Daron Shaw

A basic survey of American government, including fundamental political institutions, federal, state, and local; special attention to the United States and Texas Constitutions.

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course offers a basic survey of American government, including federal, state, and local political institutions. In some instances, the American case is placed in a comparative context derived from the experience of other western democratic nations.  In other instances, we focus on changes over time within the American political system to demonstrate how principles often change with context.  At all times, we are interested in a better understanding of how this particular system has developed and what it means for citizens of the United States.

There are three primary objectives in this course.  The first is to provide basic descriptive information about the American and Texas political systems by examining important political processes, institutions, and actors.  The second is to develop analytical skills with which to understand complex relationships and phenomena.  The third is to introduce the work of the political scientist by concentrating on the paradigms and techniques of the discipline.

The course is delivered completely online, which gives students more latitude in completing their work. We hasten to add that while this is an online class, it is NOT entirely self-paced. We will release roughly ten lecture “modules” every two weeks. Each module covers a specific topic and includes reading assignments, lecture and guest-speaker videos, and a variety of assignments. Students will be expected to complete about 3 modules per week. In addition to the lecture modules, we will offer weekly live discussions about the political events of the moment.

The course is part of a six-semester-hour integrated sequence, the second half of which is Government 312L. The course also fulfills the first half of the legislative requirement for government.

COURSE EVALUATION

The assignments and their sequencing are designed to actively engage students’ interaction with the on-demand online format.  There will be three (3) online, virtually-proctored exams—one every two weeks or so. The downside is that students will need to pay $19.75 per exam ($59.25 total) for these proctoring services. The upside is that students can take the exams wherever they choose, so long as they meet and adhere to the course’s technical requirements. In addition to the exams, there will be short answer and webtext assignments aimed at reinforcing students’ knowledge base. The lectures, readings, and short answer assignments are all designed to prepare you for the exams. There should be no surprises and you should do well if you do the readings, watch the videos, take notes, complete all short answer assignments, and study the material thoroughly before the exams.

COURSE MATERIALS

Students will be asked to purchase a Texas Politics webtext through Soomo. The expected cost is roughly $55 if you purchase through Canvas or $73.35 if you purchase through the University Co-Op. The Co-Op option allows students to use their financial aid.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

Government 370L

Campaigns and Elections

 Prof. Daron Shaw

Fall 2019

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course is designed to introduce you to American political campaigns and elections through lectures and readings. It is not designed to serve as a “how to” manual for aspiring politicians or consultants. More often than not, it is more theoretical than practical. Still, some nuts and bolts information is essential and will be part of the curriculum. My main focus is on federal elections, though references are made to state and local elections. We spend some time revisiting past campaigns and elections in order to contrast and explicate contemporary American electoral politics. The lectures and readings pay particular attention to the presidential elections of 2012 and 2016. The races between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, and between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are not only the most recent, but provide vivid details supplementing the theoretical and descriptive points raised in the course.

As with the lower division version of this course, there are three primary objectives.  The first is to provide basic information about American elections and electioneering by examining both the rules of the game and the players. The second is to develop analytical skills with which to analyze complex relationships and phenomena. The third is to introduce you to the work of the political scientist by concentrating on paradigms and techniques of the discipline. Unlike the lower division course, the emphasis is on the latter two goals. 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Midterm Examinations

                                                                                          Midterm #1                                            50 points (25%)

                                                                                          Midterm #2                                            50 points (25%)

Campaign Simulation

                                                                                          Group Presentation                          40 points (20%)

                                                                                          Individual Paper                                  50 points (25%)

Participation and Attendance                                                                                             10 points (5%)

There are two main requirements for this course. First, there will be two exams. The first is worth twenty-five percent (25%) of your grade and will probably be given in early October. The second will also be worth twenty-five percent of your grade and will probably be given in early December, on the last day of class. The examinations are not cumulative; exam #1 covers material through week 6, while exam #2 covers material from weeks 7-14. They will feature a mixed format, with multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. The exams draw roughly equally from lecture and the readings. When taking the exams, you are not allowed to talk or use your notes, books or neighbor's test.  Anyone caught cheating will be treated per University guidelines.  Study groups, on the other hand, are encouraged.  Failure to take either of the exams at the appointed times results in a grade of F.  I allow cumulative exams for those with compelling excuses, but I am the sole arbiter of what constitutes a compelling excuse. You need medical or extreme personal difficulties before I will consent to such an action. There will be no early exams, nor can exams be taken at any place other than the scheduled room. If you cannot take the exams at the scheduled time and place, you should not enroll in the course.

Second, there will be a campaign simulation. I will select several candidates from competitive U.S. Senate elections. Each candidate will have a team of five students, each of whom will be responsible for a report on a selected aspect of the campaign. The individual reports will be 8-10 pages long and will count for twenty-five percent (25%) of your grade. Details on the expectations for the report will be provided in class, but suffice it to say that you are expected to provide a plan detailing how your candidate will deal with one of the following aspects of the campaign: (1) budget, resource allocation, and fundraising, (2) polling and GOTV, (3) paid advertising, (4) scheduling, advance, and media, and (5) online and social media outreach.

