Huntingdon College | Political Science | Courses | What's New?

Catalog description:
The influence, structure, and operation of the American party system; an evaluation of the major parties in the United States in historical context, and a consideration of factors weakening the role of parties today.

In this course you will be introduced to the concepts of political parties, voter behavior and the theories of competitive elections. We will examine some case studies of campaigns as well as some theory of the strategy of success. We shall explore the use of opinion polls, TV spots and other campaign instruments. Where time permits, we will discuss controversial current affairs, and question guest speakers. (I will try to balance speakers of both major parties, though this cannot be guaranteed.) I will present a view of the US parties and elections as contrasted with those of Western European social democratic states; and will help you to understand how the US system has changed over time. Equipment and time permitting, we shall also explore US and foreign parties on the World Wide Web, and critique the US campaign as seen on television and in the press.

The style of the course will be a reading-based seminar with students contributing essays, presentations and a research paper.

Learning Objectives:

• A brief introduction to types of political parties and types of party system
• Understanding of the differences between nomination and general election systems
• Knowledge of the major types of election system
• Understanding of voter behavior, and the limitations of measurement of public opinion
• Competence in the principles that guide democratic elections
• Critical thinking about historical and current challenges in US and other elections
• Critical comparison of West European elections and US elections

• Competent exam essays on types of political parties
• Competent exam essays on the types of election system
• Competent exam essays on public opinion and voter behavior
• Competent exam essays on the principles guiding democratic elections
• Critical discussion of the historical and contemporary challenges in US and other elections
• A competent research paper or set essay (judged by content, research, organization & writing)

1. Bibby, John F. 2003. Politics, Parties, and Elections in America. 5/e (Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth). Main text, succinct and organized, with broad coverage of party structures as well as campaigning.  Publisher's Description of Bibby.

2. Maisel, Louis Sandy. 1986. From Obscurity to Oblivion: Running in the Congressional Primary. Second Edition. U. Tenn. Press. Amusing but powerful case study: a professor runs for office in the Maine primary, then surveys other national primary campaigns to compare experiences.

3. Selected chapters from our companion anthologies:

Nivola & Rosenbloom (eds). 1999. Classic Readings in American Politics, 3/e. St. Martins/Worth.  The section on parties & elections (about four chapters) will be read.

Curtis, Michael (ed) 1983. The Great Political Theories, Volume 2. Expanded Edition. This is our Political Theory companion, with a few selections chosen for each PSC course. These readings are brief excerpts of the Greats; find each one via the Index and don't forget to read the editor's introduction to each chapter for a fine explanation of the readings in context.

4. A ring binder at the circulation desk on library reserve will hold other materials.  Examples are:

Asher, Herbert. 1998. "Analyzing and Interpreting Polls" chapter 8 in his Polling and the Public: What Every Citizen Should Know. Fourth Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press.

Ware, Alan. 1996. "Introduction" and "Conclusions" in his Political Parties and Party Systems. New York: Oxford University Press.

Nelson, Michael (ed.) 1997. The Elections of 1996 /1992. Washington D.C.: CQ Press. A fine series of readers on the elections. Selected chapters of both volumes.

Flanigan, William and Nancy Zingale. 1998. Political Behavior of the American Electorate. Ninth Edition. Washington DC: CQ Press. Out of print. Selected chapters.

Campaigns & Elections magazine, "Filling the War Chest." A fundraising anthology, brief and readable.

5. Current Affairs: order US News at a fine discount for the class. This will provide ammunition for you in answering questions about current affairs that occur during the term. For the magazines you supply me a mailing address to which the magazine will bill you directly.

Recommended, but no longer required: Traugott M. & Lavrakas, P. Voter's Guide to Election Polls, Wash. DC: CQ Press.

Behavior: you are expected to comply with the HC Honor Code and with specific rules placed on our Requirements page above.

HC Attendance Policy:

"All students are required to attend, at a minimum, 75% of the meetings of every class in which they are enrolled. Individual faculty may set more stringent attendance policies. Failure to meet minimum attendance requirements will result in a failing grade.
Students are expected to arrive for class on time.
Students are expected to provide adequate notification of expected absences, and to make up missed work or examinations according to the faculty member’s criteria."

HC's Accommodation of Special Needs:

  "Faculty at Huntingdon College make every effort to accommodate unique and special needs of students with respect to speech, hearing, vision, seating, or other possible adaptions.  Please notify the Disability Services Intake Coordinator, Ms. Camilla Irvin,  as soon as possible of requested accommodations."