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PS 4203/6203 Political Parties and Electoral Problems
Professor: Dr. Steve Shaffer
Spring 2024 Semester
Classroom: Carpenter 101
Class Time: 11-11:50 MWF
Class Website: https://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/classes/parties/parties.html
Office: Bowen 198
Office Hours: 10-11 Monday, Wednesday, Friday
e-mail: kauai@pspa.msstate.edu

This course concerns American political parties and their members. Parties can be viewed as consisting of: average citizens who support political parties with their votes, campaign contributions, or work; more politically active individuals who hold positions in the party organization or who are active in other ways such as in political campaigns; and those occupying official positions in the government. We shall examine each of these sectors of the political party, and how each has been challenged in recent decades as the parties have declined somewhat in importance but then sought to revitalize themselves.

Political parties exist at the state and national levels, and within each of the three branches of government. We shall examine each of these arenas of party activity, as well as the role of political parties in the nomination and general election processes. We shall also examine various theories of political parties, explore the history of the American party system, and discuss the future of political parties in the American political system. Finally, current political events in Mississippi and the nation shall be examined.

READINGS

The following readings for this course shall come from the following book, which can be obtained from the bookstore.

Book: The 2020 Presidential Election in the South (Voting, Elections, and the Political Process series)- September 21, 2021, by Scott E. Buchanan and Branwell Dubose Kapeluck, editors. Hardcover $125. Publisher: Lexington Books. ISBN-13: 978-1793646699.

Students will also write a book report on this assigned book, and therefore should thoroughly read and understand it. The suggested page length to adequately review this book is approximately ten double-spaced typed pages. Important points to remember about the book report is: discuss the important findings and arguments of each chapter; discuss the tables and figures in each chapter, what you learned from them, and how they can be improved; for each chapter, evaluate the value of the book to a reader, and give specifics to defend your opinions; have an opening and concluding paragraph, where you talk about the subject of the book as a whole, and provide an overall evaluation of the book's value; check the grammar and readability of your report before turning it in; turn the paper in by the deadline date, as it is penalized gradewise heavily if it is turned in late; always submit a hard copy of your paper to the professor.

METHOD OF EVALUATION:

There will be three grading opportunities for undergraduates, each of which will count one-third of their course grade. These will include: a midsemester essay exam; a final, non-cumulative essay exam; and a book report on the assigned book of the course.

Graduate students shall also write an additional book report, in addition to these three assignments of midterm exam, final exam, and book report; each of these four grades will be worth one-fourth of their course grade.

Class attendance is very important, since those with higher attendance usually do better grade wise. Also, failure to maintain a high attendance leaves the poor impression that a student is unable to meet the minimum requirements of any job, resulting in faculty refusal to offer any positive recommendations for jobs or graduate or law school. Even if you can do well grade wise by not attending many classes, you still have an obligation to attend class in order to contribute to the classroom discussion and to be a team player in this organization.

Classroom Behavior. Please focus on the classroom subject when you are in class, so do not read the newspaper, play on your computer, talk to other students, or engage in any other activity that suggests that you are inattentive to the professor. These are elementary rules of good work behavior, and minimal expectations for positive recommendations when seeking jobs or graduate or law school entrance. Most importantly, be on time for every test, and don't be late with your paper.

The course delivery method is a face-to-face class, so you are expected to attend class whenever possible. If you do have to miss for any reason, send me an e-mail indicating when you are missing, and why you have to miss. Then, review the material we will be covering in class by going to my class Website, whose address is near the top of the first page of this syllabus. To receive attendance credit for attending that class, send me another e-mail indicating that you have reviewed the class lecture, ask any question about the lecture that you wish, make any comment about it, or just say that you have read and understood the lecture. While class attendance does not officially affect your course grade, it is still important to attend class whenever you can, since unexcused absences harm a person’s reputation.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES:

"The Mississippi State University Syllabus contains all policies and procedures that are applicable to every course on campus and online. The policies in the University Syllabus describe the official policies of the University and will take precedence over those found elsewhere. It is the student's responsibility to read and be familiar with every policy. The University Syllabus may be accessed at any time on the Provost website under Faculty and Student Resources and at https://www.provost.msstate.edu/faculty-student-resources/university-syllabus"

COURSE OUTLINE (time periods are approximations, except for tests and book report deadlines which are firm dates):

WEEK 1: JANUARY 17-19
Introduction to Political Parties
Read textbook, Introduction and chapter 1

WEEKS 2-3: JANUARY 22-FEBRUARY 2
History of the American Party System
Read textbook, chapters 2-3

WEEK 4: FEBRUARY 5-9
Party in the Electorate (Party Id, Belief Systems)
Read textbook, chapter 4

WEEK 5: FEBRUARY 12-16

Party Organization
Read textbook, chapter 5

WEEK 6: FEBRUARY 19-23

Parties in the Modern South
Read textbook, chapters 6-7

WEEK 7: REVIEW PLUS MIDTERM EXAM

Review session—FEBRUARY 26

MIDSEMESTER ESSAY EXAM—FEBRUARY 28

Review book report requirements- MARCH 1

WEEKS 8-9: MARCH 4-MARCH 22
Presidential Nomination Process
Read textbook, chapters 8-10

WEEKS 10-11: MARCH 25-APRIL 5
Presidential Elections and the Parties
Read textbook, chapters 11-12

WEEK 12-13: APRIL 8-APRIL 19
Congressional and State Campaigns and the Parties
Read textbook, chapters 13-14

WEEK 14: APRIL 22-26
Parties in Government
Read textbook, chapter 15

BOOK REPORTS DUE ON APRIL 22

GRADUATE STUDENT EXTRA PAPER DUE ON APRIL 29

WEEK 15: APRIL 29

The Future of American Political Parties
No assigned readings.

FINAL NON-CUMULATIVE ESSAY EXAM-- NOON, TUESDAY, MAY 7