1. Chapter 8: Political Parties

2. What Is a Political Party?
A group of political activists who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to determine public policy.
How are parties different from interest groups?
Ralph E. Becker Collection /Smithsonian Institution
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3. The Three Components of Political Parties
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4. Functions of Political Parties
Recruit candidates to run for elective offices at all levels of government
Mobilize citizens to vote and participate in elections
Bear the responsibility of operating government at all levels
Provide organized opposition to the party in power
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5. Where the Voters Are
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6. History of Political Parties
The Formative Years: Federalists and Anti-Federalists
The Era of Good Feelings
National Two-Party Rule: Whigs and Democrats
© The Granger Collection, New York
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7. The Golden Age of Parties
The Civil War Crisis
The Post-Civil War Period
“Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion”
The Triumph of the Republicans
Courtesy of Smithsonian Institute, neg #
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8. History of Political Parties
The Progressive Interlude
The New Deal Era
An Era of Divided Government
In the years after 1968, the general pattern was often a Republican president and a Democratic Congress.
2000 Presidential Election (Red state–blue state)
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9. Election 1896
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10. Election 2004
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11. The Two Major Parties Today
The parties’ core constituents
Economic beliefs
Recent economic convergence?
Republican and Democratic Budgets
Democrats have the reputation of supporting the less-well-off, and Republicans the prosperous.
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© 2004 AP/ Wide World Photos
© Mark Avery/Orange County Register/Corbis
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13. Income and Party Identification
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14. Republican and Democratic Issues
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15. The Three Faces of a Party
The people who identify with the party or who regularly vote for the candidates of the party in general elections
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16. National Conventions Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning
(Dennis Brack/Bloomberg News/Landov)
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© Bob Covington /Reuters/Corbis
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18. The National Convention
Click the icon to open the movie
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19. Questions How do nominating conventions differ now from earlier times?
Given these differences, do nominating conventions serve any purpose in the modern era?
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20. Three Faces of a Party (cont.)
Party Organization
National
Convention delegates
National Committee
National Chairperson
State party organization
Local (grass roots) organization
Patronage and City Machines
Local Party Organizations Today
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21. Three Faces of a Party (cont.)
The Party in Government
Divided Government
The Limits of Party Unity
Party Polarization
© Andy Levin/Photo Researchers, Inc.
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22. Why Has the Two Party System Endured?
Duality
Political socialization and practical considerations
The Winner-Take-All Electoral System
Presidential Voting
Popular Election of the Governors and President
Proportional Representation
State and Federal Laws Favoring the Two Parties
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23. The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics
Ideological Third Parties
Splinter Parties
The Impact of Minor Parties
Influencing the Major Parties
Affecting the Outcome of an Election
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24. Policies of Selected American Third Parties Since 1864
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25. Mechanisms of Political Change
Realignment
The Myth of Dominance
The Myth of Predictability
Is Realignment Still Possible?
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26. Mechanisms of Political Change (cont.)
Dealignment: A major drop-off in support for the parties.
Independent Voters
Not-So-Independent Voters
Tipping
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27. Party Identification: 1937–Present
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28. Questions for Critical Thinking
Do democratic governments need political parties? If a democratic government has political parties, will the structure always be a two-party system? What factors impact how many political parties will exist?
Is party identification a major factor for voters in presidential elections?
Do political parties make government more responsive?
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29. Questions for Critical Thinking
Why is it difficult for independent candidates or minor party candidates to get elected to Congress?
What inferences can be made about the voting population through the closely divided elections of 2000 and 2004?
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30. Web Links The White House GOP.com The Democratic Party
National Republican Senatorial Committee
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee
The White House
Republican National Committee
Democratic National Committee
National Republican Senatorial Committee
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
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31. Web Links Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee GOP.gov
Townhall.com
National Political Index
The Greens/Green Party USA
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Republican House Conference
Conservative News and Information
Link to the minor parties involved in U.S. politics
Green Party, USA
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