Each campaign team will also be responsible for a twelve (12) minute presentation. Presentations will be held during a Saturday session in mid-November. The audience will include myself, other professors and political consultants, and several graduate students currently studying campaigns and elections. The point of the presentation is to present a strategic overview of the candidate’s prospects. Unlike the reports, the grade for the presentation will be collective (everyone on the team gets the same mark), and will constitute twenty percent (20%) of your overall grade.

Finally, attendance and participation are strongly encouraged. I reserve the right to give pop quizzes at any time, and these quizzes are worth five percent of your final grade.

READINGS

There is one required text for the course, which will be available at the University Co-Op bookstore.

John Sides, Daron Shaw, Keena Lipsitz, and Matt Grossman. 2019 (third edition, with 2018 election update). “Campaigns and Elections: Rules, Reality, Strategy, Choice.” Norton Publishing. 

Government 381L

Campaigns and Elections

Prof. Daron Shaw

Fall 2019 

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course has two objectives.  The first is to introduce you to the literature and controversies that animate our understanding of American elections and political campaigns.  In this sense, the format of the class will be fairly typical; weekly reading assignments will serve as the basis for critical inquiries into a range of issues.  The second objective is to teach you what it means to do empirical research in this area.  Most of us can readily identify the short-comings of the political science we read, but far fewer can pose interesting alternatives, formulate testable hypotheses and research designs, acquire pertinent data and carry out convincing tests and analyses.  This course aims at focusing your abilities and talents on these endeavors as well as bringing you up to speed on the literature.

COURSE EVALUATION

Your grade will be determined as follows:

Class Assignments

1. Weekly Overviews of the Readings 20%
2. Discussion Leader Presentations 20%

Research Paper

3. Proposal 5%         
4. Draft 15%      
5. Final Draft 40%.     

COURSE MATERIALS

1. Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes (2017). “Shattered.”  Crown Publishing.
2. Sasha Cohen (2013). “Victory Lab.” Broadway Books.
3. Marty Cohen, David Karol, Hans Noel, and John Zaller (2008), “The Party Decides.” University of Chicago Press.
4. Donald Green and Alan Gerber, (2004), “Get Out the Vote.” 3^rd edition. Brookings Press.
5. Eitan Hersh (2015), “Hacking the Electorate.” Cambridge University Press.
6. Sunshine Hillygus and Todd Shields (2008), “The Persuadable Voter.” Princeton University Press.
7. Michael Lewis-Beck, Helmut Norpoth, William Jacoby, and Herb Weisberg (2008), “The American Voter Re-Visited.” University of Michigan Press.
8. Daniel Shea and Michael Burton (2015), “Campaign Craft.” 5^th edition. Praeger Press.
9. Lynn Vavreck (2009), “The Message Matters.” Princeton University Press.
10. Daron Shaw (2004), “The Race to 270.” University of Chicago Press.

Students will have to purchase these books online.  All readings are available either in the assigned books or through JSTOR (which you can access through any UT computer).

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

Title:               Political Parties

Course #:        Government 325

Prerequisites:  Government 310L and 312L

Course Description:

This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts and consequences associated with American political parties. Initially, we focus on parties from a broad theoretical perspective, and draw on data and information from a variety of countries over a number of years. At about week five, the focus shifts to the United States, and we cover topics such as campaign finance, political machines, realignment, voting and public opinion, parties in government, and polarization. The class will consist of lectures, although participation is expected.

Grading Policy:

Students are responsible for two take-home essays (75 points each), two midterm examinations (60 points each), and attendance/participation (30 points).

Texts:

Hershey, M., Party Politics in America, 17^th ed. Routlege. 

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

This course is designed to introduce you to American political campaigns and elections through lectures and readings. It is not designed to serve as a “how to” manual for aspiring politicians or consultants. More often than not, it is more theoretical than practical. Still, some nuts and bolts information is essential and will be part of the curriculum. My main focus is on federal elections, though references are made to state and local elections. We spend some time revisiting past campaigns and elections in order to contrast and explicate contemporary American electoral politics. The lectures and readings pay particular attention to the presidential elections of 2012 and 2016. The races between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, and between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are not only the most recent, but provide vivid details supplementing the theoretical and descriptive points raised in the course.

As with the lower division version of this course, there are three primary objectives.  The first is to provide basic information about American elections and electioneering by examining both the rules of the game and the players. The second is to develop analytical skills with which to analyze complex relationships and phenomena. The third is to introduce you to the work of the political scientist by concentrating on paradigms and techniques of the discipline. Unlike the lower division course, the emphasis is on the latter two goals. 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Midterm Examinations

                                                                                          Midterm #1                                            50 points (25%)

                                                                                          Midterm #2                                            50 points (25%)

Campaign Simulation

                                                                                          Group Presentation                          40 points (20%)

                                                                                          Individual Paper                                  50 points (25%)

Participation and Attendance                                                                                              10 points (5%)

There are two main requirements for this course. First, there will be two exams. The first is worth twenty-five percent (25%) of your grade and will probably be given in early October. The second will also be worth twenty-five percent of your grade and will probably be given in early December, on the last day of class. The examinations are not cumulative; exam #1 covers material through week 6, while exam #2 covers material from weeks 7-14. They will feature a mixed format, with multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. The exams draw roughly equally from lecture and the readings. When taking the exams, you are not allowed to talk or use your notes, books or neighbor's test.  Anyone caught cheating will be treated per University guidelines.  Study groups, on the other hand, are encouraged.  Failure to take either of the exams at the appointed times results in a grade of F.  I allow cumulative exams for those with compelling excuses, but I am the sole arbiter of what constitutes a compelling excuse. You need medical or extreme personal difficulties before I will consent to such an action. There will be no early exams, nor can exams be taken at any place other than the scheduled room. If you cannot take the exams at the scheduled time and place, you should not enroll in the course.

