Lehrstuhl für Politische Wissenschaft III Jessica Fortin, Ph. D. Research Seminar, Herbstsemester 2010: COMPARATIVE ELECTORAL SYSTEMS

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1 LehrstuhlfürPolitischeWissenschaftIII JessicaFortin,Ph.D. A5,6,Zi Mannheim Tel.0621/ Fax ResearchSeminar,Herbstsemester2010: COMPARATIVEELECTORALSYSTEMS Termin:Tuesdays10h15-13h30 Room:A5,6BauteilB-B318 COURSEDESCRIPTION The seminar has two main goals: 1) to introduce you tothemain research topics in the electoral institutions subfield of comparative politics, at the macro level, and 2) to help you develop your research design and academic writing skills. One of the purposes of this research seminar is to introduce some of the major theoretical and conceptual building blocks concerning electoral institutions, the emergence, change, effects and related measurement. The course proceeds thematically, with participants discussing a subset of the pertinent scholarly literature every week. Discussionshouldfocusonamajortheoreticalorempiricalcontroversy.Keymethodologicalissues areaddressed inthe contextof eachtheme: theemphasis willbeplacedon causality andfinding outwhatmakesforgoodandconvincingarguments. Thecourseisagraduateseminar,soclasstimewillbedevotedexclusivelytothediscussionofthe assigned readings, rather than to lecturing. This means participants should read the assigned material for the week before class. We will focus on certain key elements in conducting and evaluatingsocialscienceanalysis.inparticular,wewillconsider: Theimportanceoftheory/modeldevelopmentbasedonclearly-drawnmechanisms Generatingtestableimplications Linkinghypothesesandtheory Theimportanceofassumptions Effectiveapproachestopresentingyourwork ClasswillmeeteveryTuesdayfrom10h15to13h30inRoomA5,6BauteilB-B318startingon until TheseminaranditsevaluationwillbeconductedinEnglish. COURSESCHEDULE: 1. September7:Introduction 2. September14:DemocraticInstitutions:CompetingViews 3. September21:IdentifyingTypesofElectoralSystems 4. September28:MeasuringTypesofElectoralSystems ElectoralsystemEffects 5. October5:TheNumberofPoliticalParties 6. October12:SubstantiveRepresentation 7. October19:DescriptiveRepresentation 8. October26:Fraud/Democratization 9. November2:CitizenBehaviorandAttitudes 10. November9:SpecialCases:Mixed-MemberSystems ElectoralSystemsasDependentVariables 11. November16:ElectoralSystemDesign/Birth 12. November23:ElectoralSystemReform/Change 13. November30:StretchingtheRules:Gerrymandering,Redistricting,malapportionment Conclusions 14. December7:Arethere better typesofelectoralinstitutions?howdoweknow? 1

2 REQUIREMENTS: Thefollowingisrequiredofallstudentsenrolledinthiscourse: 1)Toattendallclassmeetings; 2)Todoallrequiredreadings; 3)Toparticipateactivelyintheclassdiscussions; 4)Toprepareweeklyshorthandouts; 5)ToselectbySeptember21oneof4tracks; Gradebreakdown: -Participation:20% -Weeklyhandouts:10% -Trackoptiontotal:70% TRACK1:3DiscussionPapers(20%each)+Discussionleadership(10%) DiscussionLeadership Youwillserveastheclassdiscussionleaderonceduringthesemester.AfterIgiveashort,general overview of the week s topic, we will discuss the readings individually. You will briefly(in 2-3 minutes) introduce each reading by reminding the class of the author s main argument and the method(s) he/she uses to support that argument. Then you will lead the discussion by raising questionsaboutthereading.thinkofthisasanextensionofyourone-pagereview dealwiththe sameissues,butinmoredetail. Discussionpapers Three papers of 7-8 pages each about 3 of the weekly readings(your pick among required or recommended). The papers should be literature reviews of the readings witha twist. That is, they present a sketch of the major theories(explanations) and the results of your own assessment, focusedaroundaquestionofyourchoice(thinkaboutsomethingtoreallyunitethereadingstoa commontheme).someofthebestexamplesofthistypeofliteraturereviewofseveralbooksappear inworldpoliticsandtheannualreviewofpoliticalscience.youmaywanttolookatsomeofthe reviewessaysbeforeyouwriteyourown.youshouldaddressthe3followingpoints. 