What if Stephen Douglas instead of Abraham Lincoln had won the U.S. presidential election of 1860? What if John F. Kennedy had not carried some of the eight states he won by 2 percentage points or fewer in 1960? What if six hundred more people in Florida had voted for Al Gore in 2000? And what if, in that same year, the U.S. House of…

During my 45 years as an academic, I have followed the admonition sometimes attributed to the legendary Jedi warrior Obi-Wan Kenobe that political scientists should "use [their] power for good and not for evil." In this spirit, I have devoted substantial portions of my career to public service by providing strategic advice and campaign management…

Presents an activities package designed for teachers to use in teaching elementary or secondary students about political processes in an election year. Includes topics such as voting procedures, political parties, political campaigns, issues, and rating the candidates. (CK)

I examine fundamental elements of the cultural and relational environments of the organizations that produce electoral forecasts in the Spanish parliamentary elections. The analysis reveals how these elements shape the interests and decisions in a collectivity of organizations that share a common technology. I investigate the reasons for the…

Students can develop valuable research skills and learn about our political process by obtaining campaign finance reports filed by all candidates in federal elections. Other statistics and information available from the Federal Election Commission are also valuable learning tools. (Author/GC)

Procedures for organizing political education assemblies which present high school students with both sides of political issues, credentials of candidates, and an understanding of the U.S. political system are described. The assemblies provide non-partisan or bi-partisan information for students to make logical, responsible decisions. Information…

An experiential political science course at the college level offers students a chance to volunteer their time to help in both national and local elections. Techniques and methods of evaluation are discussed. (JR)

Advocates a schoolwide, mock nominating convention as an effective learning experience for high school students, particularly in election years. Presents step-by-step plans for organizing and carrying out such a convention. (SR)

Over 100 listings comprise this general bibliography on politics and government. The bulk of the documents provide current information dating from 1974 through 1975 and are commercially published books, reports, bulletins, and papers on the role of the government, elections, local government, and political decision making of the government as an…

Political scientists have much to learn through the practice of government. A political scientist discusses his experiences in running for a local school board position. He deals with four subjects: elections, interest groups, bureaucratic politics, and the political community. (RM)

Improved understanding of political events and increased analytical skills are two contributions of a study of video taped media coverage of important political events, such as national elections. An appendix presents excerpts from the three major television networks' commentaries on election night 1972. (Author/DB)

Procedures for establishing a student-run election information and issue analysis center at the high school level are presented. The purpose of the election information center is to provide the student population with an awareness of candidate's views and to coordinate volunteer activities of students in a campaign. Student personnel include a…

A game designed to introduce elementary and middle school students to the primary election process and its operational elements through simulation and role playing activities is presented in this document. A hypothetical town of Notae which has been controlled by one political party for years without resulting change is described. Issues in the…

This study in contemporary campaign communications concentrates on a state-level legislative election in a western state. The candidate selected for analysis (anonymous) expressed his views on the campaign issues and the message he thought he was sending to voters. Voters were sampled to determine the issue- and non-issue-related messages that…

There is evidence of a growing trend toward ticket splitting, or independent voting patterns in all U.S. elections, especially in recent years. Independence of the electorate in 1972 was visible in the large Republican vote for President, during substantial voting for Democrats in Congress, and in gubernatorial elections. Analysis of mass media…