Second, there will be a campaign simulation. I will select several candidates from competitive U.S. Senate elections. Each candidate will have a team of five students, each of whom will be responsible for a report on a selected aspect of the campaign. The individual reports will be 8-10 pages long and will count for twenty-five percent (25%) of your grade. Details on the expectations for the report will be provided in class, but suffice it to say that you are expected to provide a plan detailing how your candidate will deal with one of the following aspects of the campaign: (1) budget, resource allocation, and fundraising, (2) polling and GOTV, (3) paid advertising, (4) scheduling, advance, and media, and (5) online and social media outreach.

Each campaign team will also be responsible for a twelve (12) minute presentation. Presentations will be held during a Saturday session in mid-November. The audience will include myself, other professors and political consultants, and several graduate students currently studying campaigns and elections. The point of the presentation is to present a strategic overview of the candidate’s prospects. Unlike the reports, the grade for the presentation will be collective (everyone on the team gets the same mark), and will constitute twenty percent (20%) of your overall grade.

Finally, attendance and participation are strongly encouraged. I reserve the right to give pop quizzes at any time, and these quizzes are worth five percent of your final grade.

READINGS

There is one required text for the course, which will be available at the University Co-Op bookstore.

John Sides, Daron Shaw, Keena Lipsitz, and Matt Grossman. 2018 (3^rd edition). “Campaigns and Elections: Rules, Reality, Strategy, Choice.” Norton Publishing. 

This course has two objectives.  The first is to introduce you to the literature and controversies that animate our understanding of American elections and political campaigns.  In this sense, the format of the class will be fairly typical; weekly reading assignments will serve as the basis for critical inquiries into a range of issues.  The second objective is to teach you what it means to do empirical research in this area.  Most of us can readily identify the short-comings of the political science we read, but far fewer can pose interesting alternatives, formulate testable hypotheses and research designs, acquire pertinent data and carry out convincing tests and analyses.  This course aims at focusing your abilities and talents on these endeavors as well as bringing you up to speed on the literature.

Grading:

Your grade will be determined as follows:

Class Assignments

1. Weekly Overviews of the Readings                                              20%
2. Discussion Leader Presentations                                                  20%

Research Paper

1. Proposal                                                                                                         5%         
2. Draft                                                                                                                  15%      
3. Final Draft                                                                                                      40%.     

Books:

1. Daniel Shea and Michael Burton (2015), “Campaign Craft.” 5^th edition. Praeger Press.
2. Samuel Popkin, (2013), “The Candidate: What It Takes to Win—And Hold—The White House.” Oxford University Press.
3. Sunshine Hillygus and Todd Shields (2008), “The Persuadable Voter.” Princeton University Press.
4. Lynn Vavreck (2009), “The Message Matters.” Princeton University Press.
5. Michael Lewis-Beck, Helmut Norpoth, William Jacoby, and Herb Weisberg (2008), “The American Voter Re-Visited.” University of Michigan Press.
6. Marty Cohen, David Karol, Hans Noel, and John Zaller (2008), “The Party Decides.” University of Chicago Press.
7. Richard Johnston, Michael Hagen, Kathleen Hall Jamieson (2004), “The 2000 Presidential Election and the Foundation of Party Politics.” Cambridge University Press.
8. Sasha Issenberg, (2013), “Victory Lab.” Broadway Books.
9. Don Green and Alan Gerber, (2015), “Get Out the Vote.” Brookings Press.
10. Eitan Hersh, (2015), “Hacking the Electorate.” Cambridge University Press.
11. Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes (2017), “Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton’s Doomed Campaign.” Crown Publishing. 

Course Description

Fall Semester 2017

Course ID:          Government 325

Title:                   Political Parties

Instructor:          Professor Shaw

Time:                   T-TH, 2:00-3:30

Location:             CAL 100

Prerequisites

Government 310L and 312L.

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts and consequences associated with American political parties. Initially, we focus on parties from a broad theoretical perspective, and draw on data and information from a variety of countries over a number of years. At about week five, the focus shifts to the United States, and we cover topics such as campaign finance, political machines, realignment, voting and public opinion, parties in government, and polarization. The class will consist of lectures, although participation is expected.

Grading Policy

Students are responsible for two take-home essays (75 points each), two midterm examinations (60 points each), and attendance/participation (30 points).

Books

Hershey, M., Party Politics in America, Longman. 

Ware, A. Political Parties and Party Systems, Oxford University Press.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While our main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas.  In some instances, the American case is placed in a comparative context derived from the experience of other western democratic nations.  In other instances, we focus on changes over time within the American political system to demonstrate how principles often change with context.  At all times we are interested in a better understanding of how this particular system has developed and what it means for citizens of the United States.

There are three primary objectives in this course.  The first is to provide basic descriptive information about the American and Texas political systems by examining important political processes, institutions, and actors.  The second is to develop analytical skills by which to understand complex relationships and phenomena.  The third is to introduce the work of the political scientist by concentrating on the paradigms and techniques of the discipline.

The course is delivered completely online, which gives students more latitude in completing their work, though the class is NOT entirely self-paced. The course meets online through Canvas. The course material is organized by topic (“Modules”), and each module includes reading assignments, lecture and guest-speaker videos, a segment keyed to recent events in politics, and a variety of assignments. Students will be expected to complete 2-3 modules per week. The course schedule below contains module assignments and due dates. This design allows students to complete the work within one week according to their own schedule – as long as the due dates for completion of each module lesson are met. Students are encouraged to visit http://www.laits.utexas.edu/tower/tech.html to test their computer and network connection.

Assessments

Weekly book assignments

Three Exams

Title:                        American and Texas Government

Course #:               Govt. 310L

Unique #:              38495-38500

Prerequisites:   

None.

Course Description:

This is the online section for the Introduction to American Government course. Students will access a live stream lecture twice a week, viewing lectures and participating in in-class assignments. The class covers a wide range of topics, including the founding of the U.S., the Constitution, federalism, interest groups, political parties, public opinion and voting behavior, campaigns and elections, the media, the presidency, the Congress, the courts, and public policy. Students are expected to master the basics facts of American government, but they are also asked to use broader, theoretical perspectives to analyze contemporary issues and dilemmas.

Grading Policy:

Students will be graded based on three midterm examinations (each worth 100 points), as well as textbook and in-class assignments (100 points).

Texts:

The class relies on webtexts: one focusing on American government and another focusing on Texas government. The total cost for these materials is approximately $115.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

Prerequisites: 6 hours of coursework

Course Description

This course is an introduction to American government and politics. While our main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. In some instances, the American case is placed in a comparative context derived from the experience of other western democratic nations. In other instances, we focus on changes over time within the American political system to demonstrate how principles often change with context. At all times we are interested in a better understanding of how this particular system has developed and what it means for citizens of the United States.

There are three primary objectives in this course. The first is to provide basic descriptive information about the American and Texas political systems by examining important political processes, institutions, and actors. The second is to develop analytical skills by which to understand complex relationships and phenomena. The third is to introduce the work of the political scientist by concentrating on the paradigms and techniques of the discipline.

ONLINE COURSE FORMAT

This is the digital version of the American Government course—unlike almost all other courses offered at the University of Texas, you will be viewing this class online (from the comfort of your own home, library, or coffee joint) rather than in-person. You are expected to “attend” class by logging into the course to watch recorded lectures that have already been posted to Canvas. You will also complete a series of associated activities that accompany each lecture module.

There will be two types of lecture segments. The first are the segments that are detailed in this syllabus from Modules 1 through 15. The second are a set of lecture segments that will be uploaded to our Canvas page once a week during the fall semester. These are our “In the News” segments that utilize concepts introduced in class to examine current stories about some aspect of policies or events being discussed by prominent media outlets.

Grading Policy

The final grade will the outcome of quizzes, short writing assignments and exams.

Texts

1. Texas Politics online text, ISBN 978-0-9911355-9-2, Soomo Publishing. Available for purchase through Canvas at https://utexas.instructure.com/courses/1166691/modules/items/7960435 or by Passkey via the University Co-Op.
2. Kenneth Kollman. 2014. “The American Political System” (second full edition, with policy chapters). Norton Publishing. Hard copies are available at the University of Texas Coop.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Semester:                              Spring 2016

Course:                                  Government 310L

Unique #:                               37690

Professor:                               Shaw

Prerequisites:                                   

None

Course Description:    

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While our main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas.  In some instances, the American case is placed in a comparative context derived from the experience of other western democratic nations.  In other instances, we focus on changes over time within the American political system to demonstrate how principles often change with context.  At all times we are interested in a better understanding of how this particular system has developed and what it means for citizens of the United States.

There are three primary objectives in this course.  The first is to provide basic descriptive information about the American and Texas political systems by examining important political processes, institutions, and actors.  The second is to develop analytical skills by which to understand complex relationships and phenomena.  The third is to introduce the work of the political scientist by concentrating on the paradigms and techniques of the discipline.

Grading Policy

There will be two in-class midterm examinations that will determine your grade. Each exam will have two equally weighted components worth a total of 100 points. There are thus 200 total points available in the class.

MIDTERM 1                         POINTS                 QUESTIONS

Multiple Choice                          50                           50

Short-Answer                            50                           10

 MIDTERM 2                         POINTS                  QUESTIONS

Multiple Choice                          50                            50

Short-Answer                            50                            10

 TOTAL                                      200

Texts:  

“American Government: Power and Purpose,” Lowi, Ginsberg, and Ansolabehere. 13th edition (2014 election update). 978-0-393-27029-7

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

FALL 2015

Course Number:            GOV 327L

Course Title:                Public Opinion & Voting Behavior

Unique Number:          

Meeting Time:             TTH 2:00-3:30

Meeting Place:             Wagner 201    

Closing Limit:             82

1. Prerequisites—Gov. 310L and/or Gov. 312L.

2. Course Description—This pro-seminar introduces the literature on mass politics and elections. It provides a foundation for subsequent study and research in the field. Although we will cover many topics, we focus on the few themes that have consistently drawn the attention of scholars: the character of political attitudes in mass publics, party identification, turnout and participation, the vote decision, and the way media and parties structure the electoral process. Given the range of the course, coverage of these topics will not be exhaustive. However, we do review many of the “great works” that set the research agenda in the area, while also sampling the subsequent research literature that extends and revises the original results.