1) What are the authors trying to demonstrate? Summarize the arguments using the following criteria: a. Whatarethemainhypothesesdefendedbytheauthors?Aretheresub-hypotheses? b. Whatarethemainvariables?Whatisthetheoreticalargumentthatlinksthevariables? c. What level of analysis is used? (Micro or macro) Who performs the action: people, institutions,states? d. Whatisthetypeofanalysisused(Deductive/inductive) e. What kind of method is the author employing?(case studies, comparison of many cases, qualitative,quantitative,amixofmethods) 2) Evaluate the theory: are these pieces of literature convincing? Below are some examples of evaluationcriteriatohelpyoumakeyourpoint.youdon tneedtodealwithalltheseitemsatonce, justthoseyoufeelarerelevanttoyourargument. a. Originality:newfindings?Newtheory? b. simplicity/parsimony(usesmanyorfewvariablestomakeapoint?) c. Coherent/internallyconsistent(nopropositionsthatcontradicteachother) d. pertinent/useful(youcanapplythistorealworldcases) e. Predictive(youcanmakepredictionsusingthistheory,andifthepredictionscomingfromit arevalidatedbyfacts) f. Isthisgeneralizabletomanycases/countries,orjustapplicabletoasingle/fewcases? g. Doesitseemnormativeorobjective?(Dotheauthorsspeakabouthowthingsareinthereal world,orhowthingsshouldbe?) h. Are the variables adequately conceptualized and operationalized? Are the concepts clear? Werethemeasureschosentoevaluateconceptsadequate? 2

3 i. Was the choice of design acceptable, or could you recommend a better way to test the theory? 3)Whatlinksthearticlestogether?Whichofthetheoriesproposedismostadequateandwhy,at leastwithrespecttothequestionyouhaveposed.keepinmindthatmaturescholarshipasksnotso muchwhethersomeoneisrightorwrongbutunderwhatkindsofcircumstancesatheoryisuseful... Papersareduenolaterthanclasstime.Icannotacceptlatepapersbecausethatwouldputthose whocompliedwiththedeadlineatadisadvantage(e.g.aftertheclassdiscussiononthetopic).if youthinkyouwillfailtomeetthedeadline,thenyoushouldplantosubmitalaterpaper.youhave controloverwhichpapersyouchoosetowrite,andthatflexibilityshouldbesufficienttomakesure you plan your schedule so that all your deadlines do not coincide. You should write at least one paperbeforeoctober19. TRACK2:LiteratureReview(70%)(DeadlineDecember17) The literature review should be a synthesis on a topic you have negotiated with me, of course, related to this class(e.g. If you decide to write a literature review, you should meet with me to discuss the topic). Your paper should examine the relevant literature with a critical viewpoint regardingtheoreticalandempiricaldevelopments.youshoulddiscussthestrengthsandlimitations of methodological or conceptual conventions in that literature, as well as the importance and relevanceofthequestionsaroundwhichitisorganized.yourliteraturereviewshouldthereforehave a critical core, and not just be descriptive. It goes without saying that I expect you to expand significantly on the required readings. Recommended readings may be a good start for further reading,butthereviewshouldnotbelimitedtothereadingsinthesyllabus.becreative. TRACK3:ResearchDesign(70%)(DeadlineDecember17) Writearesearchdesignforastudyrelatedtothecomparativeanalysisofelectoralinstitutions.You should only pick this option if you are actually planning to write your thesis in this field. The researchdesignshouldbewrittenintheformofathesisproposalandshouldincludethefollowing aspects: 1. A brief discussion of your proposed thesis substantive importance; Why is resolving this questionimportant? 