Exam 2 ReviewExam on Wednesday, October 14th

Chapter 8, section on Voting PatternsChapter 9Issue Positions in Party Platforms – Party Platform handout posted in Weeks 5&6Video: “Red, White, and Blue” episode on implications of 2014 elections for the parties’ futureChapter 1, section on demographic changes

Partisanship:

Definition of partisanshipWhat question do we ask to determine someone’s partisan affiliation? “Generally speaking….”

What is the relationship between ideology and partisanship? Explain these patterns.-Democrats nationally compared to Democrats in Texas-Republicans nationally compared to Republicans in Texas

Types of Democrats in TexasConservative Democrats – what do they believe?Liberal Democrats – what do they believe?-How do Conservative Democrats differ from Liberal Democrats? Identify

policies on which they differ.

Which groups are associated with the Democratic Party? Why do these groups support the Democratic Party?

Geographically where do you find concentrations of Democrats in the state?

Types of Republicans in TexasEconomic Conservatives - what do they believe?“True Believers” - what do they believe?Tea Party - what do they believe?Moderate Republicans - what do they believe?

-How do the 4 types of Republicans differ from each other? Identify policies on which they differ.

What groups do you find in the Republican Party? Why do these groups support the Democratic Party?

Geographically where do you find Republicans in the state?

Democratic Party of Texas and Republican Party of Texas platforms - positions on the following issues:1. minimum wage2. education spending3. abortion4. same sex marriage5. illegal immigration

Party Systems in Texas –

Describe Texas’ party system. How competitive are parties in Texas? Explain. Explain the history of Texas parties and before the 1970s and after the 1980s.

Define “realignment” and explain what happens to the majority and minority parties in a realignment. When did Texas experience a realignment?

How do realignments occur? Explain the two “mechanisms” of realignment discussed in class - conversion and mobilization. Define these terms and give examples of each.

Be able to explain the causes of Texas’ realignment. How did the Republican Party become the majority party in Texas after the 1980s after being the minority party from the 1870s to 1970s?

Conversion:

Who converted to the Republican Party? Be specific about which the characteristics of the people converting (race/ethnicity, ideology, religious values, social values, etc.) Why did they convert?

Describe the social changes of the 1960s-1980s that contributed to some Texans converting.

Describe the political changes of the 1960s-1980s that contributed to some Texans converting.

Why was the Democratic Party no longer acceptable to the Texans who converted?

Who did not convert to the Republican Party? Why?

Mobilization:

Which two groups were mobilized into the electorate during the 1970s and 1980s in the Texas? Be specific about the characteristics of the people mobilized (race or ethnicity, ideology, religious values, social values, etc.)

Why did these groups identify with and vote with the Republican Party? Identify the issues that they cared about and how that influenced their support for the Republican Party.

Future of Texas Parties:

Describe the demographic changes occurring in Texas: race/ethnicity, birthrates, age, urbanization, secularization, income inequality, migration, etc.

How could these changes affect the electorate? Which party stands to gain voters? Lose voters? Explain.

What could the Democratic Party do to increase the number of Democrats in Texas? Think about who they could convert and mobilize. What groups should they try to appeal to? What issues or messages should they emphasize? Are they at risk to lose any of their existing supporters? How do they keep them?

What could the Republican Party do to remain the majority party in Texas? Which groups within their party are likely to get smaller over the next 20 years? What groups should they appeal to if they want to keep their numbers up? What issues or messages should they emphasize to win over these groups?

Scroll down to the next page for a chart to help answer questions about Future of Texas Parties

This chart might help you formulate your answer to the questions about how the two parties build their parties’ supports given the demographic changes occurring in Texas.

Democrats RepublicansDemographic

Characteristics Race/Ethnicity

Age

Urban/Suburban/Rural?

Religious/Secular

Income: higher/lower

Demographic ChangesExpected in Next 20 Years

Mark whether this change will “increase” or ‘decrease” number of Dems/Reps

Democrats Republicans

White population declines Decreases

Hispanic population increases

increases

Population is younger

Urbanization increases

Secularization increases

Migration from California

Income Inequality increases

Issue Positions from Platforms and Survey

Democrats Republicans

Minimum wage

Education spending

Abortion

Same Sex Marriage

Illegal Immigration

Business Regulation

Social Benefits for Needy

Legalization of Marijuana

Environmental Protection

Abortion

Same Sex Marriage

Immigration

Who Votes? Lower Turnout Higher TurnoutAge Younger Older

Income Lower Higher

Education Lower Higher

Race/Ethnicity HispanicsAmerican IndianAsianPacific Islanders

African-AmericansWhites