I.

Discuss the causes responsible for parties weaknesses and how parties can be
strengthened to improve presidential election processes.
a. Factors for a weak party include a decentralized political system, US political
culture, primary election system, strict voter registration requirements, civil service
reforms, regulations of parties at state level, and president chose independently of
Congress.
b. Presidential selection system is plagued by increased participation of ideologues
as delegates.
c. To be nominated, presidential candidates are forced in extreme positions to win
the support of ideologues. This hurts the party's nominee in the general election
because the average voter is more moderate.
d. Ideologues have become more involved due to three factors: increased number
of primates and caucuses, new rules on delegate selection, and attraction of a
different type of delegate( activist).
e. Parties can strengthen both themselves and their presidential nominees in two
ways. First, parties should decrease the use of primaries and caucuses while
intensifying the control of party leaders in the procedures of presidential selection.
In the process, parties could attempt to make state laws more uniform. Second,
voter registration requirements should be relaxes. More traditional voters would
dilute the influence of ideologues, especially in primaries.
II. Explain the concept of a realigning election. What are the three clearest examples
from the text and identify the major issues that were featured in those elections.
a. Critical or realigning periods: periods when a sharp, lasting shift occurs in the
popular coalition supporting one or both parties
b. (1)Issues that separate the parties change, so the kinds of voters supporting
each party change (Slavery & Economics) or a (2)Shift may occur at the time of the
election or just after (ex. Post Vietnam War)
c. Two kinds of realignments: (1)A major party is defeated so badly that it
disappears and a new party emerges (2) Two existing parties continue but voters
shift their loyalty from one to another
d. Clearest cases of realignment: (1)1860: slavery post-civil war (2)1896: economic
issues/city vs. farm split (3)1932: economic depression
e. 1860- was a major realigning election, as for the first time the country was truly
split in half along party lines. The Deep South states voted for the Southern
Democrat while the North voted for the candidate of the new Republican Party. It
also saw the end of the Whig Party and the Whigs' move to the Republicans.

f. 1896- was a realigning election in that it pitted the farmers against the bigbusiness interests from the East. Although the Republicans maintained control and
won, they would remain in power until the early 1930s. The Democrats who lost
were in support of the farmers and rural interests.
g. 1932- this was due to an economic depression and the formation of the New Deal
coalition of Catholics, Southerners, Westerners, minorities, and labor unions to join
the Democrat Party. Black/White and Jew/Irish- were able to come together due to
the New Deal which helped the Democrats gain support.
III.Is there a difference between the Democratic and Republican party? Consider the
voters and candidates views on the issues.
a. Wide differences on issues separate the national convention delegates of the two
parties.
b. Democratic nominees for presidency tend to take more extreme positions on
social and taxation issues that the average voter.
c. The democratic party maintains a greater openness to representation of various
factions and this openness is misleading because it culminates in a nominating
convention dominated by ideologues who are more extreme than the average
Democratic voter.
d. The Republican party has been more successful because the traditional middle
class is closer to the conservative tendencies of Republic activists.
e. Republican- conservative, traditional social values, military strength, economic
free markets, less government, for death penalty
Democrats- liberals, social issues include gay marriage and pro-choice, small
military, more gov. involvement and social programs, against death penalty