2010 FRQ #3

Post date: Apr 16, 2013 3:45:42 PM

3. Over the last several decades, the composition of the Democratic and Republican parties has changed in

important ways. A major partisan shift has occurred in the South, but other demographic changes have also

been identified. Changes in party composition are reflected at different rates in presidential elections than

in congressional elections. (2010)

(a) Identify one specific trend evident in the figure above.

(b) Choose two of the following and use each to explain why southern voters from 1948 to 2000 were electing

Democratic candidates to Congress more frequently than choosing Democratic candidates for the

presidency.

• Incumbency advantage

• Gerrymandering

• Differences between state and national parties

(c) Several other changes in party composition have emerged in the past few decades. Select three of the

following groups and for each explain how parties have changed in composition with respect to that

group.

• Catholics

• Labor union members

• Women

• Social conservatives