3. Grading Policy—There are three main requirements for this course. First, there will be two midterm exams given in this course.  Each exam will have multiple choice and short answer sections. The exams will draw on both lecture material and the readings. They are NOT cumulative.  Second, each student will be responsible for writing a research paper. One possibility is that you will write a research proposal. A proposal paper has three components: (a) it proposes a research question, (b) it reviews the appropriate literature in political science, and (c) it offers a research design that addresses this question. Think of this as something like a grant proposal, in which an applicant is attempting to convince a funding agency that it has an interesting way to investigate an important issue. A second possibility is that you will write a paper analyzing issue opinion or voting behavior within the context of the 2012 elections. That is, you will identify an issue domain or topic—or a group or demographic characteristic—that is likely to have been especially consequential for the election and analyze it relying on polling or voting data. Either of the paper projects includes three components: (1) each student must submit a 1-2 page proposal, identifying the main research question, (2) each student must submit an 8-10 page draft, and (3) each student must submit a 12-15 page final paper on the final day of class. The third and final requirement is attendance and participation. The grading breakdown is 45% exams, 45% paper projects, and 10% participation.

4. Texts—There are four assigned texts for this class:

• Asher, “Polling and the Public: What Every Citizen Should Know.” Eighth edition. 2011. 978-1-60426-606-1
• Bardes and Oldendick, “Public Opinion: Measuring the American Mind.” Fourth edition. 2012. 978-1442215023
• Lewis-Beck, Jacoby, Norpoth, and Weisberg. “The American Voter Re-Visited.” 2008. 978-0472050406
• Zaller, “The Nature and Origins of Mass Opinion.” 1992.

Course ID:        Government 325

Title:                   Political Parties

Instructor:       Professor Shaw

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts and consequences associated with American political parties. Initially, we focus on parties from a broad theoretical perspective, and draw on data and information from a variety of countries over a number of years. At about week five, the focus shifts to the United States, and we cover topics such as campaign finance, political machines, realignment, voting and public opinion, parties in government, and polarization. The class will consist of lectures, although participation is expected.

Prerequisites

Government 310L and 312L.

Books

Hershey, M., Party Politics in America, Longman. 

Ware, A. Political Parties and Party Systems, Oxford University Press.

Evaluation

Two midterm examinations

Two take-home essays

Attendance and Participation

Book Orders for Professor Daron Shaw, Government Department (Spring 2015)

Government 325 (Political Parties)

1. Hershey, M., Party Politics in America, Longman (16th ed.). Paperback: ISBN-10: 0205992099

2. Ware, A. Political Parties and Party Systems, Oxford University Press. Paperback: ISBN: 019878077X

COURSE:

Government 370L

Campaigns and Elections

COURSE OVERVIEW:

This course is designed to introduce you to American political campaigns and elections through lectures and readings. It is not designed to serve as a “how to” manual for aspiring politicians or consultants. More often than not, it is more theoretical than practical. Still, some nuts and bolts information is essential and will be part of the curriculum. My main focus is on federal elections, though references are made to state and local elections. We spend some time revisiting past campaigns and elections in order to contrast and explicate contemporary American electoral politics. The lectures and readings pay particular attention to the presidential elections of 2004, 2008, and 2012. The races between Barack Obama and John McCain and Mitt Romney (respectively) and between George W. Bush and John Kerry are not only the most recent, but provide vivid details supplementing the theoretical and descriptive points raised in the course.

As with the lower division version of this course, there are three primary objectives.  The first is to provide basic information about American elections and electioneering by examining both the rules of the game and the players. The second is to develop analytical skills with which to analyze complex relationships and phenomena. The third is to introduce you to the work of the political scientist by concentrating on paradigms and techniques of the discipline. Unlike the lower division course, the emphasis is on the latter two goals. 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Midterm Examinations

                                                                                          Midterm #1                                            50 points (25%)

                                                                                          Midterm #2                                            50 points (25%)

Campaign Simulation

                                                                                          Group Presentation                          40 points (20%)

                                                                                          Individual Paper                                  50 points (25%)

Participation and Attendance                                                                                              10 points (5%)

There are two main requirements for this course. First, there will be two exams. The first is worth twenty-five percent (25%) of your grade and will probably be given in early October. The second will also be worth twenty-five percent of your grade and will probably be given in early December, on the last day of class. The examinations are not cumulative; exam #1 covers material through week 6, while exam #2 covers material from weeks 7-14. They will feature a mixed format, with multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. The exams draw roughly equally from lecture and the readings. When taking the exams, you are not allowed to talk or use your notes, books or neighbor's test.  Anyone caught cheating will be treated per University guidelines.  Study groups, on the other hand, are encouraged.  Failure to take either of the exams at the appointed times results in a grade of F.  I allow cumulative exams for those with compelling excuses, but I am the sole arbiter of what constitutes a compelling excuse. You need medical or extreme personal difficulties before I will consent to such an action. There will be no early exams, nor can exams be taken at any place other than the scheduled room. If you cannot take the exams at the scheduled time and place, you should not enroll in the course.

