Scott C. James

Scott C. James is Associate Professor of Political Science at UCLA's College of Social Sciences. His research examines American political development through institutional analysis of electoral systems, presidential leadership, and regulatory policy formation. Award-winning work includes the Gladys Kammerer Award-winning book exploring Electoral College influences on regulatory choices during 1884-1936.

His scholarship investigates patronage systems in 19th-century American politics, party development, and institutional sequencing in congressional elections. Current projects reinterpret party system evolution through historical institutionalism frameworks and presidential-state relations.

Undergraduate courses focus on the American presidency while graduate seminars explore political institution development, party formation, and state-building politics. Research contributions advance understanding of regulatory choice mechanisms and electoral competition dynamics across pivotal historical periods.