American Government American Government and Organizationand Organization

PS1301PS1301

Wednesday, 29 OctoberWednesday, 29 October

How do people decide?How do people decide?

The Michigan ModelThe Michigan Model (prospective model) (prospective model)

Party identificationParty identification

Candidate characteristicsCandidate characteristics

Issue positionsIssue positions

Influence of Party IdInfluence of Party Id

Requirements for Issue VotingRequirements for Issue Voting

Aware of the issueAware of the issue

Care about the issueCare about the issue

Perceive difference between the Perceive difference between the candidatescandidates

Correct about the differenceCorrect about the difference

Criteria for Issue VotingCriteria for Issue Voting

Dynamics of 2000 Presidential Dynamics of 2000 Presidential CampaignCampaign

Source: Johnston and Hagen (APSA 2003) “Priming and Learning: Evidence from the 2000 Annenberg Study”

CharacterCharacter

Perception of Gore’s HonestyPerception of Gore’s Honesty

Traits of CandidatesTraits of Candidates

Retrospective VotingRetrospective Voting

Party identificationParty identification

Evaluation of the pastEvaluation of the past economic indicatorseconomic indicators WarsWars

IncumbencyIncumbency

Race and GenderRace and Gender

ReligionReligionBush Gore Nader

Education and IncomeEducation and Income

Unions and ReligionUnions and ReligionBush Gore Nader

How do Presidential Elections and How do Presidential Elections and Congressional Elections Differ?Congressional Elections Differ?

Presidential elections are more salientPresidential elections are more salientThe average voter has more information The average voter has more information about the presidential candidates than about the presidential candidates than congressional candidates. congressional candidates. Consequently, party identification may Consequently, party identification may play a lesser role in pres. elections play a lesser role in pres. elections Voters are more inclined to be influenced Voters are more inclined to be influenced by personal/candidate characteristics and by personal/candidate characteristics and issue voting may be more prevalent. issue voting may be more prevalent.

Congressional ElectionsCongressional Elections

The empirical evidence suggests that The empirical evidence suggests that party labels are have a greater effect when party labels are have a greater effect when information about the candidate is lowinformation about the candidate is low U.S. RepU.S. Rep State SenatorState Senator St. Assy.St. Assy. County BoardCounty Board

Congressional ElectionsCongressional Elections

Decline in party id means that other cues Decline in party id means that other cues become more importantbecome more important

IncumbencyIncumbency

Name recognitionName recognition

Rise of Split Ticket VotingRise of Split Ticket Voting