Political Parties  No parties at founding of the republic  Washington cautioned against their baneful effects  Madison warned against factions  But Federalists and Anti-Federalists debated ratification of Constitution

Origins of Political Parties  Jefferson created the first party in 1796  Party created to secure opposition in the Electoral College to federalist candidate John Adams  Jefferson called supporters Republicans  Federalists called them Democratic Republicans to emphasize the demos or unruly mob

Brief History  Pre-party period  First Party System –1800 Jefferson elected with support of Democratic Republicans –election determined in House because Jefferson and Burr received equal votes – th Amendment requires separate candidates for President & V.P.

Brief History continued – Democratic Republicans divided  Andrew Jackson (populist Democrat)  John Quincy Adams (National Republican)  Second Party System –1834 National Republicans renamed Whigs  1856-present Third Party System –1860 First Critical Election (major realignment)  Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln  No. Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas  So. Democrats nominated John Breckinridge

Brief History continued  Republicans became party of the North –strong ties to business  Democrats became party of the South –Republicans were seen as the party of Lincoln--opposed to slavery and the South’s attempt to secede –1894 Severe recession –1896 Second Critical Election  solidified Republican base  Republicans nominated William McKinley (Ohio); favored high tariffs & gold standard  Democrats nominated Wm. Jennings Bryan; favored silver coinage

Brief History continued  Republicans won and dominated national politics until 1929 and Wall Street crash –1932 Third Critical Election  FDR elected by landslide  Democrats control presidency for 36 years  Republicans control presidency for 28 years  Democrats control House of Representatives for 40 years ( )

Parties and View of Government

Grass Roots Party Organization

Traditional Roles of Parties  Serve as intermediary between citizens & government  Screen or recruit candidates, including president, for public office  Contest elections, mobilize voters, and increasingly fund candidates  Organize government (e.g. Congress)  Serve as agents of accountability (to public)  Manage societal conflict (organize interests)

Responsible Party Model  Typical of Parliamentary system  Strong, competitive parties  Platform represents promise to people  Majority party selects government leader (e.g. prime minister--no divided government)  Majority party held accountable for living up to promises (party discipline enforced)

Parties in the U.S.  Representatives have multiple obligations –To self (conscience) –To constituents –To political party  Parties operate in multiple domains –Organize interests of the electorate –Achieve program goals in government –Develop loose coalitions in political system

Minor Political Parties  Bolter Parties –splinter groups within major parties that bolt –e.g. Progressive Party (liberal Republicans) opposed excesses of economic and political power; introduced initiative, referendum, and recall –e.g. Reform Party (Ross Perot in 1992 & 1996)  Ideological Protest (Marxists, Socialists)  Single Issue Parties; Farm-Labor Coalition  Take votes from major parties but force examination of important issues

Endurance of Two Party System  U.S. is unusual relative to other countries; most have multi-party systems –with multi-member constituencies –proportional representation  U.S. Procedures favor two-party system –winner-take-all or first-past-the-post elections –single member districts –simple plurality

Decline of the Political Party?  1960s End of consensus; Vietnam protests  1968 Democratic National Convention and Chicago riots with police brutality  Democrats reject leadership –open party participation to women, minorities; –introduce more primaries (direct vote)  Republicans introduce organizational change –RNC adopts business practices –automates mailing lists –professionalizes fundraising

Decline of the Political Party?  Party identification waning; voters are increasingly independent  Fewer citizens involved in party politics; decreased issue role of parties  Media and interest groups assume some intermediary roles left vacant by parties  Media personalizes politics; politicians respond with cult of individual  Interest groups encourage greater diversity of interests; society more fragmented

Decline of the Political Party?  Interest groups forced to work within two party system  Parties become “big tents” for groups with varied interests  Party conventions no longer determine party nominee but try to attract media attention  Parties harness soft money unavailable to candidates  Parties respond to changing times