POL 231 Professor Barbara Norrander Spring 2006 Office: 326 Social Science T, Th 9:30 – 10:45 Office hours: T, Th 10:50-11:20; 3:20-4:20 Modern Lng 310 Office phone: 621-8986 E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: http://www.u.arizona.edu/~norrande Political Parties To introduce students to the nature of political parties in the United States, this class will explore the role of parties in citizens’ beliefs and actions, in elections, and in government. Recent changes in parties and elections will be highlighted throughout the course. Required Text: Hershey, Party Politics in America, 11th edition Nelson, The Elections of 2004 Course Requirements: Homework and Class Participation 10% of final grade Exam 1 Feb. 21 30% of final grade Exam 2 March 23 30% of final grade Final May 9 (Tuesday) 30% of final grade 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Students should expect frequent assignments on analyzing data or using the Internet to explore political parties and elections. Each assignment will be worth 10 points if turned in by the end of class on the day it is due. No late assignments will be accepted. Late is anytime after class on the day the assignment is due. At the end of the course, students’ scores from all assignments will be added together (maximum homework score of 90 points) and combined with a class participation score (10 points) to constitute 10% of the final grade. Make-up exams for full credit are given only with written documentation of the emergency or illness that prevented the student from taking the test at the scheduled time. Students missing exams without documented proof of an emergency or illness will receive half credit for their make-up exams. Each exam covers one-third of the class material. The final exam is NOT cumulative.No incomplete grades will be given in this course. No extra credit assignments are given. Students’ final grades are based on the weighted averages of points as listed above. Date Topics Readings & Assignments January 12 Introduction to Political Parties January 17 Political Parties in America Hershey, ch. 1 January 19, 24 & 26 Party Systems & History Hershey, ch. 2 Nelson, ch. 1 Assignment 1: Third Parties, due Jan. 19 January 31 Party Organizations Hershey, ch. 3 & 4 Assignment 2: Major Party Platforms due Jan 31 Feb 2 Party Activists Hershey, ch. 5 Feb. 7 - 16 Nomination Politics Hershey, ch. 9 & 10 Nelson, ch. 2 & 5 Assignment 3: Nomination Candidates due Feb. 14 Feb 21 Exam 1 Feb 23 & 28 Party Identification Hershey, ch. 6 & 7 March 2 & 7 Participation Hershey, ch. 8 Assignment 4: Measuring Turnout due March 2 March 9 & 21 Legal Structures & Finance Laws Hershey, ch. 11 & 12 Nelson, ch. 6 Assignment 5: Congressional Campaign Finance due March 21 March 23 Exam 2March 28 & 30, April 4 Presidential Elections Nelson, ch. 3 & 4 Assignment 6: Exit polls – Presidential Election due April 4 April 6 & 11 Congressional Elections Nelson, ch. 8 Assignment 7: Exit polls – Senate Elections due April 11 April 13 & 18 Party in Legislature Hershey. ch. 13 Assignment 8: Roll Call Voting due April 18 April 20 No lecture, work on assignment 9 Assignment 9: Recent American Presidents due April 25 April 25 & 27 Party in Executive and Judicial Branches Hershey, ch. 14 Nelson, ch. 7 May 3 Party Government Hershey, ch. 15 & 16 Nelson, ch. 9 May 9, 8 – 10 Final Exam Absence Policy No late homework is accepted. Students with expected absences (religious obligations, school-sponsored events, and any pre-approved absence by the UA Dean of Students) must turn in their homework EARLIER than the schedule due date. Early assignments must be turned in directly to Professor Norrander during an earlier class period or at office hours, or left in her mailbox in Social Science Building, Room 315. No e-mailed versions of assignments will be accepted. They will not be read and no credit will be given for completing the assignment. Any assignment shoved under Professor Norrander’s office door will be immediately thrown in the waste basket and will not be graded nor given any credit for having been turned in. Students with an emergency on the day of an exam must provide written documentation of the emergency that prevented them from attending class on that date. Without written documentation, students will receive half credit for the missed exam. Classroom Behavior Students must conduct themselves in a polite and courteous manner so as not to disrupt the learning process for other students. Do not arrive late or leave early. Turn off cell phones before entering theclassroom. Do not read a newspaper during the lecture. Do not talk to those sitting next to you during the class period. Repeat offenders will have 5 percent deducted from their final class grade totals. Threatening behavior by students will result in a call to University of Arizona police and a report to the Dean of Students, as per the University of Arizona policy http://policy.web.arizona.edu/~policy/threaten.shtml. Special Needs Students Students with special needs who are registered with the SALT Center or Disability Resource Center need to submit appropriate documentation to the instructor with requests for special accommodations by January 26. Changes to Syllabus Information contained in this course syllabus, other than the grade and absence policies, may be subject to change with reasonable advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the