POLS 302-001
Public Opinion, Voting Behavior (and electoral systems)

Class: TTh 10:40-11:55 Ed. Bldg 416
Office Hours: MWF 12:30-1:30pm; TTH 8:30-10:00 am

Dr. Moncrief; 126B PAAW
E-mail: gmoncri@boisestate.edu tel: 426-3686

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

At the heart of a representative democracy is the process by which representatives are selected and public opinion is expressed. In most systems with some measure of democracy, these two processes are linked together—however loosely—through the electoral system. Elections are usually viewed not only as a process by which to choose leaders, but also as a way to express to some broad policy preferences. The manner in which this is done is the basic topic of this course.

In addition to the study of how public opinion and voting behavior are translated through the American electorate, we will devote time to an examination of candidacy and campaigns in the United States. In particular, we will look at the differences in who runs and how they campaign at the state level compared to the national level. We will explore how mass media and changing technologies have a major impact on campaigns and on how elections are framed within the U.S., especially at the national level.

Finally, we will spend time investigating alternative electoral systems. To fully appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of the American electoral system, one must understand its advantages and disadvantages in comparison to the electoral arrangements found in other political systems.

This class is intended for upper-division students majoring or minoring in political science. We assume students have some knowledge of the major concepts of political science and some familiarity with political science methodology.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

From this course students should gain an understanding of the variety of electoral systems that humankind has developed. Students should also gain a working knowledge of how public opinion polls are conducted, and how to analyze the results of such surveys. We will also learn the rudiments of how to conduct a political campaign, and how campaign strategies have changed over time. Further, we will gain an understanding of the critical role played by the mass media in both campaigning and in the process of governing. Finally, students should develop a clear understanding of voting patterns in the U.S., and why partisanship has declined as a voting cue in the American system.

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

There are 3 quizzes, one short written assignment, and a final exam.

The quizzes occur after each block of topical material, about 3-4 weeks apart (September 21; October 19^th; November 14). Each quiz is worth 25 points, and will be a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions.

The written paper is a short (3-5) page assignment based on research on the internet. The task is to find information about the electoral system in any two countries other than the U.S. You will then compare these systems, describing how each addresses questions of district magnitude and allocation rules, and what you perceive to be the advantages and disadvantages of the systems compared to that of the U.S. Be sure to include a citation for the websites for the particular countries you analyze.** Conventional standards for written papers apply (i.e., proper grammar and spelling, thematic clarity, etc.). The paper is worth 25 points. The paper is due no later than Thursday, November 30.

The final exam is comprehensive, covering all the material covered throughout the semester. It will be a combination of multiple choice, and essay.

READINGS:

There are 4 books for the course. They are Herbert Asher, Polling and the Public (4^th ed.); Flanigan and Zingale, Political Behavior of the American Electorate (9^th ed.); Bruce Newman, The Mass Marketing of Politics; and Moncrief, Squire and Jewell, Who Runs for the Legislature? All four books are relatively inexpensive, short, paperbacks. In addition, there will be a few readings on reserve in the library and some handouts in class. The student is responsible for ALL readings.

** Some useful websites from which to begin to explore electoral systems are the following:

www.ifes.org once you are in this website, go to the "links" click-on and you will find links to electoral commissions from countries around the world.

www.aceproject.org

www.ifes/org

SCHEDULE