Chapter 8: Political Parties

What Is a Political Party? A group of political activists who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to determine public policy. How are parties different from interest groups? Ralph E. Becker Collection /Smithsonian Institution Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

The Three Components of Political Parties Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Functions of Political Parties Recruit candidates to run for elective offices at all levels of government Mobilize citizens to vote and participate in elections Bear the responsibility of operating government at all levels Provide organized opposition to the party in power Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Where the Voters Are Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

History of Political Parties The Formative Years: Federalists and Anti-Federalists The Era of Good Feelings National Two-Party Rule: Whigs and Democrats © The Granger Collection, New York Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

The Golden Age of Parties The Civil War Crisis The Post-Civil War Period “Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion” The Triumph of the Republicans Courtesy of Smithsonian Institute, neg #98-4290 Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

History of Political Parties The Progressive Interlude The New Deal Era An Era of Divided Government In the years after 1968, the general pattern was often a Republican president and a Democratic Congress. 2000 Presidential Election (Red state–blue state) Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Election 1896 Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Election 2004 Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

The Two Major Parties Today The parties’ core constituents Economic beliefs Recent economic convergence? Republican and Democratic Budgets Democrats have the reputation of supporting the less-well-off, and Republicans the prosperous. Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning © 2004 AP/ Wide World Photos © Mark Avery/Orange County Register/Corbis Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Income and Party Identification Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Republican and Democratic Issues Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

The Three Faces of a Party The people who identify with the party or who regularly vote for the candidates of the party in general elections Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

National Conventions Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning (Dennis Brack/Bloomberg News/Landov) Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning © Bob Covington /Reuters/Corbis Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

The National Convention Click the icon to open the movie Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Questions How do nominating conventions differ now from earlier times? Given these differences, do nominating conventions serve any purpose in the modern era? Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Three Faces of a Party (cont.) Party Organization National Convention delegates National Committee National Chairperson State party organization Local (grass roots) organization Patronage and City Machines Local Party Organizations Today Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Three Faces of a Party (cont.) The Party in Government Divided Government The Limits of Party Unity Party Polarization © Andy Levin/Photo Researchers, Inc. Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Why Has the Two Party System Endured? Duality Political socialization and practical considerations The Winner-Take-All Electoral System Presidential Voting Popular Election of the Governors and President Proportional Representation State and Federal Laws Favoring the Two Parties Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics Ideological Third Parties Splinter Parties The Impact of Minor Parties Influencing the Major Parties Affecting the Outcome of an Election Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Policies of Selected American Third Parties Since 1864 Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Mechanisms of Political Change Realignment The Myth of Dominance The Myth of Predictability Is Realignment Still Possible? Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Mechanisms of Political Change (cont.) Dealignment: A major drop-off in support for the parties. Independent Voters Not-So-Independent Voters Tipping Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Party Identification: 1937–Present Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Questions for Critical Thinking Do democratic governments need political parties? If a democratic government has political parties, will the structure always be a two-party system? What factors impact how many political parties will exist? Is party identification a major factor for voters in presidential elections? Do political parties make government more responsive? Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Questions for Critical Thinking Why is it difficult for independent candidates or minor party candidates to get elected to Congress? What inferences can be made about the voting population through the closely divided elections of 2000 and 2004? Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Web Links The White House GOP.com The Democratic Party National Republican Senatorial Committee Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee The National Republican Congressional Committee www.whitehouse.gov The White House www.rnc.org Republican National Committee www.democrats.org Democratic National Committee www.nrsc.org National Republican Senatorial Committee www.dscc.org Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee www.nrcc.org National Republican Congressional Committee Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

Web Links Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee GOP.gov Townhall.com National Political Index The Greens/Green Party USA www.dccc.org Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee www.gop.gov Republican House Conference www.townhall.com Conservative News and Information www.politicalindex.com/sect8.htm Link to the minor parties involved in U.S. politics www.greenparty.org Green Party, USA Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning