Politics and Elections
GOVT 232
Fall 2006
| Section:
01
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This course allows students to analyze and evaluate whether or not parties and elections function as they are supposed to do according to democratic theory. Do they aggregate the opinions of a majority so to create a mandate for governing, or is something else going on? Does the majority speak, or is it "spoken to" by a clever group of managers and consultants? Does the dog wag the tail, or the tail wag the dog? Students will read, discuss, and debate classic and new scholarship in the field of parties and elections, from James Madison to James Thurber. They will learn the secrets of polling and advertising. All of this will be done within the context of congressional elections in general, and this fall's congressional elections in particular. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Quantitative Reasoning, Writing |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS GOVT |
| Course Format: Lecture/Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: GOVT151 |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CIVI-MN)(GOVT)(GOVT-American) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Aldrich, John H., WHY PARTIES?: THE ORIGIN AND TRANSFORMATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN AMERICA
Fiorina, Abrams, and Pope, CULTURE WAR? THE MYTH OF A POLARIZED AMERICA
Jacobson, Gary C., THE POLITICS OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS, 6th edition
West, Darrel M., AIR WARS: TELEVISION ADVERTISING IN ELECTIONS CAMPAIGNS, 1952-2004
Plus a "course pack": a collection of articles for this class.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Three papers, take-home final exam. |
| Instructor(s): Bauer,Monica E. Times: ..T.R.. 01:10PM-02:30PM; Location: PAC107; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 25 | | SR major: 5 | JR major: 10 | | |
| Seats Available: 2 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 4 | FR: X |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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