Second, there will be a campaign simulation. I will select several candidates from competitive U.S. Senate elections. Each candidate will have a team of five students, each of whom will be responsible for a report on a selected aspect of the campaign. The individual reports will be 8-10 pages long and will count for twenty-five percent (25%) of your grade. Details on the expectations for the report will be provided in class, but suffice it to say that you are expected to provide a plan detailing how your candidate will deal with one of the following aspects of the campaign: (1) budget, resource allocation, and fundraising, (2) polling and GOTV, (3) paid advertising, (4) scheduling, advance, and media, and (5) online and social media outreach.

Each campaign team will also be responsible for a twelve (12) minute presentation. Presentations will be held during a Saturday session in mid-November. The audience will include myself, other professors and political consultants, and several graduate students currently studying campaigns and elections. The point of the presentation is to present a strategic overview of the candidate’s prospects. Unlike the reports, the grade for the presentation will be collective (everyone on the team gets the same mark), and will constitute twenty percent (20%) of your overall grade.

Finally, attendance and participation are strongly encouraged. I reserve the right to give pop quizzes at any time, and these quizzes are worth five percent of your final grade.

READINGS

There is one required text for the course, which will be available at the University Co-Op bookstore.

John Sides, Daron Shaw, Keena Lipsitz, and Matt Grossman. 2013 (2012 election update). “Campaigns and Elections: Rules, Reality, Strategy, Choice.” Norton Publishing. 

Course:

Government 381L

Campaigns and Elections

Course Overview:

This course has two objectives.  The first is to introduce you to the literature and controversies that animate our understanding of American elections and political campaigns.  In this sense, the format of the class will be fairly typical; weekly reading assignments will serve as the basis for critical inquiries into a range of issues.  The second objective is to teach you what it means to do empirical research in this area.  Most of us can readily identify the short-comings of the political science we read, but far fewer can pose interesting alternatives, formulate testable hypotheses and research designs, acquire pertinent data and carry out convincing tests and analyses.  This course aims at focusing your abilities and talents on these endeavors as well as bringing you up to speed on the literature.

Grading:

Your grade will be determined as follows:

Class Assignments

1. Weekly Overviews of the Readings                     20%
2. Discussion Leader Presentations                        20%

Research Paper

1. Proposal                                                           5%         
2. Draft                                                               15%      
3. Final Draft                                                        40%.     

Books:

1. Daniel Shea and Michael Burton (2010), “Campaign Craft.” 4th edition. Praeger Press.
2. Donald Green and Alan Gerber, (2004), “Get Out the Vote.” Brookings Press.
3. Sunshine Hillygus and Todd Shields (2008), “The Persuadable Voter.” Princeton University Press.
4. Lynn Vavreck (2009), “The Message Matters.” Princeton University Press.
5. Michael Lewis-Beck, Helmut Norpoth, William Jacoby, and Herb Weisberg (2008), “The American Voter Re-Visited.” University of Michigan Press.
6. Shanto Iyengar and Steven Ansolabehere (1997), “Going Negative.” Free Press.
7. Thomas Patterson (1993), “Out of Order.” Knopf.
8. Marty Cohen, David Karol, Hans Noel, and John Zaller (2008), “The Party Decides.” University of Chicago Press.
9. Richard Johnston, Michael Hagen, Kathleen Hall Jamieson (2004), “The 2000 Presidential Election and the Foundation of Party Politics.” Cambridge University Press.
10. Larry Bartels (1989), “Presidential Primaries.” Princeton University Press.
11. Daron Shaw (2006), “The Race to 270.” University of Chicago Press.
12. John Heilemann and Mark Halperin (2013), “Double Down: Game Change 2012.” Harper Publishing. 

Prerequisites

None. Government 310L recommended.

Course Description

This course focuses on the role political parties play in representative democracies. We will study the variables that distinguish party systems in different countries, the historical development of parties, and the nature of parties in contemporary democratic societies. We will also explore how parties mobilize mass populations for political purposes, as well as the character of party elites, activists and supporters. 

The first four weeks of the course are largely general and theoretical. Examples will be drawn from different countries to illustrate questions and arguments.  The remainder of the course deals almost exclusively with the American parties. 

My approach will be thematic.  By studying institutions and processes that are generally characteristic of parties in democratic systems, you will recognize that many features of the American parties are a particular configuration of more general phenomena.  Through the readings and lectures on the U.S. party system you will develop a conceptual and theoretical understanding of not only the American parties, but of political parties across the globe.

Grading Policy

Your grade will be determined by your score out of 300 possible points. The break-down is as follows:

1.       Take-Home Exams

Take-Home 1                                                    75 points             25%

Take-Home 2                                                    75 points             25

2.       Midterm Exams

Midterm  1                                                         60 points             20%

Midterm  2                                                         60 points             20%

3.       Attendance and Participation

Attendance and Participation in class   30 points             10%.

We will develop a curve based on total points to ascertain an A-F letter grade.

Texts

There are two assigned texts for the course.  They are available at the University Co-Op bookstore.

