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Home > Latest News

Youth Leadership Initiative Mock Election Rated With Four Stars
Education Online gives program highest possible rating

10/7/08|CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — Education Online has given a four-star rating to the mock election run by the Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI) at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. The Center’s mock election was the only one of three national mock elections evaluated to receive the Internet magazine’s highest score.

In referring to the YLI mock election, Education Online noted that it “has an easy-to-use student voting site and will overwhelm you with the amount and quality of its teaching materials.” To read more of the Education Online article please visit http://www.insidetheschool.com/election-2008-online-student-voting-site-reviews.

Meg Heubeck, YLI’s director of instruction, said of Education Online’s praise, “The goal of the Youth Leadership Initiative is to involve students in the American electoral and policy-making process early. We want young people in the habit of participating in civic life. Voting in mock elections is one of the important keys to helping make that happen. That’s why the YLI staff has worked so hard to develop the breadth and depth of materials we offer. All of us at the Center appreciate the hat tip from Education Online a great deal. Yet the real victory will be the generation of engaged leaders and voters we are investing in today all across the country, one teacher at a time.”

In 2004 the YLI mock election counted 800,000 votes and included 13,000 teachers. This year more than 40,000 teachers have signed up to take part in the YLI’s October 20-30 mock election, and 2 million students are expected to casts votes. Results will be announced October 31, 2008.

For more information on YLI please visit the web site http://youthleadership.net.

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George Allen and Terry McAuliffe Headline High School Presidential Forums

9/15/08 | RICHMOND, VA George Allen and Terry McAuliffe Headline High School Presidential Forums
September 17 and September 24 at Cosby High in Chesterfield, Virginia

One of Virginia’s most prominent political leaders and one of the Democratic Party’s top national leaders will represent their party’s respective presidential candidates at student forums hosted by Cosby High School in Chesterfield County.

Former Governor and U.S. Senator George Allen will speak on behalf of Arizona Senator John McCain on Wednesday, Sept. 17. Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe will speak on behalf of Illinois Senator Barack Obama on Wednesday, Sept. 24. The forums will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will last an hour. After opening remarks, Allen and McAuliffe will answer questions from about 400 assembled students.

The audience for both events is limited to government students from Cosby and selected other high schools in Chesterfield. The event is not open to the public. However, media representatives are invited to attend.

The event is sponsored by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Chesterfield County Public Schools and the U.Va. Center for Politics’ Youth Leadership Initiative. The forums will give high school students a chance to engage in hands-on civics lessons, participate in the 2008 campaign, and learn more about the presidential candidates. These forums also correspond with Civic Education Week and are part of the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Public Square series.

Tom Silvestri, president and publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, will moderate both forums. The Times-Dispatch will stream the events live on its Web sites, inRich.com and TimesDispatch.com.

For information about obtaining media credentials, call Tim Bullis (Chesterfield County Public Schools) at 804-748-1433. For more information about the forums, contact Frazier Millner (Times-Dispatch) at 649-6085 or Cordel Faulk (University of Virginia’s Center for Politics) at 434-243-8466 or clf8g@virginia.edu.

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Center for Politics Hosts Timely Discussion of Religion and Politics

Director of Pew Forum and U.Va. Faculty to Speak

6/22/08 | CHARLOTTESVILLE The U.Va. Center for Politics will host a timely discussion on religion in American politics on Monday, September 22, 2008, from 5:15 - 6:30 p.m. During the 2008 election cycle, many critical moments occurred when religion and politics intersected. These moments and other issues surrounding the role of religion in American politics will be discussed at this event. Religion in American Politics will be held at the University of Virginia Harrison Auditorium (Special Collections Library).
This event is free and open to the public with advance registration (see http://www.centerforpolitics.org/programs/nss/NotTaboo/).

Luis Lugo, Director of The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, will present analyses from the Pew's recent U.S. Religious Landscape Survey (see http://religions.pewforum.org/), which explored the relationship between religious affiliation and social and political beliefs and practices.
Directly following, Dr. Lugo will join the following U.Va. faculty for a roundtable discussion:

Jonathan HaidtAssociate Professor, Department of Psychology;
author of The Happiness Hypothesis and researcher of the moral foundations of politics
Charles Mathewes - Associate Professor, Department of Religious
Studies; author of A Theology of Public Life and editor of The Journal of the American Academy of Religion
Lynn Sanders - Associate Professor, Department of Politics;
co-author of Divided by Color: Racial Politics and Democratic Ideals and researcher on the influence of political participation on mental health

The Center for Politics launched the National Symposium Series in 1999 to explore current and relevant issues in American politics. Previous topics have included Constitutional reform, women and politics, wartime politics, political humor, character and politics, presidential selection and youth civic engagement. This year, the Center will be discussing race, religion and gender in American politics.

More information about this event.

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New PBS Documentary Examines the Case For Constitutional Reform "Questioning the Constitution" to premier as a free public event at the Charlottesville Pavilion on Constitution Day, September 17, 2008, at 7 p.m.

6/22/08 | CHARLOTTESVILLE As one of the most enduring monuments to human liberty and the rule of law, the United States Constitution serves as the foundation of American government and as an example to democracies around the world. Presidents pledge to defend it.
Fledgling democracies emulate it. And today, its amendments contain America's proudest moments of progress, from freedom of speech to women's suffrage. And yet, most Americans have never read it. What, exactly, does it even say? More importantly, is it still functional after more than 200 years?

"Questioning the Constitution," a new one-hour documentary produced by the Community Idea Stations in partnership with the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, explores the development of the Constitution-how it has been interpreted, and the arguments for and against Constitutional reform. Award-winning producer and director Mason Mills ("Wilder: An American
First") captures expert opinions through interviews with political leaders, scholars and historians including NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, Senator John Warner, and Dr. Larry J. Sabato. These interviews are combined with archival imagery and analysis to provide viewers with a renewed understanding of the Constitution, allowing them to draw their own conclusion on the issue of reform. "Questioning the Constitution" will premiere on Constitution Day, Wednesday, September 17, as part of a free public event at the Charlottesville Pavilion. The event is made possible through a partnership among the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, The Center for Politics at U.Va., and WHTJ Charlottesville PBS, one of the Community Idea Stations.

