POL 326 W 3-5:45 111 MaharPresidential Nominations and Elections
Fall 2011 Dr. Bruce Altschuler
Presidential elections in the United States are no simple matter. As soon as one is decided, potential candidates begin preparing for the next. First they need a strategy to win the party nomination. This requires raising huge amounts of money, putting together a national organization as well as organizations in the major caucus and primary states (especially the early ones), getting favorable media coverage, lining up endorsements and taking positions on major issues. Once the party conventions officially select their nominees, a two month race to win a majority vote in the Electoral College begins.
The purpose of this course is both to understand the events of the already started 2012 campaign by putting them in a larger context. We will all have common readings to understand the current system and how it has developed. We will see its pluses and minuses to be better able to evaluate possible reforms. During the first class each student will be assigned a presidential candidate to follow during the semester. During alternate weeks, you will present a brief strategy memo to the class (more details are in the section on grades). At the end of the semester, every student will turn in an overall strategy memo of approximately 5-10 pages. This means you must follow the election by reading a good national newspaper such as the Washington Post or New York Times regularly (web editions are fine).
Elections can be exciting, especially if the issues raised are important to our lives and the polls suggest that the result is likely to be close. Many of us have strong feelings about which candidate we hope to see elected. Nevertheless, because this is a college course, we will try to be as analytical as possible, justifying our positions with good evidence and listening attentively to arguments we disagree with. I will do my best to make the course interesting, but it will be successful only if students participate actively in class discussion. I will give everyone a classwork grade that will count for 10% of your course grade.
COURSE TEXT
Stephen J. Wayne, The Road to the White House, 2012: The Politics of Presidential Elections, 9th edition, Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012.
Dennis Johnson (ed.), Campaigning for President 2008, Routledge, 2009.
In addition, recent articles will be assigned (one of my own is listed in the assignments below) as developments warrant. Because these will be assigned in class, if you are absent, be sure to check with a fellow student to make up missed work.
COURSE OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
I. Voting turnout: Wayne pp. 69-81 and 348-353
II. Nominating candidates
A. History and Rules: Wayne pp.5-13 and Chapter 4; Johnson Chap.8
B. Campaign financing: Wayne Chapter 2 and pp. 342-345; Johnson Chaps.7, 11
C. Candidate strategy: Wayne Chapter 5 and Johnson Chaps. 2-4
D. The interregnum and convention: Wayne Chapter 6
E. Reform: Wayne pp. 334-342 and Bruce Altschuler, "Selecting Presidential Nominees by National Primary: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?" The Forum 5 (2007). This article can be downloaded at:
III. The General Election
A. The Electoral College: Wayne pp. 2-5, 13-25 and 353-364
B. Political Parties: pages Wayne pp. 81-102
C. Candidate Strategy: Johnson Chaps. 6 and 9-10
C. The Media: Wayne Chapter 8 and pp. 345-348, Johnson Chaps. 5 and 12
D. The meaning of the results: Wayne Chapter 9 and Johnson Chaps. 1 and 13
GRADES
In order to award grades fairly and encourage every student to keep on top of the course material, grades will be assigned as follows:
1. EXAMS. There will be mid-term and final exams. The mid-term will be a take home; the final an in-class test Wednesday Dec, 14 from 2-4 PM. Each will count for 25% of your grade.
2. CANDIDATE STRATEGY MEMOS. During the first class, each student will be assigned a candidate. Follow your candidate all semester and prepare a two page strategy memo every two weeks. I will count the three highest grades on these papers, with each of the three counting for 5% of your grade. Even if you do not turn in a written memo, you must present a summary to the class every other week as part of your class participation grade. These will be due on Tuesdays (Thursdays for weeks that have a Tuesday holiday)
Every student must submit an overall strategy memo of 5-10 pages during the November 30 class. This memo will count for 25% of your grade. Since you have the entire semester to prepare it, unless you have an excuse such as a serious documented medical reason, you will be penalized one letter grade per calendar day late.
In the overall strategy memo you want to analyze the situation facing your candidate, evaluate his/her decisions and make recommendations about what actions to take in the future. Some of the factors to discuss are the strengths and weaknesses of your candidate, the major issues and what positions the candidate should take, media coverage, specific events such as debates and primaries/caucuses, which constituencies to appeal to and how and the best ways to counter the opposition.
The shorter memos will examine the events of the previous week or two and make recommendations about what to do in both the short and long terms. These do not need to be as comprehensive as the overall memo. Instead pick one or two key topics to discuss.
3. CLASS PARTICIPATION. This counts for 10% of your grade. Be sure to keep up with the reading and participate actively in the discussion. If there are any interesting developments in the news, I encourage students to bring them in for discussion. In order maximize the number of students involved, I will call on students whether or not they volunteer.
I hope the course will be interesting and exciting. Feel free to stop in to my office (123 Mahar, x3451) if you want to discuss your progress in the course, your paper or anything about Political Science. My office hours are TuTh 2-3 and W 1-3. If you want to ask me a brief question, send me an email at and you don’t have to worry about whether I am in my office when you think of the question.
If you have a disabling condition that may interfere with your ability to successfully complete this course, please contact the Disability Services Office.
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