1. Modern Trends: the Broken Branch?
V. Revitalized and Polarized Political Parties
Before Polarization
“There is no dime’s worth of difference between the two
parties.” (Gov. George Wallace in the 1968 election)
“Conservative Coalition” from the 1930s through the1980s
= conservative southern Democrats + minority Republicans
= particularly united over foreign/defense policy issues
= “Blue Dog” Coalition for fiscal responsibility
Now, “red vs. blue” states, polarization in Congress: Real or
Myth?
Driving force? ideology, issues, culture, the media, etc

2. Party polarization in Congress, from 1879 to 2003

3. How do MCs vote in Congress?
Four Determinants of Lawmakers’ Voting
(External and Internal Influence on Legislators)
(Voting Cues for Legislators)
1. Constituency
2. Members’ own (Ideology, Experience, etc)
3. Party
4. Presidency

4. Influences on Member Decisions
I. Constituency: yet, ambiguities in determining
constituent preferences (“Marginality Hypothesis”)
II. Members’ own preferences (ideology, religion, career
background)
III. Party (leadership and general party identification)
IV. President – obviously more influential with own
party (“president as a source of partisan polarization”)
Let’s embarrass their president!
vs. Let’s embrace our president!