There will be two screenings. The first screening at 11:00 a.m. is sponsored by the U.Va. Center for Politics Youth Leadership Initiative and will welcome an audience of local students in addition to the public. The second screening is at 7:00 p.m. Both screenings are free and open to the public.

More information about this event.

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U.Va. Students Form Voter Registration Coalition Voter drive aims to sign up scores of students for Presidential Election

6/15/08 | CHARLOTTESVILLE Interns at the University of Virginia Center for Politics have organized a broad coalition of student groups that has come together with the goals of registering students to vote before the November elections and educating these potential voters about the importance of civic participation. The U.Va. Student Voter Registration Coalition began in 2004 as an effort organized by the Center for Politics (CFP) to engage student leaders in voter registration.

The Coalition is led by CFP interns who are designated coalition coordinators, and includes prominent on-grounds groups such as the Student Council, the College Republicans, and the University Democrats. The Center for Politics provides guidance, resources, and facilitates a relationship with the city and county offices of voter registration to ensure that students have access to the important information needed on Election Day. At press time, the Coalition has reached more than 1,400 students out of their goal of 2,008 students by Election Day. Coalition coordinators have also encouraged their fellow students to become poll workers on Nov. 4.

Professor Larry J. Sabato, director of the Center for Politics added, "The real work of democracy is person-to-person, door-to-door, and our U.Va. students are doing it with style. More students from every political persuasion will participate in this exciting, history-making presidential election because of the volunteer efforts to register young people. Democracy is habit-forming, and we're trying to form the habit as early as possible in our students' lives."

U.Va. is one of just 20 schools participating in the Harvard Institute of Politic's National Campaign for Civic and Political Engagement. The goal is to institutionalize voter registration at U.Va. to encourage a sense of civic responsibility and engagement among all U.Va. students, and also assist the university in complying with the Higher Education Act of 1998, which requires that colleges provide voter registration materials to all students.

2008 Coalition Members (more to come):
Black Student Alliance
College Republicans
Hoos for Obama
La Alianza
Latino Student Union
Minority Rights Coalition
Queer and Allied Activism
Student Council
Virginia Organizing Project
Voxx (Voices for Planned Parenthood)
University Democrats
U.Va. School of Architecture
U.Va. School of Nursing

Contacts:
Chad Ayers, Coalition Coordinator; cma7u@virginia.edu
Marta Cook, Coalition Chair; mpc2r@virginia.edu
Kristin Woods, Coalition Coordinator; knw5r@virginia.edu
Bruce Vlk, Dep. Director of Programs, Center for Politics; bav2n@virginia.edu

More information about this program.

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George Allen and Terry McAuliffe Headline High School Presidential Forums September 17 and September 24 at Cosby High in Chesterfield, Virginia

6/15/08 | One of Virginia's most prominent political leaders and one of the Democratic Party's top national leaders will represent their party's respective presidential candidates at student forums hosted by Cosby High School in Chesterfield County.

The event is sponsored by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Chesterfield County Public Schools and the U.Va. Center for Politics Youth Leadership Initiative. The forums will give high school students a chance to engage in hands-on civics lessons, participate in the 2008 campaign, and learn more about the presidential candidates. These forums also correspond with Civic Education Week and are part of the Richmond Times-Dispatch's Public Square series.

Tom Silvestri, president and publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, will moderate both forums. The Times-Dispatch will stream the events live on its Web sites, inRich.com and TimesDispatch.com.

For information about obtaining media credentials, call Tim Bullis (Chesterfield County Public Schools) at 804-748-1433. For more information about the forums, contact Frazier Millner (Times-Dispatch) at 649-6085 or Cordel Faulk (University of Virginia Center for Politics) at 434-243-8466 or clf8g@virginia.edu.

Founded in 1998 by political analyst and Professor Larry J. Sabato, the University of Virginia Center for Politics is a nonpartisan, interdisciplinary unit of U.Va. that seeks to promote the value of politics, improve civics education, and increase civic participation through comprehensive research, pragmatic analysis, and innovative educational programs.

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Center for Politics Hosts Open House and Conference

Annual summer conference celebrates"Ten Years of Good Politics"

5/30/08 | On June 6th and 7th, the University of Virginia Center for Politics will host distinguished speakers from Virginia politics for a special two-day Virginia Political History Project. Titled Ten Years of Good Politics, the event will be held at Montesano, 465 Crestwood Drive, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Guest speakers will include Congressman Virgil Goode, Jr., Larry Sabato, Martha Randolph Carr and Shannon Lanier (Jefferson and Hemings descendents), Stephen Adkins, Paul Harris, W. Ferguson Reid and Eva Scott.

This conference and open house marks the culmination of the Center for Politics' 10th year of improving civic education and increasing civic participation through nonpartisan, interdisciplinary research, analysis and educational programs. The Center welcomes the public and press to a new location in Charlottesville, a beautiful home called Montesano.

The full conference schedule includes:

Friday, June 6, 2008

10:00 a.m. - Doors open at Montesano
11:00 to 11:50 a.m. - View our documentary "Wilder: An American First"
12:00 to 1:15 p.m. - U.Va. Politics professor Paul Freedman presents "Thirty-Second Democracy: Election 2008 Media Coverage"
1:45 to 2:45 p.m. - View portions of our upcoming documentary, "Questioning the Constitution" with producer Mason Mills, as well as Jefferson and Madison reenactors
3:00 to 4:15 p.m. - Martha Randolph Carr and Shannon Lanier, two Jefferson cousins discuss race, politics and DNA
4:15 to 5:00 p.m. - Southwater Bluegrass Band

Saturday, June 7, 2008

8:00 a.m. - First Annual Center for Politics Golf Classic at Birdwood Golf Course
9:00 a.m. - Tee Off at Birdwood Golf Course
10:00 a.m. - Doors open at Montesano
11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. - U.Va. professor and Center for Politics director Larry J. Sabato welcomes guests
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Congressman Virgil Goode, Jr. discusses youth civic engagement
12:15 to 12:45 p.m. - View "Questioning the Constitution" with Larry J. Sabato
2:00 to 3:15 p.m.- "Virginia Firsts" panel with Stephen Adkins, Paul Harris, W. Ferguson Reid and Eva Scott; moderated by Cordel Faulk of the Richmond Times-Dispatch
3:30 to 4:15 p.m. - View "Sarge Reynolds: A Documentary"
4:15 to 5:00 p.m. - Southwater Bluegrass Band

All events are free and open to the public, with advance registration is required. Members of the media interested in covering any portion of the event must contact Matt Smyth (434-243-8466) or Isaac Wood (434-243-4087).

