1. Party Realignment
Realignment = a substantial number of voters switching party allegiance & creating a long-term political change
Associated with critical elections
Critical election - an electoral "earthquake" - new issues emerge, new coalitions replaces old ones, majority party often displaced by the minority party, etc. Sometimes marked by a national crisis.
Do you think another party realignment is possible?
probably not … parties today are too cohesive / would require a substantial # of party members believing their party no longer fundamentally represents them. Constituents within the parties today are reasonably compatible.

2. Party Realignment
Realignment doesn’t have to mean an instant switch in dominance - can take place over a number of years
Most recently, conservative southern Ds became conservative southern Rs; started with Nixon … went on through 80’s…Reagan
Nixon’s Southern strategy to break D dominance & bring D’s into R party:
South realigned to a GOP stronghold

3. Party Dealignment DEALIGNMENT = Current trend – more independents
Straight-ticket voting mostly gone - ticket-splitting double what it was in the 50s
Up to 40% split-ticket voting in recent elections
BUT, “independent voters” may not be so independent after all – of 33% of “Independents,” 11% consistently vote D; 12% consistently vote R
Reagan made good use of dealignment moving conservative Democrats to the Republican party

4. TIPPING Definition: Immigration is one cause of this phenomenon
MA was a solidly R state until 1928….when D Irish voters became dominant segment of population
From ‘52 to ’92 , CA supported R candidates for P but changed in ‘92 & voted for Clinton & has voted D since …..CA became a non-white majority state
One exception to CA – 1964 when it voted for Johnson
CA is third state to become non-white majority, after Hawaiii and NM

5. Characteristics and Reasons for the 2-Party System:
Multi-party systems dominate throughout the world other than in the U.S.
Great Britain, Germany, Israel….
__________! – strong characteristic of 2 party system
Historical reasons – :
Ratification of Constitution
Power of Fed. over State Gov’t (Civil War)
Economic issues in 1900s (working class v. middle/upper business class)
Historically 2 parties have dominated – over some controversial issue:
originally over the ratification of the Constitution; then power of fed. Govt over the state gov’t (civil war era); controversy over economic differences in 1900s (working class v. middle and upper class)

6. … reasons for the 2-Party System:
System of political socialization
Children begin to think as Ds or Rs
Our electoral system!!
_____________ districts with a winner take all form – single winners win with a _________ of the vote
Proportional representation elsewhere
Works to the advantage of the major parties and keeps out minor parties
State and federal laws favor the 2 parties
States make it easier for the 2 parties to get on the ballot; FECA only gives matching funds for D & R candidates for P
Election process in U.S.
Primarily two candidates - candidate with most votes wins, regardless of whether it’s majority
single winners win by plurality of the vote
Example of single member districts – majority representation:
State entitled to 10 reps in House
State divided into 10 congressional districts & each district elects 1 rep
Example in proportional representation:
Legislative seats awarded to parties in proportion to total # of votes they get in election
State holds statewide election for its 10 seats
Each party presents a rank-ordered slate of 10 candidates
Candidates elected from the top of each list depending on proportion of votes party wins
so… if party won 30% of votes, its top 3 candidates would be elected.

7. Majority vs. Proportional Representation - Examples
Single Member Districts (Majority Representation)
Legislative seats awarded to parties in proportion to total # of votes they get in election
State holds statewide election for its 10 seats
Each party presents a rank-ordered slate of 10 candidates
Candidates elected from the top of each list depending on proportion of votes party wins
so… if party won 30% of votes, its top 3 candidates would be elected.
State entitled to 10 reps in House
State divided into 10 congressional districts
____________________________________
Proportional: if during a national election party X obtains 12% of the vote, party Y gets 43% of the vote and party Z gets the remaining 45% of the vote, then party X gets 12% of the seats in the legislature, party Y gets 43% of the of the seats in the legislature and party Z gets 45% of the seats in the legislature.
So, since even a minor party may still get at least a few seats in the legislature, it’s a greater incentive for smaller parties to organize under such types of electoral systems whereas there really is no advantage for them in the U.S. electoral system.
Actually a political science “law” now that single member districts tend to produce two parties – Duverger’s Law.

