Georg Vanberg | Scholars@Duke

Georg Vanberg
Ernestine Friedl Distinguished Professor of Political Science

Georg Vanberg (Ph.D., University of Rochester, 1999) is the Ernestine Friedl Distinguished Professor of Political Science. His research focuses on political institutions, including courts, legislatures, and coalition governance. He is the author of Parliaments and Coalitions (with Lanny Martin, Oxford University Press), and The Politics of Constitutional Review in Germany (Cambridge University Press). His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, and was awarded the 2012 Richard F. Fenno Prize of the American Political Science Association for the Best Book in Legislative Studies, the 2013 Award for the Best Paper published in The Journal of Politics , and the 2015 Elinor Ostrom Prize for the Best Paper published in the Journal of Theoretical Politics. He served as editor of the journal Public Choice (2011-2016), and is a past President of the Public Choice Society (2016-18).

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Ernestine Friedl Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Political Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2020
Professor of Political Science, Political Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2013
Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Development in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, Duke University 2022

Contact Information

140 Science Drive, 219 Gross Hall, Box 90204, Durham, NC 27708
Box 90204, Durham, NC 27708
georg.vanberg@duke.edu (919) 660-4311
GeorgVanberg.com

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., University of Rochester 1999
Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- Chair of the Department of Political Science, Political Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2016 - 2021
- Interim Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Political Science, Political Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2015
Recognition
In the News
- APR 14, 2020
  
  Duke Awards 29 University Distinguished Professorships
- DEC 13, 2019
  
  Brexit Is Put to Bed: A Look at What Follows the UK Election
- SEP 9, 2019
  
  Explaining Why Conservatives in Britain Rebelled, But Republicans in Congress Have Not
- MAR 16, 2016 The Washington Post
  
  Georg Vanberg: Think a ‘brokered’ convention is undemocratic? Think again
- MAR 16, 2016 The Washington Post
  
  Is a Brokered Convention Undemocratic?
- JUL 1, 2015 Mother Jones
  
  Georg Vanberg comments: Sorry, liberals, but the Roberts court is still conservative
- MAY 5, 2015
  
  News Tip: UK Elections Have 'Profound Implications' for US-UK Relations, Expert Says
- NOV 22, 2013
  
