Patrick Fisher , Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science
Department of Political Science and Public Affairs
(973) 275-2866
Email
Jubilee Hall
Room 504
Patrick Fisher, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science
Department of Political Science and Public Affairs
Patrick Fisher, Ph.D. is a professor of political science who has been teaching at Seton Hall University since 2004. Among the courses he teaches are Congress, Presidency, U.S. Elections, and U.S. Political Behavior.
Dr. Fisher is the author of the books The Generational Gap in American Politics (Routledge 2023), Insufficient Representation: The Disconnect between Congress and Its Citizens (Lexington 2018), Demographic Gaps in American Political Behavior (Westview 2014), The Politics of Taxing and Spending (Lynne Rienner 2009) and Congressional Budgeting: A Representational Perspective (University Press of America 2005). He was a Fulbright Scholar at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia has also published widely in academic journals, including PS: Political Science and Politics, The Social Science Journal, Party Politics, Politics and Policy, Society, The Journal of Political Science, and Politics, Groups, and Identities.
Education
- Ph.D., Washington State University, 1995
- M.A., University of Iowa, 1992
- B.A., University of Washington, 1991
Scholarship
Books
- The Generational Gap in American Politics Routledge (New York, NY), 2023
- Public Budgeting (with David Nice) Birkdale (San Diego, CA), 2021 (3rd ed.), 2016 (2nd ed.)
- Insufficient Representation: The Disconnect between Congress and Its Citizens, Lexington (Lanham, MD), 2018
- Demographic Gaps in American Political Behavior. Westview Press (Boulder, CO), 2014.
- The Politics of Taxing and Spending, Lynne Rienner (Boulder, CO), 2009
- Congressional Budgeting: A Representational Perspective University Press of America (Lanham, MD), 2005
Journal Articles
- “Generational Cycles in American Politics 1952-2016.” Society 57 (1): 22-29, 2020.
- “Generational Replacement and the Impending Transformation of the American Electorate.” Politics & Policy (1): 38-68, 2020.
- “The Generational Gap in Presidential Approval for Donald Trump.” Journal of Political Science 47 (1): 51-73, 2019.
- “A Political Outlier: The Distinct Politics of the Millennial Generation.” Society 55 (1): 35-40, 2018.
- “Definitely Not Moralistic: State Political Culture and Support for Donald Trump in the Race for the 2016 Republican Presidential Nomination.” PS: Political Science and Politics 49 (4): 743-747, 2016.
- “The Political Culture Gap: Daniel Elazar’s Subcultures in Contemporary American Politics.” Journal of Political Science 44 (1): 87-108, 2016.
- “Demographic Dynamics of the Wealth Gap in Congress.” Society 53 (5): 503-509, 2016.
- “Economic Performance and Presidential Vote for Obama: The Underappreciated Influence of Race.” Politics, Groups, and Identities 4 (1): 30-46, 2016.
- “The Tea Party and the Demographic and Ideological Gaps within the Republican Party.” Geopolitics, History, and International Relations 7 (2): 13-31, 2015.
- “The Income Gap in 2008 Presidential Election.” Journal of Political Science 39 (1): 54-79, 2011.
- “The Gapology of the Obama Vote in the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primaries.” Society 48 (6): 502-509, 2011.
- “State Political Culture and Support for Obama in the 2008 Presidential Primaries.” Social Science Journal 47 (3): 699-709, 2010.
- “The Age Gap in the 2008 Presidential Election.” Society 47 (4): 295-300, 2010.
- “Is there an Emerging Age Gap in U.S. Politics?” Society 45 (6): 504-511, 2008.
- “Presidential Tax Initiatives and Public Opinion: The Relationship since the Reagan Administration.” White House Studies 6 (3): 257-271, 2006.
- “Do Red and Blue Make Green? An Analysis of the League of Conservation Voters Congressional Scorecards” (with Michael Taylor). Journal of Political Science 34 (1): 37-57, 2006.
- “The Filibuster and the Nature of Representation in the United States Senate.” Parliaments, Estates and Representation 26 (1): 187-195, 2006.
- “Political Culture and the Death Penalty” (with Travis Pratt). Criminal Justice Policy Review 17 (1): 48-60, 2006.
- “The Partisan Foundations of Balanced Budget Politics.” Politics and Policy 33 (4): 617-641, 2005.
- “Who are the Deficit Hawks? An Analysis of the Concord Coalition Congressional Vote Scores.” American Review of Politics 24 (4): 343-360, 2003.