2. A brief and purposive review of the relevant literature. Your review should set up the questionanddemonstratetheneedforresearchofthetypeyouareproposing(sonotjusta laundrylistofwhatisoutthere,seeabovefortips); 3. A clearand concise presentation of yourthesis and outlineof your theoretical framework. This includes the specification of the dependent and independent variables (definition, operationalizationandmeasurementifapplicable); 4. Specification of the theory's principal (testable) hypotheses: explain the theory, or the rationale,thatlinksyourindependenttothedependentvariables; 5. Discussionofyourcaseselectionifapplicable.Whythesecountries/years? 6. Discussion of datathat you plan to collect, or use,and the method you are proposing to employ(trytobeasconcreteaspossible). 7. Discuss limitations of your reliance on the cases and the data you will use. Acknowledge what kinds of evidence would disconfirm your hypotheses, also, the limitations of your researchdesigningeneral.canyoureallydemonstratecausality?whynot? TRACK4:ResearchPaper(BettersuitedtoPhDStudents)(70%)(DeadlineDecember17) Writeanoriginalresearchpaperonanalreadyreasonablywell-designedresearchproposal(whichI should approve ahead of time, by, say, October 19). The topic should be directly related to this course.thestructureoftheresearchpapershouldbemodeledonanacademicarticlefromapeerreviewedjournal,withabout20-24pages.youshouldchoosethisoptiononlyifyoucanreasonably collect,prepareandanalyzethedataandwriteuptheresultsbydecember17th. 3

4 READINGS The reading load for this course might seem heavy at first sight. I have selected sections from a variousamountofarticlesandbookstocovertopicsinordertopermitinterestingcomparisonsand some disagreement on certain issues. The secret to cope with a bulk of reading is to skim strategically:knowinghowtoskimreadingsisanimportantprofessionalskillforstudents(youcan t realistically be expected to read ALL the materials for each class you are taking, right?). In most cases,youcanskimtheempiricaldetails,especiallyiftheyareburiedincomplexformulas.forthis, youneedtoreadpurposefully,andlookoutfortheimportant stuff inatext: Thecentralquestionorpuzzletheauthorseekstoanswerorresolve; Thedefinitionofthedependentvariable,orwhattheauthorwantstoexplain; Themainindependentvariablestheauthor(s)thinksareatwork; Thetheory,ortherationale,thatlinksindependenttodependentvariables;whyshould certainthingsberelated? Theauthor sresearchdesign:thetypesofevidenceusedtotesthypotheses,wherethe evidencecomesfrom,andifyouareconvincedbyitall. WeeklyShortReviews These should be concise reviews of the current week s reading. Keep them to one page, singlespacedmaximum.yourshortreviewsdonotneedtobeinacontinuoustextform,theycanbea series of points. These are due in class each week, beginning on September 14. Because they are meanttoencourageyoutothinkaboutthereadingsbeforeyoucometoclass,nolatereviewswill beaccepted. Inyourreviews,youshould: 1. Summarizethemainargumentsofthereadingsfortheweek.Whatarethereadingsabout? Howdotheyrelatetoeachother?(Keepthispartshort halfofthepage,maximum) 2. Critiquethereadings considermethodology,logic,biases,omissions,etc.dotheauthors provewhattheyproposeconvincingly?whyorwhynot? 3. Identifysomequestionsthatyouwouldliketodiscussinclass. ILIAS IwillmakeallthematerialsyouwillneedforthiscourseontheportalILIAS,withinthelimitsof legality,ofcourse. Sprechstunde TBA WISDOMFORGRADUATESTUDENTS Themostcommoncharacteristicamongstudentswhoarenotdoingwellingraduateschoolislack ofcommunication.ifyouneedtoturninsomethinglateformyclass,pleasejustletmeknow,we willseewhatisreasonable.ifyoufeellost,dependingonyourbackgroundinpoliticalscience,ican proposetextbooksto fill the gaps. And if you are havingproblems withtheprogram or with this class,justcometalkwithme. LATEPAPERPOLICY I understand that printers break, dogs/uncles/grandmas sometimes die, and hard drives often fail aroundfinalpaperduedates.iwillaccepttrack3,4,5,paperslate,buteachlatedaywillcostyou 5% of your grade.(weekly review papers and discussion papers cannot be handed in late for the abovecitedreasons). 4

