I. Electoral Deadlock and Interest Group Development

1. Present coalitions emerged from the turmoil of the 60s
2. 30s-60s New Deal Coalition shattered by

1. Vietnam War
2. civil rights movement
3. decline of America’s international economic competitiveness

II. Two major efforts to create a successor to New Deal System

1. Reagan—business, social conservatives, middle-income tax payers
2. Effort to use powers and resources of government to unify organized labor, blacks, public employees and middle class liberal activists in a post-New Deal coalition.
3. classes between the two have resulted in electoral deadlock since the 1960s—Republicans dominating the Presidency and Democrats primacy at the Congressional level
4. Importance of 1994 elections in shattering the consensus.

IIIl Collapse of Post-War Regime
            A. Post WWII coalition based on –southerners, unionized workers, urban ethnics, northern                    blacks and middle class liberals.

            B. Business support for new deal regime

            C. Breakdown of Post War Regime based

1. race
2. opposition to Johnson’s war
3. weakening middle-class support for Democrat
4. The erosion of American dominant position in world economy contributed to collapse of governing coalition

    IV. Role of "iron triangles" under normal times