  Why the Democrats Took the Nuclear Option in Congress
- OCT 4, 2013
  
  Georg Vanberg: A Social Science Pedigree (and Sports Luck)
Awards & Honors
- Best Paper Published in the Journal of Politics, 2013. Southern Political Science Association. December 2013
- 2012 Richard F. Fenno, Jr. Prize for the Best Book Published in Legislative Studies. Legislative Studies Section of American Political Science Association. December 2012
Expertise
Subject Headings
Global Scholarship
- Research
  - Europe (Continent)
Research
Selected Grants
- Or Honig Support awarded by Israel Institute 2017 - 2018
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Books
  - Vanberg, G. Constitutional courts in comparative perspective: A theoretical assessment. Vol. 18, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-040113-161150.
    Full Text
  - Martin, L. W., and G. Vanberg. Parliaments and Coalitions: The Role of Legislative Institutions in Multiparty Governance, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199607884.001.0001.
    Full Text
  - Vanberg, G. S. The Politics of Constitutional Review in Germany. Cambridge University Press, 2005.
- Academic Articles
  - Broman, B., and G. Vanberg. “Feuding, arbitration, and the emergence of an independent judiciary.” Constitutional Political Economy 33, no. 2 (June 1, 2022): 162–99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10602-021-09341-x.
    Full Text
  - Martin, L. W., and G. Vanberg. “Coalition Government, Legislative Institutions, and Public Policy in Parliamentary Democracies.” American Journal of Political Science 64, no. 2 (April 1, 2020): 325–40. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12453.
    Full Text
  - Martin, L. W., and G. Vanberg. “What You See Is Not Always What You Get: Bargaining before an Audience under Multiparty Government.” American Political Science Review 114, no. 4 (January 1, 2020): 1138–54. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055420000337.
    Full Text
  - Fortunato, D., L. W. Martin, and G. Vanberg. “Committee Chairs and Legislative Review in Parliamentary Democracies.” British Journal of Political Science 49, no. 2 (April 1, 2019): 785–97. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123416000673.
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  - Vanberg, G. “Constitutional political economy, democratic theory and institutional design.” Public Choice 177, no. 3–4 (December 1, 2018): 199–216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11127-018-0570-0.
    Full Text
  - Gulati, M., and G. Vanberg. “Financial Crises and Constitutional Compromise (In preparation),” 2017.
  - Munger, M., and G. Vanberg. “Gordon Tullock as a political scientist.” Constitutional Political Economy 27, no. 2 (April 1, 2016): 194–213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10602-016-9214-x.
    Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Benjamin, S., and G. Vanberg. “Judicial Retirements and the Staying Power of U.S. Supreme Court Decisions.” Journal of Empirical Legal Studies 13, no. 1 (2016): 5–26.
    Link to Item
  - Martin, L. W., and G. Vanberg. “Parties and policymaking in multiparty governments: The legislative median, ministerial autonomy, and the coalition compromise.” American Journal of Political Science 58, no. 4 (October 1, 2014): 979–96. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12099.
    Full Text
  - Martin, L. W., and G. Vanberg. “A step in the wrong direction: An appraisal of the zero-intelligence model of government formation.” Journal of Politics 76, no. 4 (July 21, 2014): 873–79. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022381614000474.
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  - Fox, J., and G. Vanberg. “Narrow versus broad judicial decisions.” Journal of Theoretical Politics 26, no. 3 (July 1, 2014): 355–83. https://doi.org/10.1177/0951629813502709.
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  - Martin, L. W., and G. Vanberg. “Multiparty government, fiscal institutions, and public spending.” Journal of Politics 75, no. 4 (October 1, 2013): 953–67. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022381613000947.
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  - Carrubba, C., B. Friedman, A. D. Martin, and G. Vanberg. “Who Controls the Content of Supreme Court Opinions?” American Journal of Political Science 56, no. 2 (April 1, 2012): 400–412. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5907.2011.00557.x.
    Full Text
  - Vanberg, G. S., and V. Vanberg. “Towards a (re-)integration of the social sciences: The Calculus of Consent at 50.” Public Choice, 2012, 245–52.
  - Vanberg, G. “Substance vs. procedure: Constitutional enforcement and constitutional choice.” Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization 80, no. 2 (October 1, 2011): 309–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2011.06.030.
    Full Text
  - Engstrom, E. J., and G. Vanberg. “Assessing the Allocation of Pork: Evidence From Congressional Earmarks.” American Politics Research 38, no. 6 (October 6, 2010): 959–85. https://doi.org/10.1177/1532673X10369529.
    Full Text
  - Vanberg, G. S. “The Will of the People: A Comparative Perspective on Friedman.” Michigan State Law Review 3 (2010): 717–28.
  - Vanberg, G., and Erik Engstrom. “Assessing the Partisan Allocation of Pork: Evidence from Congressional Earmarks.” American Politics Research 38 (2010): 958–85.
  - McGuire, K. T., G. Vanberg, C. E. Smith, and G. A. Caldeira. “Measuring policy content on the U.S. Supreme court.” Journal of Politics 71, no. 4 (October 1, 2009): 1305–21. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022381609990107.
