1. Chapter 6: The Party System in Texas

2. Political Parties and a Democratic Society What Are Political Parties? Help Maintain and Develop Democracy Provide a process for choosing leaders Provide representation Ensure responsive government Clarify policy alternatives Three Heads (Parts) of a Political Party Party in the electorate Party in government Party as an organization

4. Political Parties and a Democratic Society Parties versus Interest Groups Interest Groups Shape public policy by influencing public officials Focus on a narrow range of policy issues Engage in electoral activities Do not nominate candidates Political Parties Recruit and nominate candidates Take responsibility for management of government

5. Political Parties and a Democratic Society Two-Party System Two-party politics in the United States Natural two-way division of political views and interests State election laws, such as plurality voting and ballot requirements Hard for third parties to build a support base Few folks hold strong, cohesive ideological beliefs. Many issues cut across race and class lines.

6. Political Parties and a Democratic Society Third Parties in Texas Historical Tradition of Third Parties None able to achieve statewide success  Populists (1890s) and La Raza Unida (1970s) threatened the established party structure.  Libertarians qualify for placement on the statewide ballot. Democratic Party response to third parties  Co-opted movements through policy concessions  Used restrictive legislation to reduce political participation

7. The Functions of Political Parties Recruit and Nominate Candidates An individual wins the party’s nomination if he or she gets the majority vote in the primary. Terrell Election Laws of 1903 and 1905

8. The Functions of Political Parties Contest Elections and Mobilize Voters Parties mobilize voters for specific candidates. 60 percent of Texas voters identify with either the Republican or the Democratic Party.

9. The Functions of Political Parties Organize and Manage the Government Governors appoint people from their political parties who have the same policy objectives. Political parties also are important in the organization of the Texas legislature.

10. The Functions of Political Parties Mediate the Effects of Separation of Powers Governors need support for programs, and legislators need support to enact their bills. Greater support if the governor and a majority of the legislature are of the same party

11. The Functions of Political Parties Provide Accountability Political parties criticize each other when it comes to the performance of government. Political parties provide electoral competition for political offices.

12. The Functions of Political Parties Manage Conflict and Aggregate Interests Political parties aggregate interests by finding common interests among groups of voters. Political parties manage conflict by supporting a variety of programs and common principles.

13. The Functions of Political Parties Set the Policy Agenda Candidates running for public office announce their support or opposition to specific policies. Officeholders try to carry out policies that will solidify their support among the voters.

14. The Party in the Electorate One-Party Democratic Politics Strong anti-Republican sentiments following Reconstruction Use of modified class politics Formation of the conservative Establishment Race issues used to divide lower social groups Constitutional and legislative restrictions on political participation

15. The Party in the Electorate Factionalism in the Democratic Party Split between liberals and conservatives in the 1930s National party realignment to the Democratic Party New liberal Democratic Party agenda centered on New Deal policies Conservatives maintain control of the state party.

16. The Party In The Electorate Modified One-Party Democratic Politics Bifactionalism caused conservative voters to leave the Democratic Party. Rise of the Republican Party President Truman angers Texas oil interests. Republicans build a stronger party organization. Election victories of John Tower and Bill Clements Rise of liberal wing of the Democratic Party Ralph Yarborough elected to U.S. Senate in 1957 Mobilization of minority groups

18. The Party in the Electorate Two-Party Politics in Texas Realignments Issues cut across existing party allegiances. A critical election occurs. It produces a long-term shift in party support and identification. No single critical election in Texas Realignment over welfare and civil rights policies Two-party system in place by the 1990s

19. Discussion Question Party Realignment Was the realignment of the Texas party system primarily the result of issues related to race and ethnicity, or is there a range of other factors that contributed to reshaping the state’s party system?

20. The Party in the Electorate Republican Dominance Took and held control of the Texas House and Senate and all statewide offices by 2002 Accounted for a majority of Texas’s congressional delegation in 2004 Democrats unable to field experienced and well-financed candidates in statewide races Still competitive at the county level Able to regain six seats in the Texas House in 2006

22. The Party in the Electorate Changing Party Identification In 1952, 66 percent of Texans were Democrats and only 6 percent claimed to be Republicans. This pattern changed little from 1952 to 1964. Dramatic decrease in Democratic Party identification between 1974 and 1984 By 2012, 33 percent of Texans were Republicans and 33 percent claimed to be Democrats.

24. The Party in the Electorate Differences between Republicans and Democrats Texas Republican Party College educated, higher income, migrant and suburban residents, more men than women, older people, frequent church attendance, and Anglos. Texas Democratic Party Less educated, lower incomes, urban residents, more women than men, younger people, and attend church less regularly, and ethnic and racial minorities.

25. The Party in the Electorate Are Parties Realigning or Slowly Disappearing? Dealignment Voter indifference toward partisan labels is shown in ticket splitting and numbers of independents. Revitalization Parties reclaim basic party functions, especially in the areas of elections and campaigns.

26. The Party Organization The Permanent Organizations Precinct Chair Helps organize the precinct convention County Executive Committee and Chair Organize the primary and recruit candidates Organize the county convention State Executive Committee and Chair Accept filings of candidates for offices Organize the state convention Engage in fund-raising

28. The Party Organization The Temporary Organizations Key Functions Hold precinct, county or senatorial district, and state conventions every two years Select delegates to county or senatorial, state, and national conventions Elect members of the permanent party organization Certify candidates nominated in the primaries Build the party platform Choose presidential electors

29. The Party Organization The Precinct Convention Held the night of the primary and commences soon after polling ceases at 7:00 p.m. Any individual who voted in the party’s primary may attend. Select resolutions and delegates that will be sent to the county or senatorial convention

31. The Party Organization The County or Senatorial District Conventions County or senatorial district conventions are held two weeks after the precinct conventions. Select resolutions and delegates to the state conventions every two years Nominate candidates for countywide offices

32. The Party Organization State Conventions The state convention is held in June of even- numbered years. Nominate candidates for statewide office and adopt the party platform Pick the chair and vice chair and members of the executive committee Pick delegates to the national nominating conventions in presidential election years

34. The Party Organization The Party Activists People who participate in the organizational activates of the political party Predominately white, Protestant, well-educated, and higher-income Most raised in Texas or residents for over twenty years Republican Party has fewer minority activists. Republican leadership is more conservative. Democratic leadership is mostly moderates and liberals.

35. The Party in Government Little Evidence of the Responsible Party Model in Texas Decentralized parties, with diffused leadership Develop coalitions among groups pursuing different interests Supporters hold different ideological and programmatic views Antiparty tradition in Texas