More information about the conference

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Center for Politics Welcomes Virginia Governor Tim Kaine

Sabato's American politics class hosts Commonwealth's 70th Gov.

4/17/08 | Center for Politics Director and Professor Larry J. Sabato welcomes Governor Tim Kaine to his 400-student American Politics lecture class on Monday, April 21, at 3:00 p.m., in Wilson Hall Auditorium, on the grounds of the University of Virginia. This event is hosted and sponsored by the Center for Politics.

The class is not open to the public, but members of the media are invited to attend, and should contact Matt Smyth (email or 434-243-8466) to reserve space/seating.

Governor Tim Kaine, Virginia's 70th Governor, was elected to office in 2005. Gov. Kaine was inaugurated on January 14, 2006--the first governor since Thomas Jefferson to be sworn-in in Virginia's colonial capital. On January 31, 2006 Gov. Kaine gave the Democratic response to President George W. Bush's 2006 State of the Union address. Gov. Kaine is a member of the National Governor's Association, and was elected to become Chairman of the Southern Governors Association in the summer of 2008.

Prior to election as governor, he served for 4 years as the state's lieutenant governor and spent a total of 7 years as a City Councilman and Mayor of Richmond. Gov. Kaine has also served on the Secure Virginia Panel, chaired Virginia's Disability Commission and was a member of Virginia's Military Advisory Council.

A graduate of the University of Missouri and Harvard Law School, Kaine also taught legal ethics for six years at the University of Richmond Law School. He is married to Anne Holton, a former legal aid lawyer and juvenile court judge. The Kaines have three children--Nat, Woody and Annella.

More information about Governor Tim Kaine

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Sununu, Weicker, Wilder to Discuss Presidency, Constitution

Center director Larry Sabato will moderate panel on possible reform

04/09/08 | The Center for Politics will host a lively discussion on presidential selection and the U.S. Constitution on Wednesday, April 16, at 7:00 p.m. at the University of Virginia's Newcomb Hall Ballroom. The Presidency Reconsidered asks "should we change how we nominate and elect our chief executives?" Moderated by University Professor and Center for Politics Director Larry J. Sabato, this timely panel will include former New Hampshire governor and White House chief of staff John H. Sununu, former Connecticut governor and U.S. Senator Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. and former Virginia governor and current Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder.

The Presidency Reconsidered is free and open to the public, with advance registration. Members of the press are invited to attend and should contact Matt Smyth (434-243-8466, smyth@virignia.edu) to reserve space.

Each of the 21st Century's presidential elections has seen many constitutional issues come to the forefront of public consciousness. Some have suggested that the process of being nominated by the parties is in need of review. Should we attempt to alter this process by establishing regional primaries or some other system, or are we better served leaving the process to the discretion of each individual state? What is the role of the superdelegates, and does this process work as it was intended? Should anything be done to prioritize the outcome of the popular vote in the nomination process and/or the general election? Are there changes that might help build greater confidence in our system of elections for more Americans? Should we continue to disallow non-native born citizens from running for president? These topics and more will be debated at The Presidency Reconsidered.

John H. Sununu served two years as President George H.W. Bush's chief of staff, after serving three consecutive terms as governor of New Hampshire. As governor, Sununu chaired the Coalition of Northeastern Governors, the Republican Governors Association and the National Governors Association. For much of the 1990s, Sununu co-hosted CNN's Crossfire political news and analysis program. He is currently president of JHS Associates, Ltd. and is a partner in Trinity International Partners, a private financial firm.

Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. served one term in the U.S. House and then three consecutive terms in the U.S. Senate representing the state of Connecticut, during which time he served on the Senate Watergate Committee. In 1990, Weicker was elected governor of Connecticut as an independent, defeating opponents from both major parties. He is currently the president of the Board of Directors of Trust for America's Health, and a member of the Board of Directors for World Wrestling Entertainment.

L. Douglas Wilder is the first African American to be elected governor of a U.S. state. Elected in 1989 as a Democrat, Wilder previously served a term as lieutenant governor and five terms in the state senate. He was briefly a candidate for president in 1992, but withdrew in order to focus on the governorship. Wilder was appointed chairman of Governor Mark Warner's Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness in 2002 and also that year, co-chaired the Wilder-Bliley Charter Commission that advocated the at-large election of mayor for the city of Richmond. Wilder was elected mayor in 2004.

Last fall the Center for Politics hosted a discussion about the Constitution at a day-long gathering called the National Constitutional Convention. The Presidency Reconsidered will continue this timely discussion. More information and online registration can be found at the Presidency Reconsidered website.

The Center for Politics is a non-partisan, interdisciplinary unit of the University of Virginia whose mission is to promote the value of politics and seeks to improve civics education and increase civic participation through comprehensive research, pragmatic analysis, and innovative educational programs. Founded in 1998, the Center is committed to the proposition that government works better when politics works better, and its corollary that politics works better when citizens are informed and active participants.

More information about The Presidency Reconsidered

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Senator Evan Bayh visits Sabato's American Politics Class

Indiana Senator shares experiences with U.Va. students

04/01/08 | University of Virginia Professor Larry J. Sabato welcomed Senator Evan Bayh to his "Introduction to American Politics" class on Monday, March 31. The event, hosted and sponsored by the Center for Politics, provided over 400 students from Virginia and across the country with first-hand insight into the political, governmental and policy-making processes of the American system.

Senator Bayh began his guest lecture by stating that, "This is a critical juncture for our country." The Indiana Senator detailed the changing nature of the global economy, the threat of global terrorist organizations and the effect of demographic changes on the nation's finances.

The Senator encouraged student questions through the lecture. In response to a question about deficit spending, Senator Bayh responded that closer look at discretionary spending needs to be taken and earmarks must be reigned in. He added that spending is only one part of the equation; what is produced and accountability for results are also integral parts of the policy process.

Another student offered a broader question and asked, "What does it take to become a politician?" Senator Bayh answered with two suggestions: First, pick a public official who you admire and work for them. "Second, you must ask yourself why you want to do it. Public service demands many sacrifices, so you must be committed to working for the well-being of the public you represent," explained Senator Bayh.

The classroom setting prompted a student to ask about the nation's competitiveness in the global economy in terms of education, and Senator Bayh responded that the U.S. does a good job in higher education, but it needs to improve its K-12 education with specific attention to early childhood development. He proposed higher academic standards, better assessment tools and looking into lifting up the lower performing students across the country. After the question and answer session, Senator Bayh stayed afterward to talk with students one-on-one.

Senator Evan Bayh is currently serving his second term in the United States Senate from the state of Indiana, after winning reelection in 2004. He is also the National Campaign Co-Chair for Senator Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Senator Bayh presently serves on the Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs, and the Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship. Senator Bayh also holds a seat on the Special Committee on Aging and the Special Committee on Intelligence.

Born in Shirkieville, Indiana, Senator Evan Bayh graduated with honors in business economics from Indiana University in 1978. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1981. After clerking for a federal court judge and entering private law practice in Indianapolis, he was elected Indiana's Secretary of State in 1986 and then Governor in 1988. Senator Bayh first won election to the U.S. Senate in 1998, winning 65 percent of the general election vote. Senator Bayh and his wife, Susan, are the parents of twin sons Beau and Nick.

The Center for Politics is a interdisciplinary, non-profit unit of the University of Virginia whose mission is to promote the value of politics and seeks to improve civics education and increase civic participation through comprehensive research, pragmatic analysis, and innovative educational programs. Founded in 1998, the Center is committed to the proposition that government works better when politics works better, and its corollary that politics works better when citizens are informed and active participants. Each spring semester, the Center invites prominent political figures from a variety of partisan and non-partisan backgrounds to provide students with a real-world understanding of politics and government.

More information about Senator Evan Bayh

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Center Hosts C-SPAN's Campaign 2008 Bus on U.Va. Grounds

University, local community register to vote, view new technology

03/27/08 | C-SPAN's Campaign 2008 Bus brings together political minds of all levels to address the relationship between politics and the media. At the University of Virginia, students, faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to stop by the bus, situated in front of Clark Hall, to view the studio set, learn about television production, and register to vote with the Center's Voter Registration Coalition. Named after the network's signature political program now in its 20th year, the "Road to the White House" tour promotes and enhances the network's extensive, neutral political coverage.

The Campaign 2008 Bus offers tours of its studio set and the opportunity to learn how a television show is produced. Since its launch in January 2007, the 45-foot, state-of-the-art mobile production studio has visited 108 cities and hosted more than 33,000 visitors and 235 elected officials. The bus travels to major political events such as candidate debates and speeches in primary states, tours state capitols and conducts educational programs for teachers, students and voters.

The event will take place on Thursday, March 27, 2008 from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in front of Clark Hall (219 McCormick Road) on the Grounds of the University of Virginia.

More information about C-SPAN's Campaign 2008 Bus

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Center for Politics to Sponsor Awards for Civic Excellence

Applications available for awards to support political internships

03/14/08 | The Center for Politics takes a broad approach to civic and political attitudes, engagement and knowledge in an effort to effectively connect individuals with their roles and responsibilities in a self-governing, civic society. To address this, the Center will grant Awards for Civic Excellence (ACE) to University of Virginia undergraduate students and educators registered with the Youth Leadership Initiative at the Center for Politics.

The Center for Politics invites U.Va. undergraduate students to apply for limited stipends to assist with internships in politics and government. Academic credit at U.Va. will not be granted through the ACE program and students are responsible for researching and securing their own individual internship placements. Student internship placements may include participation in civic-related community outreach, political campaigns, voter registration efforts, and offices of elected officials. In distributing the awards to students, the Center for Politics ACE committee will strive to ensure balance among political parties and ideologies.

More information about the Awards for Civic Excellence

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Center to Host Panel on Careers in Political Journalism

Partners with University Career Services for event on grounds

02/06/08 | With the 2008 presidential election heating up, broadcast and print journalists are often the leading sources of information. On Wednesday, February 27, the Center for Politics and U.Va. Career Services will present a panel discussion on the field of political journalism. "Careers in Political Journalism" aims to educate students about this exciting profession, but the general public is also welcome to attend. The discussion will take place at the Bryant Hall/Scott Stadium recruiting room from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. No advance registration is required.

The expert panel will include Coy Barefoot of WINA-1070 radio and the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, Terence Burlij of the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Cordel Faulk of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Bob Gibson of the Daily Progress and Diane Walker of WWBT-NBC12. U.Va. Politics Professor Paul Freedman, who studies the media's effect on politics, will moderate. For more information, please e-mail Bruce Vlk.

More information about the Center's programs

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Larry J. Sabato Joins BBC's Coverage of Super Tuesday

Election Program Available to 330 Million Viewers Around the World

01/31/08 | On Tuesday, February 5, Larry J. Sabato, Director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics and author of the new book, A More Perfect Constitution, will join the British Broadcasting Corporation's (BBC) Super Tuesday election coverage and the network's flagship news program, BBC World News America. Airing domestically on the BBC America channel and internationally on BBC World, over 330 million viewers will have the opportunity to follow Super Tuesday results and analysis throughout the evening.

BBC World News America's special Super Tuesday election coverage will be anchored by Matt Frei, and along with Larry Sabato in the studio, BBC Washington Correspondent Katty Kay will provide results and reactions from the field.

"We want to provide perspective and a depth and clarity of analysis that only the BBC can offer. Larry Sabato's wealth of expertise and his sharp insights will help us deliver just that," noted BBC executive producer, Rome Hartman. Sabato and Frei will also be joined by the BBC's team of expert correspondents and commentators for a unique vantage on what could be a critical day for both Democratic and Republican presidential contenders.

BBC World and BBC America together reach more than 330 million viewers worldwide in over 200 countries and territories spanning the globe. Additionally available in more than 1.4 million hotel rooms, on 50 cruise ships, 38 airlines and 32 mobile phone platforms, BBC World broadcasts a diverse mix of authoritative international news, sport, weather, business, current affairs and documentary programming. This special Super Tuesday edition of BBC World News America will also be available on BBC Radio and BBC News 24.

