1. What are Political Parties?

2. Political Parties
a group that seeks to elect candidates to public office by supplying them with a label (party ID)
“Three-headed political giant”
Party-in-the-electorate (voters who identify with a party; no dues, no cards, just a claim)
Party-as-organization (national office, staff, rules, budgets)
Party-in-government (elected officials who claim membership in the party)

4. The Meaning of Party Tasks of the Parties
Linkage Institution: The channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda.
Parties Pick Candidates
Parties Run Campaigns
Inform the public – help voters decide who to vote for in elections
Organizing government – coordinate government policy-making

5. Goal of a Political Party?
WIN ELECTIONS

6. Party Structure
National Convention – meets every 4 years, nominates President
National Committee – manages party affairs on daily basis
Congressional campaign committee – supports party’s candidates
National chair – manages daily work
State parties
50 of them, no two alike; some weak (CA), some strong (PA)

7. Partisan Control of State Governments: 2005 (Figure 8.3)

9. State and Local Parties
The “Machine”
recruits members via tangible incentives ($, jobs, political favors, patronage); Cook County/Chicago, Ill (Dem), Nassau Co., NY (Rep)
high degree of leadership control
extensive abuses (ex., Boss Tweed) until reform (voter registration, civil service exams, etc.)
self-serving and public-regarding
“new” machines: blend of old (regarding campaign finance), and modern ideological traits (regarding issues)

10. Functions Picking Candidates Running Campaigns Educate Voters
Advocate Policies
Coordinate Policymaking

11. 1) They recruit and nominate candidates at all levels- national, state, local.
Parties often provide training for men and women who want to run for a political office.
Nominations occur through primaries and during national elections, through state conventions.
2) They educate and mobilize voters about campaign issues and the party platform.
Organize the party at grassroots (local) levels.
Inform voters about the issues through advertisements (Television, newspapers, online, etc…) and conduct “get-out-the- vote” drives
The party platform is a statement that lists programs, beliefs, and ideas of the party which voters can review when deciding which party they agree with.

12. 3) They raise money to help candidates win elections.
Groups, individuals, and organizations may donate money to campaigns.
Contributions to campaigns have been the subject of much scrutiny. Many laws and regulations imposed on contributions- who, how much, etc…
Campaigns are expensive and sufficient financial resources are needed to compete!
4) They serve and act as a watchdog over the party in power
The party that looses the election watches the party in power for any mistakes or abuses of power they make.
Provides accountability- almost like an informal system of checks and balances.
The party in power helps to coordinate policy among the branches. Majority Party= control of Congress

14. 3rd Parties/Minor Parties
(not taken seriously b/c they can’t raise money b/c they’re not taken seriously b/c they can’t raise money, ad infinitum)
Ideological Parties: comprehensive, radical view-most enduring (Socialist, Communist, Libertarian)
One-Issue Parties: address one concern, avoid others (Free Soil, Know-Nothing, Prohibition)
Economic Protest Parties- regional, protest economic conditions (Greenback, Populist)
Splinter/Factional Parties- form split in major party, usually over party’s presidential nominee (Bull Moose, American Independent Party)
Individual parties (Ross Perot 1992 & 1996, John Anderson 1980)

15. 3rd Parties impact on American Politics
Rarely win elections
Third parties bring new groups and ideas into politics
Two-party system discourages extreme views
Often cause a major party to lose an election (spoiler effect), need for a run off to fix?

17. Understanding Political Parties
Is the Party Over?
Political parties are no longer the chief source of information for voters
State and national party organizations are getting stronger
Majority of people still identify with a party, but still split their tickets
Parties will continue to be around

18. A Very Short History of Political Parties in America
First Party System,
Federalists v. Democratic-Republicans
Federalists died after War of 1812; Republicans give in to factionalism after election of 1824
Second Party System,
Jacksonian Democrats v. Whigs
Democrats organized around Jackson; Whigs made up of everyone who didn’t like Jackson (northern industrialists/southern planters)
The Republican Era,
Civil War cripples Southern Democrats; Republicans run the nation for 60 years
The New Deal Coalition,
Republican handling of Great Depression dooms them in election of 1932
FDR builds new Democratic coalition—unions, southerners, liberals, poor, African-Americans
Divided government, 1968-now
Erosion of “Solid [Democratic] South, trends towards sharing of power b/w two major parties seems permanent