Political Parties

Introduction Party polarization Wide gap between the views on policy issues Pros – makes choice easier for voters Cons – hard to find middle ground/compromise

The Meaning of Party Party competition Struggle to control public offices Gives choice Vital for a democracy A group of people seeking to control government by getting elected into office

The Meaning of Party “Three-headed political giant” Party electorate The rank and file membership Self-identified title Largest of the three groups

The Meaning of Party “Three-headed political giant” Party organization Offices National State Local Full time staff Rules Budgets

The Meaning of Party “Three-headed political giant” Party in government Elected officials Work together in governing

Tasks of the Parties Linking institution Picking candidates Endorsing nominees Evolution Party bosses chose nominees Now, rank and file choose nominees through primaries

Tasks of the Parties Run campaigns Give cues to voters Coordinating campaigns Mass media reduced this role Give cues to voters Articulate policies Coordinate policy making Linking government branches together

The Meaning of Party Parties, Voters, and Policy: The Downs Model Rational-choice theory Voters want to see their opinions turned into policy Candidates want voters’ votes

The Meaning of Party Independents The wild card Party identifiers usually vote for party Independents tend to be moderate To win elections Keep the party base Sway the independents

The Party in the Electorate Party image – what the voters think the parties stand for Party identification – self-identified preference for a particular party

The Party in the Electorate The rise of independents “fashionable” to declare as independent More of a “youth thing” than for older people Most likely to practice “ticket splitting” Voting for different parties for different offices Makes no state is completely “safe” for a given party

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Decentralized Fragmented Limited role

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Local Parties Party machines Ran local politics For patronage Rewards for party loyalty Not based on merit or competency

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Local Parties Progressive reforms Job by merit Fair-bidding for contracts Still a force in local elections

The Party Organizations: From the Grass The 50 State Party Systems Barely held together by national party apparatus Varies state to state Ballot layout up to state parties Primary format Open primary – can vote in either party primary Closed primary – can only vote in registered party

The Party Organizations: From the Grass The 50 State Party Systems Mostly deal with funding the candidate’s election campaign

The National Party Organizations National convention Write party platform Nominate candidates Presidential Vice presidential

The National Party Organizations National committee Representatives from each state Carry on operations between conventions

The National Party Organizations National chairperson Head the committee Carry on day-to-day operations Who? Party in the White House = president Party out of power = contested position

The Party in Government: Promises and Policy Voters expect elected official turn promises to policy Form coalitions Groups of people interested in similar agendas Most promises are kept Voters seem to elect promises more than people

Rise of Political Parties Founding Era Party conflicts were Mostly about policy differences Seen to be an indictment on the legitimacy of the national government

Rise of Political Parties The Founding Era Republican* Federalist Jefferson Hamilton Weak Central Government Strong Central Government Agrarian base Industrial & banking base Southern stronghold Northern Stronghold

Rise of Political Parties Founding Era Every president since the Jefferson-Hamilton/Adams conflicts has had to persuade the public that, despite partisan politics, the presidency exists to serve all of the people.

Rise of Political Parties Jacksonian Era Political participation becomes a mass phenomenon New laws enlarged eligible voter status Population growth swelled voter numbers Presidential Electors chosen by popular vote in most states Party conventions replace legislative caucuses for selection of nominees

Rise of Political Parties Civil War and Post-War Era Slavery divides parties as much as it does the nation Modern Republican Party emerges from the “Free Soil Party” Whig Party fades away The McKinley-Bryan election Realignment / Critical Election Last time a nominee ran on “agrarian power” base Republican party strengthens

Rise of Political Parties Civil War and Post-War Era McKinley Businessmen, professionals, skilled workers, prosperous (large scale) farmers Regional strength Northeast Upper Midwest Pacific Coast

Rise of Political Parties Civil War and Post-War Era Bryan Alienated northeasterners Moralistic rhetoric “Crusading for inflation” (Free Siverite) Regional strength South Rural Midwest Rocky Mountain states

Rise of Political Parties Civil War and Post-War Era States become single party states at the national level

Rise of Political Parties Civil War and Post-War Era The single party splits into factions at the state level Stalwarts Build up party machinery Party loyalty is prized Patronage is expected Interested in WINNING at all costs Mugwumps (Progressives) Reformers Advocacy of party platform Principle was prized above all

Evolution of Political Parties The Era of Reform Progressives push measures to reform the abuses of the political parties Wanted primaries to replace party conventions Break corrupt alliances of business and parties Strict voter-registration requirements Used media to get the word out

Evolution of Political Parties The Era of Reform Successes Initiative Referendum Recall Direct Primaries Effects Weaken party machines and bosses Weaken party structure in general

Political Parties Realignment and Critical Elections Sharp and LASTING shifts in popular support for a political party Kinds One party disappears and is replaced by another one Both parties continue but one loses support of a sub-group

Decline of Party Importance Proportion of people identifying with one party or the other is in decline Split ticket voting has increased Use of office-bloc ballot expands Massachusetts ballot Candidates are grouped by office Candidates in each race are listed randomly

Decline of Party Importance Use of party-column ballot declines Indiana ballot All party candidates are listed in a single column Can vote straight ticket by checking off column

Decline of Party Importance

United or Divided Governments Executive Legislative (Senate) Legislative (House) Unified Government – when one party controls The Executive Branch The Legislative Branch Senate AND House Rare in contemporary US history

United or Divided Governments When the opposition party controls one of the above three centers of power Party Dealignment Electorate is moving away from their political parties They are not moving (wholesale) to the other major party Executive Legislative (Senate) Legislative (House)

Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics An alternate party from the dominant two parties A regular feature of American politics Rarely win major office

Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics Types Single issue party Splinter party Party of a personality

Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics Importance Bring previously disinterested people into the political world Send a targeted message about a topic

Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics Importance Acts as a safety valve Those who feel neglected have a place to turn to Allows new or fringe ideas to be part of the peaceful political process Brings other ideas into the major parties’ platforms

Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics Hindrances Winner-take-all system Not proportional representation for second, third etc. place Tradition

Democracy and Responsible Party Government: How Should We Govern? Responsible Party Model Parties present clear, distinct platform Candidates must be committed to party’s platform Actions Majority party must implement platform Minority party must state how they would do things differently Majority party accepts full responsibility for outcomes

Democracy and Responsible Party Government: How Should We Govern? Trouble with America is …. Our parties are too decentralized in power Candidates self-label Candidates can gain nomination without party support No method to punish officials who buck the party line

American Political Parties and the Scope of Government American political parties are often factionalized internally Makes it difficult to change the scope of government powers Makes it easier to officials to get more from the government for the people back home