"Rarely in American politics are international issues at the forefront of the candidates' agenda the way they are in this election," said Ken Stroupe, Chief of Staff of the UVA Center for Politics. "Never before, in the process of nominating candidates for President, has the United States held anything that will so closely resemble a national primary as what will occur on Super Tuesday."

Larry J. Sabato is the founder and executive director of the UVA Center for Politics and is the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia. Sabato received his doctorate in politics from Oxford University and he was elected Lecturer in Politics at New College, Oxford where he served as an instructor in the Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) program. He joined the faculty at the University of Virginia in September 1978.

Sabato's Crystal Ball, a comprehensive non-partisan website run by the University of Virginia's Center for Politics features analyses of presidential elections, Senate, House and gubernatorial races, is available at www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball.

More information about the BBC World News America

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Top Experts Examine 2008 Candidates' Health Care Plans

Center for Politics Forum Addresses the Politics of Health Care Reform

10/22/07 | With health care reform at the top of the list of hot topics leading up to the 2008 presidential primaries and the general election, the Center for Politics is hosting The Politics of Health Care Reform to discuss the different health care reforms proposed by the top candidates from both parties. The forum will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 29 in the Dome Room of the Rotunda on the grounds of the University of Virginia.

The event is free and open to the public, and members of the media are invited to attend. Seating is limited in the Dome Room; more information and online registration is available at www.centerforpolitics.org/programs/healthcare. Press interested in covering the event should contact Center for Politics communications director Matt Smyth (434-243-8466).

The Politics of Health Care Reform was inspired by a recent book, Health Care Half Truths: Too Many Myths, Not Enough Reality, authored by U.Va. Provost and former Dean of the School of Medicine, Arthur "Tim" Garson, Jr., M.D., M.P.H. and Assistant Professor of Medical Education, Carolyn Engelhard, M.P.A. Their book is a part of the Center for Politics’ “American Political Challenges” book series. Within the pages of this timely new work, Garson and Engelhard diagnose the health care crisis, address and debunk 20 commonly held misperceptions, and deliver a system that meets the needs of patients, physicians and politicians.

Wyatt Andrews, CBS News national correspondent, will moderate the panel discussion. The expert panel includes: Robert Moffit, Ph.D. of The Heritage Foundation, Irwin Redlener, M.D. of The Children's Health Fund and Columbia University, Stephen Schoenbaum, M.D., M.P.H. of The Commonwealth Fund and Grace-Marie Turner of The Galen Institute.

Provost Garson and Professor Engelhard will join the panelists in dissecting the proposed health care reforms, exploring the complexities of our current health care system, discussing the politics of passing reforms and debating how the results of the 2008 election might shape future health care policy. A large portion of the event is reserved for a Q & A session with the audience.

Each year, the Center for Politics, non-partisan, non-profit public service organization, showcases vital works by authors in the "American Political Challenges" book series. In addition to promoting these publications, the Center hosts related events to bring together the general public, experts, scholars, academics and appointed and elected officials to discuss the political landscape in which these national challenges occur.

More information about the Politics of Health Care Reform

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Alito, Ferraro, Dole, Schieffer to Highlight Oct. 19 Event in DC

Center Hosts Groundbreaking Look at America's Governing Document

10/12/07 | The Center for Politics will hold a day-long National Constitutional Convention on Friday, October 19, 2007 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. Moderated by CBS News' Bob Schieffer, the event will feature a keynote address by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and special remarks by Former Vice Presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro and Former Senator Bob Dole, in addition to three panel discussions, periods of question & answer and real-time audience voting on proposed reforms (see full schedule).

The event is free and open to the public, with advance registration required at http://centerforpolitics.org/programs/nss/. Members of the media are invited to attend, and should register on line and then contact Matt Smyth at the Center for Politics (434-243-8466). Wireless internet will be available inside the auditorium; electrical outlets will be available at specified locations. Please see special press policy for Justice Alito below.

The convention, which will include three panel discussions in addition to the keynote address and special remarks, will offer a wide range of topics for discussion such as presidential and congressional election reform, checking the powers of government and the question, "Should there be another Constitutional Convention?" All in attendance will have the opportunity to vote on each panel topic and render a tentative decision on the major reforms giving this event the feel of a constitutional convention.

The goal of the National Constitutional Convention is not to promote one possible reform over another, but rather to spur a grand, national discussion on the Constitution of the United States and whether the cornerstone of our republic could or should be a means of revitalizing civic and political engagement in America, curtailing apathy and renewing confidence in American politics and government.

Center for Politics founder and director Professor Larry J. Sabato added, "We're asking all Americans to set aside their own political loyalties, to look past the current 'values' debates and hot-button issues and to consider this very real possibility: that the failure of the nation to update the Constitution and the structure of government it originally bequeathed to us is at the root of our current political dysfunction."

In his new book, A More Perfect Constitution, Sabato provides twenty-three suggestions to update and improve the U.S. Constitution for future generations. The idea behind the book is to spark a national discussion of constitutional reform and generate a renewed public interest in the mechanisms of American government. By no means are the proposals contained in the book intended to be the end of the debate - rather the beginning of a generation-long look at a practical revision of a governing document that the Framers themselves intended to be updated on a regular basis. The National Constitutional Convention has been convened as a first step in this process. For more information and to join the discussion, visit www.amoreperfectconstitution.com.

SPECIAL PRESS POLICY FOR JUSTICE SAMUEL ALITO: According to stipulations from the office of Justice Alito, audio and video recording will not be permitted during his keynote address. Still photography, note taking and audio recording for note-taking purposes are permitted.

More information about the National Constitutional Convention

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Larry Sabato to Present New Book at U.Va. Bookstore Oct. 12

Highlights, Q&A and signing for A MORE PERFECT CONSTITUTION

10/2/07 | Center for Politics founder and director Professor Larry J. Sabato will present his newly-released book, A MORE PERFECT CONSTITUTION: 23 Dynamic Proposals to Reshape the Constitution and Make America a Fairer Country, at a special public event on Friday, October 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the University of Virginia Bookstore in Charlottesville Virginia. This event is free and open to the public, and members of the media are invited to attend. Professor Sabato will discuss highlights from the book, answer questions from the audience and sign books at the conclusion of the event. For more information about the book, visit: www.amoreperfectconstitution.com.