5 CourseReadings: WEEK1(September7):Introduction Shugart, Matthew S Comparative Electoral Systems Research: The Maturation of a FieldandNewChallengesAhead.InMichaelGallagherandPaulMitchell(Eds.)ThePolitics ofelectoralsystemsoxford:oxforduniversitypress(chapter2,pp.27-56) WEEK2(September14):DemocraticInstitutions:CompetingViews Requiredreadings: Lijphart, Arend Patterns of Democracy.NewHaven: Yale University Press.(Chapters 1-3,pp.9-47) Bingham Powell Jr. G Elections as Instruments of Democracy: Majoritarian and ProportionalVisions.NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress.(Chapters1-2,pp.3-19) Riker,WilliamH.1982.LiberalismagainstPopulismProspectHeights:WavelandPress. Recommended(butnotrequired): McDonald,MichaelD.,SilviaM.Mendes,andIanBudge.2004.WhatAreElectionsFor? ConferringtheMedianMandate.BritishJournalofPoliticalScience34:1-26. Arrow, Kenneth Social Choice and Individual Values. New Haven: Yale University Press. WEEK3(September21):IdentifyingTypesofElectoralSystems Requiredreadings: Norris,Pippa.2004.ElectoralEngineering.VotingRulesandPoliticalBehavior.Cambridge: CambridgeUniversityPress.(Chapter2,pp.39-66). Golder, Matt Democratic Electoral Systems around the World, Electoral Studies24: Cox, Garry Making Votes Count: Strategic Coordination in the World s Electoral Systems,NewYork:CambridgeUniversityPress.(Chapter3) Recommended(butnotrequired): International IDEA. Electoral System Design: The New International IDEA Handbook, chapters2-3(pp ) WEEK4(September28):MeasuringTypesofElectoralSystemsandtheirEffects Requiredreadings: Gallagher,Michael.1991.Proportionality,DisproportionalityandElectoralSystems.Electoral Studies.10(1): Laakso,Markku,Taagepera,Rein.1979.The Effective"NumberofParties:AMeasurewith ApplicationtoWestEurope.ComparativePoliticalStudies,12(1):3-27. Dalton, Russell J The Quantity and the Quality of Party Systems: Party System PolarizationandItsConsequences.ComparativePoliticalStudies41(7): Teorell, Jan, Lindstedt, Catharina Measuring Electoral Systems. Political Research Quarterly63(2): Bogaards, Matthijs Counting Parties and Identifying Dominant Party Systems in Africa.EuropeanJournalofPoliticalResearch43: Recommended(butnotrequired): Lijphart,Arend.1999.PatternsofDemocracy.NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress.Chapter5 (partysystems),8(electoralsystems). Some(great)datasources: TheComparativeStudyofElectoralSystems ThorstenBeck,PhilipE.KeeferandGeorgeR.Clarke.Databaseofpoliticalinstitutions ~pagePK: ~piPK: ~theSitePK:469382,00.html 5

6 KlausArmingeonetal.ComparativePoliticalDataSetI(23OECDCountries),Comparative Political Data SetII(28Post Communist Countries), ComparativePolitical Data Set III(35 OECDCountriesand/orEU-membercountries) Golder, Matt Democratic Electoral Systems around the World, Electoral Studies24: ELECTORALSYSTEMEFFECTS WEEK5(October5):TheNumberofParties Requiredreadings: Riker,W.H.1982.TheTwo-PartySystemandDuverger slaw:anessayonthehistoryof PoliticalScience.AmericanPoliticalScienceReview76(4): Norris,Pippa.2004.ElectoralEngineering.VotingRulesandPoliticalBehavior.Cambridge: CambridgeUniversityPress.