Students know that the 2008 elections were a watershed event in American political history. They’ve read and watched the coverage, but do they have a deep understanding of what happened, beyond YouTube and the talking heads? Do they know why voters cast their ballots the way they did?

Flanigan and Zingale continue their thorough and accessible analytical overview of the political behavior of the American voter in this twelfth edition. Delving deeply into the 2008 National Election Study data, the authors explore the impact of innovative mobilization efforts, the effects of the waning war in Iraq and the economic slump on voting choice, and the continuing trends of polarization and partisanship—all in a way that is clear and engaging to students. The book’s updated tables and figures are available electronically and free for adopters, and a brandnew companion website offers datasets and exercises.

CQ Press is pleased to comply with the Higher Education Opportunity Act. Please email heoacompliance@cqpress.com for additional information that may be available. Be sure to include your name, contact information, academic affiliation, and the title, author, and edition of the book in question.

Contact us at collegesales@cqpress.com if we may assist you in your book selection or if you have feedback to share. Thank you for your consideration of CQ Press books.

1. Political Culture and American Democracy
Fair, Free, and Competitive Elections
Political Culture
Democratic Beliefs and Values
System Support
Citizen Roles and Political Participation
Childhood Socialization
Maintaining a Democracy

2. Suffrage and Turnout
Extensions of Suffrage
Restrictions on Suffrage
Turnout in American Elections
Historically High- and Low-Stimulus Elections
Voters and Nonvoters
Registration as a Barrier to Voting
Recent Changes in Turnout

3. Partisanship
Party Loyalty
Party Identification
Types of Electoral Change
Party Systems and Realignments
Has There Been a Realignment?
The Future of the Two-Party System

4. Partisans and Partisan Change
Voting Behavior
Are Independents Apolitical?
Partisan Change

5. Social Characteristics of Partisans and Independents
The Social Composition of Partisan Groups
Social Group Analysis
Secondary Groups
Social Class
Social Cross-Pressures

6. Public Opinion and Ideology
The Measurement of Public Opinion
Domestic Economic Issues
Racial Issues
Social Issues
Foreign Affairs
Issues and Partisanship
Political Ideology
Public Opinion and Political Leadership

7. Political Communication and the Mass Media
Functions of Opinions for Individuals
Opinion Consistency and Dissonance
Political Communication and Attitude Change
Attention to the Media
The Media and Presidential Approval Ratings
Campaigns
Presidential Primary Campaigns
Campaign Strategy

8. Vote Choice and Electoral Decisions
Candidate Image
Party Image
Issue Impact
Determinants of Vote Choice
The Popular Vote and the Electoral College
Vote Choice in Other Types of Elections
The Meaning of an Election

Appendix: Survey Research Methods
Sampling Questionnaire
Constructing Interviewing
Coding Validity of Survey Questions
Validity versus Continuity

“This book is unparalleled and distinguished in its coverage of American elections, political behavior, and public opinion. There is no other book that comes close to matching its superiority in the field, for it is succinct yet rich in context, detail, and examples. Students find the book easy to read and thus are better able to make important connections to the larger political system, while university faculty frequently concur as to its penetrating and engaging style. Therefore, it is no surprise that this book has been the “book of choice” and ideal core textbook on this subject for over four decades.”,

“Flanagan and Zingale continue to inform students of American politics about the most important questions in the study of political behavior: Why do some people vote and others do not? How do voters make up their minds? And, what roles do the media, campaigns, and parties have on political behavior? Their book is a valuable resource for undergraduates. The updated material should help students go beyond what they hear on cable news channels and learn to analyze the 2008 election results with systematic data.”

“Flanigan and Zingale’s text is an excellent summary of the major findings on voting behavior. For my majors and non-majors, their study has many tables and figures that aid them in grasping the material rapidly. After this introduction my students are much better prepared to conduct interviews for our community survey as well as to analyze the election returns by precinct, especially with Latinos comprising more than forty percent of our county’s voters.”

William H. Flanigan is professor of political science at the University of Minnesota. He is the coeditor of The History of American Electoral Behavior.

Nancy H. Zingale is professor of political science and executive assistant to the president at the University of St. Thomas.


With Jerome M. Clubb, Flanigan and Zingale have written Partisan Realignment: Voters, Parties, and Government in American History and coedited Analyzing Electoral History: A Guide to the Study of American Voter Behavior.

Instructor's Resources available for adopters!

Our Parties and Elections site has downloadable graphics; to register, click on the link below.

http://college.cqpress.com/instructors-resources/partiesandelections/