Realignment in American Politics: Toward a Theory

Published by University of Texas Press 1980

Realignment in American Politics

Toward a Theory

Edited by: Bruce A. Campbell and Richard J. Trilling

https://doi.org/10.7560/770195

Overview
Contents

About this book

To have a voice in shaping government policy has been a goal of the American people since the nation's founding. Yet, government seems even less accessible now than in the past. An increasing rate of incumbency in Congress, the unwieldy committee system that controls legislation, and the decline of political parties have all weakened representation and alienated Americans from the seat of power. The one remaining way to produce major and coherent change in national policy is through partisan realignment—a sharp, enduring shift in voter support of the two major parties. This book is about the phenomenon of realignment in American politics. It not only brings together and assesses previous work in the area but also breaks new ground in the analysis of the effects of realignment on political elites and public policy. In addition, it is the first study to present an integrated theory of realignment that can be applied to the understanding of mass, elite, and policy change in times of social crisis. Contributors include Lawrence McMichael, David Nexon, Louis Seagull, Robert Lehnen, Philip Converse, Gregory Markus, Lester Seligman, Michael King, David Brady, Kenneth Meier, Kenneth Kramer, David Adamany, Charles Stewart, Susan Hansen, and the editors.Bruce A. Campbell taught political science at the University of Georgia. He is the author of The American Electorate.

Author / Editor information

Bruce A. Campbell taught political science at the University of Georgia. He is the author of The American Electorate.

Richard J. Trilling received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Wisconsin and is the author of Party Image and Electoral Behavior.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
PART I Issues in the Study of Realignment
1. Toward a Theory of Realignment: An Introduction Richard J. Trilling and Bruce A. Campbell Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. The Structure and Meaning of Critical Realignment: The Case of Pennsylvania, 1928-1932 Lawrence G. McMichael and Richard J. Trilling Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	21
3. Methodological Issues in the Study of Realignment David H. Nexon Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	52
PART II Mass Behavioral Change
4. Secular Realignment: The Concept and Its Utility Louis M. Seagull Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	67
5. Realignment, Party Decomposition, and Issue Voting Bruce A. Campbell Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	82
6. Realignment and Short-Term Crisis: A Case Study of Public Opinion during the Watergate Era Robert G. Lehnen Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	110
7. Recent Evidence on the Stability of Party Identification: The New Michigan Election Study Panel Philip E. Converse and Gregory B. Markus Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	132
PART III Elite Behavioral Change
8. Political Realignments and Recruitment to the U.S. Congress, 1870-1970 Lester G. Seligman and Michael R. King Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	155
9. Elections, Congress, and Public Policy Changes: 1886-1960 David W. Brady Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	176
10. The Impact of Realigning Elections on Public Bureaucracies Kenneth J. Meier and Kenneth W. Kramer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	202
11. The Supreme Court's Role in Critical Elections David Adamany Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	229
PART IV The Impact of Realignment on Policy
12. The Federal Income Tax and the Realignment of the 1890s Charles V. Stewart Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	261
13. Partisan Realignment and Tax Policy: 1789-1976 Susan B. Hansen Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	288
Notes on Contributors Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	325
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	329

Language: English
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 364

eBook

Published: July 29, 2014
ISBN: 9780292771499