·         Marjorie Randon Hershey. Party Politics in America (15th ed.), New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 2012

·         Alan Ware. Political Parties and Party Systems, New York: Oxford Press, 1997.

Prerequisites

None

Course Description

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While our main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas.  In some instances, the American case is placed in a comparative context derived from the experience of other western democratic nations.  In other instances, we focus on changes over time within the American political system to demonstrate how principles often change with context.  At all times we are interested in a better understanding of how this particular system has developed and what it means for citizens of the United States.

There are three primary objectives in this course.  The first is to provide basic descriptive information about the American and Texas political systems by examining important political processes, institutions, and actors.  The second is to develop analytical skills by which to understand complex relationships and phenomena.  The third is to introduce the work of the political scientist by concentrating on the paradigms and techniques of the discipline.

Grading Policy

The course is broken down into two components.  The first component centers on the discussions and the textbook.  Two examinations will be based on these materials and is worth 45% of your grade (90% total).  These exams are NOT cumulative. There will be no early or make-up exams, except for extreme emergencies (and I am the sole arbiter of what constitutes an extreme emergency). The second component centers on attendance, quizzes, and other aspects of in-class performance.

Texts

There will be a single American Politics textbook:

Lowi, Ginsberg, Shepsle, and Ansolabehere. “American Government: Power and Purpose.”

The Texas Politics portion of the course will be covered through material provided on the Texas Politics website.

Prerequisites

Gov. 310L and/or Gov. 312L.

Course Description

This pro-seminar introduces the literature on mass politics and elections. It provides a foundation for subsequent study and research in the field. Although we will cover many topics, we focus on the few themes that have consistently drawn the attention of scholars: the character of political attitudes in mass publics, party identification, turnout and participation, the vote decision, and the way media and parties structure the electoral process. Given the range of the course, coverage of these topics will not be exhaustive. However, we do review many of the “great works” that set the research agenda in the area, while also sampling the subsequent research literature that extends and revises the original results.

Grading Policy

There are three main requirements for this course. First, there will be two midterm exams given in this course.  Each exam will have multiple choice and short answer sections. The exams will draw on both lecture material and the readings. They are NOT cumulative.  Second, each student will be responsible for writing a research paper. One possibility is that you will write a research proposal. A proposal paper has three components: (a) it proposes a research question, (b) it reviews the appropriate literature in political science, and (c) it offers a research design that addresses this question. Think of this as something like a grant proposal, in which an applicant is attempting to convince a funding agency that it has an interesting way to investigate an important issue. A second possibility is that you will write a paper analyzing issue opinion or voting behavior within the context of the 2012 elections. That is, you will identify an issue domain or topic—or a group or demographic characteristic—that is likely to have been especially consequential for the election and analyze it relying on polling or voting data. Either of the paper projects includes three components: (1) each student must submit a 1-2 page proposal, identifying the main research question, (2) each student must submit an 8-10 page draft, and (3) each student must submit a 12-15 page final paper on the final day of class. The third and final requirement is attendance and participation. The grading breakdown is 45% exams, 45% paper projects, and 10% participation.

Texts

There are four assigned texts for this class:

Asher, “Polling and the Public: What Every Citizen Should Know.”

Bardes and Oldendick, “Public Opinion: Measuring the American Mind.”

Lewis-Beck, Jacoby, Norpoth, and Weisberg. “The American Voter Re-Visited. Zaller, “The Nature and Origins of Mass Opinion

Course Description

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While our main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas.  In some instances, the American case is placed in a comparative context derived from the experience of other western democratic nations.  In other instances, we focus on changes over time within the American political system to demonstrate how principles often change with context.  At all times we are interested in a better understanding of how this particular system has developed and what it means for citizens of the United States.

There are three primary objectives in this course.  The first is to provide basic descriptive information about the American and Texas political systems by examining important political processes, institutions, and actors.  The second is to develop analytical skills by which to understand complex relationships and phenomena.  The third is to introduce the work of the political scientist by concentrating on the paradigms and techniques of the discipline.

Prerequisites

None.

Books

Lowi, T., B. Ginsberg, K. Shepsle, and S. Ansolabehere. American Government: Power and Purpose, Norton (12th ed.).

Evaluation

Two midterm examinations

Attendance and Participation

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts and consequences associated with American political parties. Initially, we focus on parties from a broad theoretical perspective, and draw on data and information from a variety of countries over a number of years. At about week five, the focus shifts to the United States, and we cover topics such as campaign finance, political machines, realignment, voting and public opinion, parties in government, and polarization. The class will consist of lectures, although participation is expected.

Prerequisites

Government 310L and 312L.

Books

Hershey, M., Party, Politics in America, Longman.

 Ware, A., Political Parties and Party Systems, Oxford University Press.

Evaluation

Two midterm examinations

Two take-home essays

Attendance and Participation

see syllabus

This course has two objectives.  The first is to introduce you to the literature and controversies that animate our understanding of American elections and political campaigns.  In this sense, the format of the class will be fairly typical; weekly reading assignments will serve as the basis for critical inquiries into a range of issues.  The second objective is to teach you what it means to do empirical research in this area.  Most of us can readily identify the short-comings of the political science we read, but far fewer can pose interesting alternatives, formulate testable hypotheses and research designs, acquire pertinent data and carry out convincing tests and analyses.  This course aims at focusing your abilities and talents on these endeavors as well as bringing you up to speed on the literature.

