2007 Conference Program - Midwest Political Science Association

Paper Small Chamber Ideal Point Estimation
Michael Peress, University of Rochester
Overview: We develop an estimator for the quadratic-normal ideal
point model which does not suffer from the incidental parameters
problem, and hence can be used to estimate ideal points in small
chambers.
Paper Measuring Bias and Uncertainty in DW-NOMINATE Ideal
Point Estimates via the Parametric Bootstrap
Keith T. Poole, University of California, San Diego
Jeffrey B. Lewis, University of California, Los Angeles
Howard L. Rosenthal, New York University
Overview: We obtain standard errors for DW-NOMINATE via the
parametric bootstrap. Previously this was not computationally
feasible but the availability of the TeraGrid parallel supercomputer
system at UCSD has brought this within reach.
Paper Analyzing Power in Political Science: A Metric with
Applications
Arthur Spirling, University of Rochester
Overview: The paper introduces an actor-based, data-driven,
metric based on the Bradley-Terry pairwise comparison model for
analyzing power in structured settings like legislatures. We report
applications to the Senate and Supreme Court.
Disc. Michael Bailey, Georgetown University
36-3 VOTING AND ELECTIONS TECHNOLOGY
Room Montrose 7, 7 th Floor, Fri at 9:50 am
Chair Steve Frantzich, United States Naval Academy
Paper Wagon Train to Bullet Train: Street-Level Implementation of
E-Voting
Bonnie E. Glaser, University of California, Berkeley
Karin Mac Donald, University of California, Berkeley
Overview: We discuss the process involved in adapting the
Election Day workforce to new technology and analyze poll
workers own perceptions of their ability to operate new machines.
Paper BARD: Better Automated Redistricting
Michael P. McDonald, George Mason University
Micah Altman, Harvard University
Overview: We discuss a set of of free open-source redistricting
tools that we are developing, which will enable more meaningful
participation by citizens’ groups and the general public.
Paper Campaigns in Cyberspace and the Impact of Website
Technology on Voters
Michael D. Parkin, Oberlin College
Overview: This study examines the technical sophistication of
over 400 congressional campaign websites from 2002 and 2004
and then, using an experiment, determines the effect that website
technology has on voters.
Paper Text Messaging in the 2006 Election: A Field Experiment
Aaron B. Strauss, Princeton University
Allison L. Dale, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Overview: A field experiment and survey identify ways in which
campaigns can use mobile technology to reach out to new voters.
The experiment tests the impact of text messaging as a
mobilization tool and the qualitative survey detects indications of
backlash.
Paper Regulating Democracy’s Laboratories: The Law of Imperfect
Voting Technology
Daniel P. Tokaji, Ohio State University
Overview: This paper recommends an administrative law response
to the imperfections of present-generation registration and voting
technology, which would give local governments latitude to
function as laboratories for needed experimentation.
Disc. Ana Henderson, University of California, Berkeley
Michael Margolis, University of Cincinnati
Page | 152
37-301 POSTER SESSION: PARTIES AND INTEREST
GROUPS
Room Exhibit Hall, 4 tth Floor, Fri at 9:50 am
Presenter Party Leader Resistance to Proposed Presidential Election
Amendments
(Board 12)
Gary Bugh, Texas A&M University, Texarkana
Overview: Why has Congress not endorsed a presidential election
amendment? This research paper explores the resistance of party
leaders to proposed electoral reform. Analysis focuses on the
1967-1979 effort for national popular election.
Presenter Explaining Pre-Pill Birth Control Policy Change
(Board 13)
John P. Balz, University of Chicago
Overview: I explain variations in pre-Pill birth control policy.
While the story of a Margaret Sanger-led social movement is
popular, I argue that an alliance between two economic interest
groups - pharmacists and condom-makers - better explains policy
change.
Presenter American Party Platforms, 1840-2004
(Board 14)
Donald A. Zinman, Grand Valley State University
Overview: This paper is an examination of the reasons why
American political party platforms have progressively grown
larger in length.
Presenter When Interests Collide: Medicare Payment Policy and
Physician Associations
(Board 15)
Matthew J. Twetten, University of Illinois, Chicago
Overview: The paper uses game theory to examine the Resource
Based Relative Value System (RBRVS) and competition among
Physician Associations for higher payment rates for procedures
performed by their respective members.
38-13 PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT AND STAFF
Room LaSalle 2, 7 th Floor, Fri at 9:50 am
Chair James D. King, University of Wyoming
Paper Inside the Black Box: The Politics of Presidential Advisory
Commissions
Elizabeth A. Clausen, University of Texas, Dallas
Overview: Presidential advisory commissions have long been
recognized as a means by which executives can address political
problems. This paper investigates the conditions under which
executives elect to delegate power to commissions.
Paper Presidential Control of Agencies through Regulatory Review
Stuart V. Jordan, University of Rochester
Overview: This paper develops and executes and empirical test of
the view that OMB review is an instrument through which the
President controls U.S. agency policy.
Paper The White House Counsel and the Defense of the Presidency:
1960-2006
Darby Morrisroe, University of Virginia
Overview: This paper explores the role and influence of White
House Counsels in the defense of the institutional prerogatives of
the presidency (1960-2006) and the institutional apparatus
developed in the White House staff structure respond to such
threats.
Paper Organizing the Presidency: Lessons from the Bush
Administration
Matthew J. Dickinson, Middlebury College
Overview: The paper examines George W. Bush's use of advisers
in the decision to invade Iraq. This case study is used to illustrate
some inherent weaknesses in the Nixon-based "standard" model of
White House organization.
Disc. Bert Rockman, Purdue University