms of campaign polling?
Reading and answering this question should take approximately 1 hour to complete.
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3.3.3.2 Reading: Roll Call: Paul Singer's: “Opposition Research: For Campaigns of All Sizes”
Link: Roll Call: Paul Singer's: “Opposition Research: For Campaigns of All Sizes” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage on how opposition research is used as a campaign strategy. Consider why opposition research has become such an integral part of contemporary campaigns.
This reading and the prompt above for consideration should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
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3.3.3.3 Reading: CBS News: Kathy Frankovic's: “The Truth about Push Polls”
Link: CBS News: Kathy Frankovic's: “The Truth about Push Polls” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. What are the ethical issues surrounding push polls?
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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3.3.4 Reading: Brookings Institution Press: James A. Thurber and Candice J. Nelson's: Campaign Warriors: Political Consultants in Elections: “Introduction to the Study of Campaign Consultants”
Link: Brookings Institution Press: James A. Thurber and Candice J. Nelson's: Campaign Warriors: Political Consultants in Elections: “Introduction to the Study of Campaign Consultants” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, then select the “Sample Chapter” link, and then read this entire PDF (9 pages) on the professionalization of campaign politics and how it has changed modern elections.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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3.3.4 Reading: Harvard Law & Policy Review: Ellen Zeng's: “Are Campaign Consultants Valuable?”
Link: Harvard Law & Policy Review: Ellen Zeng's: “Are Campaign Consultants Valuable?” (PDF)
Instructions: Please go to the above website and click on the link “click here to read more” to be directed to the PDF of the essay. Read the entire essay (16 pages). Do you think these consultants are worth the high fees that they command? Why, or why not?
Reading and answering the questions above should take approximately 1 hour to complete.
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3.4.2 Reading: Answers.com: Robert E. Mutch’s “Campaign Financing and Resources”
Link: Answers.com: Robert E. Mutch’s “Campaign Financing and Resources” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. How have the sources of campaign funds evolved since colonial times?
Reading and answering this question should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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3.4.2 Reading: Center for Responsive Politics: Lauren Hepler's: “Self-Funded Candidates Experiencing Spotty Success in 2010”
Link: Center for Responsive Politics: Lauren Hepler's: “Self-Funded Candidates Experiencing Spotty Success in 2010” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage, which discusses the political success (or lack thereof) of candidates who self-finance their election. In your opinion, what factors would compel a candidate to spend millions of his or her own money to mount a political campaign?
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 1 hour to complete.
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3.4.2 Reading: Center for Responsive Politics: “Banking on Becoming President”
Link: Center for Responsive Politics: “Banking on Becoming President” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link for each 2008 presidential candidate’s name to view his or her individual sources of campaign funding during the election.
You should dedicate approximately 25-30 minutes to studying this resource.
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3.4.2 Reading: TheAtlantic.com's Wendy Kaminer's: “The New York Times’ Disingenuous Campaign against Citizens United”
Link: TheAtlantic.com’s Wendy Kaminer’s “The New York Times’ Disingenuous Campaign against Citizens United” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the entire article. Pay attention to the author’s argument regarding the causes of high spending in recent elections.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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3.4.2 Reading: USA Today: Fredreka Schouten et al.’s “Individuals, Not Corporations, Drive Super PAC Financing”
Link: USA Today: Fredreka Schouten et al.’s “Individuals, Not Corporations, Drive Super PAC Financing” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scan the table, and read the entire article.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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3.4.3 Reading: The Pew Charitable Trusts: “The Campaign Finance Guide”
Link: The Pew Charitable Trusts: “The Campaign Finance Guide” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the PDF link after “View full report,” and then read pages 1–47 of this report. This guide offers a practical explanation of campaign finance laws that govern how money can be raised and spent in federal elections. It provides a broad overview of the federal laws governing political actors and their activities.
This reading should take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete.
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4.1.1 Reading: Living the Dream: “Studying the Founders Series: The Evolution of Political Parties”
Link: Living the Dream: “Studying the Founders Series: The Evolution of Political Parties” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. Note that even though the webpage indicates that the reading consists of a six-part series, the entire text is available at the above URL. When reading this article, think about why the founding fathers were fearful of political parties and how they were able to flourish in early America despite this opposition.
Reading and note-taking should take approximately 2 hours to complete.
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4.1.1 Reading: Net Places: “Political Parties”
Link: Net Places: “Political Parties” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click all six links at the top of the page, and then read these entire webpages, which will provide you with a good primer in understanding the important roles that parties play in American electoral politics.
This reading should take approximately 2 hours to complete.
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4.1.2 Reading: National Journal: Josh Kraushaar's: “Democrats’ Diversity Problem”
Link: National Journal: Josh Kraushaar's: “Democrats’ Diversity Problem” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
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4.1.2 Reading: Mother Jones: David Corn's: “The Hardest Job in Washington”
Link: Mother Jones: David Corn's: “The Hardest Job in Washington” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. This article profiles Jon Vogel, the executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee—the fundraising arm of Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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4.1.2 Reading: Roll Call: Politics: Jessica Brady's: “Groups Seek 2012 Repeat of ‘Year of the Woman’”
Link: Roll Call: Politics: Jessica Brady's: “Groups Seek 2012 Repeat of ‘Year of the Woman’” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. Consider the political and policy factors that have enabled women, in certain years, to increase their numbers in Congress.
Reading and answering the prompt above for consideration should take approximately 30 minute to complete.
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4.2.1 Reading: Sparknotes: “Interest Groups”
Link: Sparknotes: “Interest Groups” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read the overview as well as all five subtopics under “Interest Groups.” Thousands of interest groups exist in the United States. Although they vary in size, ideology, purpose, and strategies, they all have the same goal: to influence government in a way that is beneficial to their membership.
This reading should take approximately 1 hour to complete.
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4.2.2 Reading: USA Today: Frederka Schouten's: “Incumbents Attract Late Primary Donations from Special Interest Groups”
Link: USA Today: Frederka Schouten's: “Incumbents Attract Late Primary Donations from Special Interest Groups” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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4.2.2 Reading: Politics Daily: Sandra Fish's: “Interest Group Spending on Campaigns Setting Records in 2010”
Link: Politics Daily: Politics Daily: Sandra Fish's: “Interest Group Spending on Campaigns Setting Records in 2010” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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4.2.2 Reading: Democracy in Action’s “Active at Every Stage”
Link: Democracy in Action’s “Active at Every Stage” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the entire article on how organized interests and well-organized individuals endeavor to shape 2012’s election-year debate.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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4.2.3 Reading: Northwestern University School of Law: Lauren Daniel's: “527s in a Post-Swift Boat Era: The Current and Future Role of Issue Advocacy Groups in Presidential Elections”
Link: Northwestern University School of Law: Lauren Daniel’s “527s in a Post-Swift Boat Era: The Current and Future Role of Issue Advocacy Groups in Presidential Elections” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select “Download” to access the PDF file, and read this entire document (35 pages). This report begins with a summary of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a 527 group that many believe cost Senator John Kerry the 2004 presidential election. While this group became the most well-known 527, hundreds of these groups formed as a consequence of campaign finance reform. Why do you think this happened?
Reading and answer the question above should take approximately 2 hours to complete.
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5.1.1 Reading: Shmoop.com: “Ideology in History of American Journalism”
Link: Shmoop.com: “Ideology in History of American Journalism” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 1 hour to complete.
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5.1.1 Reading: Princeton University: Center for the Study of Democratic Politics: Mel Laracey's: “The Presidential Newspaper as an Institution of Early American Political Development: The Case of Thomas Jefferson and the Election of 1800”
Link: Princeton University: Center for the Study of Democratic Politics: Mel Laracey's: “The Presidential Newspaper as an Institution of Early American Political Development: The Case of Thomas Jefferson and the Election of 1800” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the title to access the PDF, and then read this entire PDF (42 pages). This report offers an illuminating case study on the critical role of political newspapers in the early 19th century.
This reading should take approximately 2 hours to complete.
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5.1.2 Reading: American Journalism Review: Tim Porter's: “What’s the Point?”