Description: The first third of the course covers parties from a theoretical and largely comparative perspective. The second two-thirds focuses on how the factors that animate parties and party systems come together in the American case. We will discuss the different elements of parties from the perspective of political scientists and practitioners.

See Syllabus

The first third of the course covers parties from a theoretical and largely comparative perspective. The second two-thirds focuses on how the factors that animate parties and party systems come together in the American case. We will discuss the different elements of parties from the perspective of political scientists and practitioners.

Course Overview
This course is designed to introduce you to American political campaigns and elections through lectures and readings. It is not designed to serve as a “how to” manual for aspiring politicians or consultants. It is more theoretical than practical. Still, some nuts and bolts information is essential and will be part of the curriculum. My main focus is on federal elections, though references are made to state and local elections. We spend some time revisiting past campaigns and elections in order to contrast and explicate contemporary American electoral politics. The lectures and readings pay particular attention to the presidential elections of 2000, 2004, and 2008. These races are not only the most recent, but provide vivid details supplementing the theoretical and descriptive points raised in the course.
More specifically, the course has three primary objectives.  The first is to provide basic information about American elections and electioneering by examining both the rules of the game and the players. The second is to develop analytical skills with which to analyze complex relationships and phenomena. The third is to introduce you to the work of the political scientist by concentrating on paradigms and techniques of the discipline. My emphasis here is on the latter two goals.  You will have a variety of ways to demonstrate your mastery of course material: there will be two in-class examinations, a group presentation, and a research paper. How well you do on each of these will determine your grade in the course.

Textbooks:

Required
These are available at the University Co-Op bookstore.
1.    Daniel M. Shea and Michael John Burton. Campaign Craft. (4th edition): Praeger, 2010.
2.    Catherine Shaw. The Campaign Manager. (4th edition): Westview Press, 2010.

Optional
Also available at the Co-Op bookstore or online.
3.    Daron Shaw. The Race to 270. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2006.
4.    John Heilmann and Mark Halperin. Game Change. New York, NY: Harper, 2010.

COURSE OVERVIEW
This course reflects the beliefs expressed above. Our focus is on parties as electoral connections.  Some appreciable portion of the class contains non-American material that analyzes party system themes (allowing us to sample the variance in institutional forms and processes).  We do dwell on the American example, however, particularly in the latter stages of the course.  It is also worth observing that some important topics are not covered, or are covered only incidentally, due to time constraints.  You are invited to read extensively about one of these “missed” topics and write your paper on it.

Class meetings will run a maximum of three hours with a 15-minute break about two hours into class.  (A typical week consists of reading around 175 pages of material. Some weeks will be less and some will be considerably more).  At the beginning of each class, you will turn in a 1-2 page, typed, double-spaced overview of the week's readings.

The first two hours of class meetings will be run as a pro-seminar on various topics.  Within broad subject areas we will discuss several perspectives and contributions.  In this sense, the format of the class will be fairly typical; weekly reading assignments will serve as the basis for critical inquiries into a range of issues. Discussion leaders will be designated each week to provide critical overviews and facilitate discussions.

The third hour of the class is dedicated to aid the development and execution of students’ research papers. This design is to ensure that the course teaches you something about what it means to do research in political science. Most of us can readily identify the short-comings of the political science we read, but far fewer can pose interesting alternatives, formulate testable hypotheses and research designs, acquire pertinent data and carry out convincing tests and analyses. This course aims at focusing your abilities and talents on these endeavors as well as bringing you up to speed on the literature.


MATERIALS
Books
There are four assigned texts for the course.  Three are available at the University Co-Op bookstore.

1.    John Aldrich. Why Parties? University of Chicago Press.
2.    Anthony Downs. An Economic Theory of Democracy. Harper.
3.    Alan Ware. Political Parties and Party Systems, Oxford University Press.

The fourth is:

4.    John Bibby and Brian Schaffner, Politics, Parties, and Elections in America. 6th ed. Thompson Wadsworth.

You can order this online.

Description: The first third of the course covers parties from a theoretical and largely comparative perspective. The second two-thirds focuses on how the factors that aniimate parties and party systems come together in the American case. We will discuss the different elements of parties from the perspective of political scientists and practitioners.

Grading Policy: Students will be graded based on two in-class examinations and a single take-home essay (from an array of options)

Textbooks: There will be two textbooks:
Hershey, Marjorie, "Party Politics in America" (14th ed.)
Ware, Alan, "Political Parties and Party Systems".

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

Please check back for updates.

Prerequisite: Six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

Please check back for updates.

Prerequisite: Six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

Please check back for updates.

Please check back for updates.

Prerequisite: Six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

Please check back for updates.

Prerequisite: Six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

Government 312L satisfies the second half of the mandated six hours of government that every UT student must take.  Course covers analysis of varying topics concerned with American political institutions and policies, including the United States Constitution, and assumes basic knowledge of government from GOV 310L, which is a prerequiste. May be taken for credit only once.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

Government 312L satisfies the second half of the mandated six hours of government that every UT student must take.  Course covers analysis of varying topics concerned with American political institutions and policies, including the United States Constitution, and assumes basic knowledge of government from GOV 310L, which is a prerequiste. May be taken for credit only once.