8. THIRD PARTIES & THEIR IMPACT ON U.S. POLITICS
Third or Minor party =
Minor parties have a hard time competing
Minor - THIRD - parties form because of a belief that certain needs & values are not being addressed by the 2 major parties.

9. TYPES OF THIRD PARTIES:
IDEOLOGICAL PARTIES –
Socialist Party founded 1901 – dissolved in 1972
Libertarian Party – Laissez-faire economic capitalists, 1971
Green Party – founded 1996 as a grassroots environmentalist organization, Ralph Nader for P in ‘00
Ideological parties are longest lasting third parties.
A smaller party has since taken up the name of the Socialist Party
Nader ran as an independent in 2004 and 2008
Prohibition Party was a specific issue party in 1892

10. Libertarian Party 2000 campaign ad

11. ECONOMIC PROTEST PARTIES Protesting some economic development or issue
Best historical example is farmers protesting bad economic times
The Tea Party movement?
Example: James Weaver and the Populist Party won over 1 million popular votes and 22 electoral votes in 1892

12. PERSONALITY PARTIES (a/k/a Splinter Parties)
Develop
(for ex., Teddy Roosevelt’s progressive bull moose party)
And seem to be form around a leader with a strong personality (for ex., Ross Perot’s reform party)

13. IMPACT OF THIRD PARTIES ON AMERICAN POLITICS:
INNOVATOR:
For example, the Free Soil Party and the issue of slavery
CRITIC
For example, Ross Perot’s reform party in ‘92 & ‘96
Basically, the roles of innovator and critic are simply to influence one of the major parties to take up an issue.
Positive or negative impact?

14. THE SPOILERS! Negative impact Affect election outcomes by
For example: Teddy Roosevelt’s Progressive Party in 1912 split the Republican vote and gave victory to the Democrats & Wilson
Perot in 1992….split Republicans
Nader in 2000….split Democrats

15. Nader & Reform Party 2004

16. Ralph Nader Math Problem 2004 Presidential Election

17. EXCEPTION TO THIRD PARTIES DON’T GET ELECTED:
Jesse Ventura, Governor of Minnesota
Brought together left & right wing philosophies – pro-choice & pro-capital punishment
Brought out a new voter – age 18 to 26
Manipulated media to his advantage
Former Pro-Wrestler

18. PROBLEMS FACED BY THIRD PARTIES:
Americans’ habit of voting D or R
Raising funds –
Getting candidates on the ballots in all states
_________________ format of our elections
Portion of an essay question on the test before!!

19. Party Polarization Party Polarization =
An individual's stance on a given issue, is more likely to be strictly defined by their identification with a particular party (e.g., Democrat or Republican) or ideology (e.g., liberal or conservative)
What are the consequences of polarization?

20. Polarization
Republicans and Democrats are more divided along ideological lines – and partisan antipathy is deeper and more extensive – than at any point in the last two decades. These trends manifest themselves in myriad ways, both in politics and in everyday life. And a new survey of 10,000 adults nationwide finds that these divisions are greatest among those who are the most engaged and active in the political process.
Very sharp divisions today: 92% of Rs are to the right of the median D, and 94% of Ds are to the left of the median R.

21. YOU can vote soon thanks to WHICH AMENDMENT? Register! - click here
But remember that most of us would be considered moderates of one view or the other, not radical liberals or conservatives.
Most actually vote according to what personally benefits them, not a party ideology --- known as?
Is the Party Over?
They are no longer the chief source of information for voters .. the media is!..
YOU can vote soon thanks to WHICH AMENDMENT?
Register! - click here
RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY!!
Is the Party Over? Not really needed to provide voters with info anymore. State and national party organizations are getting stronger and even though the majority of people still identify with a party, they still split their tickets.
CAN PRE-REGISTER TO VOTE IN FLORIDA!! (as early as 16) Voter card will be mailed to you when you reach 18.
Voter Registration: