U.S. Election Process

Question 1

Evolution of the Two-Party System Timeline

Answer 1

Political scientists and historians have divided the development of America’s two-party system into roughly six eras: (1) First Party System [1792–1824] between the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party; (2) Second Party System [1828–1854] between the Whig Party and Democratic Party; (3) Third Party System [1854–1890s] between the anti-slavery/discrimination Republican Party and pro-slavery/discrimination Democrats; (4) Fourth Party System [1896–1932] Republican and Democrats with Progressive Era and limited government; (5) Fifth Party System [1933–1968] Domination of New Deal Democrats; and (6) Sixth Party System [1960-Present] Liberal-Democrat and Conservative-Republican realignment.

Question 2

Evolution of the Two-Party System Timeline: First Party System (1792–1824)

Answer 2

Federalists: The Federalist Party grew from the national network of Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, who favored a strong united central government, close ties to Britain, a centralized banking system, and close links between the government and men of wealth. Democratic-Republicans: Founded by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, who strongly opposed Hamilton’s agenda. They preferred a weaker national government and favored the interests of small farmers who wanted most matters left to the states. This era came to an end when the Federalists refused to support the War of 1812. The Era of Good Feelings under President James Monroe (1816–1824) marked the end of the First Party System and a brief period in which partisanship was minimal.

Question 3

Evolution of the Two-Party System Timeline: Second Party System (1828–1854)

Answer 3

The Democratic-Republicans split into the Democratic Party and Whig Party after John Quincy Adams (Whig) controversially won the 1824 election against Andrew Jackson (Democrat). The Whigs, led by Henry Clay, advocated the primacy of Congress over the executive branch as well as policies of modernization and economic protectionism. While the Democrats, led by Jackson, supported the primacy of the Presidency over the other branches of government, and opposed both the Bank of the United States, as well as modernizing programs that they felt would build up industry at the expense of the taxpayer. The end of this era was marked by the collapse of the Whig Party mainly due to a major intra-party split from the Compromise of 1850 and previous economic issues becoming less relevant.

Question 4

Evolution of the Two-Party System Timeline: Third Party System (1854–1890s)

Answer 4

This era was marked by the emergence of the anti-slavery/discrimination Republican Party and polarization with the pro-slavery/discrimination Democratic Party. This polarization caused the Civil War and continued afterwards until the Reconstruction Era ended with the Compromise of 1877. Both parties became broad-based voting coalitions and the race issue pulled newly enfranchised African Americans (Freedmen) into the Republican Party while white southerners (Redeemers) joined the Democratic Party. Other than anti-slavery/discrimination, the Republicans also adopted many of the economic policies of the Whigs, such as national banks, railroads, high tariffs, homesteads, and aid to land grant colleges. After the Compromise of 1877, the Democratic Party regained its strongholds in southern states and influence in the national government, undoing much of the Reconstruction Era.

Question 5

Evolution of the Two-Party System Timeline: Fourth Party System (1896–1932)

Answer 5

This era consisted of the same interest groups as the Third Party System, but saw major shifts in the central issues of debate. This period also corresponded to the Progressive Era, and was dominated by the Republican Party. Central domestic issues changed to government was regulation of railroads and large corporations (“trusts”), the protective tariff, the role of labor unions, child labor, the need for a new banking system, corruption in party politics, primary elections, direct election of senators, racial segregation, efficiency in government, women’s suffrage, and control of immigration. This era climaxed when the Republican Party split because Theodore Roosevelt campaigned on a progressive third party ticket in 1912. It caused the victor, Woodrow Wilson (Democrat), to adopt Roosevelt’s progressivism and abandoned limited government ideology. President Hoover (limited-government Republican) later destroyed working-class belief in Republican economic competence when the Great Depression began in the early 1930s.

Question 6

Evolution of the Two-Party System Timeline: Fifth Party Systems (1933–1968)

Answer 6

The Fifth Party System emerged with the New Deal Coalition beginning in 1933. The Republicans began losing support after the Great Depression, giving rise to Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the activist New Deal. They promoted American liberalism, anchored in a coalition of specific liberal groups, especially ethno-religious constituencies (Catholics, Jews, African Americans), white Southerners, well-organized labor unions, urban machines, progressive intellectuals, and populist farm groups. Through the 1950s and 1960s the liberal faction of the Democratic Party pushed to end segregation, promote civil rights, and continued to push social programs to reduce poverty. The New Deal Coalition generally dominated the presidency and congress until the late 1960s, until the conservative faction and previously politically inactive conservative voters started to gravitate to the Republican Party. This is because they tended to feel social change was happening too quickly or shouldn’t happen at all, disliked opposition to the Vietnam War, felt religion should be more involved in politics, and/or thought neoliberalism was a better alternative to social programs.

Question 7

Evolution of the Two-Party System Timeline: Sixth Party Systems (1968-Present)

Answer 7

The Sixth Party System began in the late 1960s when the conservative faction of the New Deal Coalition and previously politically inactive conservative voters started to gravitate to the Republican Party. This is because they tended to feel social change was happening too quickly or shouldn’t happen at all, disliked opposition to the Vietnam War, felt religion should be more involved in politics, and/or thought neoliberalism was a better alternative to social programs. Since this change, the nation has been almost evenly divided in politics in both presidential and congressional elections between “Liberalism” and “Conservatism”. New voter coalitions emerged during the latter half of the 20th century, with conservatives and the Republicans becoming dominant in the South, rural areas, and suburbs; while liberals and the Democrats increasingly started to rely on a coalition of African-Americans, Hispanics, and white urban progressives.