For media interested in advance interviews with Professor Sabato about the new book, he will be available for a limited window of time on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 9. Please contact Matt Smyth at the Center for Politics (434-243-8466 or smyth@virginia.edu) to schedule an interview.

ABOUT THE BOOK
More and more, we are aware of the growing dysfunction and unfairness of our political system. Partisan gridlock dominates Washington; 17 percent of voters elect a majority of senators; the presidency has assumed unprecedented and unintended powers; politicians spend as much time campaigning for office as governing; and average Americans feel more and more disconnected from the political process-half or more don't even vote in many elections. All of this would have horrified the likes of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

"This book will ask readers to set aside their own political loyalties, to look past the current 'values' debates and hot-button issues, to consider this very real possibility: that the failure of the nation to update the Constitution and the structure of government it originally bequeathed to us is at the root of our current political dysfunction."
--Larry J. Sabato

In A MORE PERFECT CONSTITUTION (Walker & Co.), Larry Sabato persuasively argues that, while much of the Constitution should remain sacred, some crucial revisions are essential to restore equity for ordinary citizens, for until some of its outmoded provisions are reformed, we will continue to have more of the same political stagnation. Indeed, the inspiration for these reforms comes from the original framers-Jefferson, Madison, Mason, Washington, and others-who fully expected the Constitution would, and should, be regularly revised each generation to reflect the country's changing needs. Yet, apart from the ten amendments in the Bill of Rights, it has only been amended seventeen times in 220 years, and many of those amendments were inconsequential.

A MORE PERFECT CONSTITUTION presents twenty-three creative and dynamic proposals to reinvigorate American governance. Combining idealism and pragmatism, Larry Sabato's thought-provoking ideas range from the structure of Congress, and length of the president's term to the number and terms of Supreme Court justices, the vagaries of the Electoral College, and a compelling call for universal national service-all laced through with the history behind each issue and their potential impact on the lives of ordinary people.

In presenting his proposals, Sabato provides an invaluable civics lesson, peeling back the roof covering the workings of our political system, and allowing us to see the gears and levers meshing together; to see what parts of the machine need oil, and what parts need full-scale repair-and to understand why. We therefore come to appreciate, over and over, what the founders of our system expected, as expressed in their own words-that the Constitution would be revised generation by generation, updated to fulfill the needs of a growing nation.

Larry Sabato has the rare skill of making political science appealing and understandable to the masses. This no doubt comes from his thirty years in the classroom, where he has developed one of the most fertile and insightful political minds in the country. This book is, in many ways, the summation of his thinking on our political system during those thirty years. More about the book is available at www.amoreperfectconstitution.com, including an interactive bulletin board for readers to debate the pros and cons of the individual proposals, as well as a method for suggesting their own "24th Idea."

More information about A MORE PERFECT CONSTITUTION

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Univ. of Virginia Students Form Voter Registration Coalition

Voter drive aims to sign up scores of students before Oct. 9 deadline

9/17/07 | Student interns at the University of Virginia Center for Politics have organized a broad coalition of student groups that has come together with the goal of registering students to vote before the November statewide elections and educate these potential voters about the importance of community involvement and civic participation. The U.Va. Student Voter Registration Coalition began in 2004 as an effort organized by the Center for Politics (CFP) to engage student leaders in voter registration.

The Coalition is led by CFP interns who are designated coalition coordinators, and includes prominent on-grounds groups like the Student Council, the College Republicans and the University Democrats. The Center for Politics provides guidance, resources and facilitates a relationship with the city and county offices of voter registration to ensure that students have access to the important information needed to become participants in the political process.

Professor Larry J. Sabato, director of the Center for Politics added, "I can't think of a more constructive and community-oriented activity for students than participation in a youth voter registration effort. If young people are to have an impact on politics and policy from the White House to the courthouse, they must first be registered to vote. The earlier we can generate civic participation in the young, the more likely these energetic citizens will be to show up at the polls throughout their lives."

U.Va. is one of just 20 schools participating in the Harvard Institute of Politics' National Campaign for Civic and Political Engagement. The goal is to institutionalize voter registration at U.Va. to encourage a sense of civic responsibility and engagement among all U.Va. students, and also assist the university in complying with the Higher Education Act of 1998, which requires that colleges provide voter registration materials to all students.

2007 Coalition Members (more to come):

Black Student Alliance
College Republicans
Hoos for Hillary
Hoos for Obama
Latino Student Union
Minority Rights Coalition
NAACP at U.Va.
Queer and Allied Activism
Second Year Council
Student Council
The Liberty Coalition
Third Year Council
University Democrats
Virginia Organizing Project

More information about voter registration

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"Sabato's Crystal Ball" Adds Analyst and Author Rhodes Cook

Top Election Observer Joins 06's Most Accurate Election Prediction Site

8/9/07 | The Center for Politics and University of Virginia Professor Larry J. Sabato are pleased to announce the addition of Rhodes Cook to the staff of Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball. The Crystal Ball is a free, non-partisan website and electronic newsletter that specializes in political analysis and election forecasting. Cook will be contributing essays and articles to the Crystal Ball during the coming election season, drawing on his extensive experience and expertise, having covered presidential and congressional elections for more than three decades.

"There is simply no better analyst of the trends and votes of American politics, and Rhodes Cook outranks almost everyone else on the scene," notes Sabato. "He is a master of the revealing chart and tantalizing graph; he is able to bring numbers to life for the edification of his readers. Most important of all, Rhodes' careful study of American political history enables him to do what so many others are unable to achieve: put current events in a historical context."

Rhodes Cook began as a political writer for Congressional Quarterly in 1975, continuing there as a senior writer until 1997, when he became editor and publisher of "The Rhodes Cook Letter" and host of the political website www.rhodescook.com. For the past decade, Cook has also authored America Votes, a biennial compilation of election data published by CQ Press.

Cook has also written extensively on the presidential nominating process, including a book in the Center for Politics' American Political Challenges series titled, The Presidential Nominating Process: A Place for Us? which not only illuminated the history behind America's complex candidate selection methods, but also provided unique insight into the 2004 presidential election cycle. From 1994 through 2000, he worked with the Voter News Service (VNS) on election nights to help project the outcome of congressional races; he has had a similar role with ABC News since 2002.

