1. POSC 1000 Introduction to Politics
Unit Seven: Elections and Political Parties (Part Two)
Russell Alan Williams

2. Unit Seven: Elections and Political Parties
Required Reading: Maclean and Wood, Chap. 7.
Outline:
Introduction
Types of Parties
Party Organization and Campaigns
Party Systems
Ideological Competition
Structure of Competition
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3. 1) Introduction:
“Political Parties”: Organizations that seek to gain and maintain political power
Play central role in competition for electoral office
Members fill positions in legislature
Members form executive/governments
Members raise $$$$ for campaigns
Often no “constitutional” role & limited regulation

4. Traditional functions:
Recruit candidates and voters to participate in system – the “Recruitment Function”
Support new candidates
Ensure voter turnout
“Organize the vote” – “Electoral Platforms” Parties take stands on different issues – these platforms are like a “menu” for voters to choose from
Ensure government accountability – meaning ?????
People can clearly vote against “the government” by voting against that party – this doesn't work well without parties

5. Commonly seen as harmful to democracy?
Purveyors of corruption and “Patronage”: Awarding of key government positions to loyal party supporters.
=Controversy!
Impede the “will of the people” = undermine accountability
=Theme: Are parties in “crisis”?
Rod Blagojovich (Illinois) and Tony Clement (Parry Sound – Muskoka)
Newfoundland Liberal MPs Scott Simms, left, and Todd Russell vote against Harper budget and break with party

6. 2) Types of Parties:
“Cadre Party”: Party formed by elite group of politicians in attempt to control legislature
Oldest form – emerged from cooperation amongst a parliamentary party “caucus” – the organization of party members in parliament
E.g. the British “Whigs” and “Tories”
Unclear link between party officials and the public – no “mass membership”

7. “Mass Party”: Large parties organized based on regular financial contributions from the public – power comes from membership.
Less focus on elected members – more emphasis on the Extra-parliamentary Party
=”rank and file” or “grassroots” members
Party Convention: Regular meeting of delegates from local constituencies as well as elected representatives and party officials.
E.g. British Labour Party
German Social Democratic Party

8. Key differences: Challenges: Mass parties are “ideological”
Mass parties – ordinary members choose leaders
Challenges:
Can a cadre party survive consistent defeats?
Where are the “Whigs” today?????
Can a mass party maintain links to the public?
Belief that over time all organizations are gradually dominated by small group of leaders

9. New forms of parties:
“Umbrella” or “Catch-all Parties”: Dominant concern is winning elections. Parties try to appeal to a wide range of issues Less ideological.
Relies on $$$$$ and professional experts to “market” the party to voters
Implication: Focus on leaders & style over ideology
Reasons for emergence?
“Hot dog stand theory” – modern parties “move to the centre” Ideology only costs you some voters so you should abandon clear stances for broad appeal
Problem: Are parties fufilling their role if we choose based on the qualities of the leaders etc.??????

10. Other types of parties:
Brokerage Party: Party that tries to appeal to broad elements of society by accommodating interests of different groups and regions through deal-making
Promise benefits to different groups
Canadian type of cadre party? = Coalitions of special interests
Examples?

11. Other types of parties:
Brokerage Party: Party that tries to appeal to broad elements of society by accommodating interests of different groups through deal-making
Promise benefits to different groups
Canadian type of cadre party? = Coalitions of special interests
Examples?
=The Liberal Party of Canada
Example would be Liberals in days gone by. Support for rights for francaphones, public works in Atlantic Canada and support for western resource interests
Response to Conservative power in Ontario (Big blue machine) – creates an odd coalition that is held together on a non-ideological basis . . .

