1. Neal Tannahill Texas Government: Policy and Politics, 10th Edition Chapter Twenty Three POLITICAL PARTIES Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

2. Slide 2 Political Parties  In This Chapter We Will Cover:  The Party System  Party Organization  History Of The Texas Party System  The Party Balance  Voting Patterns  Interest Group-Political Party Alliances  Issue Orientation  The Impact Of Partisan Change Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

3. Slide 3 IntroductionIntroduction  In 2006, for the first time in two decades, Dallas County became Democratic.  The Democrats won in part because of demographic change  Between 2000 and 2005 Dallas County lost 130,000 white residents and gained 175, 000 Latinos. Most white vote Republican while most Latinos vote Democratic.  The partisan shift in Dallas County may foreshadow a coming shift statewide.  Latinos will be the majority ethnic group in Texas by 2035. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

4. Slide 4 The Party System  A political party is a group of individuals who join together to seek public office in order to influence public policy.  Political parties are different from interest groups in that political parties attempt to win control of the machinery of government by nominating candidates for elected office to run under the party label.  Throughout most of its history, the United States has had a two-party system, the division of voter loyalties between two major political parties, resulting in the near exclusion of minor parties from seriously competing for a share of political power. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

5. Slide 5 The Party System  However, many states have experienced periods of one- party dominance.  For nearly a century after the Civil War, the Democratic Party dominated southern politics.  Political conflicts still occurred in the South, but they took place within the Democratic Party between factions divided over issues or personalities.  A party faction is an identifiable subgroup within a political party. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

6. Slide 6 Party Organization  Both the Democratic and Republican Parties have national and state party structures.  The National Party Organization  A national committee and chair head the national party organization for each of the major parties.  It has become an important source of financial support and technical expertise to state party candidates.  Texas Party Organization  Political parties in Texas have both temporary and permanent party organizations.  Figure 6.1 depicts the various structures. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

8. Slide 8 Texas Party Organizations  Temporary Party Organization  The temporary organization of each party consists of the precinct conventions, county and district conventions, and state party conventions.  They assemble for a few hours or days in a general election year to allow rank-and-file party supporters a chance to participate in the party’s decision making process.  The main business of the meetings is to select delegates to the next highest level of the party, ultimately selecting delegates to the national party convention in the presidential election years. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

9. Slide 9 Texas Party Organizations  Temporary Party Organization (cont.)  The Republican and Democratic Parties hold their state conventions in June.  The state convention certifies party nominees for the fall general election, adopts a state party platform (which is a statement of party principles and issue positions), elects the state party chairperson and vice chairperson, chooses members of the state executive committee, and selects individuals to serve on the national party executive committee.  In presidential election years, the state party convention selects delegates to the national party convention.  In addition, each state party convention also names a slate of potential presidential electors to cast the Electoral College votes for Texas. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

10. Slide 10 Texas Party Organizations  Permanent Party Organization  Each party has a permanent party organization that operates year-round.  The permanent party organization of each party consists of the precinct chairpersons, county chairpersons, county executive committees, state executive committee and state party chair.  The main duties of the permanent party organizations are to conduct elections, raise money for the candidates, plan for party conventions, and promote the party. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

11. Slide 11 History of the Texas Party System  One-Party State - Dominance of Democrats  For nearly a century, Texas was a one-party state.  In Texas, the Grand Old Party (GOP), as the Republican Party was known, fell into disrepute with the Civil War and Reconstruction.  The dominance of the Democrats not only in Texas but also throughout the South led to the term Solid South, which referred to the Democratic sweep of southern state electoral votes in presidential election years. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

12. Slide 12 History of the Texas Party System  One-Party State — Dominance of Democrats (cont.)  Democrats won nearly every statewide race, most seats in Congress and the state legislature, and the overwhelming local and judicial contests.  Large landowners and industrialists controlled the Democratic Party. The public policies they favored reflected a political philosophy of conservatism, a political view that seeks to preserve the political, economic, and social institutions of society against abrupt change.  By the 1930s, an identifiable liberal faction emerged to challenge the conservative dominance of the Democratic Party. This faction favored a political philosophy of liberalism, a political view that seeks to change the political, economic, or social institutions of society to foster the development of the individual. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

13. Slide 13 History of the Texas Party System  Factionalism, Transition, and Reemergence of Republican Party  The electoral contests between Conservative Democrats and Liberal Democrats lead to factionalism within the Democratic Party during the next several decades of Texas politics.  Conservatives were generally opposed to most government economic regulation and heavy government spending, while favoring low taxes and traditional values.  Liberal Democrats favored government regulation and high levels of government spending on social programs; they called for a more active role for state government in the fields of education, job training, health care, and public assistance to the poor.  Both political factions drew support from different social and economic sectors of the state. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

14. Slide 14 History of the Texas Party System  Factionalism, Transition, and Reemergence of Republican Party (cont.)  The period running from the early 1950s through the late 1970s was a time of transition for party politics in the Lone Star State, particularly with the coming to life of the Texas Republican Party.  Conservative voters begin to defect from the Democratic Party and join the GOP in the 1950s and 1960s.  The presidential candidacy of General Dwight Eisenhower brought a flood of new faces to the Republican camp, many of which were former Democrats.  Texas Republicans built their party throughout the 1960s and 1970s and successfully elect candidates to the U.S. Congress, the Texas legislature, and to local government. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