(Chapters4-5,pp ). Cox,GaryandAmorimNeto,Octavio Electoralinstitutions,cleavagestructures,and thenumberofparties. AmericanJournalofPoliticalScience41(1): Clark,William,andMattGolder RehabilitatingDuverger stheory:testingthe MechanicalandStrategicModifyingEffectsofElectoralLaws ComparativePoliticalStudies 39: Recommended(butnotrequired): Cox,Garry.1997.MakingVotesCount:StrategicCoordinationintheWorld selectoral Systems,NewYork:CambridgeUniversityPress.PartyIV Ordeshook,P.andShvetsova,O.(1994) Ethnicheterogeneity,districtmagnitude,andthe numberofparties,americanjournalofpoliticalscience38(1): Moser, Robert G Electoral Systems and the Number of Parties in Postcommunist States. WorldPolitics51(3): Lipset,SeymourM.,andSteinRokkan CleavageStructures,PartySystems,andVoter Alignments: An Introduction, in Party Systems and Voter Alignments. S.M. Lipset and S. Rokkan(eds.).NewYork:TheFreePress.pp WEEK6(October12):SubstantiveRepresentation/GovernmentandPolicyOutcomes Requiredreadings: Bingham Powell Jr. G Elections as Instruments of Democracy: Majoritarian and ProportionalVisions.NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress.(Chapters3,pp.47-68,6-9,pp ). Lijphart,Arend.1999.PatternsofDemocracy.NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress.(Chapter6, and13,pp and ) Iversen,Torben,andDavidSoskice.2006.ElectoralInstitutionsandthePolitics ofcoalitions:whysomedemocraciesredistributemorethanothers."americanpolitical ScienceReview100(2),pp Golder,Matt.2003.ExplainingVariationintheSuccessofExtremeRightPartiesinWestern Europe.ComparativePoliticalStudies36(4): Crepaz,Markus,M.L.1996.ConsensusversusMajoritarianDemocracy.PoliticalInstitutions andtheirimpactonmacroeconomicperformanceandindustrialdisputes.comparative PoliticalStudies29(1):4-26. Recommended(butnotrequired): Katz,RichardS.1980.AtheoryofPartiesandElectoralSystems.Baltimore:theJohns HopkinsUniversityPress.(Chapter2-3,pp.17-59). Glasgow,GarretandR.MichaelAlvarez VoterBehaviorandtheElectoralContextof GovernmentFormation. ElectoralStudies24: Golder,SonaNadenichek Pre-ElectoralCoalitionFormationinParliamentary Democracies. BritishJournalofPoliticalScience36:

7 WEEK7(October19):DescriptiveRepresentation(Women,Minorities) Requiredreadings: Norris,Pippa.2004.ElectoralEngineering.VotingRulesandPoliticalBehavior.Cambridge: CambridgeUniversityPress.(Chapters8-9,pp ). Paxton, Pamela, Hughes, Melanie M. and Matthew A. Painter Growth in Women s Political Representation: A Longitudinal Exploration of Democracy, Electoral System and GenderQuotas.EuropeanJournalofPoliticalResearch49: Matland, Richard E., Studlar, Donley T The Contagion of Women Candidates in Single-Member District and Proportional Representation Electoral Systems: Canada and Norway.TheJournalofPolitics58(3): Schmidt, Gregory D The election of Women in list PR Systems: Testing the ConventionalWisdom.ElectoralStudies28: Recommended(butnotrequired): Rule, Wilma Women s Underrepresentation and Electoral Systems. PS: Political ScienceandPolitics27(4): Salmond,Rob ProportionalRepresentationandFemaleParliamentarians. Legislative StudiesQuarterly31(2): McAllister,Ian,Studlar,DonelyT.2002.ElectoralSystemsandWomen srepresentation:a Long-TermPerspective.Representation39(1):3-14 Moser,RobertG heeffectsofelectoralsystemsonwomen srepresentationinpost- CommunistStates.ElectoralStudies20(3): Freedman, Jane Increasing Women s Political Representation: The Limits of ConstitutionalReform.WestEuropeanPolitics27(1): WEEK8(October26):Fraud/Corruption Requiredreadings: Carey,JohnandMatthewS.Shugart IncentivestoCultivateaPersonalVote:A RankOrderingofElectoralFormulas. ElectoralStudies14: Chang, Eric C., Golden, Miriam A Electoral Systems, District Magnitude and Corruption.BritishJournalofPoliticalScience37(1): Birch, Sarah Electoral Systems and Electoral Misconduct. Comparative Political Studies,Volume40Number12,December2007,pp Golden,Miriam.2003.ElectoralConnections:TheEffectsofthePersonalVoteonPolitical