12. 3) Party Organization and Campaigns:
Leadership: In most systems, parties choose the head of government by selecting own leader
Methods:
Parliamentary party election
Becoming less popular
Party convention election - delegates from constituencies choose leader through “run off” ballots
“Public spectacle” is popular
Direct membership votes - all party members vote
U.S. Presidential “primaries”
Electronic voting – Problem: leader may not win majority – makes system complicated
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13. Local candidate selection - Either by:
Local “constituency association”
Party leader
“Parachute candidates” – party insiders and “star” recruits
Party nomination is key!
“Independents”: Electoral candidates that do not belong to a party - do not get elected in most systems = lonely loooosers
In SMP, party candidate selection (nomination battles) often more important than elections . . .
E.g. “safe seats”
In some ridings a dead horse with the right party label could win E.g. a “safe seats”

14. Party “Caucus”: Organization/meeting of all the party’s parliamentary members
Closed meetings to discuss strategy
Ensures “party discipline”
Members vote the “party line” or they must leave caucus
=No party support in next election
Big difference between Canada and US
Dominance of leader over caucus can lead to executive dominance in parliamentary system
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15. Party Finance:
High risk of corruption and inequality = Costs almost $1 billion (US) to run for President
Most countries regulate how parties solicit funds
Results of regulation uneven (E.g. U.S. rules)
In Canada:
Pre 2004 – Public reporting, but no limits on $$$ amount from corporations and individuals
Benefited Liberals and Conservatives
Post 2004 – Corporate donations capped at $ , individuals at $5,000.00
Parties receive gov’t funding = $1.75 for each vote
Now?

16. Parties and the vote – why do people vote the way they do?
a) Ideological and social factors . . .
b) Party Identification: long term psychological attachment to a particular party
E.g. Best predictor of which party someone will vote for is who they voted for in the past
Elections mainly about “swing voters” or “independents”
Modern parties choose issues to attract swing voters
They also choose some issues to “protect their base”

17. c) Campaign dynamics:
The “local team” may have a particular impact
“Electoral platforms” may make promises of particular interest to some voters
What issues become important?
E.g. Michael Dukakis and Willie Horton
d) The role of leaders – how leaders appear to the public is crucial:
The Howard Dean scream: “B’YEEEEH!” Link
The Ignatieff “rise up” speech. Link
e) The role of “negative campaigning” and “Attack adds”: Adds that attack other candidates rather than appeal to voters

18. 4) Party Systems:
“Party Systems”: Pattern of competition amongst parties in different jurisdictions
“One Party System”: A system in which only one party is allowed to participate = not very democratic
E.g. “Militia Party”: A common style of one party state, where military elite dominates only recognized party
“Competitive Party System”: Liberal democratic political system where citizens can join and organize different parties

19. a) Structure of ideological competition
In “Competitive Party Systems”the “structure” of competition amongst parties has big impacts on government . . .
a) Structure of ideological competition
”Left-Right continuum” – common way to think about party completion

20. E.g. What if the “left” or “right” is split?
If parties are ideological, number of parties can really impact electoral outcomes . . .
E.g. Canadian Liberal Party “in the Centre”
E.g. German Free Democrats always in power Even though they are weak
Where do nationalist/regional parties fit?
Where do brokerage and professional parties fit?
If parties are ideological, number of parties can really impact electoral outcomes . . .
E.g. What if the “left” or “right” is split?
Where do nationalist/regional parties fit?
Where do brokerage and Catch-all parties fit?

21. b) Structure of party competition:
Depends on relevant number of effective parties
And,
Relative success of those parties
One Party Dominant: One dominant party, no “government in waiting”
Japan, Alberta and NL?
“Two Party System”: Two major competitive parties
Normal in “SMP” – US, Australia, UK, most Canadian Provinces

22. Question: Where does Canada fit?
Two-Plus Party System: Two competitive parties plus some extra “effective” parties
Additional party can hold “balance of power”
Germany, Ontario
“Multiparty System”: More than two parties are “significant” in the struggle for power.
Netherlands, France, Israel and places where there is “PR”.
Question: Where does Canada fit?

23. In parliament traditionally = Two Party Plus
In elections and citizens votes = “Multiparty”
Difference is a product of the “electoral system”!

24. 5) Conclusions:
Citizens are often unaware of how electoral system contributes to party system and responsiveness of government
Canada has a very complex party system, but the electoral system rewards two party competition
Produces unexpected results
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25. 6) For next time:
Unit Eight: Political Socialization and Culture (March 18 and 20)
Required Reading: MacLean and Wood, Chapter 8.
Research Papers due, in class, March 18.
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