1. Political Parties – Three Key Terms
De-alignment
Abandonment of citizens from identifying with the two political parties.
Critical election
An electoral “earthquake” in which the election results produce surprising change.
Realignment
Change in the political party that occurs after a “critical election”. Change includes platform, demographic support, & change in majority. Change is national as well as local and has permanence.

2. The issues The issues Democrats Republicans Liberal
Pro spending on social programs
Pro choice
Gay rights
Secular
Relax immigration rules
Gun control
Affirmative Action
Campaign regulations
Anti death penalty
Federal government power
Proactive on environment
Embrace change
Conservative
Pro spending on military
Pro life
Pro traditional marriage
Allow religion in public life
Border control
Second Amendment rights
Individualism
Economic freedom on campaigns
Pro Death Penalty
State government power
Environmental regs hurt businesses
EmbraceTradition

3. Voting Coalitions of the Two Parties:
Democrats
Republicans
Young (18-21)
Women
African American
Jewish
North Eastern & Western Regions
Urban
Union
Upper Income
Protestant/church going
Military families
South
Midwest
Rural

4. Dealignment

5. Party Realignments Why are these a big deal?
1800 Federalists and Anti Federalists
1828 Jacksonian Democrats vs. Whigs
1860 Two Republican Eras
1932 The New Deal Coalition
Today – the era of “Divided Government”

6. Political Party Organizations
Decentralized why?
National Party Committee
- In charge of National Convention
State Party Committee
- In charge of holding primaries/
caucuses and sending delegates to the National Convention

7. The two party system (Unit III)

8. Obstacles to Third Parties (Unit III)
What is a “third party”?
Cite examples of third parties
Identify and describe major challenges to third party success in the United States today
Ballot access
Debate access
Proportional access

9. Role of the Party in Presidential Elections
Define: plurality election
Define: majority election
Define: winner take all election
Define primary, caucus, convention. What are some of the different types of primaries?

10. What does it mean to have a “big tent” party?
Obama attempts to build a big tent:
Glenn Beck Criticizes the big tent:
Blue Dog Democrat (Democrats who are conservative on social issues)
RINO (Republican In Name Only)
Tea Party

11. Impact of Tea Party on Recent Republican Primaries
Tea-party backed Republicans have beaten “RINO” Republicans in Primaries, sometimes to lose in the General Election.
Example: Christine O’Donnell who ran for US Senate in Delaware, won in Republican primary against Mike Castle (RINO) but lost in general election to Democrat Chris Coons.

13. Was the election of 1994 a realignment?
(1) President Clinton began his presidency with a Democratic controlled Congress. Democrats had controlled Congress for 40 years.

14. Was the election of 1994 a realignment?
(2) In 1994 the mid-term election Republicans took control of Congress, with Newt Gingrich as the Republican Speaker of the House, promising to implement a “Contract with America” or a series of conservative policies.

15. Nominating Presidential Candidates
-More democracy now or less?

16. CHANGES IN PROCESS Then: PARTY LEADERS CHOSE NOMINEES
Now:CITIZENS VOTE AT THE STATE LEVEL TO CHOOSE NOMINEES

17. Presidential Nominations- Review
Voters Delegates nominee

18. PARTIES HOLD NOMINATING ELECTIONS IN EACH STATE
PRIMARY
closed
Open
CAUCUS
IOWA HAS FIRST CAUCUS
Howard Dean after losing Iowa:
NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS FIRST PRIMARY
SUPER TUESDAY

19. Primaries/Caucuses an overview of the vote count
THE NATIONAL PARTY GIVES A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DELEGATE VOTES TO EACH STATE (similar to electors being allowed to represent each state)
THE STATE COUNTS THE VOTE AND SENDS DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION BY ONE OF TWO FORMULAS:
WINNER TAKE ALL (Republicans)
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION (Democrats)

20. Checking for understanding…
State of Oceana has 100 delegates to both conventions
10% of vote goes to candidate A
40% of vote goes to candidate B
50% of votes goes to candidate C
How many delegates to the Democratic national convention does A,B, and C receive?
How many delegates to the Republican national convention does A,B, and C receive?

21. And sometimes not !
During the 2008 Democratic Primaries, Florida and Michigan were stripped of their delegates by the national party!

22. THE NATIONAL CONVENTIONShttp://www. demconvention. com/; http://www
ONCE A TIME OF SUSPENSE, NOW JUST A BIG POLITICAL STAGE SHOW
DELEGATE VOTES COUNTED, NOMINEE OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED
RUNNING MATE ANNOUNCED
SPEECHES AND RATIFICATION OF PARTY PLATFORM
A BIG POLITICAL PEP RALLY

23. 1968 Democratic Convention – Chicago – A Turning Point
George McGovern initiated changes to the rules to prevent another convention disaster
Quota for female and minority delegates was established
proportional representation was mandated and a requirement to vote by state rule

24. McGovern Reforms - Democrats con’t
Due to the great debate within Democratic party about changes
Compromise was made – SUPERDELEGATES
How important are superdelegates

25. In 2008 the Superdelegate vote made a difference for the Democrats!

26. Observations:
What is the difference between Democrats and Republicans in how they nominate candidates?
Is there more democracy or less now and what are your arguments?
How has the movement to primaries since the 60s altered our presidental race?