1. Political Parties: Linking Voters and Governing Institutions
Chapter 14

2. The Development of the Two-Party System
Political parties: Mass organizations that seek to elect candidates to public office and influence policy making
Two-party system: A government system in which only two political parties compete for elected office
Minor parties: Political parties in a two-party system that are not one of the dominant two political parties

3. The Development of the Two-Party System
The early parties
Federalist Party
John Adams and Alexander Hamilton
Sedition Act of 1798
Democratic-Republicans
Thomas Jefferson; opposed the nationalist policies of the Federalist Party
Twelfth Amendment
Ratified in 1804
Established that the president and vice president would be elected on separate ballots (party ticket)

4. The Development of the Two-Party System
The early parties (cont.)
Democratic Party
Developed in 1820s, largely by Andrew Jackson
Patronage system
Whigs
Developed in 1830s in response to the politics and policies of Andrew Jackson
Republican Party
Developed from the antislavery wing of the Whigs in the 1850s

6. The Development of the Two-Party System
Realignment and Republican Party dominance
After the Civil War, there was competition between the Republican and Democratic parties
Realignment
1896: Realignment in favor of the Republican Party
Wings:
Black and Tan Republicans
Lily White Republicans

7. The Development of the Two-Party System
The New Deal coalition and Democratic Party dominance
Realignment to the Democratic Party in 1932
New Deal coalition
Groups that supported President Franklin Roosevelt’s policies and made the Democrats the dominant party from the 1930s through the 1960s
Foreign policy
Civil rights

8. The Development of the Two-Party System
The end of party dominance and the rise of party competition
Dealignment: A period in which voters abandon their ties to the political parties, resulting in a balance of power between the dominant parties
United States has experienced a period of dealignment since 1969
2016 presidential election
Racial differences in party support

9. The Development of the Two-Party System
Minor parties
Largely ideologically based and focused on specific issues
Generally short lived
Disadvantaged by the electoral system
Winner-take-all versus proportional representation
See “Evaluating Equality: Minor Parties and Racial and Ethnic Minorities”

10. Party Organization National party conventions Held every 4 years
Nominate presidential and vice presidential candidates
Caucuses, primaries, and superdelegates
Offer a statement of party principles and beliefs
Party platform
Create governing rules for the party

11. Party Organization National party committees Responsible for:
Determining party policy objectives
See “Our Voices: Political Party Platforms and Civil Rights”
Devising electoral strategies
Creating governing rules and regulations
Raising money for the party and its candidates

12. Percentage of Convention Delegates Who Are African Americans

13. Party Organization National party committees (cont.) Funding
Hard money
Soft money
Federal Election Campaign Act (1974) and Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)

14. Party Organization National party committees National committee chair
Heads the national committee of the party
Responsible for directing the party’s electoral strategies

15. Party Organization State and local organization
Ward/precinct committees
Local committees
State party central committees
State and local party organizations were once immensely popular
Tammany Hall and “Boss Tweed”
White primary

16. Parties and Voters Party identification
Voters’ psychological attachment to a political party
Explains how voters perceive candidates and how they are likely to vote

17. Parties and Voters Parties and group attachments Region Age
Socioeconomic status
Religious groups
Women
Racial and ethnic minorities