The Capitol Connection

Courting Extremism: How State Supreme Court Selection Methods Fuel Ideological Divides

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 09:00:00 CDT

Every summer when the US Supreme Court releases their most high-profile decisions the public is reminded of the influence judges have on everyday life. How do we decide who gets to make these tough decisions?

An Existential Threat to the Indian Child Welfare Act

Wed, 31 May 2023 09:15:00 CDT

Passed by Congress in 1978, The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) faces an existential threat from the current Supreme Court case Haaland v. Brackeen.

Elevated Gun Violence in U.S. Cities of All Sizes

mwade7@uis.edu (Dr. Magic Wade, SPIA Director and Associate Professor) — Mon, 01 May 2023 10:00:00 CDT

Observes political science professor, Magic M. Wade, “Gun violence is not merely a red state or blue city problem, it is a worsening, widespread phenomenon affecting American communities everywhere.”

Illinois Could Adopt Ranked-Choice Voting. What Do Illinois Voters Think of It and Other Alternative Electoral Systems?

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 10:00:00 CDT

Illinois was once known for its innovative electoral system, where it was the only state in America to utilize cumulative voting to elect some members of the Illinois General Assembly. We asked voters what they think about more recent electoral innovations proposals.

The Law of Motherhood in the Gender-Dependent Application of Criminal Responsibility for Failing to Protect Children

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 10:00:00 CDT

When a child is injured or killed by an adult in the home, a marked gender division appears in the application of criminal responsibility against the non-abusing parent. When children are harmed by a man in the home, mothers are regularly prosecuted under statutes criminalizing the failure to protect one’s children, yet men virtually never face charges when the roles are reversed and the mother has harmed the children while the father has failed to protect them.

Everything you wanted to know about Ranked-Choice Voting (and maybe somethings you didn’t)

asimm2@uis.edu (Dr. A.J. Simmons, CSPL Research Director) — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 10:00:00 CDT

In recent months, there has been increased news coverage of ranked-choice voting (RCV) in Illinois. At this point, you may be asking “what in the world is ranked-choice voting?”

Chicago mayor-elect Brandon Johnson defies respectability politics: Is a paradigm shift underway?

mwade7@uis.edu (Dr. Magic Wade, SPIA Director and Associate Professor) — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 11:30:00 CDT

The recent election of Brandon Johnson as Chicago’s new mayor has been the center of attention in the US this week. This outcome raises questions about the existence of a paradigm shift in urban politics.

Last Chance to Register for the Railsplitter’s Banquet

tdool3@uis.edu (Ty Dooley, SPMP School Director) — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 12:00:00 CDT

You are invited to attend this in-person event located at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum at 212 N 6th St, Springfield, IL 62701, with Federal District Court Judge Brian Stacy Miller as the keynote speaker. Help celebrate the public service award recipient. Registration ends March 24th.

The Workers’ Rights Amendment Passed in Illinois. How?!

mwade7@uis.edu (Dr. Magic Wade, Dr. Nick Waterbury & Dr A.J. Simmons) — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 09:00:00 CST

On November 9, 2022, the Illinois Constitutional Amendment 1, also known as the “Workers’ Rights Amendment,” was approved by the majority of the 4.1 million voters who cast a ballot in the election, however, the passage of the amendment was not a foregone conclusion.

You Are Invited to the Railsplitter’s Banquet on March 31st

tdool3@uis.edu (Ty Dooley, SPMP School Director) — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:30:00 CST

Announcing the 2023 Railsplitter's Banquet on March 31st

tdool3@uis.edu (Ty Dooley, SPMP School Director) — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 15:30:00 CST

You are invited to the 2023 Railsplitter's Banquet on March 31st, 2023 at 6:30pm featuring guest speaker Federal District Court Judge, The Honorable Brian S. Miller. Sponsored by the UIS School of Public Management and Policy.

Making My Case

spia@uis.edu (Scott Pyles, PSC Graduate Student) — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 09:00:00 CST

Scott Pyles, a political science graduate student in the UIS School of Politics & International Affairs, discusses his experience arguing a case before the Illinois Supreme Court last week.

