Key Concepts in American Political Parties and Elections

Democratic-Republicans

Jefferson called his party the Democratic-Republicans.

Solid South

The approximate time span when the South was the Solid South was from about 1870-1964.

Texas State Officials

In Texas, our Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General are: Abbott, Patrick, and Paxton.

Urban Northeasterners

Which group below would NOT typically vote Republican?

Mormon Faith Members

Which group below would NOT typically vote Democratic?

1968 Democratic Party Convention

At the Democratic Party Convention of 1968, party delegates clashed with the Chicago police over protests.

Political Party vs. Interest Group

Political party's main goal is to win elections and hold public office, whereas interest groups focus on influencing policy and don't send candidates for office.

First Two Parties in the U.S.

The first two parties in the United States were the Democrats and the Whigs.

We know this because Republicans have won every Texas statewide office since 1994.

Texas is a strongly Republican state at this time. How do we know that?

Founding of the Democratic Party

1800 or 1824, Democratic-Republicans split into factions causing Andrew Jackson to lose even after getting the most votes which caused Andrew Jackson to then create the Democratic party.

Founding of the Republican Party

1850s in opposition to slavery, especially the spread of slavery.

Whig Party

People opposed to Andrew Jackson formed a new party opposing slavery. They replaced the Republican aspect of the Democratic-Republican party.

What infuriated Andrew Jackson about the presidential election of 1824?

He got the most votes, but with four candidates running as Democrats no one got a majority so the election went to the House of Representatives. This led to him running under the party name Democrats.

In what year did Lincoln run as the Republican candidate?

1860.

What kind of Lincoln Day dinner does Denton have every year?

Lincoln Reagan Dinner.

Why was 1932 a critical year for the Democratic Party?

Economic forces and the Republican response to the Depression caused the Democrats to gain renewed support.

What was the Solid South?

Southern States being punished for the Civil War causing them to hate the Republican Party called the Solid South. The approximate dates of the Southern South was from 1860 to 1960. The Southern States moved from the Democratic candidate to the Republican candidate in 1964.

Your slides list three times when our parties have had major realignments

- After Civil War when the fairly new Republican Party became dominant

- In 1932, when voters switched to the Democratic Party

- In 1964, when Southerner voters switched to the Republican Party.

What was the Tea Party and what were its main issues?

A movement within the Republican Party since 2009 which tends to be anti-government. The main issues is that persons without documentation are here illegally, a strong military is important, and governments should not spend borrowed money.

People who are official representatives to the national party conventions are called what?

delegates

Delegates

Representatives at a party convention who are chosen to vote for candidates.

Party Platform

The official positions of a political party on various public issues.

Functions of Political Parties

Parties organize elections, solidify support for candidates, and raise money for them.

Structure the Voter's Choice

Parties help voters by categorizing candidates into recognizable groups.

Loyal Opposition

The role of parties in providing alternative viewpoints to the ruling party.

PEW Data on Party Identification

- 2/3rds of voters 18-24 are Democratic

- 64% of voters 25-29 are Democrats

- Voters in their 40s are 50% Democratic and 47% Republican

- Voters in their 50s are 47% Republican and 50% Democratic

- 60+ voters tend to favor Republicans.

Third Parties

They arise from concerns not addressed by major parties but are often doomed to fail due to the dominance of two major parties.

Polarization

The phenomenon where most Americans are moderates, but activists are not, leading to political gridlock.

Reasons for Running for Office

Seeking power, public recognition, social status, and the perks of the office.

Chief Factor for Nomination Success

Timing is crucial, especially waiting for an open seat to increase chances of winning.

Incumbent

The current holder of a political office.

Advantages of Incumbents

High visibility, publicity, and greater name recognition.

Geraldine Ferraro

The first woman nominated for vice president and the first woman on a major party ticket.

Scare-off Factor

The deterrent effect of people running for office because of powerful people already holding office (i think).

Mel Carnahan

Missouri governor who died in a plane crash; his name remained on the ballot due to state law.

Campaign Slogans

Examples include 'Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too!', 'I Like Ike!', 'In Your Heart You Know He's Right', and 'Make America Great Again'.

Gary Hart

A politician who damaged his presidential chances due to personal scandals. (had affair with Donna Rice)

Frontrunner for Democratic Presidential nomination in 1988 (Gary Hart)

He trashed his chances to be president by having an affair with Donna Rice.

Strategies candidates follow for media coverage

Stage lots of events, come up with media sound bites, get on popular television shows.

First televised presidential debate candidates

Kennedy and Nixon.

Bentsen-Quayle Debate (vice presidential debate)

Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.

Daisy Girl ad

Used a nuclear threat to fear-monger against Barry Goldwater.

Willie Horton ad

Exploited racial fears about crime to paint Michael Dukakis as soft on criminals.

Six purposes of elections

- Elections conducted honestly and regularly give legitimacy to government.

- elections are the collective voice of the people

- assess those in power and give our opinion of how theyre doing

- elections give us a way to hold elected officials accountable

- elections allow us to steer government

- elections allow us to participate in our community

Elections give the electorate a chance

To assess those in power and give our opinion of how they are doing.

Elections as the collective voice

Elections are literally the collective voice of the people.

Holding elected officials accountable

Elections give us a way to hold elected officials accountable.

Steering government direction

Elections allow us to steer government in a certain direction or away from a direction we do not like.

Participation in community

Elections give us a chance to participate in our community.

Primaries

Elections held by political parties to determine which candidate will represent them in the general election.

Recall Elections

Allows voters to remove an elected official from office before their term ends.

Initiatives

Form of direct democracy in which citizens can propose new laws or changes to existing laws.

Referendums

Similar to initiative but typically involves the government referring a specific law or decision to the voters for approval.

General Elections

Most common type of election, where voters choose from a list of candidates to fill public office.

Reasons incumbents might lose an election

District lines being redrawn.

Senator Ted Kennedy scandal

Gave Mary Jo Kopechne a ride home and his car went off the bridge, drowning her.

Wilbur Mills scandal

Had a public spat with Fanne Fox, a stripper.

John Jenrette scandal

Caught up in an FBI sting operation and ended up in jail; his wife gave interviews, posed for Playboy, and wrote a book.

Dan Burton scandal

Criticized President Clinton, but it came out that he had engaged in affairs and had a child in one of them.

Basics of the Electoral College

Electoral vote exaggerates the margin of victory because most states are winner take all.

Total electors in the Electoral College

538 electors.

Electoral votes needed to win presidency

It takes 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

What happens if no candidate gets a majority?

The House of Representatives decides who wins.

Texas electors

38 Texas electors.

Formula for Texas electors

2(senators) + 36(representatives) = 38 electors.

Problem with the Election of 2000

Ralph Nader got no electoral votes, and took popular votes from Al Gore (argued that Al Gore should've won if Ralph Nader hadn't got the votes)

Election of 2016

Donald Trump was elected with 304 electoral votes; some say it was 306, but there were two Texas electors who did not vote for him.

what happened in election in 2016

the electoral college gave the presidency to the person with fewer popular votes

who was the founder of the democratic party?

Andrew Jackson (?)

what happened in 1824

jackson and 3 others competed for president, no one got majority, house of representatives picks

why did a democrat win in 1932, and who was it?

fdr (roosevelt), won bc of great depression

solid south

1860s to 1930s i think

who was not a tea party member? (tea party was v conservative republicans)

she didnt give name but basically pick a democrat

delegate

chosen to go to a national convention

by 1932, us only country w 2 parties

democratic and republican

what was the main issue for the whigs

abolition and destruction of spread of slavery