POS3443: Political Parties and Campaigning Spring 2010 Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 2:30pm-3:20pm

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1 POS3443: Political Parties and Campaigning Spring 2010 Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 2:30pm-3:20pm Professor John Barry Ryan Office: 558 Bellamy Building Phone: Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 1pm-2pm or by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion. --George Washington s Farewell Address September 19, 1796 Despite these warnings from the Father of the Country, it is difficult for a modern observer to imagine politics without parties. Parties nominate candidates, clarify how citizens should vote, and organize the governmental processes and decision making. This course will primarily be concerned with the first two functions. We will also investigate the (often) cunning, (almost always) ambitious, and (sometimes) unprincipled men and women who seek political office. How are they nominated? How do they attempt to convince you to vote for them? What determines whether or not they win? COURSE POLICIES The course schedule is a guideline of how I plan on the course proceeding. I may change the timing of topics slightly. Every effort will be made to give the exams and on the dates outlined in this syllabus. Assignments will be due on the dates outlined. Please, do not walk out of class early. This is disrespectful and distracting to me and your fellow students. If you must leave class early, notify me ahead of time and sit by the door. If you have a serious problem, contact me immediately. Problems can be solved if you bring them up before you miss a deadline. There will be no make-up exams given unless the professor is notified about a problem before the exam. There will be absolutely no exceptions to this policy. Keep in mind your lowest exam grade will be dropped. 1

2 I frequently check my and will happily respond to questions, but do not abuse this privilege. I view any videos shown in as just as important as any lecture or any reading assignment. You will be tested on the content of those videos. Videos will only be shown once. REQUIREMENTS Required Texts Hillygus, D. Sunshine and Todd G. Shields The Persuadable Voter: Wedge Issues in Presidential Campaigns. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Mondak, Jeffrey J. and Dona-Gene Mitchell (eds.) Fault Lines: Why Republicans Lost Congress. New York, NY: Routledge. Assignments and Grading Examinations (60%): Four multiple choice examinations four topical midterm exams and one comprehensive final exam. The lowest exam grade will be dropped. All other exams will be worth 15% each. Writing Assignment (30%): A 5-7 page paper. The paper should be double-spaced, have one-inch margins, and a standard 12 pt. font. This paper will be discussed in greater detail in class. The paper will ask you to refute or defend one of several propositions about recent or future elections. You should support your argument using lecture, the readings, and, at least five outside sources. For every day the paper is late, you will lose five points. Your paper will be evaluated on the quality and clarity of your argument, your ability to provide evidence in support of your claims, and the general grammatical quality of the paper. Class Participation and Attendance (10%): Your class participation grade will be based on the quality of your class participation, not simply the quantity. Your class participation should be aimed toward raising the level of class discussion and inclass learning. Students are to read all required readings before the class session for which they are assigned. Good class participation should be informed by the readings (or perhaps what you ve learned in other classes). Good participation may come in the form a point of criticism (remember to be kind to others), your own interpretation of the issue at debate, or even a question (you know, the kind the makes everyone go hmmm ). You cannot participate if you are not in class. Attendance will be taking periodically and without notice. Extra Credit: There likely will be some form of extra credit assignment. The details of this assignment will be discussed in class. 2

3 Your final grade will be determined by the following scale: A: B+: C+: D+: F: 59-0 A-: B: C: D: B-: C-: D-: ACADEMIC HONOR CODE All students are responsible for maintaining the highest standards of honesty and integrity in every phase of their academic careers. The penalties for academic dishonesty are severe and ignorance is not an acceptable defense. All academic work must meet the standards contained in the Academic Honor Code, published in the Florida State University Bulletin and The Student Handbook. Please see the following web site for a complete explanation of the Academic Honor Code: STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should: (1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; (2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This should be done during the first week of class. For more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact the Student Disability Resource Center 97 Woodward Avenue, South Florida State University Tallahassee, FL (850) (voice) (850) (TDD) Midterm Exams: February 1, February 26, March 29, and April 21 IMPORTANT DATES Final Exam: April 29 Paper Due: April 12 No Class: January 18, March 8, March 10, March 12, April 23 3

4 CLASS SCHEDULE AND REQUIRED READINGS Wednesday, January 6 - Introduction Friday, January 8 What are Parties? Monday, January 11 Party in the U.S.A. Wednesday, January 13 Party Coalitions Friday, January 15 The Two-Party System Monday, January 18 No Class Wednesday, January 20 State and Local Organizations Friday, January 22 National Organizations Monday, January 25 Party Activists Wednesday, January 27 Party Identification Friday, January 29 Review: Parties Monday, February 1 Midterm Exam #1 Wednesday, February 3 The Rules of Congressional Game Friday, February 5 Congressional Candidates Monday, February 8 Campaign Money and Organization Wednesday, February 10 Staying On Message Fault Lines Chapter 2: Did the Media Do It? Friday, February 12 - National Tides Monday, February 15 Case Study: 2006 Congressional Elections Fault Lines Chapter 5: Abramoff, and the Mistreated Mistress Fault Lines Chapter 7: The President, the War, and Voting Behavior Wednesday, February 17 Elections and Representation #1 Friday, February 19 Elections and Representation #2 Monday, February 22 The Candidate 4

5 Wednesday, February 24 Review: Congressional Elections Friday, February 26 Midterm Exam #2 Monday, March 1 So, You Want to be President? Wednesday, March 3 Campaigning for the Support of the College The Persuadable Voter Chapter 1: Wedge Issues in Presidential Campaigns The Persuadable Voter Chapter 2: The Reciprocal Campaign Friday, March 5 - Conventions SPRING BREAK Monday, March 15 - The Evolution of Richard Nixon The Persuadable Voter Chapter 5: The Republican Southern Strategy Wednesday, March 17 - Advertising Friday, March 19 That s Debatable Monday, March 22 The Boys and Girls on the Plane Wednesday, March 24 The Most Important Television Shows Ever Friday, March 26 Review: Presidential Elections Monday, March 29 Midterm Exam #3 Wednesday, March 31 The War Room Friday, April 2 - Winning Votes The Persuadable Voter Chapter 6: Candidate Strategy in the 2004 Campaign Monday, April 5 Theories of Public Opinion Wednesday, April 7 Why It s Rational to be Ignorant Friday, April 9 Who Votes? Monday, April 12 Your Friends and Neighbors Paper Due Wednesday, April 14 Voting for Congress Fault Lines Chapter 11: Perceptions and Realities of Issue Voting 5

6 Friday, April 16 Voting for President The Persuadable Voter Chapter 4: Capturing Campaign Persuasion Monday, April 19 Review: Voter Behavior Wednesday, April 21 Midterm Exam #4 Friday, April 23 No Class Thursday, April 29 Final Exam 12:30pm-2:30pm 6