Political Behavior of the American Electorate

by Flanigan, William H.

• ISBN13: 9781933116679
• ISBN10: 1933116676
• Edition: 11th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-12-15
• Publisher: Cq Pr

Table of Contents

Tables and Figures	xi
Acknowledgments	xv
Introduction	1	(6)
chapter one Political Culture and American Democracy	7	(28)
Fair, Free, and Competitive Elections	8	(6)
Political Culture as a Foundation for Democracy	14	(14)
Maintaining a Democracy	28	(3)
Notes	31	(1)
Suggested Readings	32	(1)
Internet Resources	33	(2)
chapter two Suffrage and Turnout	35	(26)
Extensions of Suffrage	35	(3)
Restrictions on Suffrage	38	(2)
Turnout in American Elections Historically	40	(4)
High- and Low-Stimulus Elections	44	(3)
Voters and Nonvoters	47	(4)
Registration as a Barrier to Voting	51	(4)
Is the Level of Turnout in the United States a Cause for Concern?	55	(3)
Notes	58	(2)
Suggested Readings	60	(1)
Internet Resources	60	(1)
chapter three Partisanship	61	(20)
Party Loyalty	63	(1)
Party Identification	63	(3)
Types of Electoral Change	66	(3)
Party Systems and Realignments	69	(8)
Are Conditions Right for a Realignment?	77	(2)
Notes	79	(1)
Suggested Readings	79	(1)
Internet Resources	80	(1)
chapter four Partisans and Partisan Change	81	(22)
Voting Behavior	81	(6)
Are Independents Apolitical?	87	(4)
Partisan Change	91	(7)
The Future of Parties and Partisanship	98	(1)
Notes	99	(1)
Suggested Readings	100	(1)
Internet Resources	101	(2)
chapter five Social Characteristics of Partisans and Independents	103	(24)
The Social Composition of Partisan Groups	106	(2)
Social Group Analysis	108	(10)
Red and Blue States	118	(2)
Social Cross-Pressures	120	(3)
Notes	123	(1)
Suggested Readings	124	(1)
Internet Resources	125	(2)
chapter six Public Opinion and Ideology	127	(34)
The Measurement of Public Opinion	129	(1)
Domestic Economic Issues	130	(4)
Racial Issues	134	(5)
Social Issues	139	(5)
Homeland Security and the War on Terrorism	144	(2)
International Affairs	146	(3)
Issues and Partisanship	149	(1)
Political Ideology	150	(7)
Public Opinion and Political Leadership	157	(1)
Notes	158	(2)
Suggested Readings	160	(1)
Internet Resources	160	(1)
chapter seven Political Communication and the Mass Media	161	(36)
Functions of Opinions for Individuals	162	(1)
Opinion Consistency and Dissonance	163	(1)
Political Communication and Attitude Change	163	(4)
Attention to the Media	167	(5)
Does Iraq Have Weapons of Mass Destruction?	172	(2)
The Media and Presidential Approval Ratings	174	(4)
Campaigns	178	(9)
Presidential Primary Campaigns	187	(3)
Campaign Strategy	190	(3)
Notes	193	(2)
Suggested Readings	195	(1)
Internet Resources	195	(2)
chapter eight Vote Choice and Electoral Decisions	197	(26)
Candidate Image	198	(4)
Party Image	202	(2)
Issue Impact	204	(5)
Determinants of Vote Choice	209	(3)
Who Switched Their Votes between 2000 and 2004?	212	(1)
The Popular Vote and the Electoral College	213	(3)
Vote Choice in Other Types of Elections	216	(2)
The Meaning of an Election	218	(2)
Notes	220	(1)
Suggested Readings	221	(1)
Internet Resources	222	(1)
appendix Survey Research Methods	223	(12)
Survey Data Collection	224	(5)
Validity of Survey Questions	229	(3)
Validity versus Continuity	232	(1)
Notes	233	(1)
Suggested Readings	233	(1)
Internet Resources	233	(2)
Index	235