Question 8

Partisanship

Answer 8

Partisanship refers to allegiance to, or prejudice in favor of, a particular political party.

Question 9

Bipartisanship

Answer 9

Opposing political parties find common ground through compromise.

Question 10

Realigning Elections

Answer 10

Realigning elections, or critical elections, are elections that begin a period of time of dominancy for a political party. Or that set a new status quo.

Question 11

Maintaining Elections

Answer 11

Maintaining elections mean the dominant political party wins the election and remains in power. Or the status quo continues to be upheld.

Question 12

Deviating Elections

Answer 12

Deviating elections happen when the dominant political party is temporarily removed from power. Or when the status quo is temporarily disrupted.

Question 13

Reinstating Elections

Answer 13

Reinstating elections return the dominant political party to power after a temporary displacement. Or when the status quo is reestablished after being temporarily disrupted.

Question 14

Primary Election

Answer 14

A primary election is a preliminary election used to determine which candidate will represent a political party during the general election.

Question 15

General Election

Answer 15

A general election is a regularly scheduled nationwide election used to determine the U.S. president and other political officials.

Question 16

Open Primary

Answer 16

An open primary means any registered voter can vote in the primary elections, regardless of political party affiliation, and could even vote in each political party’s primary election.

Question 17

Semi-Open Primary

Answer 17

A semi-open primary means any registered voter can vote in the primary, regardless of political party affiliation, as long as the voter only votes in one party’s primary.

Question 18

Election Raiding

Answer 18

This is a form of political sabotage where voters purposely support the weakest candidate in the rival party’s primary. The goal is to help the weakest rival candidate win the primary, to then face their party’s strongest candidate in the general election, so that their party’s candidate will have a better chance of winning the general election.

Question 19

Closed Primary

Answer 19

A closed primary means only those voters registered with the political party can vote in that party’s primary.

Question 20

Blanket Primary

Answer 20

In a blanket primary all candidates for all parties are listed on one ballot; voters pick one candidate per office regardless of party affiliation, and candidates with the most votes by party advance as that party’s representative in the general election.

Question 21

Runoff Primary

Answer 21

In a runoff primary all candidates are listed on one primary ballot. Voters may pick one candidate per office, and the two candidates who receive the most primary votes move on to the general election, regardless of those candidates’ party affiliations.

Question 22

Single-Member District

Answer 22

Single-member district system is most common and involves one single member of the legislature representing a district.

Question 23

Multi-Member District

Answer 23

In this system, multiple members of the legislature represent a district. The multi-member district is particularly useful when aiming for proportional representation, where the number of seats held by a particular political party is based on the number of votes for that party. Rather than a district’s votes resulting in one winner, a district can have multiple winners in proportion to the number of votes received.

Question 24

Proportional Representation

Answer 24

Proportional representation refers to a method of ensuring that the number of seats held by a particular political party is based on the number of votes for that party.

Question 25

Electoral College

Answer 25

The Electoral College is an indirect system for electing the United States president using Electoral College votes. Its goal is to divide the power of selection between Congress and the people and allow a balance between federal and state powers in keeping with federalism. It was a controversial method for electing a president when it was first adopted and remains the subject of much debate to this day. See Article II, Section 1, Clause 3, of the Constitution and the 12th Amendment.

Question 26

Electoral College - Slate of Electors

Answer 26

The electors are representatives of each state and members of the Electoral College. Each elector has one Electoral College vote. Almost all states use a winner-takes-all method. In other words, the presidential candidate with the most popular votes in that state wins all of that state’s Electoral College votes. The popular vote is the sum of all votes cast in a particular state.

Question 27

Electoral College - How many total votes?

Answer 27

There are currently 538 total Electoral College votes. Of these, 100 votes represent our U.S. senators. Remember that there are two U.S. senators from each of our 50 states. The remaining 438 votes are divided between our congressional districts, including the District of Columbia. Each of our 435 congressional districts has one vote, and the District of Columbia has three votes.

Question 28

Electoral College - How many votes needed to win?

Answer 28

270

Question 29

U.S. Congress - The number of members in the U.S. House of Representatives?

Answer 29

The number of members in the U.S. House of Representatives has been set at 435 members since 1912.

Question 30

U.S. Congress - Apportionment

Answer 30

The determination of the proportional number of members each US state sends to the House of Representatives, based on population figures.

Question 31

Decennial Census and Method of Equal Proportions

Answer 31

A decennial census, a census taken every ten years, determines how many seats the state will have. After the results of this census are determined, the districts may be reapportioned according to what the population of that state is at the time. Then, the number of representatives will be determined. The formula used to determine the apportionment of seats is the method of equal proportions.

Question 32

Redistricting

Answer 32

To divide or organize (an area) into new political districts.

Question 33

Gerrymandering

Answer 33

The process of gerrymandering is the deliberate manipulation of political boundaries for electoral advantage. Gerrymandering involves leaving out certain individuals, or including certain individuals, in a legislator’s district in order to ensure reelection.

Question 34

Non-voting Members of the United States House of Representatives

Answer 34

Non-voting members of the United States House of Representatives are representatives of their territory in the House of Representatives, but who do not have a right to vote on proposed legislation in the full House but are nevertheless able to participate in certain other House functions. Non-voting members may vote in a House committee of which they are a member and introduce legislation. Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the District of Columbia.