John Chamberlin

Emeritus faculty

John R. Chamberlin

Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Political Science

Chamberlin taught Statistics, Applied Regression, Values and Ethics, and Nonprofit Policy and Management at the Ford School. His research interests include ethics and public policy, professional ethics, and election methods.

State & Hill

Sherry Suttles (MPP ’71): An original IPPSter rides on

Dec 12, 2023

Sherry Suttles (MPP ’71) made history as the first Black woman city manager in the United States. That was a goal Suttles had set for herself soon after graduating in the first class of Master of Public Policy degrees awarded by U-M’s Institute...

Sherry Suttles with her son and his classmates

In the Media

Detroit pay raise commission looks "fixed" - Chamberlin

Apr 29, 2023 Detroit Free Press

John Chamberlin, Detroit Free Press: Changes [to the pay raise commission make-up] are necessary to ensure residents can trust this process, said John Chamberlin, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Michigan whose research...

John R. Chamberlin: Making a life teaser image

In the Media

Chamberlin on impact of redistricting in 2022 election

Nov 14, 2022 Sinclair Broadcast Group

John Chamberlin, Sinclair Broadcast Group: "People weren’t used to really having a race. They went on a walk. In the past, when the Republicans [directed redistricting] – and if the Democrats would’ve done it, they would’ve done the same – is to,...

News

Ford School experts available for Michigan election 2022 analysis

Nov 3, 2022

The eyes of the country are on Michigan, as voters consider ballot initiatives on whether to enshrine abortion rights into the swing state's constitution and expand opportunities to vote. The highest offices in the state are also up for grabs, with...

Red, white, and blue balloons and stars with a large white checkmark

In the Media

Bloodbath for incumbents isn't a bad thing - Chamberlin

Oct 20, 2021 Bloomberg Government

Michigan's redistricting commission is not allowed to consider incumbency as it redraws the state's districts. John Chamberlin told Bloomberg Government that the headaches it's causing for both major parties means it is working. “A bloodbath for...

In the Media

Chamberlin reacts to lawsuit against Michigan redistricting commission

Sep 10, 2021 Michigan Radio

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is being sued for not meeting deadlines, even though the census data they need to redraw districts has been delayed. "It would have been as a sort of Herculean task to do all the work...

News

Chamberlin on lawmaker transparency and redistricting

Jun 13, 2021

John Chamberlin, Ford School professor emeritus of public policy and political science, says a recent controversy in Lansing calls out the need for increased transparency when it comes to lawmakers. A Michigan state representative is proposing a law...

State & Hill

Faculty News spring 2021

Jun 10, 2021

Javed Ali has appeared recently in outlets such as 60 Minutes, ABC News, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, NPR’s Morning Edition, and the Los Angeles Times. He’ll become an associate professor of practice at the Ford School this...

Headshots of Javed Ali, Robert Axelrod, Paul Courant, Susan Dynarski, Adrienne Harris, Earl Lewis, Shobita Parthasarathy, Molly Spencer, David Thacher, Megan Tompkins-Stange

In the Media

Chamberlin discusses Michigan redistricting

May 25, 2021 MLive

As the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission begins its work, Michigan citizens are being called upon to help with the process. John Chamberlin, professor emeritus of public policy and political science, explained how the new...

In the Media

Chamberlin predicts less gerrymandering with new redistricting process

May 11, 2021 Michigan Radio

With Michigan's congressional redistricting process beginning, John Chamberlin, professor emeritus of political science and public policy, weighed in on the effects the new Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will have on...

In the Media

Chamberlin talks about Michigan's transparent redistricting process and census impact

Apr 22, 2021 Detroit News

New 2020 Census data means the loss of a Michigan Congressional seat, and redrawing the district lines will happen through a new citizen-driven process. "The process this year is radically different than the past," said John Chamberlin. "The public...

In the Media

Chamberlin explains 'communities of interest' in Michigan redistricting process

Apr 20, 2021 Bridge Michigan

“The idea is to build districts that work for the citizens, and actually works for the representative,” Chamberlain said, adding that if a representative has a coherent district, it’s easier for them and their staff to actually serve their...

In the Media

Chamberlin weighs in on questions around State of Michigan separation agreement

Mar 2, 2021 Bridge Magazine

John Chamberlin, an expert in government ethics, notes, “Secrecy in state government is already a problem to begin with, and this is just one more thing on the...

News

Michigan's redistricting effort makes slow but steady progress, despite delayed data, other challenges - Chamberlin

Feb 25, 2021

John Chamberlin, Ford School professor emeritus of political science and public policy, describes himself as a "redistricting junkie." Not unexpectedly, he possesses a keen interest in and understanding of the efforts under way to develop Michigan's...

