Party competition -battle between Democrats and Republicans for control. – Competition, = no choice, no democracy. – “Contract With America”-plan that nationalized mid term election – 1994, led by Newt Gingrich, Republicans took House by promising less govt, lower taxes

Political parties endorse candidates for public office and try to win elections. – Between elections parties invisible. Parties are “three-headed political giants”—the party- in-the-electorate, the party as an organization, and the party-in-government.

The party-in-the-electorate –individuals perceive themselves as party members – Unlike European political parties, American parties do not require dues

The party as an organization has a national office, a full-time staff, rules and bylaws, and budgets. – Pursues electoral victory.

The party-in-government -elected officials call themselves members of the party Leaders do not always agree on policy, but they are the main spokespersons of the party. (Pres. Majority Leader, Speaker)

Tasks of the parties. Large democracy, linkage institutions translate inputs from the public into outputs from the policymakers. – Tasks performed by parties as linkage institutions (channels in which peoples concerns become issues on the govt,s policy agenda by means of elections, parties, interest groups, media) Parties pick policymakers; a nomination is the party’s endorsement of a candidate.

Parties run campaigns, recent technology has made it easier for candidates to campaign on their own. Parties give cues to voters what to vote for or against Parties articulate policies; within the electorate and in the government Parties coordinate policymaking

The Downs Model. Anthony Downs-relationship among citizens, parties, and policy, employing a rational-choice perspective. – Rational-choice theory-parties and political actors have goals (such as winning elections) more important to the party than ideology. – If both parties and voters are rational, both will try to select the best way to achieve their goals.

Majority of the American electorate in middle, – Rarely stray far from the midpoint of public opinion. Two parties have little choice to be dramatic The two parties have to forge different identities to build voter loyalty.

The party-in-the-electorate symbolic images. No formal “membership” in American parties. Psychological label. Trend in party identification last four decades - decline of both parties and the resultant upsurge of Independents (mostly at the expense of the Democrats).

Every major social group (except African-American voters) has moved toward independence. African Americans moved solidly into the Democratic party (five percent of African Americans Republicans). Tea Party- Republican fiscal conservatives Libertarians- Republicans against ALL gov’t intervention Blue Dogs- Democrats-socially liberal fiscally conservative

Ticket- splitting voting with one party for one office (Pres) and another for other offices (mid- term) all-time high. – More Independents now – No longer as loyal as once were. Divided government splitting Executive and legislative branches

Parties are decentralized and fragmented. Unlike European parties, party organizations no power to enforce decisions by offering rewards or punishment. Get elected on their own, party organization limited role.

50 state party systems, not alike. Some states (Pennsylvania) are well organized, have sizable staffs, while parties in other states (California) weak.

Local parties: dying urban party machines. Urban party organizations no longer active. – One time, basis of political party organization in America. Late 19 th century to New Deal, cities dominated by party machines Provide material inducements such as patronage, jobs awarded; no merit

The states exercise discretion in the regulation of party activities – Organize elections: – States determine how easy it is to participate in nomination contests by their adoption of: closed primaries- only offered vote to party members open primaries- voters may decide on election day to participate blanket primaries- a list of all party candidates and anyone could vote. Argument against- could vote for the weak candidate to face yours in the general election.

National convention-every four years, write the party’s platform and nominate candidates for president and vice president. National committee keeps the party operating led by national chairperson

THE PARTY-IN-GOVERNMENT: Party tries to turn campaign promises into action. Weakened Party- Presidents no longer strong party leader, and m Members of Congress less amenable to being led.

Voters and coalitions (group with common interest) of voters are attracted to different parties by performance and policies. Parties have succeeded in translating platform promises into public policies – Politicians and parties DO produce policy out of promises.

PARTY ERAS IN AMERICAN HISTORY Party eras –the dominant majority party for long periods of time (referred to as). – Punctuated by critical elections – New issues appear, divide the electorate – Party coalitions underwent realignment

A party realignment (a rare event) -major crisis or trauma or critical election in the nation’s history (Civil War or Great Depression, ). Democrats-social services after New Deal – New coalition formed Unions, Jews, Africans, women 320 × cbn.com

1796–1824: The first party system. Alexander Hamilton-establishing the first party system. Hamilton needed congressional support for policies he favored (particularly a national bank) – Federalist party came from his politicking and coalition building. Federalists America’s shortest-lived major party: Poorly organized, faded after John Adams was defeated in his reelection bid of 1800 and dissolved after America defeated England in War of 1812 The Democratic-Republicans (Jeffersonians) replaced the Federalists. – Coalition had agrarian interests—which made the party popular in the rural South

