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Full-Text Articles in Political Science
Electoral Mandates In American Politics, Lawrence J. Grossback, David A. M. Peterson, James A. Stimson
Electoral Mandates In American Politics, Lawrence J. Grossback, David A. M. Peterson, James A. Stimson
David A. M. Peterson
Political science has not come to terms with the idea of electoral mandates. The discipline's view is a hodgepodge of competing claims. In this article we review the empirical issues about mandates asking whether or not mandates occur and with what effect. We observe evidence of mandates as social constructions, as dialogues in the Washington community and in the press which serves it.We find that these dialogues accurately reflect election results – consensus emerges from actual sweeping election victories and not from mere strategic attempts to claim policy mandates. We find that Congress is highly responsive to the consensus interpretation. …
Theoretical And Empirical Implications Of Attitude Strength, Joanne M. Miller, David A. M. Peterson
Theoretical And Empirical Implications Of Attitude Strength, Joanne M. Miller, David A. M. Peterson
David A. M. Peterson
Attitude strength is defined as the extent to which an attitude is stable, resistant to change, impacts information processing, and guides behavior. Several concepts, such as accessibility, ambivalence, and importance relate to the broader concept of strength. For many years, both social psychology and political science ignored the differences across these various concepts, though in different ways. Social psychologists treated them as interchangeable, as indicators of the same latent concept. Political scientists treated them in isolation, focusing on one type of strength and ignoring the other, possibly relevant types. Recent research in both fields, however, challenges these approaches. Indicators of …
Introduction To "Religious Institutions And Minor Parties In The United States", Christopher P. Gilbert, David A. M. Peterson, Timothy R. Johnson, Paul Djupe
Introduction To "Religious Institutions And Minor Parties In The United States", Christopher P. Gilbert, David A. M. Peterson, Timothy R. Johnson, Paul Djupe
David A. M. Peterson
In the elections of November 1996 and November 1997, the residents of St. Peter, Minnesota, had the opportunity to consider two political newcomers. These candidates-Ruth Johnson and Dan Stratton-had much in common beyond the fact that neither had run previously for elected office. Both candidates had a strong and long-standing interest in politics and public affairs. Both sought prestige positions-Johnson wanted the vacant state legislative seat, while Stratton challenged for mayor of St. Peter. Both were relatively unknown to the general public. Finally, both candidates had connections to the local liberal arts college; Johnson was an alumnus serving in administration, …