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the U.S. political System 339

Figure 11.1 Which Political Party Dominates?

Democrat States
Republican States WA
ME
MT ND VT
OR MN NH
ID WI NY MA
SD RI
WY MI CT
NJ
NV NE IA OH PA DE
UT IL IN MD
CA CO KS MO KY WV VA DC
NC
TN
AZ NM OK AR SC
MS AL GA
LA
TX
AK FL

HI

Note: Domination by a political party does not refer to votes for president or Congress. This social map is based on the composition of the states’ upper and
lower houses. When different parties dominate a state’s houses, the total number of legislators was used. In Nebraska, where no parties are designated,
the percentage vote for president was the determining factor.
Source: By the author. Based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 2013:Table 427. Explore on MySocLab
Activity: Majority-Minoritiy States

do fight hard battles—but they both firmly
support such fundamentals of U.S. political
philosophy as free public education; a strong
military; freedom of religion, speech, and
assembly; and, of course, capitalism—especially
the private ownership of property. This makes
it difficult to distinguish a conservative Demo-
crat from a liberal Republican.
The extremes are easy to see, however.
Deeply committed Democrats support legisla-
tion that transfers income from those who are
richer to those who are poorer or that controls
wages, working conditions, and competition.
Deeply committed Republicans, in contrast,
oppose such legislation.
Those who are elected to Congress may
cross party lines. That is, some Democrats vote
for legislation proposed by Republicans, and
vice versa. This happens because officeholders
support their party’s philosophy but not neces-
sarily its specific proposals. When it comes to
a particular bill, such as raising the minimum Although the Democrats and the
wage, some conservative Democrats may view Republicans represent slightly
the measure as unfair to small employers and vote with the Republicans against the bill. different slices of the center, those
At the same time, liberal Republicans—feeling that the proposal is just, or sensing a differences arouse extreme emotions,
pandered to by both parties.
dominant sentiment in voters back home—may side with its Democratic backers.