Political Science 322: Public Opinion and Public Policy
Professor Palazzolo
PS 206 (9:20 and 11:30)
Spring 1999

This course deals with the fundamental relationship between public opinions and public policy decisions. How is public opinion formed and communicated? How does it influence public policy? How do elites affect public opinion? What structures and institutions mitigate or facilitate the influence of public opinion on public policy? What should be the proper role of public opinion in a republican form of government?

READINGS:
James S. Fishkin, The Voice of the People (Yale, 1995)
Ole R. Holsti, Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy (Michigan, 1999)
Barbarn Norrander and Clyde Wilcox, Understanding Public Opinion (CQ Press, 1997)
E.E. Schattschneider, The Semi-Sovereign People (HBJ, 1960)
Darrel West and Burdett Loomis, The Sound of Money (Norton, 1999)
Library Reserve

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING:
First Exam February 5 (15%)
First Paper "Public Opinion," February 12 (15%)
Second Paper "Direct Democracy" March 5 (15%)
Second Exam March 19 (15%)
Third Paper "Elections or Groups" April 14 (15%)
Final Exam April 29 (15%)
Preparation and Participation (10%)

Papers and exams will be graded on the basis of content as well as writing (i.e. organization, clarity, precision, and technical presentation). Please consult the handout "How to Write an A Paper" for detailed guidelines of my expectations for written assignments. One might refer to the Writing Center for additional assistance with writing assignments.
I do not grade on a curve; each student is evaluated on his or her performance. A ten-point scale with letter grades from "A" to "F," including pluses and minuses, will be applied for each assignment as well as the final course grade. A grade in the A range (100-90) is "excellent," B (89-80) "good," C (79-70) "average", D (69-60) "below average," and F (59 or below) "failing." I do not allow additional work for extra credit. Every student will have ample opportunities to make a grade and I will be happy to discuss your progress at any time during the semester.
Everyone is expected to read and to be prepared to discuss the readings for each class period specified on the syllabus, unless I change the schedule. Participation is not simply a matter of raising one's hand early and often. The quality of participation, making good observations based on sound analysis and reference to assigned readings, is just as important as the frequency of comments made in class.

ATTENDANCE AND LATE POLICY
Students are expected to attend every class period. I will take attendance, and attendance records will affect participation/preparation grades. Papers are due at the beginning of class on the dates marked on the syllabus and assignment sheets. Any paper that arrives after the time and date specified on the assignment sheet will suffer a full grade deduction per day. Any project submitted 72 hours or more after the time specified on the assignment sheet will receive a failing grade. You should still hand in a paper even if the grade will be an F because half credit is better than none in terms of the final course grade.
Having said that, keep in mind that I am quite flexible in cases of emergency. Please contact me if special circumstances prevent you from completing class work on time. Emergencies, however, do not include: weekend trips, social engagements, extracurricular activities, or the infamous "work overdose" syndrome. (Incidentally, years of experience have taught me only a few students will turn in papers late. The overwhelming majority complete assignments on time.)
Let me be crystal clear: no one is entitled to "slack" for reasons other than illness, family emergency, or other substantial personal trauma. The due dates for assignments are clearly established well ahead of time.
OFFICE HOURS
I am available for consultation on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:15-11:15 AM, or by appointment (Political Science Building, Room 114). Appointments can be made after class, by telephone at 289-8973, or via e-mail (dpalazzo@richmond.edu).
TOPICS AND READINGS
I. Beginnings
January 11 Introduction
January 13 American Political Culture
Reading: Declaration of Independence (Library Reserve)
Lipset, "Formulating a National Identity," (Library Reserve)
Alexis de Tocqueville, "Equality of Condition," (Library Reserve)
January 15 What role for the people?
Reading: The Federalist #10 (Library Reserve)
The Federalist #51 (Library Reserve)
II. Public Opinion
January 18 Understanding Public Opinion-How Rational?
Reading: Clyde Wilcox, "The Diverse Paths to Understanding Public Opinion," in
Understanding Public Opinion
Benajamin I. Page and Robert Y. Shapiro, "The Rational Public" in the Rational Public (Library Reserve)
January 20 Public Opinion Change
Reading: Benjamin Page and Robert Y. Shapiro, "The Myth of Capricious
Change," in the Rational Public (Library Reserve)
January 22 Media and Religion
Reading: Doris A. Graber, "Media as Opinion Resources: Are the 1990s a New
Ballgame," in Understanding Public Opinion
Ted Jelen, "Religion and Public Opinion in the 1990s: An Emprical Overview," in Understanding Public Opinion
January 25 Gender, Race, and Class
Reading: Kristi Anderson, "Gender and Public Opinion," in Understanding Public
Opinion
Steven A. Tuch and Lee Sigelman, "Race, Class, and Black-White Differences in Social Policy Views," in Understanding Public Opinion
January 27 Ideology and Partisanship
Reading: Kathleen Knight and Robert S. Erikson, "Ideology in the 1990s," in
Understanding Public Opinion
Barbara Norrander, "Partisanship and Issues in the 1990s," in Understanding Public Opinion
January 29 Abortion and Economic Policy
Reading: Elizabeth Adell Cook, "Public Opinion and Abortion Law in the Post-Webster
Era," in Understanding Public Opinion
William G. Jacoby, "Public Opinion and Economic Policy," in Understanding Public Opinion
III. Linkages
February 1 Direct Democracy
Reading: Todd Donovan and Shaun Bowler, "An Overview of Direct Democracy in the
American States," in Citizens as Legislators, ed., Shaun Bowler, Todd Donovan, and Caroline J. Tolbert (Library Reserve)
Thomas E. Cronin, "Direct Democracy and Its Problems," in Direct Democracy
(Library Reserve)
February 3 Direct Democracy
Reading: Thomas E. Cronin, "Sound and Sensible Democracy," in Direct Democracy
(Library Reserve)
February 5 First Exam
February 8 Elections
Reading: David W. Brady, "Electoral Realignments in the U.S. House of
Representatives," in Congress and Policy Change, ed. Gerald C. Wright, Jr, et. al.(Library Reserve)
February 10 Participation
Reading: John E. Hughes and M. Margaret Conway, "Public Opinion and Political
Participation," in Understanding Public Opinion
February 12 Public Opinion Paper is Due
February 15 Moral Issues and Elections
Reading: Alan I. Abramowitz, "The Cultural Divide in American Politics: Moral Issues
and Presidential Voting," in Understanding Public Opinion
February 17 Presidents
Reading: Lyn Ragsdale, "Disconnected Politics: Public Opinion and Presidents," in
Understanding Public Opinion
February 19 Congress
Reading: John R. Hibbing and Elizabeth Theiss-Morse, "Public Opinion
and Congressional Power," in Understanding Public Opinion
February 22 Supreme Court
Reading: Thomas Marshall, "Public Opinion and the Supreme Court: The Insulated
Court," in Understanding Public Opinion
February 24 Scope of Conflict
Reading: Schattsneider, The Semi-Sovereign People (Introduction and Chapters 1-2)
February 26 Scope of Conflict
Reading: Schattsneider, The Semi-Sovereign People (Chapter 3-4)
March 1 Scope of Conflict
Reading: Schattsneider, The Semi-Sovereign People (Chapters 5-6)
March 3 Scope of Conflict
Reading: Schattsneider, The Semi-Sovereign People (Chapters 7-8)
March 5 Direct Democracy Paper Due
Spring Break
March 15 Interests
Reading: West and Loomis, The Sound of Money (Chapters 1-3)
March 17 Interests
Reading: West and Loomis, The Sound of Money (Chapters 4-5)
March 19 Second Exam
March 22 Interests
Reading: West and Loomis, The Sound of Money (Chapters 6-7)
March 24 Interests
Reading: West and Loomis, The Sound of Money (Chapters 8-9)
March 26 Foreign Policy
Reading: Holsti, Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy (Chapters 1 and 2)
March 29 Foreign Policy
Reading: Holsti, Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy (Chapter 3)
Barbara Bardes, "Public Opinion and Foreign Policy: Does the Public Think About America's Role in the World?" in Understanding Public Opinion
March 31 Foreign Policy
Reading: Holsti, Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy (Chapter 4)
April 2 Foreign Policy
Reading: Holsti, Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy (Chapter 5)
April 5 Foreign Policy
Reading: Holsti, Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy (Chapter 6)
April 7 More Democracy?
Reading: James S. Fishkin, The Voice of the People (Chapters 1-2)
April 9 More Democracy?
Reading: James S. Fishkin, The Voice of the People (Chapter 3)
April 12 More Democracy?
Reading: James S. Fishkin, The Voice of the People (Chapter 4)
April 14 Third Paper Due (Elections or Groups)
April 16 Investiture
April 19 More Democracy?
Reading: James S. Fishkin, The Voice of the People (Chapter 5)
April 21 More Democracy?
Reading: James S. Fishkin, The Voice of the People (Afterword)
April 23 Conclusion
April 29 Take Home Final Exam is due by Noon