PARTY CHANGE OVER TIMECivics/Geography

PARTY CHANGE: ACTIVATING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Notes: On both maps, the red states indicate Republican votes and the blue states indicate votes for Democrats. 1. What vocabulary do you need to know in order to

understand the maps? 2. What is the purpose of the maps? 3. What information do the maps provide?

4. Identify at least two patterns on the maps. (Which blocks of states changed or stayed the same?)5. Explain why the patterns exist? 6. How has political party representation changed regionally over time?

1908

REVIEWING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE Each state has a number of electors equal to the number of Senators and

Representatives that state has Based on population Protects the power of small states Smallest states (and Washington DC) have 3 (2 Senators and one Representative) Largest state (California) has 55

Electors are selected by the state legislatures

Some states can split their electors

Electors are often guided by, but not bound by, the popular vote

A candidate MUST HAVE A Majority to win (270 out of 538)

WHAT DO PARTIES DO? Provide a label for candidates

Organize the legislative branch

Organize opposition

Help voters make semi-informed choices

Create policy options

PARTY CHANGE: DIRECT INSTRUCTION Party Realignment

When groups of voters leave one party for the other party Happens in “critical elections”

Party dealignment Occurs when people leave political parties and identify as independents Characterizes the second half of the twentieth century

Party Change is often a reaction to national events Expansion War Economic Crisis Wave of immigration

PARTY CHANGE: APPLICATION Electoral Maps

Realignment 1860 Realignment 1932 2008 Map

Tea Party role in Party Change Tea Party Articles Questions

PARTY REALIGNMENT

PARTY REALIGNMENT

PARTY REALIGNMENT OR DEALIGNMENT?

PARTY REALIGNMENT OR DEALIGNMENT?

RED STATES VS. BLUE STATESHow the States Got Their Shapes Season 2 Episode 1

Answer Identify three characteristics of Red States

Identify three characteristics of Blue States

PREDICTING 2016 http://www.270towin.com/

Projected Swing States Arizona (11) Colorado (9) Iowa (6) Wisconsin (10) Ohio (18) Pennsylvania (20) New Hampshire (4) Virginia (13) North Carolina (15) Georgia (15) Florida (29)

EXIT TICKET 1. Which groups of voters will be important in 2016? Why?

2. Which party do you expect will be successful in 2016? Why?

3. How have regional loyalties to the Republican Party changed over time? Why?

4. How have regional loyalties to the Democratic Party changed over time? Why?