Call for a National Conference on Restoring Civility in American Politics

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 09:30:00 CST

Dean Smith explains his call for a national conference focusing on solutions for the seeming rise in political violence and discontent across the nation over the past several years.

Forecasting as (Fallible) Science and Art

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 09:45:00 CST

Given the high level of uncertainty in the world now, forecasters should definitely admit that they have less of an idea about the potential outcomes in the economy than they usually would.

CPAE Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Meghan Kessler, School of Education

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 09:00:00 CST

CPAE Faculty Spotlight on Dr. Meghan Kessler, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education in the UIS School of Education, whose recent research focuses on the implementation of new state standards for educator preparation.

CPAE Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Brooke Depenbusch, Legal Studies

bdepe2@uis.edu (Dr. Brooke Depenbusch, Assistant Professor of Legal Studies) — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 09:00:00 CST

CPAE Faculty Spotlight on Dr. Brooke Depenbusch, Assistant Professor in the Department of Legal Studies, whose teaching and research center on the intersection between economic inequality, state structure & social policy, and social movements in the modern United States.

Want to know who is going to win an election? Ask the voters!

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 09:00:00 CST

Out of growing concern about the ability of polling to accurately capture voter intention and “predict” the results of an upcoming election, some researchers have begun to explore a switch from asking voters who they intend to vote for to so-called “citizen forecasts.”

“The Election is Over. Now What?” - Nov. 11th Event

spia@uis.edu (UIS School of Politics and International Affairs) — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 12:00:00 CST

The UIS School of Politics & International Affairs will host a post-election panel discussion on “The Election is Over. Now What?” on Friday, November 11th at 6pm.

2022 U.S. Senate Elections

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 09:00:00 CDT

This semester in PSC 407: Campaigns and Elections, political science students at UIS have been researching some of the most competitive and high-profile congressional elections taking place in 2022. Here is some of their analysis.

CPAE Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Beth Ribarsky, School of Communication & Media

eriba2@uis.edu (Dr. Beth Ribarsky, Professor, School of Communication & Media) — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 09:00:00 CDT

CPAE Faculty Spotlight on Dr. Beth Ribarsky, Professor in the UIS School of Communication & Media, who's areas of teaching, scholarship, and service include interpersonal communication, especially within romantic relationships, as well as public speaking, assessment and pedagogy.

Become an Election Judge This Election Day

jpisc2@uis.edu (Jason Piscia, Public Affairs Reporting Director) — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 09:15:00 CDT

With less than three weeks until Election Day, our TVs, mobile screens and U.S. mailboxes have been bombarded with advertising messages from political candidates and the organizations who support them. Let me provide you with one more election-related message – if not for this election, then the next one: Sign up to be an election judge.

The 2022 Midterm Elections and Illinois 13

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Election Day is fast approach. This year, many members of the UIS community, those who are registered to vote in Illinois’s 13th congressional district, will have the relatively unique opportunity of electing a new representative to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Time for a social media break?

jpisc2@uis.edu (Jason Piscia, Public Affairs Reporting Director) — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Many of today’s college juniors and seniors report opening their first social media account (usually on Facebook, with a parent’s help) when they were around 10 years old. That means they’ve spent half of their lifetimes on the app!

CPAE Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Jennifer Martin, School of Education

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 09:00:00 CDT

CPAE Faculty Spotlight on Dr. Jennifer Martin, Associate Professor in the UIS School of Education, who's teaching, scholarship, and service intersect with her educational advocacy for historically marginalized and underserved populations.

Dean Smith's September Public Affairs Minute

cpae@uis.edu (Dr. Robert W. Smith, CPAE Dean) — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 09:00:00 CDT

Welcome back as we start our new 2022-23 academic year! I’m going to jump right in and address a topic that represents the ”Elephant in the Room” in any discussions about public affairs, public policy and politics today! It involves the political volatility or outright violence being displayed between our two main political parties and zealous followers at both ends of the political spectrum. table.