- “In the Black: Explanations for the Federal Budget Surplus.” Social Science Journal 40 (1): 49-63, 2003.
- “The Success of the 1993 Budget Reconciliation Bill at Reducing the Budget Deficit.” Review of Policy Research 19 (4): 30-43, 2002.
- “Congressional Budgeting Priorities: A Representational Perspective.” Political Chronicle 14 (1): 33-47, 2002.
- “Variations in the Use of Grant Discretion: The Case of ISTEA” (with David Nice). Publius 32 (1): 131-142, 2002.
- “Congressional Passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882” (with Shane Fisher). Immigrants and Minorities 20 (2): 58-74, 2001.
- "The Prominence of Partisanship in the Congressional Budget Process.” Party Politics 5 (2): 221-232, 1999.
- "Political Explanations for the Difficulties in Congressional Budgeting." Social Science Journal 36 (1): 149-161, 1999.
- “Utilizing Increased Discretion: Explaining State Speed Limits” (with David Nice). Transportation Quarterly 52 (2): 61-69, 1998.
- “Committees and the Budget Process: How Representative Are Congressional Budget Committees?” Southeastern Political Review 25 (4): 769-779, 1997.
Book Chapters and Encyclopedia Entries
- “Public Spending.” Oxford Companion to American Politics. David Coates ed., New York: Oxford, pp. 242-245, 2012.
- “Budget Process.” Governing America: Major Policies and Decisions of Federal, State, and Local Governments from 1789 to the Present. Paul Quirk and William Cunion eds., New York: Facts on File, pp. 1026-1034, 2011.
- “Contract with America”; “Federal Budget Deficit”; “Tax Reform.” Culture Wars: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints and Voices. Roger Chapman ed., Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, pp. 118-119, 173-174, 550-552, 2010.
- “Age and Voting Behavior”; “Blue States”; “Red States.” Encyclopedia of U.S. Campaigns, Elections and Electoral Behavior. Kenneth Warren ed., Los Angeles: Sage Publications, pp. 19-22, 64-65, 700-702, 2008.
- “Economic Recovery Act of 1981”; “Tax Reform Act of 1986.” The Eighties in America. Milton Berman ed., Pasadena: Salem Press, pp. 309-310, 944-945, 2008.
- “Toll Roads” (with Jonathan Gerber and David Nice); “State Programs to Support Passenger Rail Service” (with David Nice). Handbook of Transportation Policy and Administration. Jeremy Plant ed., Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, pp. 107-118, 145-167, 2007.
- “The Globalization of Public Budgeting in the United States” (with David Nice). Handbook of Globalization, Governance, and Public Administration. Ali Farazmand and Jack Pinkowski eds., Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, pp. 1075-1088, 2007.
- “Bills”; “Budget Process”; “Congressional Elections: Incumbency”; “Drafting”;
- “Entitlements”; “Localism Tradition”; “Majority Leader, Senate”; “Minority Leader, Senate”; “Vote Ratings by Interest Groups.” Encyclopedia of the United States Congress. Robert E. Dewhirst ed., New York: Facts on File, pp. 45-46, 69-71, 129-132, 183-184, 195-196, 329-330, 338-339, 366-367, 526-527, 2007.
- “Wisconsin Adopts the First Primary Election Law.” Great Events from History: The Twentieth Century, 1901-1940. Robert F. Gorman ed., Pasadena: Salem Press, pp. 237-238, 2007.
- “Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.” Encyclopedia of American Federalism. Joseph Marbach, Ellis Katz and Troy Smith eds., Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, pp. 645-646, 2006.
- “The President is Elected to Focus Foremost on Foreign Policy: Con.” Debating the Presidency. Robert Watson and David Freeman eds., Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt Publishing, pp. 182-186, 2005.
- “Staffing the Governor’s Office: A Comparative Analysis” (with David Nice). Book of the States 2005. Lexington, KY: Council of State Governments, pp. 203-207, 2005.
- “Campaign Finance Reform Will Enhance the Competitiveness of Elections: Pro.” Debating the Issues: American Government and Politics. Robert Watson ed., Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt Publishing, pp. 189-193, 2005.
- “The 1993 Budget Reconciliation Bill and the Federal Budget Deficit”; “Entitlements
and the Congressional Budget Process.” Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy. Jack Rabin ed., New York: M. Dekker, pp. 437-440, 825-829, 2003.