1. The Danger of Factions
I have already intimated to you the danger of Parties in the State,
with particular reference to the founding of them on Geographical
Discrimination. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and
warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects
of the Spirit of Party, generally.
This Spirit, unfortunately, is inseperable from our nature, having
Its roots in the strongest passions of the human Mind…
George Washington

2. “Modern democracy is unthinkable save in terms of parties”
E.E. Schattschneider

3. Political Parties
Parties seek to have their members obtain office (interest groups seek only to influence policymaking)
Organization
Party-in-the-electorate
Party organizations
Party-in-government

4. Three Dimensions of Party
Party-in-the- electorate
Party organizations
Party-in- government

5. Closed Primary—Have to preregister to receive a specific party ballot Open Primary: can choose a party ballot on election day

6. Conflicting Philosophies
Pragmatism
Be practical
Work on results
Limit ideals to get at least part of what you want
“The perfect is the enemy of the good”
Idealism
Set out principles
Work to achieve them.
Hold fast!
Compromise is selling- out!
Select one issue at the micro and one at the macro-level. What is an idealistic approach for each issue? What is a pragmatic approach for each issue? How does this create tension? How can this tension be resolved for each issue?

7. How should parties behave: Theory 1: Pragmatic
Parties should be Pragmatic
Anthony Downs’s economic theory of democracy
Parties seek the median voter
Policy positions attract voters like businesses attract customers
Third Party issues are often co-opted

8. Theory 2: Idealistic Definition--The Theory of Responsible Party Government
Parties should present coherent platforms for the people to evaluate
Voters select one party, and that party should then implement the promised platform of policies
Voters should judge the party based on performance and either re-elect them or choose the other party

9. Why do we have a two-party system?
Cultural Reasons
Electoral Laws: Winner take all system
Anthony Downs’ Economic Theory of Democracy

10. Winner Take All vs. Proportional Representation
Electoral Systems
Winner Take All vs. Proportional Representation
Winner Take all system
Single member districts
Candidate who receives the most number of votes wins the seat
Loser gets nothing
Proportional Representation System
Political parties in the legislature receive a number of seats proportional to the percentage of vote they received
Loser gets less

11. Downsian logic reduces the likelihood of a third party becoming successful

12. What explains Party Victories?
: most Presidents were Republican
: most Presidents were Democratic

13. Theory of Critical Elections: Stable Alignment, Critical Election, Realignment
Parties are coalitions of groups
Members of groups socialize youth to follow party
Party identification does not change unless there is a crisis
An election that causes a change in party alignments is called a critical election
A critical election is followed by a realignment

14. Explaining Turnout Electoral Laws Social Psychological Factors
Mobilization Factors

15. Should voting be compulsory: Countries that Mandate Voting
Argentina Australia Brazil Democratic Republic of Congo Ecuador Luxembourg Nauru North Korea Peru Singapore Uruguay

16. Expansion of Suffrage

17. Electoral Laws Influence Turnout
Registration laws
Availability of registration forms
Deadline to register to vote (fifteen days in CA)
Voter ID
Polling hours
Availability of mail-in ballots

18. Efficacy: self-assessment of your own abilities
Internal efficacy: assessment of your own abilities to understand and participate in politics
External Efficacy: assessment of how well the government listens to you

19. Voting Turnout: averages 1976-2008 (US Census Dept)
FIGURE 8.4 The Percentage of Americans Who Voted, 1976–2008
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, “Reported Voting and Registration by Race, Hispanic Origin, Sex, and Age Groups: November 1964 to 2008”; “Reported Voting and Registration by Region, Educational Attainment, and Labor Force: November 1964 to 2008,” (accessed 11/24/09); U.S. Census Bureau, “Reported Voting and Registration by Region, Educational Attainment, and Labor Force: November 1964 to 2008,” (accessed 11/24/09); Douglass R. Hess and Jody Herman, “Representational Bias in the 2008 Electorate,” November 2009, (accessed 11/21/09).

20. Trust in CA govt/Fed Govt

21. Measure of External Efficacy: Cynicism

22. Mobilization: the efforts of others to motivate us to vote
Examples of Mobilizers:
Family
Media
Political Parties
Churches/Temples
Get out the vote drives by interest groups and campaigns
The level of competition

23. Voter Turnout: factors
Electoral Laws + Political Efficacy (External and internal) + Mobilization=Probability of Voting