Link: American Journalism Review: Tim Porter's: “What’s the Point?” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. Has a newspaper’s endorsement of a candidate ever swayed how you felt about a particular candidate? Do you think these endorsements have any effect on a voter’s decision-making process?
Reading and answering the questions above should take approximately 1 hour to complete.
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5.2.1.1 Reading: Museum of the Moving Image: “The Living Room Candidate”
Link: Museum of the Moving Image: “The Living Room Candidate” (Adobe Flash)
Instructions: The Living Room Candidate is an innovative online exhibition presenting more than 250 television commercials from every presidential campaign since 1952. Read the “Introduction” on this page, browse this website, and view some of the ads. Select two ads from either 1952 or 1956 and two ads from 1980 or later. What differences do you notice in the production choices, style, and overall effect of the commercials? What do these changes suggest about how the medium itself has evolved?
You should dedicate approximately 15-20 minutes to studying this resource and answering the questions above.
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5.2.1.1 Reading: Time Magazine: Amy Sullivan’s “Truth in Advertising? Not for Political Ads”
Link: Time Magazine: Amy Sullivan’s “Truth in Advertising? Not for Political Ads” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read this entire webpage, and then consider how First Amendment issues can complicate the enforcement of false political advertising.
Reading and answering the prompt above should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
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5.2.2 Reading: ThisNation.com: “Do Negative Campaign Ads Work?”
Link: ThisNation.com: “Do Negative Campaign Ads Work?” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
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5.3.1 Reading: Nieman Reports: Shanto Iyengar, William F. Woo, and Jennifer McGrady's: “Looking Behind the Scenes of Political Coverage”
Link:Nieman Reports: Shanto Iyengar, William F. Woo, and Jennifer McGrady's: “Looking Behind the Scenes of Political Coverage” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. This article compares and contrasts national presidential press coverage with local reporting on congressional races and discovers some surprising findings.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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5.3.1 Reading: The Lear Center Local News Archive: Martin Kaplan's: “Local TV News Coverage of Politics and the Public Interest Obligations of Broadcasters”
Link: The Lear Center Local News Archive: Martin Kaplan's: “Local TV News Coverage of Politics and the Public Interest Obligations of Broadcasters” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, then select the link for this report, and then read this entire PDF (3 pages). Martin Kaplan, associate dean at the USC Annenberg School for Communication, testified before the Senate Commerce Committee on the responsibilities of broadcasters to cover relevant political issues.
This reading should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
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5.3.2 Reading: Harvard University: John F. Kennedy School of Government: Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy: John Geer's: “Fanning the Flames: The News Media’s Role in the Rise of Negativity in Presidential Campaigns”
Link: Harvard University: John F. Kennedy School of Government: Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy: John Geer's: “Fanning the Flames: The News Media’s Role in the Rise of Negativity in Presidential Campaigns” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the link to the title after the author’s name, and then read this entire PDF (22 pages). According to Geer, how has the news media been complicit in negative reporting? What are their motivations for doing this?
Reading and answering the questions above should take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete.
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5.3.2 Reading: Boston Globe: Craig Fehrman's: “The Incredible Shrinking Sound Bite”
Link: Boston Globe: Craig Fehrman's: “The Incredible Shrinking Sound Bite” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. Make sure to click on “next” at the bottom of the first page to continue to all 3 pages of the article.
This reading should take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
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5.3.3 Reading: Boston College: Christopher D. Stanley's: “24-Hour Cable News: The Mainstreaming of Politicization”
Link: Boston College: Christopher D. Stanley's: “24-Hour Cable News: The Mainstreaming of Politicization” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the “Read Online” link, and then read pages 1–31 and 45–88. Stanley contends that 24-hour cable news has not only helped to shape political debate in recent years but has also served to intensify voter partisanship. Do you agree with his assessment?
Reading and answering the questions above should take approximately 4 hours to complete.
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5.3.4 Reading: Slate.com: Jack Shafer's: “In Praise of Horse-Race Coverage”
Link: Slate.com: Jack Shafer's: “In Praise of Horse-Race Coverage” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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5.3.4 Reading: Harvard University: John F. Kennedy School of Government: Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy: Robin Sproul's: “Exit Polls: Better or Worse Since the 2000 Election?”