Patronage,BureaucracyandLegislationinPostwarItaly.BritishJournalofPoliticalScience 33: Persson,Thorsten,G.Tabellini,andF.Trebbi.2003.ElectoralRulesandCorruption.Journal oftheeuropeaneconomicassociation1(4): Recommended: Samuels,DJ.1999.IncentivestoCultivateaPartyVoteinCandidate-centricSystems: EvidencefromBrazil.ComparativePoliticalStudies32: WEEK9(November2):CitizenBehaviorandAttitudes Requiredreadings: Norris,ElectoralEngineering,(Chapters6-7,pp ) Blais,Andre,andKeesAarts ElectoralSystemsandTurnout. ActaPolitica41(2): Endersby,JamesW.,Kreickhaus,JonathanT.2008.TurnoutaroundtheGlobe:The InfluenceofElectoralInstitutionsonNationalVoterParticipation, Electoral Studies27: Geys,Benny ExplainingVoterTurnout:AReviewofAggregate-levelResearch. ElectoralStudies25(4): Franklin,MarkN.1999.ElectoralEngineeringandCross-NationalTurnoutDifferences:What RoleforCompulsoryVoting?BritishJournalofPoliticalScience29(1):

8 Recommended(butnotrequired): Singh,Shane.2010.ContradictoryCalculi:DifferencesinIndividual sturnoutdecisions acrosselectoralsystems.politicalresearchquarterly(forthcoming). Banducci,Susan,Karp,Jeffrey.2009.ElectoralSystems,EfficacyandVoterTurnout.InH.D. Klingermann,TheComparativeStudyofElectoralSystems.Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress. Blais,Andre WhatAffectsVoterTurnout? AnnualReviewofPoliticalScience9: Huber,JohnD.,Kernell,Georgia,andEduardoL.Leoni.2005.InstitutionalContext, CognitiveResourcesandPartyAttachmentsacrossDemocracies.PoliticalAnalysis13: WEEK10(November9):Specialtype:Mixed-MemberSystems Shugart, Matthew S. and Martin P. Wattenberg (Eds.) Mixed-Member Electoral Systems:TheBestofBothWorlds?Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress.Chapters1-2. Massicotte, Louis, and André Blais Mixed Electoral Systems: A Conceptual and EmpiricalSurvey. ElectoralStudies18(3); Moser,RobertG.andEthanScheiner MixedElectoralSystemsandElectoralSystem Effects: Controlled Comparison and Cross-NationalAnalysis. Electoral Studies 23(3): Bowler,ShaunandDavidM.Farrell WeKnowWhichOneWePreferbutWeDon t Really Know Why: The Curious Case of Mixed Member Electoral Systems. The British JournalofPoliticsandInternationalRelations8(3): Recommended(butnotrequired): Pekkanen, R., Benjamin Nyblade, and E.S. Krauss Electoral Incentives in Mixed- MemberSystems:Party,Posts,andZombiePoliticiansinJapan. AmericanPoliticalScience Review100(2): Ferrara, Federico, and Erik S. Herron Going It Alone? Strategic Entry under Mixed ElectoralRules. AmericanJournalofPoliticalScience49(1): ELECTORALSYSTEMSASDEPENDENTVARIABLES WEEK11(November16):ElectoralSystemDesignforNewDemocracies Requiredreadings: Andrews,JosephineT.,Jackman,RobertW.2005.StrategicFools:Electoralrulechoice underextremeuncertainty.electoralstudies24: Lijphart.Arend.1996 ConstitutionalChoicesforNewDemocracies, inlarrydiamondand MarcF.Plattner(eds).TheGlobalResurgenceofDemocracy.Baltimore,TheJohnsHopkins UniversityPress,pp Lardeyret,Guy TheProblemwithPR, inlarrydiamondandmarcf.plattner(eds). The Global Resurgence of Democracy. Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp Taagepera,Rein.1998.HowElectoralSystemsMatterforDemocratization.Democratization. 5(3): Barkan,JoelD.,Densham,PaulJ.,Rushton,Gerard.2006.SpaceMatters:DesigningBetter Electoral Systems for Emerging Democracies. American Journal of Political Science 50(4): Recommended(butnotrequired): Reilly,Benjamin.2002.ElectoralSystemsforDividedSocieties.JournalofDemocracy13(2): Gabel, Matthew J The Political Consequences of Electoral Laws in the 1990 HungarianElection.ComparativePolitics27:2 Mozaffar, Shaheen, James R. Scarritt, and Glen Galaich Electoral Institutions, Ethnopolitical Cleavages and Party Systems in Africa's Emerging Democracies. American PoliticalScienceReview97(3):

