Political parties 5.3

Types of voting behavior

Rational choice We vote for the candidate that will do the most for us personally.

retrospective Retrospective voting refers to voting made after taking into consideration factors like the performance of a political party, an officeholder, and/or the administration. It presumes that people are more concerned with policy outcomes than policy instruments.

prosepctive If the voter believes that the country has done poorly, he or she votes for the opposition party. Other scholars argue that Americans engage in prospective voting, which is voting with an eye to the future. People vote for the candidates that they believe will do the most to help the country in the next few years.

Party line  is a vote in which a substantial majority of members of a political party vote the same way (usually in opposition to the other political party(ies) whose members vote the opposite way).

What is a political party Group of citizens who organize to Win elections Hold public office Operate the government Determine public policy

Levels of American political parties Party in the electorate Individuals who identify with one of the political parties Party organization National leaders, state and local chairpersons Raise money, organize campaigns, and conventions Run national, state and local organizations, each is separate organization Party in government Candidates and office holders at national, state and local levels.

Function of political parties Recruiting and nominating candidates for public office Running political campaigns Articulating positions on issues Educating the electorate Critiquing the policies of the party in power Serving as a linking institution Providing information to voters Mobilizing voters Raising funds to support party candidates

Types of political party systems one party systems One party has total control over the government Membership is not voluntary Party leaders approve candidates for office, voters have no real choice, Generally results in a dictatorial government China, North Kores, and Iran

Types of political party systems two party systems Two major political parties compete for control Minor parties usually have minimal impact on elections Electoral college system makes it almost impossible for a third party to win any given states Generally have a consensus among citizens about the principles of government Tend to avoid extremes Tend towards table governments US, United Kingdom, India, Jamaica

Types of political party systems multi party systems Multiple political parties compete Often represent widely different ideologies Usually result of proportional representation voting system Mean to give voters more choice Often means no party has a clear majority Leads to forming coalition governments, Which lead to an unstable government France, Italy, Israel

Political party organization leadership Need effective organization to be successful Both major parties organization is much the same President is automatically the head of his/her party

Political party organization national convention Serves as the party’s national voice Delegates meet in the summer every 4 years to select party’s candidate for President and Vice President Write and adopt party’s political platform, positions of the political party

Political party organization national committee Manages party’s business between conventions Select convention site, establish rules of the convention, distribute party literature, and help the party raise campaign money

National organization national chairperson Elected by the national committee with approval of presidential nominee Directs national committee form national headquarters Fundraising Recruiting new members Helping get presidential nominee get elected

National party organization congressional campaign committee In the house and senate Works to ensure election/re election of the party’s candidates in Congress Works to defeat weak appearing opposition candidates

National party organization state and local organization Determined largely by state and local laws Structured much the same in each state as at the national level Better organized and funded than in previous years Soft money has led to a reliance on the national party for funding Limited by bi partisan campaign finance reform act Citizen’s united SCOTUS ruled limiting the amount of money a business, unions and other groups to their groups efforts to influence an election cannot be limited

Future of political parties Recent decades show a decline in political parties Third party challenges Loss of support of party loyalists Increase in split ticket voting Lock of perceived differences between the parties Party reforms Methods of campaigning