Deciding Elections and Partisan Realignments

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Deciding Elections and Partisan Realignments

• Chapter 10, Theme C

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3 reasons party id. doesnt determine election
winners

• Cannot be just party identification because the
  Democrats would ALWAYS win because more people
  identify with them. Have lost 7 of 12 Pres.
  Elections since 1968!
• Dems. Less wedded to their party
• GOP does better w/ independents
• Reps. Have higher voter turnout

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Other factors that determine election winners

• Issues, especially the economy
• V.O Key Most voters who switch parties do so in
  their own interests
• Voters know what issues affect them
• They have strong principles on issues
• What are the differences between retrospective
  and prospective voting?
• How does it affect elections? Examples?

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Other factors that determine election winners

• Campaigns
• How do campaigns make a difference in the
  election outcome? Name 3 ways.
• Campaigns focus on themes not details. Is this a
  new phenomenon?
• How have primaries changed campaigning?

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Other factors that determine election winners

• Building a winning coalition
• Which is more important Loyalty or Numbers?
  Why?
• Who is the Democratic Coalition?
• Most loyal? Leaving?
• Who is the Republican Coalition?
• Most loyal? Leaving?

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Why do elections have little impact on public
policy?

• Many offices to be filled at three levels
• Coalitions are weak and easily broken or changed
• Do elections really matter in the US? Defend or
  Refute!!

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What to Review?

• 3.01 Trace the development and impact of
  political parties in the US
• Functions, organization, ideological
  demographic differences between the 2 parties
• 3.02 Understand the operation and evaluate the
  role of elections in American politics
• Current election laws, nomination process,
  Constitutional mandates, workings implications
  of the Electoral College