Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Chapter 9 POLITICAL PARTIES

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 New Competition for the Party Campaign Machine The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 caused concern within the Democratic and Republican parties. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 caused concern within the Democratic and Republican parties. –ban on “soft-money” contributions to national party organizations –decreased ability of national party campaign machines to help party candidates Rise in power of nonparty organizations Rise in power of nonparty organizations –“527 Committees” Current dilemma for the Democratic and Republican parties Current dilemma for the Democratic and Republican parties –poor public reputation due to their lavish use of soft money funds in the 1990s –increased competition from nonparty organizations

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 The Role of Political Parties in a Democracy What are political parties? What are political parties? –They recruit and run candidates for public office under the party label. –They try to organize and coordinate the activities of government officials under the party name.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Many political scientists believe that parties are essential to democracy, serving as the main instrument of popular sovereignty and majority rule. Many political scientists believe that parties are essential to democracy, serving as the main instrument of popular sovereignty and majority rule. –Keeping elected officials responsive –Including a broad range of groups –Stimulating political interest –Ensuring accountability –Making government work

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 History of the Two-Party System Most nations have either one-party systems or multiparty systems. Most nations have either one-party systems or multiparty systems. Most Western democracies have multiparty systems. Most Western democracies have multiparty systems. two parties have dominated the political scene since Yet in the United States, two parties have dominated the political scene since Democrats and Republicans have controlled the Presidency and Congress since Democrats and Republicans have controlled the Presidency and Congress since 1860.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 The First Party System: Federalists versus Democratic Republicans Parties were created almost immediately after the country’s founding, even though the Founders were hostile to them in theory. Parties were created almost immediately after the country’s founding, even though the Founders were hostile to them in theory. The Federalist Party formed in the 1790’s, under the leadership of Alexander Hamilton. The Federalist Party formed in the 1790’s, under the leadership of Alexander Hamilton. The Democratic Republicans soon formed as an opposition party, under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The Democratic Republicans soon formed as an opposition party, under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. –Federalists became tainted by actions such as the Alien and Sedition Acts, enacted to repress dissent and opposition to Federalist policies. –By 1816, the two-party system evolved into a one-party or no-party system, known as the Era of Good Feelings.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 The Second Party System: Democrats versus Whigs –In the 1830’s, a strong two-party system developed between the Democrats (formerly the Democratic Republicans) and the Whigs. –The Democrats and Whigs were very different parties from those in the first party system, resulting from a significant democratization of American life. –The Civil War split the parties: the northern and southern wings of each party mirrored the split in the nation.

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From the Civil War to 1896: Republicans and Democrats in balance –Following Reconstruction, Republicans and Democrats were somewhat balanced in national politics. –Each party had a strong regional flavor.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 The Party System of 1896: Republican Dominance Rapid economic and social change in the late nineteenth century led to the rise of protest movements and third parties. Rapid economic and social change in the late nineteenth century led to the rise of protest movements and third parties. Rise of the Populist party Rise of the Populist party Bitter presidential election of 1896 Bitter presidential election of 1896 –Populist party joins Democrats to nominate radical pro-labor candidate William Jennings Bryan. –Conservative Democrats join Republicans to support pro-business candidate William McKinley. –In the South, efforts to intimidate potential black voters increase dramatically. –The Republicans win soundly, and continue to dominate politics through the election of 1932.

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The New Deal System: Democratic Party dominance The New Deal party system grew out of the crisis of the Great Depression and favorable public reactions to government efforts to deal with the economic collapse. The New Deal party system grew out of the crisis of the Great Depression and favorable public reactions to government efforts to deal with the economic collapse. The party system underwent a realignment ( ) from Republican to Democratic dominance. The party system underwent a realignment ( ) from Republican to Democratic dominance. –New Deal coalition

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 The Sixth Party System: Dealignment and Parity The electoral coalition that formed the basis of the New Deal party system began to seriously deteriorate in 1968 and finally collapsed in The electoral coalition that formed the basis of the New Deal party system began to seriously deteriorate in 1968 and finally collapsed in Unlike earlier transitions, where one dominant party was replaced by another one, in this transition the previously dominant party lost preeminence, but no new party took its place. Unlike earlier transitions, where one dominant party was replaced by another one, in this transition the previously dominant party lost preeminence, but no new party took its place. Many call the process of transition to the sixth party system dealignment. Many call the process of transition to the sixth party system dealignment. The sixth party system is characterized by: The sixth party system is characterized by: – parity between the parties –declining party identification –more sharply divided views between Republicans and Democrats

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Why a Two-party System? Why does the United States have a two-party system when most Western democracies have multiparty systems? Why does the United States have a two-party system when most Western democracies have multiparty systems? –Electoral rules »Proportional representation v. winner-take-all, plurality election, single-member districts –Restrictions on minor parties –Absence of a strong labor movement