1828–1856: Jackson and the Democrats versus the Whigs. Andrew Jackson founded modern American political party when he forged a new coalition in Jackson was originally a Democratic-Republican, his party became known simply as the Democratic party (which continues to this day). Common man politics, simplicity, anti elite in contrary to plantation Demo. Rep’ s

Jackson’s successor, Martin Van Buren-supported loyal opposition to represent other parts of society. – Whig party -nominated popular military heroes William Henry Harrison (1840) and Zachary Taylor (1848). – Had two wings—northern industrialists and southern planters—brought together by the Democratic policies they opposed (Congress more power than Exec.) – Supported modernization and protectionism

1860–1928: The Republican Era. Slavery dominant issue and split both Whigs and Democrats 1850s. Republican party rose 1850s Antislavery party from Whigs and Free Soilers – “Free land, free labor, free men” Elected Lincoln president The Civil War brought a party realignment Democrats controlled the South.

The election of 1896 watershed McKinley vs. Bryan – Against silver standard, more of it devalues money – Favored gold – Industrialization – High tariffs (tax on imports) Increases purchase of American goods but damages southern agriculture/ their exports are met with tariffs, then foreign countries seek other cheaper markets Republicans nation’s majority party END-Stock market crash of 1929 Great Depression.

1932–1964: The New Deal coalition. Hoover’s handling of the Great Depression- disastrous for the Republicans. “Economic depression cannot be cured by legislative action.” Franklin D. Roosevelt New Deal 1932.

Congress passed scores of Roosevelt’s anti-Depression measures during his first 100 days in office. – Social Security, Deposit Insurance, Public works projects – Civilian Corps of Engineers – Fair Labor Act-hours, minimum wage – Farm Security Act raised prices on agricultural products – Works Progress Adm. Party realignment began in earnest after the Roosevelt administration got the country moving, forged the New Deal coalition from diverse groups –labor unions, southerners, intellectuals, liberals, the poor, and African Americans.

1968–present: Divided government. The New Deal coalition has weakened, due to the erosion of the former “Solid [Democratic] South,” Conservative Democrats against national party and push for Civil Rights then Johnson’s Great Society (war on poverty Food stamps, Fed. Housing,). – Great Society stalled with Viet Nam conflict – Today south is Republican, fewer Republicans in the northeast(labor unions) and Pacific coast. Divided government ( executive and legislative branches controlled by different parties) since It is likely that divided party government will be a regular phenomenon at both the federal and state levels.

Party dealignment-people move away from both political parties. Parties are ineffective

THIRD PARTIES: There are three basic varieties of third parties. 1. Parties that promote certain causes—either a controversial single issue (prohibition, women’s suffrage) 2. Extreme ideological position such as socialism or libertarianism. 3. Splinter parties-offshoots of a major party—such as Free Soilers 1850, Teddy Roosevelt’s Progressives (1912), Ralph Nader 2000 – Generally do not win but force issues to forefront such as climate change

Third parties-an extension of a popular individual with presidential aspirations—Ross Perot (1992 and1996). Forced deficit issue. Importance of third parties: Third parties tip the electoral college vote. – If Ralph Nader did not run in 2000, exit polls show Al Gore would have been elected. – New groups into the electorate and have served as “safety valves” for popular discontent. – New issues to the political agenda.

Consequences of the two-party system: – Both maintain centrist position to maximize their appeal to voters. – Political ambiguity—no risk taking on a controversial policy as with Goldwater/early conservative (“lob one in the Kremlin men’s room.”) in 1964 – McGovern in 1972 – ran on pulling out of Viet Nam and minimum income for the poor.

America winner-take-all system. – Party that receives a plurality (more votes than anyone else) is declared the winner – The other parties get nothing. – Result: discourages small parties, never get a foothold

Proportional representation (Europe), legislative seats allocated according to each party’s percentage of the vote. – Parties must achieve small percentage of votes to be awarded any seats in the legislature – Excludes extremist parties. Coalition government -two or more parties combine numbers to form a majority of seats (Europe)

Responsible party government. – Candidates should say what they mean to do maintain promises – Each party presents programs; accept responsibility success or failure. – Party’s officeholders have control of the government, and would be collectively (rather than individually) responsible for their actions.

Weak parties make it easier for politicians to avoid tough decisions; this creates gridlock.