| Department of Political Science | 2440 North Boulevard # 2302 |
| University of Houston | Houston, Texas 77098 |
| Houston, Texas 77204-347 | (713)528-6813 |
| Phone: (713)743-3890 | |
| Fax: (713)743-3927 | e-mail: CHammons@uh.edu |
University of Houston - Houston, TX. May 1997. Ph.D. in Political Science.
University of Houston - Houston, TX. 1995. M.A. in Political Science.
University of Texas - Austin, TX. 1991. B.A. in Government.
"Was James Madison Wrong? Rethinking the American Preference for Short, Framework- Oriented Constitutions." American Political Science Review. Originally submitted June 1997; revised and resubmitted October 1997.
"Has Political Science Abandoned the Study of Written Constitutions?" PS: Political Science and Politics. Under review, submitted July 1997.
"Using Written Constitutions to Measure Political Culture." Under revision for submission to Publius: The Journal of Federalism.
1997 College of Social Sciences Teaching Excellence Award - 1st Runner Up
American Political Behavior and Politics, POLS 1336. Fall 1996 (207 students), Spring 1995 (50 students), Spring 1997 (100 students), Spring 1998 (Honors). Course focused on political behavior, public opinion, elections, civil liberties, representation, federalism, and constitutionalism. More Detail.
American Political Institutions and Politics, POLS 1337. Fall 1995 (80 students), Fall 1997 (174 students). Course focused on political institutions, interest groups, political parties, campaigns, and the media. More Detail.
Democracy and Citizenship, POLS 2394H. Fall 1994. Honors section discussion leader for class of 7 honors students. Headed weekly discussion section and graded essay exams for honors government course.
American Political Thought: POLS 3349. Fall 1996. Upper-division seminar of 23 students. Course traced the fundamental concepts which have defined American political thought - liberty, equality, separation of powers, representation, federalism, and constitutionalism - through analysis of writings and documents from early America. Course Description. More Detail.
Democratic Theory, POLS 3343. Fall 1995. Upper-division seminar of 10 students. Course focused on different elements, theories, and writings related to the concept of democracy. More Detail.
Liberalism and its Critics, POLS 3342. Fall 1997. Upper-division course of 25 students. Course traced development and evolution of liberalism from 16th century to 19th century through analysis of primary texts and secondary literature. Primary focus was on the difficult choice between freedom and order that a people face when establishing new political systems and how that choice has been addressed in political theory and politics. More Detail.
Panel Organizer and Chair,1998 APSA meeting. "Constitutionalism and Community." Committed panelists include Daniel Elazar, Kermit Hall, Will Harris, Donald S. Lutz, Janice May, and Donald Robinson.
Liberty Fund Colloquium; Invited Participant. July 1997. The Fundamental Documents of American Liberty. Steamboat Springs, CO.
Liberty Fund Colloquium; Invited Participant. June 1997. Liberty in Education. Houston, TX.
American Institute for Contemporary German Studies; Invited Participant. March 1997. Federalism Round-Table. Washington, D.C.
Midwest Political Science Association. 1997. Paper delivered entitled: "Empirical Political Theory: Reuniting Political Science." Chicago, IL.
Southwestern Political Science Association. 1997. Paper delivered entitled: "American Political Theory: Crossroads of the Discipline." New Orleans, LA.
Midwest Political Science Association. 1996. Paper delivered entitled: "The Irony of Constitutional Politics in State Government: An Empirical Analysis." Chicago, IL.
White House Internship. 1991. Office of Presidential Advance and Media Relations. The White House; Washington, D.C.
Academic Advisor and Degree Plan Analyst. January 1997 to present. College of Social Sciences. University of Houston; Houston, TX.
Core Curriculum Analyst. January 1997 to present. College of Social Sciences. University of Houston; Houston, TX.
Graduation Commencement Committee, Spring 1997. College of Social Sciences. University of Houston; Houston, TX.
My major area in political science for both my course work, comprehensive exams, and dissertation was American Politics and Institutions. I am interested in teaching courses in the presidency, judicial process, elections, public opinion as well as introductory courses in American government and politics. I am also able and willing to develop courses that would be particularly interesting or useful to the department (e.g. courses on the new-institutionalism; constitutionalism; federalism; historical politics; an introductory course in public policy; policy analysis; and undergraduate courses in methodology, research design, or statistics). I am also interested in teaching American Political Thought or Democratic Theory as well as a history of political theory sequence.
My research interests are similar to my teaching interests and are reflected in my dissertation. Not unlike the new-institutionalism that has emerged in the study of American politics, my research examines the effects of constitutional design on political outcomes. I plan to continue research in constitutionalism, federalism, and institutional design. I see such research as relevant not only to American politics, but also relevant to questions of institutional design which define much of American Political Thought and Democratic Theory.
Madison's Theory of Constitutional Design: An Empirical Analysis.
Advisory committee: Donald S. Lutz (Chair), Robert L. Lineberry,
Ross M. Lence, and Clifford Egan.