Political Science 1100, Introduction to American Politics, February 18, 2009

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VOTING AND ELECTIONS

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2. THE REALITY OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS: American Circumstances are far from idea.

Four Reasons that Voters Choose One Candidate Over Another

a. Party Identification

b. The Image Of The Candidates

c. Candidates' Stands On Major Issues

d. Incumbents' Actual Performance Affects Outcomes

In Reality, we tend to cast Retrospective Votes: We Tend To

• Reelect Incumbents When There Is Peace And Prosperity
  
• To Elect Challengers When We Feel Threatened And Experience Personal Economic Hardship

  Retrospective voting is particularly important in voting for President

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POLITICAL PARTIES

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1. Why do we have political parties? 

    - Ask James Madison - Why did he help create America's first political party?

    - to build coalitions of

                (1) legislators and other public officials,

                (2) candidates running for public office and

                (3) voters who would vote for candidates for public office.

2. The Reality of American Political Parties: The Two Party System

    A. Why Do We Have A Two Party System?

1) History: We've Always Had Two

     Since the 1850s, the Democratic and Republican Parties have
     dominated American Politics

2) Party Identification: People Tend To Stick With One Party

3) Consensus on Basic Ideals

    B. Why Does The Two Party System Persist?

Single Member, Plurality Elections Make It Difficult for 3rd Parties

The rules make it hard for "Third" Parties to sustain electoral success

    C. Are the Parties Different?

      In some ways, yes  - platforms, coalitions, policy performance

       In some ways, no - American values, background of officeholders.

3. Party Shifts

    A. How the Republican Party Won the South

    1) Before World War II, the "Solid" South voted overwhelmingly Democratic

    2) How Civil Rights Split the Democrats

         The career of Strom Thurmond

    B. How the Democratic Party won the Northeast