Moffett

Kenneth W. Moffett

Associate Professor of Political Science, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Chapter Member: Confluence SSN
Areas of Expertise:
  • Civic Engagement
  • Revitalizing U.S. Democracy

Connect with Kenneth

(618) 650-2649

About Kenneth

Moffett studies American politics and public policy. In one vein of his research, he discovers that the operation of American political institutions has a variety of implications with respect to the public policymaking process. In addition, he examines the effects that online activities, like friending and liking candidates, have on civic activity away from the internet. Finally, his research has found that climate change results in higher levels of crime.

Contributions | No Jargon Podcast | In the News | Publications

Contributions

How Online Social Networking Helps Draw Young Americans into Political Participation

  • Laurie L. Rice
SSN Key Findings Brief,

In the News

"Students Aren’t Slactivists – Online Engagement Can Lead to Offline Political Action," Kenneth W. Moffett (with Laurie L. Rice), Huffington Post, October 7, 2016.
"How Social Media Will Influence This Campaign," Kenneth W. Moffett, The Hill, October 3, 2016.

Publications

Web 2.0 and the Political Mobilization of College Students (with Laurie L. Rice) (Lexington Press, 2016).

Investigates how college students’ online activities, when politically oriented, can affect their political participatory patterns offline.

"Strategic Behavior and Variation in the Supreme Court’s Caseload over Time" (with Forrest Maltzman, Karen Miranda, and Charles R. Shipan). Justice System Journal 37, no. 1 (2016): 20-23.

Examines the predictability of outcomes within the Court and whether justices consider the potential actions of other political institutions. Assesses whether these factors help to explain the variation in docket size over time.

"Partisan Vote Buying and Suspensions in the Postreform House" Party Politics 22, no. 4 (2016): 478-489.

Argues that the House is more likely to consider bills by suspension to provide side payments to three types of bill sponsors from the majority party: ideologically distant members of this group; members whose preferences are located within the first 30% of the space in the majority party blockout zone; and members whose preferences are located on the minority party side of the chamber median.

"Climate Change and Interpersonal Violence: A ‘Global’ Estimate and Regional Inequities" (with Dennis Mares). Climatic Change 135, no. 2 (2016): 297-310.

Estimates the predicted impact of climate change on levels of violence in a sample of 57 countries. Suggests that climate change may acutely increase violence in areas that already are affected by higher levels of homicides and other social dislocations.

"Campaign-Related Social Networking and the Participation of College Students" (with Laurie L. Rice and Ramana Madupalli). Social Science Computer Review 31, no. 3 (2013): 257-279.

Argues that online activities serve as a meaningful form of civic engagement by broadening who participates and encouraging other forms of participation.

"Congressional Response to Presidential Signing Statements" (with Scott H. Ainsworth and Brian M. Harward). American Politics Research 40, no. 6 (2012): 1067-1091.

Assesses whether congressional committees react to presidential signing statements with increased oversight.

"The Calculus of Co-Sponsorship in the U.S. Senate" (with Brian M. Harward). Legislative Studies Quarterly 35, no. 1 (2010): 117-143.

Investigates why a legislator would be willing to vote “yea” on final passage of a bill but would choose not to cosponsor that bill.