1. Political Parties Chapter 12

2. What is a Political Party? At the most basic level, a political party is a group of office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who identify with a group label and seek to elect to public office individuals who run under that label. American parties are “centrist”. –Tend not to be as ideological as parties in other countries.

3. What is a Political Party? Our system contains 2 major parties: –Democratic Party –Republican Party We also have a number of minor or third parties at any given time. –Reform Party –Libertarian Party

4. What is a Political Party? Parties are made up of 3 types of members: –Governmental members--the office holders and candidates. –Organizational members--workers and activists. –Members-in-the-electorate--those who vote for the party or consider themselves to be allied or associated with it.

5. Evolution of American Party Democracy We’ve had a love-hate relationship with parties since the beginning of the republic. –GW despised parties and warned against them in his Farewell Address. –Hamilton and Jefferson, as heads of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist groups, are often considered fathers of the modern party system. –By 1800 we had a party system with 2 major parties that has remained relatively stable ever since.

6. Evolution of American Party Democracy The Early Parties Fade 1817-1825: the so- called “Era of Good Feelings”. –Party politics nearly disappeared at the national level, while alive and well on the lower levels.

7. Evolution of American Party Democracy The Early Parties Fade 1817-1825: the so-called “Era of Good Feelings”. –Electorate expanded dramatically. US pushed westward Most states abolished property requirements. Immigration continued.

8. Evolution of American Party Democracy Nomination processes and the electoral college also opened up to additional participation. –Broadened the base of parties. –Conventions were held starting with the 1832 Democratic Convention to nominate presidential candidates. Andrew Jackson the first so nominated.

9. Evolution of American Party Democracy The Early Parties Fade (cont.) Jackson’s populism and personality polarized politics. –Whig Party emerged to oppose him. Descended from the Federalists. Early leaders included Henry Clay (Speaker of the House). Plagued by the slavery issue. –Dissolved and replaced by the Republican Party in 1854. Dedicated to abolition and elected A. Lincoln in 1860.

10. Evolution of American Party Democracy Democrats and Republicans: The Golden Age From the elections of 1860 to the present, the 2 parties have contested elections in the US and control of the government has seesawed between them. –Reconstruction = Republican dominance –1876-96 = Closely competitive system –1896-1929 = Republican dominance –1930s & 40s = Democratic dominance –1950s & 60s = Mixed –1970 to present = Neither party dominant

11. Evolution of American Party Democracy The Modern Era v. The Golden Age The “Modern Era” followed the “Golden Age” (1870-1920). –Party & government in large cities seemed interchangeable.

12. Evolution of American Party Democracy The era of political machines, bosses, and patronage. In exchange for votes: Members got tangible incentives such as jobs, money, favors. Helped immigrants settle in. Provided social services, sponsored community events, gave food/housing to the poor.

13. Evolution of American Party Democracy Is the Party Over? Government has gradually taken over many of the functions that were performed by the party- based political machines. –Government prints ballots, provides social welfare, conducts elections. –Party organizations have fewer functions and less ability to enforce party-line votes and strict discipline.

14. Evolution of American Party Democracy Developments that have decreased the power of parties: –1. Direct primaries Candidate selection moved out of smoke filled rooms and into a more public setting. Qualified voters now determine who runs.

15. Evolution of American Party Democracy 2. Civil service laws –Removed patronage from party control. –Merit based testing not party loyalty.

16. Evolution of American Party Democracy Is the Party Over? (cont.) –3. The rise of issue-oriented politics Social changes and broad based education has led to more thoughtful voters and issues that cut across traditional party lines like environmentalism Ticket-splitting has become commonplace.

17. Evolution of American Party Democracy Is the Party Over? (cont.) –4. Television Emphasizes individuals and personalities over party labels.

18. Evolution of American Party Democracy 5. The rise of political consultants –Hired guns who often work for both sides and use whatever works. –The new intermediary between the voter and the candidate and thus weaken the parties.

19. The Roles of the American Parties Parties are less popular today than they have been at earlier points in history. However, they remain vital agents of change and representation. One of their most important roles is they convert a huge array of ideas and opinions into a comprehensible pair of ideas.

20. The Roles of the American Parties Principal Party Roles: 1. Mobilizing support and gathering power –Party members can usually be counted on to support office holders elected under the party banner. 2. A force for stability –Promote stability and act to moderate public opinion due to their pragmatic drive to win elections.

21. The Roles of the American Parties 3. Unity, linkage, accountability –Parties link branches and levels of government. –Also link voters and elected officials. –Because they must win national elections, they can also function as unifiers of the country. Dampen sectionalism.

22. The Roles of the American Parties 4. The electioneering function –Parties organize and compete in elections. They recruit candidates, provide staffing, give money, and provide numerous other services during election cycles.

23. The Roles of the American Parties Principal Party Roles (cont.): 5. Party as a voting and issue cue –A voter’s party identification acts as a filter for information. If a citizen doesn’t know much about a candidate or race, they usually vote party.

24. The Roles of the American Parties 6. Policy formulation and promotion –Parties convey their ideas about public policy through the national party platform.

25. The Roles of the American Parties 6. Policy formulation and promotion (cont.) –The party platform: A document explaining party positions on key issues in advance of the presidential nominating convention. About 2/3 of platform promises have usually been implemented when the party’s candidate wins the election.

26. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties National Committees –The DNC and the RNC are the national policy organs of the parties. Choose national chairpersons and run the quadrennial conventions. Leadership –Party chairpersons are usually selected by the sitting president for the party in power. A spokesperson for party interests.

27. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties National Conventions –Every 4 years, the national committees put together the presidential nominating conventions. National media exposure. Conventions allow parties to nominate candidates and also to discuss party matters.

28. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties States and Localities –Parties are structurally based at the state and local levels. Much of party work is carried out at the precinct, city, county, and state levels.

29. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties Informal Groups –Parties are supplemented by a number of other groups such as National Federation of Democratic Women Young Republicans Interest groups PACs Think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation (Republican) and the Progressive Policy Institute (Democratic).

30. The Party in Government The Congressional Party –Party groups select the leadership of both houses, arrange committees, and organize and operate the Congress. –While not terribly effective in most cases, Congressional party leaders have some methods for enforcing party discipline. Good committee assignments Fund raising help Endorsements

31. The Party in Government The Presidential Party –The president is an important party leader. Raises money, campaigns, and sometimes his “coattails” help party nominees. Pro-party presidents: helpful to party building, organization, and candidates.

32. The Party in Government The Parties and the Judiciary –Members of the judiciary are products of their own party identification and have the same perceptual screens as the rest of us. –Many judgeships are electoral positions and though officially nonpartisan, there is an undercurrent of party affiliation. –Other judgeships are appointed--usually based on patronage--and typically go to judges in political agreement with the appointing official.

33. The Party in Government The Parties and State Government –The same logic applies on the state level as on the legislative, executive, and judicial levels. –However, governors have more patronage available to them than a president. –State legislatures generally have more party unity and cohesion than the national Congress.

34. The Modern Transformation of Party Organization Republican Strengths –Until 1992, the Republicans outclassed the Democrats in most categories of campaign service and fundraising.

35. The Modern Transformation of Party Organization Republican Strengths (cont.) –Creativity came from their minority status from 1932-80 in Congress. Effective direct mail fundraising organization. Party has trouble spending all the money is raises! –However some problems exist. Too few volunteers and too many paid staff. Over reliance on technology and money.

36. The Modern Transformation of Party Organization Democratic Party Gains –Massive defeats of the 80s catalyzed the party to improve its fundraising and campaign functions. 1992, won the presidency for the first time in 16 years.

37. The Party-In-The-Electorate The party-in-the-electorate is the mass of potential voters who identify with party labels.

38. The Party-In-The-Electorate Party Identification –American voters identify with a party, but rarely belong to it. –Loyalties tend to come from one’s parents but can also be affected by peers, charismatic personalities, cataclysmic events, and intense social issues.

39. The Party-In-The-Electorate Declining Loyalty –The number of independents is rising-- from 19% in 1958 to almost 38% in 1978. –If pollsters go beyond simply asking affiliation, they often find that many self declared independents often lean quite strongly in one direction or the other.

40. The Party-In-The-Electorate So who remains in the party stables? In general, the following trends seem to hold true: –Group affiliation--labor unions tend to vote Democratic, Chambers of Commerce tend to vote Republican. –Geographic region--South still tends to vote Democratic in presidential races, the West seems to be strongly Republican.

41. The Party-In-The-Electorate –Gender--Democrats seem to have a slight lead in garnering the women’s vote. –Race & ethnicity--over 80% of African Americans and many Hispanics vote Democratic except for Cuban Americans who are generally Republican. –Age--young people are again becoming more Democratic. –Religion--Protestants tend to favor the Republican Party and Catholics and Jews are mostly Democrats.

42. The Party-In-The-Electorate –Social & economic factors--the GOP remains the party of professionals, executives, and white collar workers and the Democrats lead among blue collar workers and the unemployed. –Marital status--married people tend to lean Republican and the widowed are mostly Democrats. –Ideology--liberals tend to be Democrats and conservatives tend to be Republicans.

43. One-Partyism and Third- Partyism One of the most significant political trends of recent times is the demise of one- partyism or one party dominance of elections in a given area. –The formerly “solid South” is no longer solidly Democratic.

44. One-Partyism and Third- Partyism More and more individuals split their vote between the parties, and sometimes vote for third parties.

45. One-Partyism and Third- Partyism Minor Parties: Third-Partyism –Third parties appear sporadically. –Not a threat to the 2 major parties. Only 8 third parties have ever won any electoral votes in a presidential contest and only 5 have ever won more than 10% in a presidential election.

46. One-Partyism and Third- Partyism Minor Parties: Third-Partyism (cont.) –Among the third parties that have had some success are: 2000--Ralph Nader and the Green Party 1996 and 1992-- Ross Perot’s Reform Party

47. One-Partyism and Third- Partyism 1968--George Wallace and the American Independent Party 1924--Robert LaFollette’s Progressive Party 1912--Teddy Roosevelt and the Bull Moose Party 1856--Millard Fillmore’s American Party

48. One-Partyism and Third- Partyism Minor Parties: Third-Partyism (cont.) –Third parties generally arise from one of the following causes: Sectionalism--Dixiecrats in 1948 Economic protest--Populists in 1892 Specific issues--Green Party and the environment Ideology--Socialists, Communists, Libertarians Charismatic personalities--George Wallace’s American Independent Party Failure of the major parties--Ross Perot rose out of the major parties’ failure to deal with the deficit and debt as key issues.

49. One-Partyism and Third- Partyism Why Third Parties Tend to Remain Minor –“Single member plurality” electoral system-- first-past-the-post means that only the winner gets elected. –Most states allow Democrats and Republicans an automatic place on the ballot, but have laws requiring third parties to gather signatures and petition. –State and national legislatures are organized on a party basis and aim to perpetuate that.

50. One-Partyism and Third- Partyism Why Third Parties Tend to Remain Minor (cont.) –Public funding of campaigns is more generous for the 2 major parties; third party candidates must get more than 5% of the vote and major party candidates do not.

51. One-Partyism and Third- Partyism Why Third Parties Tend to Remain Minor (cont.) –The news media ignore minor parties since they are perceived as “non-winners”.