The Emergence of the Republican Party in the South, from 1964 to 1988

In explaining episodes of dramatic change in Congress, scholars point to three types of change in the composition of its membership: realigning, partisan surge, and secular. Congressional change during realigning periods suggests a linkage between political upheaval, institutions, politicians, and policy. ¹ The second type of change, partisan surge, produces a large freshman class that reshapes the institution. A large Democratic class in 1958 brought about changes in norms and in the distribution of power; the 1964 class played a crucial role in the success of "Great Society" legislation; and effects of the "power earthquake" registered by the 1974 Watergate class are still being analyzed. Secular change in membership—a gradual shift over a period of many elections—-also produces change in Congress. New members elected during the Progressive era in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries undermined the homogeneity of the Republican party and helped hasten the demise of its leadership. The gradual rise of the Republican party in the South over the past three decades has had the opposite impact on the Democrats by increasing Democratic party unity. ²