Written+Assignment+-+GOVT+2301+-+Spring+2013+-+The+2012+Election

Digging into the 2012 Election

November of last year featured another presidential election, as well as elections to the United States and Texas legislative branches and many other positions. What seemed to surprise most observers was its continuity. After three succesive "wave" elections - where a shift occurred in who controlled one of the branches of government - nothing changed. Obama Was reelected, Democrats retained control of the US Senate and Republicans retained control of the US House. In the elections of 2006, 2008, and 2010. The electorate seemed to be cancelling out the decisions they made the previous election. But on the other hand, by relecting Obama and adding to the number of Democrats in the House and Senate, the electorate seemed to reacting to the 2010 election.

Something's going on.

In this report I want you to address a simple (sounding) question: What's up with that?

Using your best researching and reasoning skills, try to explain what has been driving the electorate in the past few elections. You can focus on whatever aspect of the election you choose to, but see if you can find a rational explanation for why there seems to be such inconsistency in the decisions the electorate has - collectively - made recently.

By the way, "the electorate" refers to the people who actually vote in a given election. Just in case you don't know.

You might want to [|click here to look through the many blog posts I had on the elections]. These might help you get the info you need to do a good job.

Be sure to write this in MLA style and use at least three references.