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 The Role of Minor Parties in the Two-Party System Minor parties have played a less-important role in the United States than in virtually any other democratic nation. Minor parties have played a less-important role in the United States than in virtually any other democratic nation. In our entire history, only the Republican party has managed to replace one of the major parties. In our entire history, only the Republican party has managed to replace one of the major parties.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Types of minor parties Types of minor parties –Protest parties –Ideological parties –Single-issue parties –Splinter parties

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 The role of minor parties The role of minor parties –may articulate and popularize new ideas that are eventually taken over by one or both major parties –may allow people with grievances to express themselves in a way that is not possible within the major parties –typically are not as cautious as the major parties

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 The Parties as Organizations In most democratic countries, parties are fairly well- structured organizations. In most democratic countries, parties are fairly well- structured organizations. –Led by party professionals –Committed to a set of policies and principles –Clearly-defined membership requirements –Centralized control over nominations and financing –Substantial discipline over party members who hold political office.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 The Ambiguous Nature of American Parties American parties are composed of many diverse and independent groups and individuals. American parties are composed of many diverse and independent groups and individuals. Presidents cannot automatically count on the support of their own party. Presidents cannot automatically count on the support of their own party. Vagueness of party membership Vagueness of party membership Decentralized organization Decentralized organization –party conventions –national party committees –Congressional campaign committees –state party organizations –associated interest groups

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The Primacy of Candidates American politics is candidate-centered American politics is candidate-centered –Candidates have independent sources of campaign financing, their own campaign organizations, and their own campaign themes and priorities. –The party can do very little about nominees who oppose party leaders and reject national party platforms and policies. –Candidates are now almost exclusively nominated in primaries or grass roots caucuses, where the party organizations have little influence.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Contrast with politics in European countries Contrast with politics in European countries –People in most European countries vote for parties rather than for individual candidates. –Independent candidates cannot force themselves on the party through primaries or caucuses. –In countries like Germany, the campaign is waged between parties and their alternative programs, not between individual candidates.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Ideology and Program An ideology is an organized set of beliefs about the fundamental nature of the good society and the role government ought to play in achieving it. An ideology is an organized set of beliefs about the fundamental nature of the good society and the role government ought to play in achieving it. Each party’s core supporters are more ideologically oriented than the general public. Each party’s core supporters are more ideologically oriented than the general public. Yet both parties are broad coalitions, and face strong pressures to be ideologically ambiguous in order to win in winner-take-all, single-member-district elections. Yet both parties are broad coalitions, and face strong pressures to be ideologically ambiguous in order to win in winner-take-all, single-member-district elections.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 How Are the Parties Different? Still, the differences between Democrats and Republicans are real, important, and enduring, and appear to be becoming more distinctive. Still, the differences between Democrats and Republicans are real, important, and enduring, and appear to be becoming more distinctive. –in the perceptions of the electorate –in terms of who supports them –in their political platforms –in the positions taken by party activists –in the policy decisions of their elected representatives

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Growing Ideological Differences Between the Parties The Republican party became more consistently conservative after the mid-1970s. The Republican party became more consistently conservative after the mid-1970s. The Democratic party is split between a very liberal Congressional wing and a more “centrist” wing, represented by the Democratic Leadership Council (including Clinton and Gore). The Democratic party is split between a very liberal Congressional wing and a more “centrist” wing, represented by the Democratic Leadership Council (including Clinton and Gore).

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 The Parties in Government The parties in government refers to government officials who have been elected under the party’s label. The parties in government refers to government officials who have been elected under the party’s label. –To avoid tyrannical government, the Founders designed a system of government in which power is so fragmented and competitive that effectiveness is unlikely. –One of the roles that political parties play is to persuade officials in the different branches to cooperate with one another on the basis of party loyalty.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 The Problem of Divided Government Divided party government occurs when the executive and legislative branches are held by opposing political parties. Divided party government occurs when the executive and legislative branches are held by opposing political parties. Long-term party division between the Presidency and Congress exaggerates the problems caused by the constitutional separation of powers. Long-term party division between the Presidency and Congress exaggerates the problems caused by the constitutional separation of powers. –Divided government adds to the gridlock and paralysis that are built into the constitutional design of our system of government. –Divided party control can give rise to a state of perpetual conflict between the two branches. However, some scholars have begun to argue that divided party control is not necessarily worse than unified party control. However, some scholars have begun to argue that divided party control is not necessarily worse than unified party control.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 Parties in the Electorate Parties in the electorate refers to individuals who are supporters of the party. Parties in the electorate refers to individuals who are supporters of the party. Americans are less inclined to identify with either of the parties than they were in the past. Americans are less inclined to identify with either of the parties than they were in the past.