Chapter 5 Political Parties

Section 1: Parties and what they do “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.” Vince Lombardi “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.” Vince Lombardi

What is a party? Political Party Political Party A group or persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office A group or persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office Generally joined together on common ideology pertaining to public policies and programs Generally joined together on common ideology pertaining to public policies and programs particular set of beliefs or views on social, economic and political matters particular set of beliefs or views on social, economic and political matters U.S. major parties are more election oriented than issue oriented U.S. major parties are more election oriented than issue oriented

What do parties do? They are the major mechanisms behind the development of broad policy and leadership choices They are the major mechanisms behind the development of broad policy and leadership choices Vital link between people and their government Vital link between people and their government They bring together conflicting groups They bring together conflicting groups Nominating Candidates Nominating Candidates Name candidates for public office Name candidates for public office Informing and activating supporters Informing and activating supporters They campaign for their candidates and their positions They campaign for their candidates and their positions which activates citizen interest and participation in public affairs which activates citizen interest and participation in public affairs they “educate” the public, in order to persuade they “educate” the public, in order to persuade

What do parties do? (Con’t) Both parties try to shape positions that will attract as many voters as possible Both parties try to shape positions that will attract as many voters as possible Possibly offending as few voters as possible Possibly offending as few voters as possible The Bonding Agent Function The Bonding Agent Function Parties work to ensure that candidates are both qualified and of good character Parties work to ensure that candidates are both qualified and of good character Governing Governing U.S. government primarily controlled by parties U.S. government primarily controlled by parties Much of the government business is done on the basis of partisanship Much of the government business is done on the basis of partisanship the strong support of their party and its policy stance the strong support of their party and its policy stance allows separation of powers between legislative and executive branches allows separation of powers between legislative and executive branches Act as Watchdog Act as Watchdog The party out of power tends to criticize the policies and behavior of the party in power The party out of power tends to criticize the policies and behavior of the party in power

Section 2: The Two party system

Why a Two-Party System? U.S. has primarily a Two-Party System U.S. has primarily a Two-Party System Two major political parties Two major political parties There are minor parties There are minor parties Political parties without wide voter support Political parties without wide voter support Multiple reasons for U.S. having two party system Multiple reasons for U.S. having two party system The Historical Basis The Historical Basis Ratification of Constitution created two political groups Ratification of Constitution created two political groups Federalist and Anti-Federalist Federalist and Anti-Federalist Framers however did not like political parties Framers however did not like political parties The Force of Tradition The Force of Tradition Human institutions tend to be self-perpetuating Human institutions tend to be self-perpetuating Tradition Tradition

Why a Two-Party System? (Con’t) The Electoral System The Electoral System Most elections in U.S. are for single-member districts Most elections in U.S. are for single-member districts Where only one candidate selected for office Where only one candidate selected for office Members tend to get plurality Members tend to get plurality Largest number of votes cast for the office Largest number of votes cast for the office People hate “wasting a vote” People hate “wasting a vote” Republicans and Democrats work bipartisan to keep other parties out of system Republicans and Democrats work bipartisan to keep other parties out of system They find common ground and work together They find common ground and work together Difficult for minor parties to get on all ballots Difficult for minor parties to get on all ballots

Why a Two-Party System? (Con’t) The American Ideological consensus The American Ideological consensus Tend to be homogeneous Tend to be homogeneous Same ideals, same basic principles, same patterns of belief Same ideals, same basic principles, same patterns of belief America is however a pluralistic society America is however a pluralistic society Consisting of many cultures and groups Consisting of many cultures and groups However there is a consensus on fundamental matters However there is a consensus on fundamental matters A general agreement among various groups A general agreement among various groups Both Republicans and Democrats look much alike and tend to be moderate Both Republicans and Democrats look much alike and tend to be moderate Biggest difference Biggest difference Democrats tend to want a bigger government Democrats tend to want a bigger government Republicans tend to want a smaller government Republicans tend to want a smaller government

Multiparty System Europeans have a multiparty system in their democracies Europeans have a multiparty system in their democracies System in which several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for and actually win public offices System in which several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for and actually win public offices Party based on a particular interest Party based on a particular interest While it does produce broader representation, it also creates government instability While it does produce broader representation, it also creates government instability Requires the creation of a coalition Requires the creation of a coalition Temporary alliance of several groups who come together to form a working majority in order to control a government Temporary alliance of several groups who come together to form a working majority in order to control a government

One-Party System Only one party is allowed to run for office Only one party is allowed to run for office Most dictatorships Most dictatorships Some parts of the U.S have been a modified one-party system Some parts of the U.S have been a modified one-party system

One-Party Systems Chapter 5, Section Types of One-Party Systems Example: Republican North and Democratic South until the 1950s. Modified One-Party Systems where one party regularly wins most elections One Party Systems where only one party is allowed. Example: Dictatorships such as Stalinist Russia

Chapter 5, Section Factors that can influence party membership: Party Membership Patterns

Membership in parties is voluntary Membership in parties is voluntary Political parties tend to have a cross section of support Political parties tend to have a cross section of support Typically Typically Democrats get votes from African Americans, Catholics, Jews and Union members Democrats get votes from African Americans, Catholics, Jews and Union members Republicans tend to get votes from white males, protestants and business community Republicans tend to get votes from white males, protestants and business community Biggest pattern based on family preference Biggest pattern based on family preference Nearly 2/3 of U.S. vote the way their families vote Nearly 2/3 of U.S. vote the way their families vote

Party Membership Patterns (Con’t) History determines History determines Based on world events and/ or against the party in power Based on world events and/ or against the party in power Income Income Higher incomes for republicans Higher incomes for republicans Lower incomes for democrats Lower incomes for democrats Other factors Other factors Age, place of residence, level of education, work environment, religion Age, place of residence, level of education, work environment, religion

Section 3: The Two party system in American History

The Nation’s First Parties Ratification of the constitution Ratification of the constitution Federalist Federalist wanted a stronger national government wanted a stronger national government appealed to financial, manufacturing and commercial interests appealed to financial, manufacturing and commercial interests led by Alexander Hamilton led by Alexander Hamilton

The Nation’s First Parties (Con’t) Anti-Federalist Anti-Federalist More sympathetic to the “Common Man” More sympathetic to the “Common Man” Favored limited government Favored limited government led by Thomas Jefferson led by Thomas Jefferson Beginnings of the Democratic Party Beginnings of the Democratic Party John Adams was the last federalist candidate John Adams was the last federalist candidate He was the incumbent but was beat by Jefferson in 1800 He was the incumbent but was beat by Jefferson in 1800 Current office holder Current office holder

American Parties: Four Major Eras The era of the Democrats, The era of the Democrats, They controlled most politics till mid-1820’s They controlled most politics till mid-1820’s Then split into factions Then split into factions conflicting groups conflicting groups split over public lands, 2nd bank of U.S., high tariffs, and slavery split over public lands, 2nd bank of U.S., high tariffs, and slavery Andrew Jackson changed political landscape Andrew Jackson changed political landscape voting rights for all white males voting rights for all white males an increase in number of elected offices an increase in number of elected offices Spoil system: awarding government favors for those who supported the party Spoil system: awarding government favors for those who supported the party Civil war split Democrats Civil war split Democrats helped by the rise of the Whig Party helped by the rise of the Whig Party

American Parties: Four Major Eras (Con’t) Republican Era, Republican Era, Election of Lincoln ushered the republicans from a third-party to a major party Election of Lincoln ushered the republicans from a third-party to a major party Good economic times kept the GOP in power Good economic times kept the GOP in power 1896 GOP expanded it’s electorate 1896 GOP expanded it’s electorate people eligible to vote people eligible to vote however, Democrats went away from sectionalism however, Democrats went away from sectionalism focus on a particular region focus on a particular region

American Parties: Four Major Eras (Con’t) The return of the Democrats, The return of the Democrats, The Great Depression ushered in FDR to office The Great Depression ushered in FDR to office His New Deal program expanded the electorate for the Democrats His New Deal program expanded the electorate for the Democrats Only lasted till the pressures of Vietnam in the mid 1960’s Only lasted till the pressures of Vietnam in the mid 1960’s The start of a new era The start of a new era From Nixon to today, has been marked with a divided-partisan government From Nixon to today, has been marked with a divided-partisan government

Section 4: The Minor Parties

Minor parties in the U.S. Vary in size and scope Vary in size and scope Ideological parties Ideological parties Based on a particular set of beliefs Based on a particular set of beliefs Example Example socialist party, libertarian party socialist party, libertarian party Single issue parties Single issue parties names based on their issue names based on their issue

Minor parties in the U.S. (Con’t) Economic Protest parties Economic Protest parties Demanded economic changes to the Major parties Demanded economic changes to the Major parties faded demands after economics improves faded demands after economics improves Example Example Greenback party and Populist party Greenback party and Populist party Splinter parties Splinter parties Groups that split from major parties Groups that split from major parties normally short lived normally short lived

Why Minor parties are important Help impact policies and bring them to the fore-front Help impact policies and bring them to the fore-front Also they play the “Spoiler-role” Also they play the “Spoiler-role” Minor parties tend to make clear-cut stands on issues Minor parties tend to make clear-cut stands on issues Progressive income tax, women’s suffrage, railroad and bank regulation, and old age pension plans Progressive income tax, women’s suffrage, railroad and bank regulation, and old age pension plans Problem is major parties adapt to minor parties platform Problem is major parties adapt to minor parties platform

Minor Parties in the United States Minor Parties in the United States Chapter 5, Section Splinter Party Example: “Bull Moose” Progressive Party Economic Protest Parties Example: The Greenback Party Ideological Parties Example: Libtertarian Party Types of Minor Parties Single-issue Parties Example: Free Soil Party

Chapter 5, Section Minor Parties in the United States

Section 5: Party Organization

National Party Machinery National Convention National Convention National Convention National Convention Considered party’s national voice Considered party’s national voice Meet to nominate party’s Vice Presidential and Presidential candidates Meet to nominate party’s Vice Presidential and Presidential candidates Today is more of a pep rally Today is more of a pep rally The National Committee The National Committee The party’s affairs are controlled here The party’s affairs are controlled here Really, only works to organize National Convention Really, only works to organize National Convention

National Party Machinery (Con’t) The National Chairperson The National Chairperson Leader of National Committee Leader of National Committee Directs the work of the party’s headquarter Directs the work of the party’s headquarter Otherwise in charge of promoting party unity, raising money, recruiting new voters, and preparing for presidential elections Otherwise in charge of promoting party unity, raising money, recruiting new voters, and preparing for presidential elections The Congressional Campaign Committees The Congressional Campaign Committees In charge of getting incumbents re-elected In charge of getting incumbents re-elected

State and Local Machinery Organized by electoral map Organized by electoral map Split-up into congressional districts within states Split-up into congressional districts within states Then into wards and precincts Then into wards and precincts Ward: a unit into which cities are often divided for election of city council members Ward: a unit into which cities are often divided for election of city council members Precinct: voters in each report to one polling place Precinct: voters in each report to one polling place

State and Local Party Machinery Chapter 5, Section State and local party organization varies from State to State, but usually follow the general principles below. State and local party organization varies from State to State, but usually follow the general principles below.

The Future of the Major Parties Split-ticket voting Split-ticket voting Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same time Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same time

The Future of Major Parties For voters : More people are unwilling to label themselves as “Democrats” or “Republicans” More people are unwilling to label themselves as “Democrats” or “Republicans” Split-ticket voting—voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election Split-ticket voting—voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election Chapter 5, Section 5 For candidates: Structural changes have increased conflict and disorganization within parties Structural changes have increased conflict and disorganization within parties Changes in the technology of campaigning, especially the use of television and the Internet, have made candidates more independent of the party organization Changes in the technology of campaigning, especially the use of television and the Internet, have made candidates more independent of the party organization The growth of single-issue organizations provides candidates with another source of financial support The growth of single-issue organizations provides candidates with another source of financial support Weakened connections to political parties: Chapter 5, Section