Chapter 9: Political Parties
Party Basics A political party is a group that seeks to elect candidates for office by supplying them with a label or party identification.
Party Basics View of Party It is a label to the voters. It is an organization to recruits and campaigners. It is leadership for the candidates.
USA Party History Founding Jefferson’s Democratic-Republicans They were known at the time as the Republicans. Today they are the modern Democratic Party. Favored An agrarian society Pro-France Southern
USA Party History Founding Hamilton’s Federalists They focused on centralizing national power. Favored Industrialism Pro-British Northern
USA Party History Civil War Democrats those who favored Jackson Whigs were those opposed to Jackson
USA Party History Civil War Slavery The issue caused damage to both parties and realignment based on region. Southern Whigs were destroyed and many Northern Whigs were absorbed by the Republicans. The Democrats divided regionally into Northern & Southern Camps.
USA Party History Civil War Slavery The Republicans emerged from the multiple factional groups Northern Democrats Northern Whigs Free-Soilers Know-Nothing Party
USA Party History Reform Era Democrats and Republicans emerged as the two main parties; however, corruption ran rampant through the government (both federal and local). With the attack on the spoils system, the parties realigned themselves.
USA Party History Reform Era Democrats became the big city/minority/social welfare party/farmers. Republicans supported the rich/big business.
USA Party History Party Decline Voting Pattern Straight ticket voting had been the norm (voting for the same party candidates). Split ticket voting became more common (voting for candidates of different parties).
USA Party History Party Decline Bloc Balloting Office-bloc (Massachusetts) lists all the candidates of a given office under the name of that office. Party-column (Indiana) lists all the candidates of a given party tighter under the name of the party.
National Party Structure Today Hierarchy for both Parties The national convention is the ultimate authority. Between conventions, the national committee manages party affairs.
National Party Structure Today Hierarchy for both Parties Congressional campaign committee It helps members running for reelection. Helps to accrue soft money (party money), not delegate (hard) money.
National Party Structure Today Hierarchy for both Parties National Chairman He runs the day-to-day work. The committee elects him. Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Reince Priebus
National Party Structure Today National Convention Reserved seating is given to superdelegates (party leaders and elected officials). Convention Ideology Republicans represent the most conservative wing. Democrats represent the most liberal wing.
State & Local Parties The political machine is a party organization the recruits its members with tangible incentives. Boss Tweed of Tammany Hall
State & Local Parties Ideological Parties Third parties are commonly single-issue factions of the Democrats and Republicans. Sometimes they begin as “reform clubs” within the party.
State & Local Parties Solidary Groups are groups that form because they want to be “in the know” or have political influence. Sponsored Party is one that is sponsored by another organization or a local party structure. The UAW participation in the Democratic Party of Detroit is considered an example of a sponsored party.
State & Local Parties Personal Followings Based on an individual’s charisma. It is commonly used when party organization is weak in a region. Senator Strom Thurmond, served as a US senator from South Carolina for 43 years, the first picture is him in the 1960s, the second picture is at his 100th birthday (he was still a senator).
The Two-Party System The US uses a plurality system or a winner-take-all system. The Electoral College It is the most dramatic example of the plural system. Only Maine and Nebraska split there electoral votes.
Minor Parties Ideological Parties These parties have different views of American society and government. Examples Socialist Party Communist Party Green Party
Minor Parties One-issue Parties Normally has a single issue and avoids other topics or areas. Examples Free-Soil Party Prohibition Party Prohibition Party Logo
Minor Parties Economic-protest Parties These parties tend to align farmers in a given region but disappear when economic conditions improve. Examples Greenback Party Populist Party
Minor Parties Factional Parties These normally occur when a split over the presidential candidate of a party occurs. Examples Bull Moose Party (Teddy Roosevelt) Reform Party (Ross Perot)
Nominating a President Primaries are the elections to choose candidates for office Caucus is a meeting of party members to select delegates backing one or another primary candidate. The delegates (for both parties) are normally issue-oriented activists.