Link: Harvard University: John F. Kennedy School of Government: Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy: Robin Sproul's: “Exit Polls: Better or Worse Since the 2000 Election?” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the link to the title after the author’s name, and then read this entire PDF (41 pages). What are Sproul’s primary criticisms about exit polling?
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 2 hours to complete.
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5.4.1 Reading: United Diversity: Matthew Scott Hindman's: Voice, Equality, and the Internet: “The Lessons of Howard Dean”
Link: United Diversity: Matthew Scott Hindman's: Voice, Equality, and the Internet: “The Lessons of Howard Dean” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the “voice_equality_and_the_internet.pdf” link (second from the bottom), and then read pages 17–29.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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5.4.1 Reading: Time: Karen Tumulty's: “Obama’s Viral Marketing Campaign”
Link: Time: Karen Tumulty's: “Obama’s Viral Marketing Campaign” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage, ensuring to click the arrow to read the second page.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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5.4.1 Reading: Pew Internet & American Life Project: “The Internet and Campaign 2010”
Link: Pew Internet & American Life Project: “The Internet and Campaign 2010” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the “Download Report PDF” link, and then read this entire PDF (39 pages).
This reading should take approximately 2 hours to complete.
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5.4.2 Reading: Brookings Institution: Darrell West's: “Ten Ways Social Media Can Improve Campaign Engagement and Reinvigorate American Democracy”
Link: Brookings Institution: Darrell West's: “Ten Ways Social Media Can Improve Campaign Engagement and Reinvigorate American Democracy” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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6.1.1 Reading: The University of Vermont: David R. Mayhew's: Electoral Realignments: A Critique of an American Genre: “The Realignment Perspective”
Link: The University of Vermont: David R. Mayhew's: Electoral Realignments: A Critique of an American Genre: “The Realignment Perspective” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the “mayhew.pdf” link, and then read this entire PDF (20 pages). Based on your understanding of the reading, do you believe that the 2008 presidential election fits the definition of “realignment?”
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 1 hour to complete.
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6.1.2 Reading: Liberty University: Steven Alan Samson's: “Electoral Realignment”
Link: Liberty University: Steven Alan Samson's: “Electoral Realignment” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the “Download” link, and then read this entire PDF (8 pages).
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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6.1.2 Reading: Florin Fesnic's: “Election Types”
Link: Florin Fesnic's: “Election Types” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the link to this reading on the webpage, and then read this entire PDF (3 pages).
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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6.1.3 Reading: New America Foundation: Peter Levine, Constance Flanagan, and Les Gallay's: “The Millennial Pendulum: A New Generation of Voters and the Prospects for a Political Realignment”
Link: New America Foundation: Peter Levine, Constance Flanagan, and Les Gallay's: “The Millennial Pendulum: A New Generation of Voters and the Prospects for a Political Realignment” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the link under “Attachments,” and then read this entire PDF (20 pages). The authors suggest that Millennials have a more progressive identity than did previous generations at their age and are likely to move the country leftward on economic and social issues for decades to come. Do you agree with this assessment? Why, or why not?
Reading and answering the questions above should take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete.
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6.2.1 Reading: Brookings Institution/Princeton University: “Elections, Mandates, and Governance”
Link: Brookings Institution/Princeton University: “Elections, Mandates, and Governance” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the “Transcript (PDF)” link, and then read this entire PDF (51 pages).
This reading and note-taking should take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete.
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6.2.1 Reading: University of Connecticut: Daily Campus: Arragon Perrone's: “Politicians Should Not Declare ‘Popular Mandate’”
Link: University of Connecticut: Daily Campus: Arragon Perrone's: “Politicians Should Not Declare ‘Popular Mandate’” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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6.2.2 Reading: CBSNews.com: Vaughn Ververs' : “A Mandate for Change”
Link: CBSNews.com: Vaughn Ververs' : “A Mandate for Change” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. In your opinion, has any aspect of President Obama’s mandate for change after the 2008 presidential election been effectively realized?
Reading and answering this question above should take approximately 25-30 minutes to complete.
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6.3.1 Reading: Annual Review of Political Science: Morris P. Fiorina and Samuel J. Adams' : “Political Polarization in the American Public”
Link: Annual Review of Political Science: Morris P. Fiorina and Samuel J. Adams' : “Political Polarization in the American Public” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to the “Wayne Baker” section to find this reading, and then read this entire PDF (29 pages).
This reading should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete.
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6.3.2 Reading: The Christian Science Monitor: Liz Marlantes’ “Inside Red-and-Blue America”
Link: The Christian Science Monitor: Liz Marlantes’ “Inside Red-and-Blue America” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the above article in its entirety in which the author discusses America’s polarized electorate. Make sure to click on the arrow key or page number at the bottom of the text to read all 4 pages of the article. As she points out, some view the red state/blue state phenomenon as somewhat exaggerated. Do you agree with this assessment? Why, or why not?
Reading and answering the questions above should take approximately 1 hour to complete.
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6.4.1 Reading: The Brookings Institution: Thomas E. Mann's: “From Campaigning to Governing: Politics and Policymaking in the New Obama Administration”
Link: The Brookings Institution: Thomas E. Mann's: “From Campaigning to Governing: Politics and Policymaking in the New Obama Administration” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 1 hour to complete.
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6.4.1 Reading: Education Policy Analysis Archives: Robert L. Linn’s “Conflicting Demands of No Child Left Behind and State Systems: Mixed Messages about School Performance”
Link: Education Policy Analysis Archives: Robert L. Linn’s “Conflicting Demands of No Child Left Behind and State Systems: Mixed Messages about School Performance” (PDF)
Instructions: Read this article
Reading this article should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: This resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. It is attributed to Robert L. Linn and the original version can be found here.See a broken link? Please let us know!
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6.4.1 Reading: The Economist: E. G. Austin's: “The Problems of the Permanent Campaign”
Link: The Economist: E. G. Austin's: “The Problems of the Permanent Campaign” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. Based on the above article, how would you describe the political mindset of the “permanent campaign” in enacting public policy within the Obama Administration?
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
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6.4.2 Reading: University of Pennsylvania: Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson's: “The Mindsets of Political Compromise”
Link: University of Pennsylvania: Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson's: “The Mindsets of Political Compromise” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. Why is there so much resistance to the idea of compromise among the American public?
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 3 hours to complete.
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6.4.3 Reading: Education Week: Alyson Klein and Sean Cavanagh's: “Election Stakes High for Education Policy, Spending”
Link: Education Week: Alyson Klein and Sean Cavanagh's: “Election Stakes High for Education Policy, Spending” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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6.4.3 Reading: Voice of America: Jim Malone's: “US Election Results Could Affect Foreign Policy”
Link: Voice of America: Jim Malone's: “US Election Results Could Affect Foreign Policy” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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7.1.1 Reading: CRS Report for Congress: Thomas H. Neale's: “Election of the President and Vice President by Congress: Contingent Election”
Link: CRS Report for Congress: Thomas H. Neale's: “Election of the President and Vice President by Congress: Contingent Election” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. How did the 12th Amendment rectify the flaws in the original design of the Electoral College (as evidenced by the 1800 presidential election)?
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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7.1.2 Reading: Christopher Morin's: “The Progressive Era: Government & Election Reform”
Link: Christopher Morin's: “The Progressive Era: Government & Election Reform” (PowerPoint)
Instructions: Please click the “Political Reform” link under the “PowerPoint Presentations” section, and then read this entire presentation (24 slides) about early 20th-century electoral reforms.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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7.1.2 Reading: United States Senate: “Direct Election of Senators”
Link: United States Senate: “Direct Election of Senators” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. Over the last few years, the push to repeal the 17th Amendment has gained traction among many conservative groups. The argument in favor of repeal is that it would increase the power of the states in the political process and have elected officials who, presumably, would care primarily about the state’s interest over the “corrupting” influence of wealthy corporate donors. Do you agree with this position? Why, or why not?
Reading and answering the questions above should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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7.1.2 Reading: ThisNation.com: Shad Satterthwaite's: “How Did Party Conventions Come About and What Purpose Do They Serve?”
Link: ThisNation.com: Shad Satterthwaite's:“How Did Party Conventions Come About and What Purpose Do They Serve?” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage.
This reading should take approximately 25-30 minutes to complete.
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7.2.1 Reading: Initiative & Referendum Institute: M. Dane Waters' : “A Brief: The History of the Initiative and Referendum Process in the United States”
Link: Initiative & Referendum Institute: M. Dane Waters' : “A Brief: The History of the Initiative and Referendum Process in the United States” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, choose “History of the initiative process” from the “I & R Quick Facts” dropdown menu on the lower-left side of the page, and then read this entire PDF (10 pages).
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
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7.2.2 Reading: Los Angeles Times: Nicholas Riccardi's: “Recall Elections Surge in Local and State Government”
Link: Los Angeles Times: Nicholas Riccardi's: “Recall Elections Surge in Local and State Government” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this entire webpage. This reading should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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7.3.1 Reading: Congressional Research Service: Thomas H. Neale's: “Electoral College Reform: 111th Congress Proposals and Other Current Developments”
Link: Congressional Research Service: Thomas H. Neale's: “Electoral College Reform: 111th Congress Proposals and Other Current Developments” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to find the link for this reading (November 4, 2009), and then read this entire PDF (34 pages). Which reform proposal would you consider to be the most practical and/or effective?
Reading and answering the question above should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete.
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7.3.2 Reading: Congressional Research Service: Kevin J. Coleman and Eric A. Fischer's: “The Help America Vote Act and Elections Reform: Overview and Issues”
Link: Congressional Research Service: Kevin J. Coleman and Eric A. Fisher's: “The Help America Vote Act and Elections Reform: Overview and Issues” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to find the link for this reading (June 27, 2011), and then read this entire PDF (14 pages).
This reading should take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
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7.3.4 Reading: Institute for Policy Studies: Salvatore Babones’s “Corporate Campaign Spending: They Get What They Pay for”
Link: Institute for Policy Studies: Salvatore Babones’s “Corporate Campaign Spending: They Get What They Pay for” (PDF)
Instructions: Read this article.
Reading this article should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use:This resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License. It is attributed to Salvatore Babones and the original version can be found here.See a broken link? Please let us know!
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7.4.1 Reading: FindLaw: National Commission on Election Reform Final Report: “To Assure Pride and Confidence in the Electoral Process”
Link: FindLaw: National Commission on Election Reform Final Report: “To Assure Pride and Confidence in the Electoral Process” (HTML or PDF)
Instructions: Please click the second link under the “Election 2000” section and then read pages 17–73. As a result of the contentious presidential election of 2000, the commission—co-chaired by former presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford—was formed to evaluate election reform and put forth policy recommendations to Congress and the president.
This reading should take approximately 3 hours to complete.
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7.4.2 Reading: Project Vote: Estelle H. Rogers' : “The National Voter Registration Act at Fifteen: A Report to Congress”
Link: Project Vote: Estelle H. Rogers' : “The National Voter Registration Act at Fifteen: A Report to Congress” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the link for the article “The National Voter Registration Act at Fifteen: A Report to Congress,” and then read this entire PDF (41 pages).
This reading should take approximately 2 hours to complete.
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7.4.2 Reading: Brennan Center for Justice: Justin Levitt's: “The Truth about Voter Fraud”
Link: Brennan Center for Justice: Justin Levitt's: “The Truth about Voter Fraud” (PDF
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the “Download Entire Publication Here” link, and then read this entire PDF (50 pages).
This reading should take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete.
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7.4.3 Reading: University of Michigan: Dana Walker's: “Voting in Your Underwear: The Promise, Perils and Policy Implications of Exercising the Franchise on the Internet”
Link: University of Michigan: Dana Walker's: “Voting in Your Underwear: The Promise, Perils and Policy Implications of Exercising the Franchise on the Internet” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to the “Selected Unpublished Papers” to find this reading, and then read this entire PDF (29 pages).
This reading should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete.
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