15. Slide 15 History of the Texas Party System  Factionalism, Transition, and Reemergence of Republican Party (cont.)  There are several reasons that account for the rise of the GOP as a significant electoral force in Texas.  The legacy of the Civil War finally began to diminish in importance, especially for younger Texans.  Many conservative white Democrats became disenchanted with what they saw as an increasingly liberal national Democratic Party.  The Texas Republican Party benefited from the migration of white-collar workers from outside the South. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

16. Slide 16 History of the Texas Party System  Two-Party State  The 1978 election of Bill Clements as the first Republican governor in more than a century signaled the emergence of a competitive two-party system in Texas.  From 1978 to 1994, Texas party politics was more competitive than ever before.  Texas becomes a two-party state associated with the electoral struggles between Democrats and Republicans for control of statewide offices and the state legislature.  The period is also associated with the rise in strength of the Republican Party. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

17. Slide 17 History of the Texas Party System  Dominance of the Republican Party  Texas is still a two-party state, but the Republican Party has become the dominant party.  Figure 6.2 documents the rise of the GOP by charting the growth of Republican strength in the Texas House of Representatives.  In 2002, the Republican Party wins most statewide offices and captures control of the legislature, both Senate and House; the party retained majority control of the legislature after the 2004 elections. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

19. Slide 19 The Party Balance  In 2006, surveys showed that 50 percent of Texans considered themselves Republicans or leaned toward the Republican Party, compared to 42 percent who identified with or leaned toward the Democratic Party.  Table 6.1 compares the electoral strength of the Texas Republican and Democratic Parties.  After the 2006 election, Republicans occupied both of the state’s U.S. Senate seats and the governor’s office.  In addition, the GOP controlled every seat on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.  An analysis of the 2002, 2004 and 2006 election returns suggests that the baseline Republican vote was 57 percent of the electorate.  The Republican Party is better funded than the Texas Democratic Party. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

21. Slide 21 Voting Patterns  Income  Voting patterns reflect income, with higher-income citizens supporting Republican candidates and lower- income voters backing Democrats.  Race and Ethnicity  Voting patterns vary based upon race and ethnicity, and minority voters, especially African Americans, tend to support Democrats.  The Latin vote tends to be Democratic as well, but the margin between the two parties is closer. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

22. Slide 22 Voting Patterns  Region  Texas voting patterns also have a regional flavor.  East Texas and south Texas, especially the counties along the Mexican border, have been Democratic strongholds; while West Texas, the Panhandle region, and central Texas have been areas of Republican strength.  Place of residence  The GOP is strongest in the suburbs; whereas, Democrats run best in the inner city. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

23. Slide 23 Interest Group-Political Party Alliances  Political parties and interest groups form informal alliances.  Interest groups assist political parties by providing campaign funds and organizational support to party candidates.  Groups endorse candidates and distribute campaign literature to group members and people who would likely sympathize with the group’s goals.  Table 6.2 list the interest groups associated with the Texas Democratic and Republican Parties.  Although political parties and interest groups form alliances, groups are not wholly owned subsidiaries of parties. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

25. Slide 25 Issue Orientation  The two major political parties in Texas agree on the fundamental principles of American’s political and economic systems.  Both parties favor good schools, safe streets, clean air, and a strong economy; they disagree on some of the details of policymaking, particularly the role of government in society.  Table 6.3 compares the 2006 platforms of the state’s two major political parties on selected issues.  Both Democrats and Republicans favor the election of state judges; both express reservations about the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) program, a state-mandated basic-skills test designed to measure student progress and school performance. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

32. Slide 32 Issue Orientation  The Democrats supported abortion rights; whereas, the GOP platform called for the adoption of a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion.  The Democrats advocated campaign finance reform to limit campaign contributions and candidate spending; the Republicans rejected all campaign finance proposals except full disclosure of the sources of campaign contributions.  The Democrats believe that government should play a role in solving social problems.  The Democratic platform supports funding for public education, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

33. Slide 33 Issue Orientation  Republicans believe that government’s primary role is to support traditional family values rather than solve social problems.  The Republican platform proposes repeal of the property tax and reduction of the sales tax.  The Republicans propose reducing or eliminating a broad range of state spending programs and oppose the creation of new programs.  The Democratic Party continues to be divided between conservative and liberals.  The Republican Party is divided between social conservatives and business-oriented conservatives. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

34. Slide 34 The Impact of Partisan Change  Texas has undergone a political transformation.  Texas has gone from a state in which Democrats captured almost every elective office to one in which Republicans control all three branches of state government and many local offices, allowing Republicans to control the policymaking process in recent years.  Facing a $10 billion budget shortfall, the 78th session of the Texas legislature (2003), the governor and the legislature balanced the budget without raising taxes, primarily by cutting state spending.  In 2007 the state had a sizeable budget surplus which the legislature set aside to fund property tax cuts. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

35. Slide 35 The Future of Party Politics in Texas  In certain areas of the state the Democrats did very well in the 2006 elections.  The Republican Party continues to maintain its hold on state government.  The Democratic Party is being hurt by a weak minority turnout and little support among white voters.  Demographic changes, however, may help restore the Democratic Part to power, if minority groups emerge to become the majority group in the state’s population in the next two or three decades.  Republican leaders thus recognize the need to extend their party’s appeal to minority voters. Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

36. Slide 36 Conclusion: Political Parties and Policymaking  Political parities are important participants in every stage of the policymaking process.  Responsible parties raise issues to the official policy agenda in their platforms.  Once in power, party members in the legislature and executive branch formulate and adopt policies to address the issues the party raised. The stages of the policymaking process are:  Agenda building  Policy formulation and adoption  Policy implementation and evaluation Copyright @ 2010, 2008, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.