In the Media

Ranked-choice voting easier than everyday routines, says Chamberlin

Feb 2, 2021 NYCity Lens

"Think of [ranked-choice voting] like choosing items in everyday routines, like ordering a slice of pizza," said John Chamberlin, who specializes in voting systems. "All it takes is a little planning before entering the voting booth. And sometimes...

State & Hill

The Ford School votes-and supports our electoral process

Dec 9, 2020

By Daniel Rivkin The frenzied political campaigns of 2020 are over, and President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take office on January 20. With about 153 million votes estimated to have been cast, voter participation...

State & Hill

Faculty News fall 2020

Dec 9, 2020

Javed Ali organized a panel for New America on domestic terrorism. His new podcast, The Burn Bag, produced with two Ford School alumni, A'ndre Gonawela (BA ‘19) and Ryan Rosenthal (BA ‘19), has featured U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, General David...

News

U-M study aims to clarify 'communities of interest' as Michigan prepares for legislative redistricting

Sep 14, 2020 Michigan News

An Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will redraw state and federal legislative districts in Michigan in 2021 with a mandate: The districts must reflect the state's diverse population and communities of interest. The requirement is one...

Michigan Congressional Map (113th Congress)

State & Hill

Majoring in making a difference: Marking 10 years since our first BAs graduated

Nov 8, 2019

That first cohort of 58 graduates has been out in the world for a decade now. The degree has led them to a diverse array of careers–on Capitol Hill, in classrooms, at hospitals, at nonprofits, and at law firms. In 2009, the first group of...

BA class of 2009 group photo in front of Rackham

Drawing the Line: Chamberlin discusses redistricting with Bridge Magazine

May 3, 2019

District lines are a hotly debated and inherently partisan issue, but Michigan courts have sought to address these biases. On Thursday, April 25, Michigan judges unanimously ruled that “GOP insiders illegally gerrymandered dozens of state and...

News

Professor emeritus John Chamberlin suggests unfair advantage in Wayne County tax auctions

Feb 15, 2019

In a piece published in The Detroit News on February 12, 2019 entitled “Wayne County treasurer breaks tax auction rules,” Christine MacDonald elaborates upon an investigation the newspaper started involving the county’s chief tax collector, Eric...

John Chamberlin shares his concern for a partisan showdown in Michigan

Feb 1, 2019

Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s first month in office was marked as a period of immense unity amongst Democratic leaders in Michigan’s executive branch. While Republicans retain control of the legislature, Governor Whitmer, along with...

John Chamberlin explains Voters Not Politicians unique road to success

Nov 8, 2018

The midterm elections proved 2018 to be the year of the underdog. Michigan saw its fair share of history-making candidate and ballot proposal victories, with one that will have a particularly profound impact on the state’s political future. The...

A new majority in Michigan? Professor emeritus John Chamberlin gives hope to aspiring Democrats

Oct 5, 2018

While both Democrats and Republicans remain optimistic heading into November, Democrats have a legitimate opportunity to claim a majority in both chambers of Michigan’s Congress for the first time in years.For MLive, Emily Lawler details how...

State & Hill

Catch up on Ford School faculty news in the Fall 2017 edition of State & Hill magazine

Dec 29, 2017

Tamar Mitts and Robert Axelrod participated in a trilateral workshop on the roots and trajectories of violent extremism. Mitts spoke about the radicalization of Islamic State supporters on social media; Axelrod about the strengths and weaknesses of...

State & Hill

Low voter turnout? Introducing Turn Up Turnout and the Big Ten Voting Challenge

Dec 21, 2017

Voter turnout is abysmally poor," says Joe Schwarz, a Ford School lecturer and former U.S. Congressional representative (R-MI-7). "In general elections, you're lucky to get 50 to 60 percent of eligible voters—that just shows an embarrassing level of...

Schwarz fights to end gerrymandering, Chamberlin on redistricting challenges

Dec 14, 2017

Two Ford School faculty members were quoted in a December 7, 2017 article from the Battle Creek Enquirer, titled “Joe Schwarz champions push to end gerrymandering.” Former congressman and long-time Ford School lecturer Joe Schwarz is advocating...

Chamberlin: Lax conflict-of-interest regulation fosters ethical problems in MI legislature

Mar 16, 2017

Quotes from Professor Emeritus John Chamberlin were featured heavily in the March 13 MLive article, "For Michigan lawmakers, conflicts of interest go self-policed and undisclosed," by Emily Lawler. The article examines examples of state legislators...

News

Chamberlin quoted in Michigan reporters’ investigation of Detroit school board candidates

Oct 25, 2016

“You want people who are capable of understanding pretty big numbers, and understanding what the tradeoffs are, what’s a good risk and what’s not," says John Chamberlin of a recent investigation of Detroit school board candidates that found that...