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Political Science Courses for SPS.
PSC 311 for SPS: Voters, Parties & Elections, Agenda
Taught during Fall Session III (on Thursdays): November - December 2006
By Jeremy Lewis.  Revised 15 Oct.  Links have now been adjusted for SPS folder.
Agenda, Resources, Syllabus, Tracking Progress, Weekly Objectives

Bibby 1: Parties & Politics | Publisher's Description of Bibby.

Learning Objectives:

to understand the roles and functions of political parties in a democracy

to perceive the real or apparent contradictions of Americans' views of political parties

to distinguish between parties and interest groups

Expected Outcomes:

a better understanding of the varied roles played by political parties in the electorate, in organizations and in government

a better perception of the paradoxes of Americans' attitudes to political parties

a distinction between parties and interest groups

Bibby 2: Party Battle

Learning Objectives:

to understand the competition among American political parties

to perceive the changing directions of political parties over time

knowledge of the five historical party systems in the US

critical thinking about the current party system

thinking about the role of minor parties in the US

Expected Outcomes:

better understanding of the competition among American political parties

better perception of the changing directions of political parties over time

deeper knowledge of the five historical party systems in the US

critical discussion about the current party system

critical discussion about the role of minor parties in the US

Bibby 3: Characteristics of American Party System

Learning Objectives:

to understand the nature of American two party competition

to perceive the decentralized power structures of American political parties

to learn about the need for broadly based support in US elections

to understand the loose connections between party and policy programs in the US

to perceive the loose connections between members and parties

Expected Outcomes:

deeper understanding of the nature of American two party competition

better perception of the decentralized power structures of American political parties

deeper learning about the need for broadly based support in US elections

deeper understanding of the loose connections between party and policy programs in the US

better perception of the loose connections between members and parties

Bibby 4: Party Organizations

Learning Objectives:

to understand the nature of national parties

to learn the state, county and local structures of American political parties

critical thinking about the effects of party organization

Expected Outcomes:

deeper understanding of the nature of national parties

better knowledge of the state, county and local structures of American political parties

critical discussion about the effects of party organization

Bibby 5: Nominations for State and Congressional Offices

Learning Objectives:

to understand the evolution and regulation of the direct primary election

to perceive the value of preprimary endorsements and competition in primaries

to think critically about voter turnout in primary elections

to think critically about the direct primary and the general election and parties

Expected Outcomes:

understanding of the evolution and regulation of the direct primary election

perception of the value of preprimary endorsements and competition in primaries

critical discussion about voter turnout in primary elections

critical discussion about the direct primary and the general election and parties

Test: Essay Questions covering all materials to this point.

Bibby 6: Presidential Nominations

Learning Objectives:

to understand the methods of delegate selection

to perceive the phases of the nominating process

to think critically about the ongoing process of party reform

to think critically about participation by voters and the media in presidential nominating politics

to think critically about a lengthy, candidate-centered, primary focused and media oriented process

Expected Outcomes:

deeper understanding of the methods of delegate selection

clearer perception of the phases of the nominating process

critical discussion about the ongoing process of party reform

critical discussion about participation by voters and the media in presidential nominating politics

critical discussion about a lengthy, candidate-centered, primary focused and media oriented process

Lectures: The Nomination System: The Primary Election Campaign

Maisel's '78 race, Lectures: Introduction | Maine's First District | Maps | Census Profile, 2003 |

Decision to Run | Structure & Organization | Finance | Strategy | Tactics | My Conclusions

Learning Objectives:

understanding via a case study of the nature of the primary process

perception of the organization, strategy and tactics needed in primary campaigns

critical thinking in application of the case study to the findings of Maisel's national survey of candidates.

Expected Outcomes:

deeper understanding via a case study of the nature of the primary process

clearer perception of the organization, strategy and tactics needed in primary campaigns

critical discussion in application of the case study to the findings of Maisel's national survey of candidates.

Bibby 7: General Elections

Learning Objectives:

understanding of the extension of the suffrage and direct election of the Senate

distinction between party column versus office bloc ballot forms

knowledge of the financing of US elections

understanding of the electoral college

understanding of the general election campaign

critical thinking about the campaign and governance

Expected Outcomes:

deeper understanding of the extension of the suffrage and direct election of the Senate

knowledge of the distinction between party column versus office bloc ballot forms

deeper knowledge of the financing of US elections

better understanding of the electoral college

better understanding of the general election campaign

critical discussion of the campaign and governance

Lecture: Public Opinion Polling

Learning Objectives:

understanding of the role of opinion polling in a democracy

knowledge of the relationship of a structured, random sample of respondents to the universe of the public

critical thinking about the problems of opinion poll questions and answer categories

critical analysis of opinion poll data

Expected Outcomes:

better understanding of the role of opinion polling in a democracy

deeper knowledge of the relationship of a structured, random sample of respondents to the universe of the public

critical discussion of the problems of opinion poll questions and answer categories

critical discussion of opinion poll data

Lecture: Campaign Debates

Learning Objectives:

knowledge of the modern history of campaign debates

critical understanding of the value and limitations of campaign debates

Expected Outcomes:

deeper knowledge of the modern history of campaign debates

critical discussion of the value and limitations of campaign debates

Bibby 8: Political Parties and Voters

Learning Objectives:

to understand the difficulties of voter turnout

to observe the fluctuations over time in party identification of voters

to understand the appeal of candidates and issues

to explore the social and economic bases of voting

critical thinking about the causes of election results

Expected Outcomes:

understanding of the difficulties of voter turnout

observation of the fluctuations over time in party identification of voters

understanding of the appeal of candidates and issues

knowledge of the social and economic bases of voting

critical discussion of the causes of election results

Bibby 9: Parties in Government

Learning Objectives:

knowledge of the role of the President as party leader

understanding of the interactions of party with President and Congress

understanding of the interactions of party with the executive and judicial branches

critical thinking about the strengths and weaknesses of party influence on government

Expected Outcomes:

deeper knowledge of the role of the President as party leader

better understanding of the interactions of party with President and Congress

better understanding of the interactions of party with the executive and judicial branches

critical discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of party influence on government

Bibby 10: Conclusion

Learning Objectives:

critical thinking about the nature of American parties as distinctive, durable, adaptive and useful

Expected Outcomes:

critical discussion of the nature of American parties as distinctive, durable, adaptive and useful

Lecture: Spatial Theory of Parties: one and two Dimensions of European and American Parties

Learning Objectives:

understanding of the spatial theory of parties in one and two dimensions

Expected Outcomes:

some ability to locate American parties in political space

Lecture: Responsible Parties to New Electoral Order

Learning Objectives:

to understand the concept of responsible parties and its difficult application to the US

to think critically about the new electoral order, or current party system

Expected Outcomes:

better understanding of the concept of responsible parties and its difficult application to the US

critical discussion about the new electoral order, or current party system

Papers Due, with presentations of papers: 5 pages, with proper organization & citations.

Learning Objectives:

careful analysis of parties and elections

organized writing about parties and elections

Expected Outcomes:

a research paper demonstrating careful analysis of parties and elections

a research paper demonstrating organized writing about parties and elections

FINAL EXAM. Comprehensive: pages of one-paragraph answers and 1-page essays. Questions.

Learning Objectives:

factual and conceptual knowledge of course materials

some integration of course materials

critical thinking about key concepts in the class

Expected Outcomes:

demonstration of factual and conceptual knowledge of course materials in paragraph answers

demonstration of some integration of course materials in essays

critical thinking about key concepts in the class demonstrated in essays