Notes Sept 17 2013 Get exams back in the next breakout session First Section Constitution covered Second Section Mass Behavior Mass Behavior relationship between the people and the government Elections public opinion polls mass media political parties As individuals we have very little influence over what the government does However if millions get together and say this is what we want it s more likely to influence the government Political Parties basically 2 major parties and many other smaller parties Party Systems and Realignment Periods of stable 2 party system where both are competitive but one is more popular than the other Tends to stay stable for about 30 years until new issues arrive Realignment period of change until new party system is settled down can keep names but no longer stand for exactly the same issues or represent exactly the same people Some say it happens on a regular basis consistent periodic like clockwork Some say it is a very rare occasion Political science also has a scientific method to develop theories Political parties aren t mentioned in constitution private organizations informal but very important Over time the old generation dies out and new voters enter the electorate new issues come up Happens every generation or generation and a half Hypothetical Example Let s say that everyone here all move out to an undeveloped rural area to farm Community of farmers We decide that once a month we have a town meeting for all adult citizens We can vote and talk about concerns of community One concern is there isn t enough rain and water so our crop yield is low Someone says we should build a dam and create an irrigation system so we all have better water and crop yield Of course we ll have to pay so we have to have a tax Some agree it s a good idea Put in some money now in taxes but over time we will have more water better crop yield and be more prosperous Others say that they can t afford to pay more taxes and the irrigation system will cost more than you think and won t increase crop yield People are against it and some people are for it Vote A Yes 72 B No 28 YES Later on a new proposal is that we should build a road to the next town for trade and business Right now we have to drive our cars over unpaved land and its slow uncomfortable and doing damage to our cars It would be good but would cause money so we d have to raise taxes Some agree some don t Vote A Yes 69 B No 31 YES New proposal Been several years Now our kids are in high school We should build a college here in town instead of sending our kids to some other town for college and they might not come back We ll have a more educated community but will cause money and raise taxes Some agree some don t Vote A Yes 42 B 58 NO Some voted yes for all three while some voted for all 3 and some voted for a mix of yes and no As this is going on people are starting to see that some of us think alike All questions are Should we raise taxes for a program that will help our community prosper The people that agreed say that they agree and are for the issues so they call themselves the Progressives The others that are usually against it are calling themselves the Conservatives In reality some don t vote and a lot are independents Most Americans choose a party a third for each and about a third are independent If you voted 2 or 3 times for the proposal You are Progressive 67 If you voted 2 or 3 times against the proposal You are Conservative 33 Someone gets up at next town meeting with a different proposal I want to build a saloon downtown It s a private enterprise so I don t need tax money but I want your approval Some agree because it s fun for some of us and nice after work If you don t want to go You don t have to Some are against it because it will cause alcoholism violence bad examples for kids This is a moral issue not an economic issue Vote A Yes 75 B No 25 Dynamics of the Party System Pg 12 19 Figure 2 1 2 2 2 3 Vote A Progressive Favor 48 C Conservative Favor 26 B Progressive Oppose 17 D Conservative Oppose 9 This new moral issue is dividing our party What to do Avoid the situation deal with something us Bring up a new economic proposal It is dividing us internally Why don t we set up a commission Some of everything They will have meetings and take a very long time to decide Then hopefully the citizens will forget issues This is what politicians prefer but the people don t They want the decision to be made We are in favor of the saloon is the decision made by the Progressives Conservatives are against the saloon Some that are pulled into two different directions switch parties Vote A stay in Progressive Party 76 B Switch to Conservative Party 24 Economic issues are probably more important to you Vote A stay in Conservative Party 79 B Switch to the Progressive Party 21 About the same amount switch sides about a quarter of each party Two parties still have the same name but they don t stand for exactly the same issues they do Now progressive party takes positions on economic and moral issues when they originally only took positions on economic issues The people are also not quite the same issue The party system has changed potentially this is a realignment Realignment sharp and lasting change in party loyalties of major voting groups Sharp Happens quickly doesn t take decades Lasting Not only for one election Loyalties not just a change in vote Major voting groups not just a few people Cause of Realignment A new issue or set of issues that doesn t fit with the old party system What kind of an issue that can cause a realignment 1 Salient at the top of a political agenda the big issue a Ex fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan 2 Polarizing that pushes people towards one extreme or the other not much middle ground a Ex slavery either have it or not 3 Cross cutting divides each party internally