1. Political Parties All Material from:
American Government: Continuity and Change. Chapter 16 O’Connor and Larry Sabato th Edition

2. Political Parties
US Political Party History
Originally NOT intended by the founders.
Madison warned against PP’s in the Federalist Papers.
George Washington also warned against organizing around factions.
Democratization of the country
Enfranchise increased leading up to the Jacksonian Age.
The Democratic Party held the first large convention in 1832.
Newly enfranchised voters coalesced around Andrew Jackson for President under the Democratic Party banner.
Source: American Government: Continuity and Change. Chapter 16 O’Connor and Larry Sabato th Edition

3. Political Parties Types of Primaries Indirect
Parties nominate through nomination conventions
Direct
Votes by ballot directly from party members
Source: American Government: Continuity and Change. Chapter 16 O’Connor and Larry Sabato th Edition

4. Political Parties
What is a political party (PP)?
A network of people who organize for political action under a label. They use the institutional structure to organize and resolve political problems.
PP’s in all modern democracies have three distinct but related institutional roles.
Governmental
Office holders who run under the PP’s label.
Organizational
Activists that formally operate for the organization
2. Electorate
Voters that identify with the organization
They can formally associate with the organization
Provides a platform which outlines the party’s agenda and mission.
Source: American Government: Continuity and Change. Chapter 16 O’Connor and Larry Sabato th Edition

5. Political Parties Function of Parties Mobilize supporters
Provides leadership for members
Provides group identity to its members
Promotes loyalty
Forces stability and moderation (especially in two party systems)
Source: American Government: Continuity and Change. Chapter 16 O’Connor and Larry Sabato th Edition

6. Political Parties Function of Parties
Unity, Linkage and Accountability
Provides extra constitutional organizational structure for the branches of government
PP’s provide a unifying or linking structure to disparate elements of a government. Accountability is enforced through the organization to the commitments the party organizes and runs on.
Source: American Government: Continuity and Change. Chapter 16 O’Connor and Larry Sabato th Edition

7. Political Parties Function of Parties Electioneering Function
Creates an apparatus in which a broad section of the electorate can channel their political desires.
They provide the institutional support for competitive elections
Provide Voting and Issue Cues
Sets the agenda of the members
Educates members of the issues and provides their cues to belief
They channel and direct the ideas of the party
. Chapter 16 O’Connor and Larry Sabato th EditionSource: American Government: Continuity and Change

8. Political Parties Function of Parties Policy Formulation
Platforms provide uniformity for all members
Formulate, convey and promote public policy
Provides the infrastructural support to coordinate and fund candidates for public office
Source: American Government: Continuity and Change. Chapter 16 O’Connor and Larry Sabato th Edition

9. Political Parties Structure of American Political Parties National
State
Local
Political parties create a vertical structure integrating all levels.
Source: American Government: Continuity and Change. Chapter 16 O’Connor and Larry Sabato th Edition

10. Extras
Edwin Edwards Earl K. Long Huey P. Long

11. Headlines from the morning after:
Rubio: GOP must focus on 'minority and immigrant communities'
Cornyn: GOP faces 'reflection and recalibration'
GOP soul-searching: 'Too old, too white, too male'?

12. GOP Past Strategies: Southern Strategy (the past 40 years)
Recent GOP Coalitions
White
Rural and Southern Voters
Evangelical, especially Fundamentalists
Business Owners
Tea Party Faction

13. GOP Past Strategies: Recent Strategy
Exclusionary to Minorities (Latinos and African Americans)
Immigration Enforcement Laws at the State Level
Voter Suppression Schemes
Down Ballot Emphasis ***

14. Implications for the Parties:
Republicans
To be a viable party, they MUST reformulate who and HOW they appeal to other demographic groups.
Democrats:
They have a demographic future advantage that we are beginning to see. How do they increase they maintain it and increase in future? How do they keep from being the party of Charlie Brown and not blow it?

15. Post Election Strategies
Democrats
How do you govern with a split Congress?
Republicans
How do you recreate a message to appeal to the changing demographics while maintaining support from existing coalition?