9 Birch, Sarah Single-Member District Electoral Systems and Democratic Transition. Electoralstudies.24: Horowitz, Donald. L Electoral Systems: A Primer for Decision Makers, Journal of Democracy14(4): WEEK12(November23):ElectoralSystemReform Requiredreadings: Norris,Pippa.1995.Introduction:ThePoliticsofElectoralReform.InternationalPolitical ScienceReview16(1):3-8. Dunleavy,Patrick,Margetts,Helen.1995.UnderstandingtheDynamicsofElectoralReform. InternationalPoliticalScienceReview16(1):9-29. Boix,Carles."SettingtheRulesoftheGame:TheChoiceofElectoralSystemsinAdvanced Democracies."AmericanPoliticalScienceReview93,no.3(1999): Katz, Richard Why are there so Many(or so Few) Electoral Reforms? In Michael Gallagher and Paul Mitchell (Eds.) The Politics of Electoral Systems Oxford: Oxford UniversityPress(Chapter3,pp.57-79). Benoit,Kenneth.2007.ElectoralLawsasPoliticalConsequences:ExplainingtheOriginsand ChangeofElectoralInstitutions.AnnualReviewofPoliticalScience10(1): Recommended(butnotrequired): Colomer,JosepM.2005.It spartiesthatchooseelectoralsystems(or,duverger slaws UpsideDown).PoliticalStudies53:1-21. Benoit,Kenneth.2004.ModelsofElectoralSystemChange.ElectoralStudies23: Benoit, Kenneth, Jacqueline Hayden Institutional Change and Persistence: The EvolutionofPoland'sElectoralSystem, TheJournalofPolitics66(2): Sakamoto, Takayuki Explaining Electoral Reform: Japan versus Italy and New Zealand.PartyPolitics5(4): Scheiner,Ethan.2008.DoeselectoralSystemReformWork?ElectoralSystemLessonsfrom Reformsofthe1990s.AnnualReviewofPoliticalScience.11: WEEK 13 (November 30): Stretching the rules: Gerrymandering, Redistricting, Malapportionment Requiredreadings: Robert S. Erikson Malapportionment, Gerrymandering, and Party Fortunes in CongressionalElectionsTheAmericanPoliticalScienceReview,Vol.66,No.4(Dec.,1972), pp Katz, Richard S Malapportionment and Gerrymandering in Other Countries an Alternative Electoral Systems, in Mark E Rush(ed.) Voting Rights and Redistricting in the UnitedStates.Greenwood Samuels, David, Snyder, Richard The Value of a Vote: Malapportionment in ComparativePerspective.BritishJournalofPoliticalScience31: Gelman,Andrew,King,Gary.1994.EnhancingDemocracythroughLegislativeRedistricting. AmericanPoliticalScienceReview88(3):

10 Recommended(butnotrequired): Barreto,MattA.etal.2004.TheMobilizingEffectofMajority-MinorityDistrictsonLatino Turnout.AmericanPoliticalScienceReview98:1 CONCLUSIONS WEEK14:(December7):Arethere better typesofelectoralinstitutions?howdoweknow? Requiredreadings: Norris,ElectoralEngineering,Chapter3. Blais,Andre,andMarcAndreBodet DoesProportionalRepresentationFosterCloser Congruence Between Citizens and Policy Makers? Comparative Political Studies 39(10): Powell, G. Bingham Election Lawsand RepresentativeGovernments: BeyondVotes andseats. BritishJournalofPoliticalScience36(2): Doorenspleet, R Electoral Systems and Democratic Quality: Do Mixed Systems CombinetheBestortheWorstofBothWorlds?AnExplorativeQuantitativeCross-National Study. ActaPolitica40(1): Horowitz, Donald. L Electoral Systems: A Primer for Decision Makers, Journal of Democracy14(4): Recommended(butnotrequired): Farrell,DavidM.,andIanMcAllister VoterSatisfactionandElectoralSystems:Does PreferentialVotinginCandidate-CentredSystemsMakeaDifference? EuropeanJournalof PoliticalResearch45(5): Anderson, Christopher J., and Christine A. Guillory Political Institutions and Satisfaction with Democracy: A Cross-National Analysis of Consensus and Majoritarian Systems. AmericanPoliticalScienceReview91(1): Curtice,John,Shively,W.Philips.2009.WhoRepresentsUsBest?OneMemberorMany?In H.D. Klingermann, The Comparative Study ofelectoral Systems. Oxford: Oxford University Press,(chapter7,pp ). 10