1. Political Parties

2. Party Definition. Vs. Interest Group. Vs. Social Movement
Three Faces of the Party
Party-in-electorate
Party-in-government
Party organization

4. Views of “Parties” Madison as “factions”
Responsible Party Government Model
Lipset & Rokkan: a stabilizing force

5. Functions of a Party Nominate candidates for office
Structure voting choice
Propose alternative government programs and policies
Coordinate the actions of government officials across institutional boundaries

6. Duverger’s Law operates at the district level
SMDP
2 party
SMDM
Multiparty, few effective parties PR
multiparty

7. Even though the United States is a two party system, there have been occasional third parties which received substantial levels of popular support.

8. Minor Parties Bolter/splinter Farmer-labor Ideological protest
Single-issue

9. Electoral Realignment
Critical elections:
1828
1860
1896
1932 ??

10. 1896 electoral map

11. Intensity of Feeling measured on a seven-point scale

12. Over the last 50 years, the US has experienced an increasing proportion of independent self-identifiers and weakening party loyalty.