    Full Text
  - Vanberg, G. S., and J. Staton. “The Value of Vagueness: Delegation, Defiance, and Judicial Opinions.” American Journal of Political Science, 2008, 504–19.
  - Vanberg, G. S., and L. Martin. “Coalition Government and Political Communication.” Political Research Quarterly, 2008, 502–16.
  - Vanberg, G. S., and L. Martin. “Reply to Benoit and Laver.” Political Analysis, 2008, 112–14.
  - Vanberg, G. S., and L. Martin. “A Robust Transformation Procedure for Interpreting Political Texts.” Political Analysis, 2008, 93–100.
  - Rogers, J. R., and G. Vanberg. “Resurrecting lochner: A defense of unprincipled judicial activism.” Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization 23, no. 2 (June 1, 2007): 442–68. https://doi.org/10.1093/jleo/ewm029.
    Full Text
  - Vanberg, G. S., and J. Rogers. “Resurrecting Lochner: A Continent Defense of Judicial Activism.” Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, 2007, 442–68.
  - Vanberg, G. S., and L. Martin. “Coalition Policymaking and Legislative Review.” American Political Science Review, 2005, 93–106.
  - Vanberg, G. S. “Policing the Bargain: Coalition Government and Parliamentary Scrutiny.” American Journal of Political Science, 2004, 13–27.
  - Alter, K. J., R. Dehousse, and G. Vanberg. “Law, Political Science and EU Legal Studies: An Interdisciplinary Project?” European Union Politics 3, no. 1 (January 1, 2002): 113–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/1465116502003001006.
    Full Text
  - Vanberg, G. S. “Law, Politics, and Interdisciplinary Work.” European Union Politics, 2002, 127–35.
  - Vanberg, G. S. “Legislative-Judicial Relations: A Game-Theoretic Approach to Constitutional Review,” 2001, 346–61.
  - Powell, G. B., and G. S. Vanberg. “Election laws, disproportionality and median correspondence: Implications for two visions of democracy.” British Journal of Political Science 30, no. 3 (January 1, 2000): 383–411. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007123400000168.
    Full Text
  - Vanberg, G. “Establishing judicial independence in West Germany: The impact of opinion leadership and the separation of powers.” Comparative Politics 32, no. 3 (January 1, 2000): 333–53. https://doi.org/10.2307/422370.
    Full Text
  - Vanberg, G. “Intergovernmental fiscal relations.” Constitutional Political Economy 10, no. 2 (January 1, 1999): 199–201. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1017272930043.
    Full Text
  - Vanberg, G. “Abstract judicial review, legislative bargaining, and policy compromise.” Journal of Theoretical Politics 10, no. 3 (January 1, 1998): 299–326. https://doi.org/10.1177/0951692898010003005.
    Full Text
  - Vanberg, G. “Reply to Stone Sweet.” Journal of Theoretical Politics 10, no. 3 (January 1, 1998): 339–46. https://doi.org/10.1177/0951692898010003007.
    Full Text
  - Vanberg, G. S. “Wasting Time? The Impact of Ideology and Size on Delay in Coalition Formation,” n.d.
  - Vanberg, G. S., and J. Rogers. “Judicial Advisory Opinions and Legislative Outcomes in Comparative Perspective.” American Journal of Political Science, n.d., 379–97.
- Book Sections
  - Todd, Jason Douglas, Moohyung Cho, and Georg Vanberg. “Politics, Polarization, and the U.S. Supreme Court.” In The U.S. Supreme Court and Contemporary Constitutional Law: The Obama Era and Its Legacy, edited by Anna-Bettina Kaiser, Niels Petersen, and Johannes Saurer, 41–66. Baden Baden, Germany: Nomos / Routledge, 2018. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783845289496-41.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Vanberg, G. S. “Legislative Institutions and Coalition Government.” In The Oxford Handbook of Legislative Studies, edited by Shane Martin, Thomas Saalfeld, and Kaare W. Strøm. Oxford University Press, 2014.
  - Vanberg, G., and Lanny Martin. ““Legislative Institutions and Coalition Government.”.” In Oxford Handbook of Legislative Studies, edited by Thomas Saalfeld, Kaare Strøm, and Shane Martin. Oxford Univeristy Press, 2013.
  - Vanberg, G. S. “John Marshall Has Made His Decision: Implementation, Transparency, and Public Support.” In Institutional Games and the U.S. Supreme Court, edited by James R. Rogers, Roy B. Flemming, and Jon R. Bond. University of Virginia Press, 2012.
  - Vanberg, G. “"John Marshall has made his decision": Implementation,transparency, and public support.” In Institutional Games and the U.S. Supreme Court, 69–96, 2012.
  - Vanberg, G. S. “Establishing and Maintaining Judicial Independence.” In The Oxford Handbook of Law and Politics, edited by Keith E. Whittington, R Daniel Kelemen, and Gregory A. Caldeira. Oxford University Press, 2010.
  - Vanberg, G. S. “Verfassungsgerichtsbarkeit und Gesetzgebung: Zum politischen Spielraum des Bun-desverfassungsgerichtes.” In Neue Theoretische Perspektiven Auf Das Deutsche Regierungssystem, edited by P. Manow and S. Ganghof. Cologne: Max-Planck-Institut f ̈ ur Gesellschafts- forschung, 2005.
- Other Articles
  - Vanberg, G., and Lanny Martin. ““Legislative Institutions and Coalition Government.”.” Edited by Thomas Saalfeld, Kaare Strøm, and Shane Martin. Oxford Univeristy Press, 2013.
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
Presentations & Appearances
Service to the Profession

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Previous Appointments & Affiliations

In the News

Awards & Honors

Subject Headings

Global Scholarship

Research

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Books

Academic Articles

Book Sections

Other Articles

Recent Courses

Presentations & Appearances

Service to the Profession