PLS 321: THE ELECTORAL PROCESS
SPRING 2009
(http://www.csupomona.edu/~jlkorey/321/)

Democracy is not a spectator sport
-- Robert D. Putnam (Bowling Alone)

SPECIAL NOTE: unless announced otherwise, we will meet in the Center for Geographic Information Science Research (5-215) during the second hour on Thursdays.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Instructor: John L. Korey

• Office Hours: Tuesdays, 3:45-4:45 and Thursdays, 1:45-2:45.  Subject to change: see http://www.csupomona.edu/~jlkorey/schedule.html for current information.
• Office: 94-316
• Email: jlkorey@csupomona.edu.  (So that I will recognize that your email is from you, and isn't spam, include the term "PLS 321" on the subject line of any messages you send me.  Please use your Cal Poly email.  In particular, do not send me any attachments using other than your Cal Poly account.)
• Phone: 909/869-3885
  

TEXTS:

• Wattson, "How to Draw Redistricting Plans That Will Stand Up in Court" (Available online at http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/departments/scr/redist/draw/draw202web.htm)
• Thurber and Nelson, eds., Campaign Warriors
• Kaufmann, Petrocik, and Shaw, Unconventional Wisdom
• Geer, In Defense of Negativity
• Farrar-Myers and Dwyre, Limits and Loopholes

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

    25%   Quizzes (best 6 of 8)
    25       First Essay Exam
    25       Second Essay Exam
    25       Legislative Redistricting
               12.5% Group Project
               12.5% Individual Project
_____
100%

Quizzes. Quizzes will be based on the reading assignments for the week and on class material presented since the previous quiz. There will be 8 quizzes. The lowest two scores will be dropped. If you miss a quiz, even for a good reason, it will be one of the ones dropped. (No exceptions.) If you miss more than two quizzes, you must make up the third (and subsequent) missed quizzes. Note: unless announced otherwise, quizzes will begin promptly at the start of class and will end 20 minutes thereafter, or when the last person present is finished, whichever comes first. Quiz dates and reading assignments are as follows: 

Quiz Number & Date	How to Draw Redistricting Plans	Campaign Warriors	Unconventional Wisdom	In Defense of Negativity	Limits & Loopholes
1) 4/9	all	1-4	---	---	---
2) 4/16	---	5-8	---	---	---
3) 4/23	---	---	1-5	---	---
4) 4/30	---	---	6-9	---	---
5) 5/14	---	---	---	1-4	---
6) 5/21	---	---	---	5-7	---
7) 5/28	---	---	---	---	1-3
8) 6/4	all	---	---	---	4-7

Essay Exams.   

First exam.  Tuesday, May 5 .  Based on Campaign Warriors and In Defense of Negativity, and on lecture material to that point.

Second Exam.  Tuesday, June 9 .  Based on Unconventional Wisdom and Limits and Loopholes, and on lecture material since the first exam.  

Legislative Redistricting. 

Group Project:

You will be assigned to a consulting team to prepare a redistricting plan for a hypothetical state’s congressional delegation.  A portion of the work will involve using a GIS program.  (No experience required.)  Your team will be asked to submit a redistricting proposal in writing on May 19 and orally (using PowerPoint) on Tuesday, May 19 or Thursday, May 21.  Please submit written reports in hard copy and both written reports and PowerPoint presentations electronically. Work submitted late will receive a 10-point penalty unless an extension has been granted for a serious reason.

The written report should be about 8-10 pages in length.  It should show how your team has achieved its assigned objectives, and should include a thorough discussion of the legal and political issues your team has had to confront in coming up with its plan.  I will assume that, unless noted otherwise, you have relied on the Wattson essay as your source on legal issues.

Peer ratings: You will be asked to rate the performance of the other members of your team. These ratings will be used to adjust the scores of others in your group, but your ratings will have no effect on your own score.

Individual Project:

You will be asked to write an essay evaluating the several redistricting plans that the groups have submitted, and selecting the one you think best meets the criteria that the court would be looking for.  

GRADES:

87.00-100.00	A	67.00-69.99	C
83.00-86.99	A-	63.00-66.99	C-
80.00-82.99	B+	60.00-62.99	D+
77.00-79.99	B	57.00-59.99	D
73.00-76.99	B-	53.00-56.99	D-
70.00-72.99	C+	00.00-52.99	F

Check your grades on Blackboard.  After logging in using your Cal Poly email user name and password, click on "Tools," then on "My Grades."

Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, MP3 players, etc. before the start of class.  Recording of lectures, however, is OK.