C H A P T E R 8 Political Parties

What is a Political Party? Definition: a group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the government, and to determine public policy.  Parties versus interest groups  Interest groups seek to influence public policy, Political parties attempt to create and enforce public policy.  Interest groups exist to pursue out issue outcomes, while political parties are have traditionally existed to win elections

Functions of Political Parties  Recruit candidates to run for elective offices at all levels of government  Makes it more difficult for incumbent offices to go uncontested  Mobilize citizens to vote and participate in elections  Voter interest, volunteers, registration  Bear the responsibility of operating government at all levels  Providing organized opposition to the party in power is an essential role for a party that does not control one or another branch of the government.

History of Political Parties The Formative Years: Federalists and Anti-Federalists  Washington’s Farewell Address  Beware of Parties and alliances  Paves way to the Federalists and Republicans (different from today's republicans” The Era of Good Feelings  Federalists essentially die out eliminating the two party system for a period.  Fail to elect a member since Adams-1796  Monroe’s presidency saw little debate because of the lack of other parties National Two-Party Rule: Whigs and Democrats  Began two party polarization  Whigs die from internal division over slavery The Civil War Crisis  Creation of the modern Republican party  Along with the northern democrats, managed enough support to elect Lincoln. The Post-Civil War Period  The Triumph of the Republicans  Golden Age

History of Political Parties The Progressive Interlude  T. Roosevelt as the spoiler of the election of 1912 bull moose party (progressives) The New Deal Era  FDR first Democrat elected since Wilson  Led to mistrust of Republicans to handle the economy An Era of Divided Government  In the years after 1968, the general pattern was often a Republican president and a Democratic Congress.  2000 Presidential Election (Red state-blue state)

The Two Major Parties Today The parties’ core constituents  People, regions, groups, SES Economic beliefs  Recent economic convergence?  Republican and Democratic Budgets  Democrats have the reputation of supporting the less-well-off, and Republicans the prosperous.

The Three Faces of a Party State party organization  Local (grass roots) organization  Patronage and City Machines  Boss Tweed  Local Party Organizations Today  From patronage to primary (new deal incorporates social services as a right, not an incentive) 3-The Party in Government  Divided Government  Opposite party for executive and legislative branch  The Limits of Party Unity  Ranging views between people within the party  Party Polarization  Periods of time in which the party’s are along rigid lines

Why Has the Two Party System Endured? Often, on major issues confronting the country there have been two clear sides. This duality helped to initiate a two-party system and has maintained this system through the present. Political socialization and practical considerations The Winner-Take-All Electoral System  Plurality (not a majority, just the most votes)  Presidential Voting  Electoral college-538 electoral votes  National Bonus Plan??? +120 extra votes  Popular Election of the Governors and President  No chance for a coalition of parties because people elect the president  Proportional Representation  30% of the votes, 30% of the gov’t

The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics Ideological Third Parties  Typically at odds with the major party’s policies Splinter Parties  A new party formed by breaking off from a major party  Bull-Moose  Roosevelt-27%  Perot- 19% The Impact of Minor Parties  Influencing the Major Parties  Affecting the Outcome of an Election

Mechanisms of Political Change Realignment: a process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape.  AKA Critical elections-precede a realignment by polarizing voters  Jefferson: against the Federalists, formed Democ-Repub party  Abraham Lincoln :Whigs  Republican Party, shift to Rep South  FDR: Vote of No confidence  The Myth of Dominance  The Myth of Predictability  Is Realignment Still Possible? Dealignment: a major drop-off in support for the parties.  Independent Voters  Changing Demographics-Secular Realignment  Not-So-Independent Voters Tipping