The seminar meets at noon in 119 Moses Hall. The PPT series is sponsored by the the Institute of Governmental Studies and the Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science. For more information about the PPT seminar, visit http://igs.berkeley.edu/research_programs/ppt/.

Brandt agreed to create a $20,000-a-year, four-year scholarship for Brennan Jackson, whose family lacked the resources to send him to Cal. Jackson, who is from Southern California, plans to enter Cal in the fall. more..

The IGS Library has created a set of new Hot Topics webpages dealing with the six initiatives appearing on the May 19 special election ballot in California. The webpages offer comprehensive information on the measures, including historical background on each proposition, summaries of arguments for and against, and links to further analysis, endorsements, campaign committees, and financial data.

The inaugural issue of Capital Corridor: The Cal-in-Sacramento Alumni Newsletter, has just been released. Check out the newsletter to learn about some of the Cal-in-Sacramento veterans who have gone on to careers in politics, and to keep up to date on the program's latest developments.

Dr. David Silver of the University of San Francisco will speak on the September Project, a grassroots effort to encourage events about freedom and democracy in all libraries in all countries throughout the month of September. His lecture, “Using Online Tools to Encourage Offline Participation," will be held Monday, April 6 at noon in the Harris Room, 119 Moses Hall.

On Tuesday, March 31, Peter C. Ordeshook, professor of political science at CalTech, will discuss his research on the detection and measurement of vote fraud in the electoral systems of transitional democracies. The talk will be held from 12-1:30 p.m. in the Harris Room, 119 Moses Hall.

In 1978 California voters shocked the political world by approving Proposition 13, a strict limit on local property tax rates. No state had ever approved such a far-reaching constitutional limitation of the power to tax.

Three decades later, Prop 13 remains firmly entrenched in California’s Constitution. After the Tax Revolt: California’s Proposition 13 Turns 30 attempts to summarize the state of our knowledge about the consequences of this critical event in the history of California and the United States.

The Berkeley Electronic Press and the Institute of Governmental Studies are pleased to announce the launch of California Journal of Politics and Policy, the first academic journal devoted to this unique state. The journal's first issue includes a special focus on Proposition 8 and the California Supreme Court review of the gay marriage amendment. See the NewsCenter article for more info.

Citing the difficult economic challenges facing higher education, Institute of Governmental Studies National Advisory Council member Bill Brandt doubled his scheduled donation to the Institute this year, completing a five-year $250,000 commitment in just three years. Complete story here.

Dr. Jacques Bouchard, formerly head of the Nuclear Energy Division of the Commissariat a L’Energie Atomique (CEA), will speak in the IGS Library on Thursday, February 26, at 4 p.m.

On Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 2 p.m. in the IGS Library there will be a panel discussion of a groundbreaking new survey of Asian-American political opinions, the National Asian American Survey. Panelists include Taeku Lee, Director of the Center on Race, Immigration and Ethnicity, Jane Junn (Rutgers), Karthick Ramakrishnan (UC-Riverside), and Janelle Wong (USC).

On Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. in the IGS Library Dr. Alejandro Portes will speak on "Convergent or Divided Loyalties: Immigrant Organizations in the Political Incorporation of Latin Migrants in the US."

What actions can G20 leaders take to stem the tsunami washing over the world economy? Join a distinguished panel of UC Berkeley economists discussing "What Should the G20 Do?" on Wednesday, March 18, at 12:30 in Booth Auditorium, Boalt Hall.

After 30 years as a Republican Congressman from Iowa, Representative Jim Leach broke party ranks and endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for the presidency. Congressman Leach will present the inaugural Matsui Lecture on Wednesday, March 18, at 4:00 pm in the Lipman Room, Barrows Hall, "The State of American Politics: Obama, the New Presidential Dynamic, and the Dilemma for the GOP."

On Thursday March 19 at 4:00 p.m. in the IGS Library, Andrew Gelman will discuss his new book Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State: Why Americans Vote the Way They Do. The book explores why Democrats win elections in wealthy states while Republicans get the votes of richer voters, how the two parties have become ideologically polarized, and other issues.

Civic Hopes and Political Realities: Immigrants, Community Organizations, and Political Engagement by S. Karthick Ramakrishnan and Irene Bloemraad, Editors.

Law's Allure: How Law Shapes, Constrains, Saves, and Kills Politics by Gordon Silverstein.

Synar Research Fellowships are awarded to distinguished UC Berkeley graduate students who are writing their dissertations on an aspect of American politics. The Center for the Study of Representation will host an Awards Ceremony for this year's recipients on Thursday, February 19 at 4:00 p.m. in the IGS Library.

Recipients of the Fall 2008-09 Mike Synar Research Fellowship have been announced. The recipients are listed here.

On Friday, February 20 at noon in the IGS Library, Thomas J. Sugrue will discuss his new book Sweet Land of Liberty: The Forgotten Struggle for Civil Rights in the North. Thomas J. Sugrue is Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Professor of History and Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania.

IGS is recruiting a new Management Services Officer III position. To apply for this position, please visit: http://berkeley.edu/work/jobs.shtml. The Requisition number for this position is #009534. This job remains open until filled. Applications will begin to be reviewed on January 26, 2009.

The Fifth Victor Jones Memorial Lecture will present Carl Guardino, President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, on Leading the Way to Smart Growth: Lessons from Silicon Valley. Wednesday, February 25, 2009 3:00 - 5:00 pm, UC Berkeley Alumni House, Toll Room

The IGS Library has created a new Hot Topic guide to Presidential Pardons, including information about the history of the pardon power and potential Bush pardons.

This workshop brings together representatives from the US and the EU in academia, industry, the NGO-sector, and government in order to examine regulatory approaches to addressing biodiversity and biosafety issues in light of climate change. December 11-12, Helzel Board Room, Haas School of Business. See complete program.

Recipients of the Fall 2008 Nelson W. Polsby Grants for Public Affairs Research have been announced. The recipients are listed here.

The Center for the Study of Representation is accepting applications for the Spring 2009 grants. Click here for information on how to apply.

On Wednesday, November 19 at 4:00 p.m. in the IGS Library, Olivier Roy, the internationally renowned specialist on global Islam and Visiting Professor at UC Berkeley will present his latest book to be published in 2009 in English, "The Holy Ignorance". The book examines the recent revival of religion, the increasing number of converts, the disconnect between religion and culture and its consequences.

Jeremy Kinsman, formerly the Canadian Ambassador to the European Union (2002-06), and now a Diplomat-in-Residence at Princeton University, will speak on "The West and Russia" in the IGS Library on Thursday, November 20 at 4:00 p.m.

Michel Laguerre, Professor and Director of the Berkeley Center for Globalization and Information Technology, has a new book Global Neighborhoods: Jewish Quarters in Paris, London, and Berlin.

On Election Night, November 4, 2008, starting at 4pm, come hear what experts have to say about the 2008 election, and then watch the returns with political junkies at the Institute of Governmental Studies. All events are free and open to the public (with refreshments provided).

Mark DiCamillo, executive director of the Field Poll, will be at the IGS Library on November 3, 2008 at 4:00pm. He will provide a summary of the final week of California polling data. This event is free and open to the public.

Students working with IGS faculty member Susan Rasky have produced Election 2008 resources on the News21 American Dream website. Tune in tonight for a Live Webcast.

Campaign buttons from the IGS Library collection are featured in a video from the Contra Costa Times.

California State Senator Darrell Steinberg will speak about SB 375, green jobs, and a future environmental agenda for California. The talk is co-sponsored by the UC Berkeley School of Law and IGS. It will take place on Tuesday, October 28 at 12:30 in the Goldberg Room, 2nd Floor, Boalt Hall.

The 2008 election season is now over, but if you're interested in what happened in the arena of California politics, IGS online resources can help. See the IGS Library's Hot Topics resources, Ballot Endorsements page, and the Election 2008 weblog to make sense of the 2008 California ballot measures.

On Monday, October 27 at 12:30 p.m. in the IGS Library, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James M. McPherson speaks about his new book Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief. McPherson is Professor Emeritus of History at Princeton University and received the Pulitzer Prize for Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era.

On Wednesday, October 29 at 4:00 p.m. in the IGS Library, Prof. Sergio Fabbrini will discuss his new book Compound Democracies: Why the United States and Europe Are Becoming Similar. Fabbrini is Professor of Political Science and Director of the School of International Studies, Trento University.

The Center for the Study of Representation is accepting applications for the Nelson W. Polsby Grant for Public Affairs Research. Click here for information on how to apply.

There will be a reception for California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, the state's chief elections officer, on Wednesday, October 29 at 5 p.m. in Room 223 Moses. Hall.

A groundbreaking new survey of Asian-American political opinions, the National Asian American Survey, has been released. The survey is the result of research conducted by political scientists at four major institutions of higher learning, including Taeku Lee, Director of the Center on Race, Immigration and Ethnicity. The full survey, including accompanying documentation and methodology, is here.

A webcast is now available from the October 2 panel of distinguished scholars from UC Berkeley who analyzed how the recent financial market meltdown occurred, evaluated the government's response, and explained its impact on American households and global markets. The event was co-sponsored by the Berkeley Center for Law, Business and the Economy and the IGS Center on Institutions & Governance.

An all-day conference will take place on Friday, September 19, exploring the presidency during wartime and the proper place of the executive branch in the American political system. Keynote speakers will include Ken Mehlman and John Podesta, who played pivotal roles in the Bush and Clinton Administrations. The conference will take place in the Lipman Room, Barrows Hall, and is open and free to the public. Click here for a full conference schedule.

IGS has announced its Fall 2008 Visiting Scholars. Please click here for a list of the scholars, their academic affiliations, and their research interests.

Daniel Howe will speak on Friday, September 5 in the Harris Room as the inaugural guest in this year's American Political History seminar series on his recent book, "What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America 1815-1848." Howe's work won the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction and general history in April 2008.

The Fall 2008 schedule of speakers in the American Political History Seminar series has been posted. Please click here for more details.

The Fall 2008 schedule of speakers in the Positive Political Theory (PPT) seminar series has been posted. Please click here for more details.

The third volume of this series from the IGS Press, edited by former IGS Director Bruce Cain and Sandra Bass, offers a unique examination of many of the crucial issues that spring from California's changing demographics. Click here for more details and information on ordering.

The Institute of Governmental Studies has released its 2006-2008 biennial report, which details and highlights the Institute's public activities, research, events, student projects, and other activities as a campus organized research unit. Click here for the full report.