Shafter Chapter 4 Flashcards
1
Q
Bipolarity of the Era of Partisan Volatility
A
- Parties became more polarized via cultural/economic issues that distinctly divided them
- Bipolarity integrated several of the ideologically polarizing issues to party platforms, and nationally set Democrats and Republicans against each other.
2
Q
Implications of losing moderate/cross-pressured members of Congress in both parties
A
- Increase of gridlock/inefficiency of Congress
- Increasingly polarized candidates in both parties were elected, altering the previous era’s demographic
- Hostile political environment
3
Q
Implications of the South becoming a two-party system
A
- Traditionally had all views jumbled under one party
- Increased polarization/nationalization promoted a two party system
- Less dissented Southern representatives/senators
- Growth of conservative white Republicans and liberal black Democrats
4
Q
Implications for the Supreme Court
A
- Partisanship of the Court members fueled dissent, and often voting along minority party lines
- Made it crucial that parties ensure appointments occur based on party lines
- Trumped judicial experience and favored less ideologically balanced candidates
5
Q
Substantive conflict: Liberal/Democratic vs Conservative/Republican informal party organizations (IPOs)
A
- Single dimension of political conflict in this era, between Republicans and Democrats
- Strong ideological distinctions
- IPOs often control what candidates advance from their primaries and fund them
- Increasingly focused on more extreme candidates to receive funding moderate ones
6
Q
Unorthodox lawmaking (examples)
A
- Sometimes president and the opposition party voted together or worked together when absolutely necessary for the country
- Obama/Republicans in lessening gov’t spending
7
Q
Omnibus bills/reconciliation
A
- Bills such as Democratic Healthcare and Republican tax cuts voted for nearly totally along party lines
