1. “Linkage Institution”
Political Parties
“Linkage Institution”

2. What is a political party?
A political party is a group of
voters, activists, candidates, and
office holders who identify with
a party label and seek to elect
individuals to public office.

3. The Evolution of American Party Democracy
• Hamilton and Jefferson, as heads of the
Federalist and Anti-Federalist groups
respectively, are often considered
'fathers' of the modern party system.
By 1800, this country had a party
system with two major parties that has
remained relatively stable ever since.

4. Goal of a Political Party?
WIN ELECTIONS

5. 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

6. Function of Parties
Connecting citizens to government (linkage institution)
-Political Efficacy – citizen participation level and awareness of government decisions
Run candidates for political office
Inform the public – help voters decide who to vote for in elections
Organizing government – coordinate government policy-making

7. Why 2 parties? Winner-take-all system
Winner receives a seat while loser receives nothing
3rd party usually joins one of other parties
Opposite – Proportional Representation – % of votes is directly applied as the % of representatives

8. Democrats and Republicans: The Golden Age
From the presidential elections of 1860 to the
present, the same two major parties have
contested elections in the United States:
Democrats and Republicans.
– Reconstruction -- Republican dominance
Republican party formed 1854 by anti-slavery activists
– closely competitive
– Republican dominance
– 1930s and 1940s -- Democratic dominance
– 1950s and 1960s -- closely competitive
– neither party dominant
Election of 2008—Democratic dominance
Currently—Democrats losing ground in Congressional elections

9. “Grass Roots”
“Grass Roots” – parties can also reach the voters personally and “get-out-the-vote” on a local level

10. One-Partyism A significant trend of recent times is the demise
of one-partyism (one party dominance of
elections in a given region).
The formerly "Solid South" is no longer only
Democratic.
* Many individuals split their vote between the
parties, and sometimes vote for third parties.

11. Results of the past 4 Presidential elections
Red=The Republican candidate carried the state in all four most recent presidential elections (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008). Pink=The Republican candidate carried the state in three of the four most recent elections. Purple=The Republican candidate and the Democratic candidate each carried the state in two of the four most recent elections. Light blue=The Democratic candidate carried the state in three of the four most recent elections. Dark blue=The Democratic candidate carried the state in all four most recent elections

12. Minor Parties: Third-Partyism
Minor parties are not a threat to the two major
parties.
Only eight third parties have won any electoral
votes in a presidential contest.
The third parties that have had some success are:
– 1996 and 1992: Ross Perot’s Reform Party
– 1968: George Wallace’s American Independent Party
– 1924: Robert LaFollette’s Progressive Party
– 1912: Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party
– 1856: Millard Fillmore's American Party

13. Minor Parties Third Parties have played a role in politics Types
Individual personality – those dominated by one figure head (Ex. – 1912 Theodore Roosevelt – Bull-Moose, 1968 George Wallace – American Independent Party)
Long-lasting goal or ideology – (Ex. – Abolitionists, Prohibitionists, Socialists)

14. The Golden Age of Political Parties 1874-1912
Party stability-rare
Big city and big party organization-political
“machines” Chicago
Party was viewed as government-party
provided social services directly=patronage
and allegiance
Intense devotion=high voter turnout 76% or
better in elections form

15. Modern Era 1930s-social services began to be provided
by national gov. not parties
Direct primaries meant power of party
diminished
Loose ties between candidate and party
Post WWII-issue oriented politics
– Individual candidate became focus
– Interest groups rather than party stepped into
void
– More ticket splitting-voters vote for candidate
as much as the party

16. Party Identification
Dealignment – weak membership, more “independents” or moderates – popular trend in the last 50 years
Strait ticket voting – strong party membership, support all candidates for one party
Ticket splitting – voting for candidates from multiple parties

17. Declining Party Loyalty?
Dealignment-general decline in partisan id
The number of independents in the U.S. rose
from 19% in 1958 to 37% twenty years later.
Identification with the two major parties today is
in the mid 80% range.
Pollsters often find that many self declared
independents often 'lean' quite strongly to either
the Democrat or Republican party.
“Leaners” do feel party affiliations, but choose
not to self-identify with a party.

18. Realignment A shifting of party coalition groupings in
the electorate that remains in place for
several elections
– Jefferson formed Dem-Rep party
– Whig dissolved, Republican emerged won pres. 1860
– Great Depression-many voters realigned to
Dem

19. More on Realignment?
“Gridlock” – Congress and Presidency controlled by different parties
Republican sweep of Congress and Presidency - party loyalty stronger?
split the Presidency and Congress again
brought a Democratic sweep
Mid elections 2010—backlash from economy and BP oil spill + Tea Party MAY see a shift back towards Republican party

20. Since the early 1980s, the Republican Party platform has been increasingly influenced by
A) environmental activists
B) evangelical Christians
C) civil libertarians
D) labor unions
E) active military officers

21. Since 1972, voters in presidential elections have
A) become more focused on individual candidates
B) increasingly based their votes on televised debates
C) become more influenced by party platforms
D) become more likely to focus on local rather than national conditions
E) become more likely to rely on print media for information

22. An election in which there is a significant shift in the bases of electoral support from one political party to another is called a
A) deviating election
B) maintaining election
C) realigning election
D) primary election
E) dealigning election