The Center for Politics is excited to add Rhodes Cook to the Crystal Ball team as the 2008 election season approaches. In 2006, the Crystal Ball was rated the web's most accurate source of election predictions, having correctly predicted the outcome of all 33 Senate Seats, 35 of 36 governorships, and a net change of 29 seats in the House. In both 2002 and 2004, the Crystal Ball notched a 98 percent accuracy rate in its predictions of all House, Senate, gubernatorial and state-by-state Electoral College (2004) results. The Crystal Ball can be found at www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball.

More information about Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball

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U.Va. Center for Politics to Kick Off Tenth Anniversary

Annual Summer Conference Focuses "A Decade of Political Change"

7/5/07 | On July 27, the University of Virginia Center for Politics will host the Commonwealth's top elected officials, political analysts, historians and former members of Virginia state government to discuss the campaigns, politics and governance of the Commonwealth of Virginia over the past ten years at the Center's 10th annual conference of the Virginia Political History Project. Titled "A Decade of Political Change," the event will be held Friday, July 27, 2007 at the Jefferson Hotel on West Franklin Street in Richmond, Virginia.

View the full Conference Schedule.

All events on Friday are FREE and open to the public, but online registration is required by Monday, July 23, 2007. The conference also serves as the kick-off event of the Center for Politics' ten-year anniversary celebration, with other special events and activities to follow throughout the next twelve months.

For the past ten years, the University of Virginia Center for Politics and the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service have examined the lives, administrations and legacies of Virginia's recent former governors and legislative leaders through the Virginia Political History Project. In a continuing effort to preserve the rich oral history of modern Virginia politics, this conference will feature remarks and panel discussions by individuals who have observed and/or influenced Virginia politics and government over the course of the last ten years. These participants will not only share their experiences in politics, they will provide insight and encouragement for future generations of leaders in Virginia.

This event will include opening remarks by Center for Politics Director Larry J. Sabato, three panel discussions that will focus on the many important political events and issues that have shaped the Commonwealth since the founding of the Center one decade ago, as well as a lunchtime speaker. The conference panelists will include past and present members of the General Assembly and governors' administrations, Virginia academics, political experts and strategists, and members of the media. Participating speakers and panelists will be announced over the next few weeks on the Center for Politics website and in a follow-up release prior to the conference.

A Decade of Political Change
Friday, July 27, 2007
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Jefferson Hotel
101 West Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia

The conference and luncheon are FREE and open to the public and members of the media, but advance registration by Monday, July 23, 2007 is required. Online registration is now available throught the Center for Politics website.

All events on Friday are FREE and open to the public, but online registration is required by Monday, July 23, 2007. Members of the media interested in covering any portion of the event must contact Matt Smyth at (434) 243-8466 or Isaac Wood at (434) 243-4087; the Jefferson Hotel requires advance notice if a television/satellite truck will be parked on the premises. For more information about the conference, including online registration and the conference schedule, click the link below.

More information about the Virginia Political History Project

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Center for Politics Hosts Former Va. Governor Mark Warner

Commonwealth's 69th Governor to Visit Larry Sabato's Politics Class

4/9/07 | The Center for Politics and University of Virginia Professor Larry J. Sabato are pleased to welcome former Virginia Governor Mark Warner to his 350-student Introduction to American Politics lecture class on Wednesday, April 11, at 3:00 p.m., in Wilson Hall Auditorium, on the grounds of the University of Virginia. This event is hosted and sponsored by the Center for Politics.

Members of the media are invited to attend and must contact David Wasserman (434-243-4087, wasserman@virginia.edu) or Matt Smyth (434-243-8466, smyth@virginia.edu) to reserve space/seating. This event is not open to the public.

Governor Mark Warner, Virginia's 69th Governor, was elected to office in 2001. He also served as the chairman of the National Governor's Association (NGA) from 2004-2005, having previously served as vice-chairman. His Chairman's Initiative, Redesigning the American High School, addresses the urgent need to improve high schools across the country. In 2003, Warner was elected Chairman of the Southern Governor's Association, and he has also chaired the Education Commission of the States, a national nonpartisan policy organization. Warner is currently the honorary chair of the Forward Together political action committee.

A graduate of George Washington University and Harvard Law School, Warner was a founding partner of Columbia Capital Corporation, served as founding chair of the Virginia Health Care Foundation, and ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996.

More information about Governor Mark Warner

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Center for Politics Hosts United States Senator Jim Webb

Virginia Senator to Address Larry Sabato's Politics 101 Class

4/6/07 | The Center for Politics and University of Virginia Professor Larry J. Sabato are pleased to welcome Senator Jim Webb to his 350-student Introduction to American Politics lecture class on Monday, April 9, at 3:00 p.m., in Wilson Hall Auditorium, on the grounds of the University of Virginia. This event is hosted and sponsored by the Center for Politics.

Members of the media are invited to attend and must contact Matt Smyth (434-243-8466, smyth@virginia.edu) or David Wasserman (434-243-4087, wasserman@virginia.edu) to reserve space/seating. This event is not open to the public.

Senator Jim Webb is currently serving his first term in the United States Senate, after winning election in 2006. Webb presently serves on the Committee on Foreign Relations, Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Veterans Affairs, and the Joint Economic Committee. Among other initiatives in the Senate, Webb is currently working on increasing education benefits for veterans and creating stronger Senate ethics rules.

Senator Webb graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968, and following graduation he received a commission in the U.S. Marine Corps. After graduating first in his class of 243 at the Marine Corps Officers' Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, Webb served with the Fifth Marine Regiment in Vietnam. Upon returning from Vietnam, Webb enrolled in the Georgetown University School of Law where he received his J.D. in 1975. From 1984 to 1987 Webb was the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, and in 1987 became Secretary of the Navy.

In addition to Senator Webb's appearance on April 9, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner will address the class on Wednesday, April 11 at 3:00 p.m. Members of the media are invited to attend, and more information will be available next week.

