Lecture 8: Lecture 8: Elections and Elections and CampaignsCampaigns

LCHS AP GOVERNMENT

• Party systems: Party systems: – The number of political parties within a The number of political parties within a

democracydemocracy– Their relative size and ideologyTheir relative size and ideology

• In the context of American politics: the In the context of American politics: the coalitions that constitute the two major coalitions that constitute the two major political partiespolitical parties

Party SystemsParty Systems

• Maintaining: the dominant party winsMaintaining: the dominant party wins

• Deviating: the dominant party loses a Deviating: the dominant party loses a short termshort term

• Realigning: a major rearrangement of the Realigning: a major rearrangement of the party coalitionsparty coalitions

Elections within Party SystemsElections within Party Systems

• Happens about once a generation, every Happens about once a generation, every 32 years.32 years.

• Are like a political earthquakeAre like a political earthquake– Voter turnout risesVoter turnout rises– Third parties are activeThird parties are active

• End result is new party coalitionsEnd result is new party coalitions

Realigning Elections (Burnham)Realigning Elections (Burnham)

• 1928: Democrats are first to nominate a 1928: Democrats are first to nominate a Catholic (Al Smith) as a presidential Catholic (Al Smith) as a presidential candidatecandidate

• FDR’s New Deal program built a new FDR’s New Deal program built a new coalition of Southern Democrats with coalition of Southern Democrats with Catholics and minorities/poor. Catholics and minorities/poor.

The New Deal CoalitionThe New Deal Coalition

Sixth party system (1968-present) Sixth party system (1968-present)

Democrats vs. RepublicansDemocrats vs. Republicans

• Realignment: Democrats embraced Civil Rights Realignment: Democrats embraced Civil Rights fractured the New Deal coalition, changing nature fractured the New Deal coalition, changing nature of Southern politics as Southern, Evangelical of Southern politics as Southern, Evangelical Protestants and Catholics moved towards the Protestants and Catholics moved towards the Republican Party.Republican Party.

• Dealignment: The growth of independents (if you Dealignment: The growth of independents (if you count independent leaner's as independents) count independent leaner's as independents) shows a disintegration of the two political parties.shows a disintegration of the two political parties.

• Are we on the verge of a seventh party system? Are we on the verge of a seventh party system?

The Sixth Party SystemThe Sixth Party System

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#val=USP00p1

• Income Income

• OccupationOccupation

• EducationEducation

• RegionRegion

• ReligionReligion

• RaceRace

• GenderGender

The Current Party System:The Current Party System:2008 Presidential Exit Poll2008 Presidential Exit Poll

• Government spendingGovernment spending

• Role of government in providing a good Role of government in providing a good standard of livingstandard of living

• RaceRace

• Defense spendingDefense spending

• AbortionAbortion

• IdeologyIdeology

Where Partisans Stand Where Partisans Stand on the Issueson the Issues

• For federal offices, For federal offices, – Bush won all southern states in 2000 (setting Bush won all southern states in 2000 (setting

aside FL) and 2004.aside FL) and 2004.– Reps control a solid majority of Senate and Reps control a solid majority of Senate and

House seats.House seats.– This changes in 2008This changes in 2008

• (http://(http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/)/)• State officesState offices– Republicans control governors in the “Deep Republicans control governors in the “Deep

South,” Democrats control AR, NC, TN, WV, VASouth,” Democrats control AR, NC, TN, WV, VA– Democrats still retain control of some state Democrats still retain control of some state

legislative chambers even in the Deep South, legislative chambers even in the Deep South, such as the AL House and Senate, and the MS such as the AL House and Senate, and the MS House.House.

The Southern RealignmentThe Southern Realignment

• Some whites are still Democrats. To win, Some whites are still Democrats. To win, Democrats need about 1/3 of the white Democrats need about 1/3 of the white vote plus all the black vote.vote plus all the black vote.

• State parties and candidates can be State parties and candidates can be different than national parties and different than national parties and candidates. When Republican candidates candidates. When Republican candidates are too conservative, conservative are too conservative, conservative Democrats can win.Democrats can win.

• Still an uphill climb for Democrats.Still an uphill climb for Democrats.

Why Do Democrats Why Do Democrats Cling to Office in the South?Cling to Office in the South?