More information about Senator Jim Webb

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Center for Politics Hosts United States Senator John Warner

Virginia's Senior Senator to Address Larry Sabato's Politics 101 Class

3/30/07 | The Center for Politics and University of Virginia Professor Larry J. Sabato are pleased to welcome Senator John Warner to his 350-student Introduction to American Politics lecture class on Monday, April 2, at 3:00 p.m., in Wilson Hall Auditorium, on the grounds of the University of Virginia. This event is hosted and sponsored by the Center for Politics.

Members of the media are invited to attend and must contact Matt Smyth (434-243-8466, smyth@virginia.edu) or David Wasserman (434-243-4087, wasserman@virginia.edu) to reserve space/seating.

Senator John Warner is currently serving his fifth consecutive term in the United States Senate, having first been elected in 1978. Warner is the former Chairman, and now the second-ranking Republican of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and he also serves as the second-ranking Republican on two other committees, the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works. Additionally, he serves on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.

A graduate of Washington & Lee University and the University of Virginia School of Law, Senator Warner is currently the second-longest serving U.S. Senator from Virginia in the 218-year history of the Senate. A veteran of the Navy and the Marine Corps, Sen. Warner served in both World War II and the Korean War, and was later appointed Secretary of the Navy.

In addition to Senator Warner's appearance on April 2, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner will address the class on Wednesday, April 11 at 3:00 p.m. Members of the media are invited to attend, and more information will be available next week.

More information about Senator John Warner

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Texas Senator Visits Introduction to American Politics Class

Center Welcomes Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison to the University

3/19/07 | The Center for Politics and University of Virginia Professor Larry J. Sabato are pleased to welcome United States Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison to address Sabato's Introduction to American Politics class on Monday, March 19 at 3:00pm in the Wilson Hall Auditorium on the grounds of the University of Virginia.

In 1993, Texans elected Kay Bailey Hutchison to the United States Senate in a special election, making her the first--and, to date, the only--woman elected to represent the state in the Senate. One year later, she was re-elected to a full six-year term. And in 2000, more than four million Texans voted for her re-election to a second full term--no other Texas candidate has captured more votes. In 2006, she was again re-elected by a large margin. She serves in the Senate leadership, having been elected by her colleagues to be chairman of the Republican Policy Committee in the 110th Congress, making her the fourth-highest ranking Republican senator.

The class is not open to the public, but members of the media are invited to attend. Senator Hutchison will give prepared remarks, followed by a question and answer session with the students in the course. Media in attendance are asked to hold their questions until the media availability period which will follow the end of the class at 4:00pm. Photography, as well as audio and video recording is permitted during and after the class.

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Supreme Court Justice Addresses American Politics 101 Class

Center welcomes Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. to University of Virginia

2/6/07 | The Center for Politics and University of Virginia Professor Larry J. Sabato will host United States Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. for an address to Sabato's Introduction to American Politics class on Wednesday, February 7 at 3:00pm in the Wilson Hall Auditorium on the Grounds of the University of Virginia.

Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. was born in April, 1950, in Trenton, New Jersey, and received his bachelor's degree from Princeton University and attended Yale Law School, where he served as an editor on the Yale Law Journal. In 1987, Justice Alito was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, a position he held until 1989. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush nominated Alito to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and he was unanimously confirmed by voice vote by the U.S. Senate. On January 31, 2006, Alito was confirmed as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Justice Alito has participated in thousands of appeals and authored hundreds of opinions, and he has participated in various professional associations including the New Jersey Federal Bar Association (member of advisory board); the New Jersey State Bar Association; the American Bar Association; and the Federalist Society.

Guest speakers are a regular occurrence in Professor Sabato's Introduction to American Politics course; every spring semester, students are given the opportunity to hear several guest lectures by political figures from a diverse range of partisan and non-partisan background, in order to enhance their classroom experience. Prominent Virginia and national individuals like Governor Tim Kaine, former Governors Mark Warner, George Allen and Jim Gilmore have all visited the class, as well as Senator John Warner, Congressman Tom Davis, and Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leroy Hassell. FEC Chairman Michael Toner, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen have all addressed the class over the past several years.

Wednesday's class is not open to the public; members of the media are invited to attend but must contact David Wasserman or Matt Smyth at the Center for Politics to reserve space/seating.

Additionally the following media guidelines have been agreed to by the Center for Politics and will be enforced for the event:

No electronic audio or video recording may be conducted inside Wilson Hall or inside the auditorium. Members of the media covering the event for print, radio, television and internet may take handwritten notes on Justice Alito's remarks.
Still photography is permitted before, during and after the class.
Justice Alito will not be available for questions or interviews from the media before, during or after the class, and members of the media are asked to respect the ability of students in the class to ask questions.
Prior to the 3:00pm class, Justice Alito and Professor Sabato will walk from Pavilion IV on The Lawn to Wilson Hall. Video footage may be shot at this time, although ANY questions and interviews of the Justice are prohibited.

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Center to Host National Constitutional Convention

October 2007 event to feature "delegates" from across the country

1/25/07 | With hundreds of participants, constitutional scholars, elected officials and political insiders, the University of Virginia Center for Politics, led by Larry J. Sabato, will host a National Constitutional Convention. The purpose will be to debate proposed major changes to the Constitution. The convention will offer a wide range of subjects for discussion, with panels of experts considering these topics, followed by reactions and further debate by the attending "delegates."

"Delegates" participating in the convention will vote on each proposal and render a tentative decision on every reform. The purpose of this is to incite a grand national discussion on constitutional change will begin, examining whether or not the failure of the nation to update the Constitution and the structure of government bequeathed us by the Founders is at the root of America's current political dysfunction and other serious problems.

In 1787 there were furious debates, intense negotiations, strategic feints and thrusts as the Founders struggled to establish a nation rather than just a loose confederation of states. The Center for Politics intends to ask: What if we were to have these debates, negotiations and maneuvering again, in our own time, with our own issues, with the benefit of over two hundred years of experience? Would experts and the general public vote to amend the Constitution, or would our modern day "delegates" and citizens accept the current document as our nation's best compass for navigating contemporary politics?

We will find out together in an exciting and exceptionally thought-provoking Mock Convention in October 2007. This convention will be the start of a generational reconsideration of the Constitution, and indeed most basic facets of our system of governance. It is long overdue.

More information about the National Constitutional Convention

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