1. Political Parties
Chapter 8

2. The Meaning of Party Party Competition Political Party:
Battle of the parties for control of public offices
Political Party:
A Beacon in the fog of politics - a group of “like-minded individuals” whose purpose is to gain control of gov’t through elections and make policy.

3. Components of Political Parties
Parties can be thought of in three parts: A 3 headed political GIANT:
Party in the electorate
Voluntary membership
Party as an organization
Nat’l, state and local day to day operations whose goal is to select candidates, building platforms, win elections.
Party in government
elected officials - party or power elites who sometimes agree on policy or the making of policy.

4. Functions of Parties
Parties sponsor grassroots mobilization, energizing members to support a candidate or proposal.
Parties are a linkage institution connecting citizens with government.

5. Functions of Parties All parties promotes the same purpose:
Pick candidates via a nomination
Run campaigns
Establish an image
Give cues to voters
Articulate policies through their platforms
Coordinate policymaking
Compete for votes

6. Rational Choice Theory
Down’s Rational Choice theory states . . .
voters want certain issues addressed and adopted by gov’t soooooooo
parties want to win office byyyyyyyyy
selecting policies that are widely favored. . . by the populous. . .nobody votes for losers. . .only for winners!
centrist policies usually win. . .don’t drift too far from moderate proposals.

7. The Party in the Electorate: About the Voters
Party Image
Voter’s perception of what the GOP or Dems stand for (conservative/liberal)
Party Identification
Citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other
Those registered for a party will likely vote for its candidates
Many voters have moved to the middle of party identification - a de-alignment of party ID.
2000 election had over 40% claiming independent monikers. . .w/ Democrats losing more ID than Republicans.

8. An Era of Divided Government
Ticket-splitting:
Voting for candidates of different parties.
The result is often divided government.
Since 1968, era of “Divided gov’t. . .”
one party runs the Exec Branch
the other controls Congress
which could create legislative gridlock.

9. The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington
Local and State Parties
Party Machines exchanged votes for favors
Patronage—when a patron in government gives political supporters benefits
Pendleton Civil Service Act led to a merit based civil service and diminished machines.
National parties are weak compared to state and local parties.

10. Party machines – The Hunt for the right candidate?
Each state manages its own party operation - a decentralized and fragmented system.
Patronage dominates - It’s the good boy/girl club. .Party regulars become gov’t appointees IF . . .
Finding the right candidates takes parties through “grass roots” democracy, until the inTERparty campaign begins. It seems to last foooooooor evvvvverrrrr to find the right candidates!
How does one come across a potential party elite? Be a party regular! and hold a public office at some level - US Congressperson or state Govenor

11. The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington
Local (State) Parties Run Primaries
Closed: voters must be registered with their party in advance and can only vote for that party
Open: independents and those registered to a party may vote in that party’s primary
Primaries and caucuses weaken national party organizations

12. The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington
The National Party Organizations
National Convention (Select presidential + VP candidates, sets platform, endorses all party nominees for other offices!)
National Committee
National Chairperson
Relative to other countries, our national organizations are weak.
Attempting to manage 50 states’ operations
Campaign highway goal - form enough coalitions ( of SIGS) to win the election INTERparty event
dominate the media
vanquish your opponent via attack ads!

13. What is the Tea Party?
The Tea Party stands for “taxed enough already.”
The Tea Party, although it runs candidates, is not a party.
Tea Party candidates run as Republicans.
So, the Tea Party is a faction within the Republican Party

14. The Party in Government: Promises and Policy
Party members actually elected to government.
Candidates are less dependent on parties to get elected than other countries, but they still need help.
Lack of Party Discipline in U.S.
Coalition:
A group of groups with a common interest who support a political party over time.
NOT the same as a coalition in parliamentary governments.

15. Party Eras in American History
US Parties typically been two-party - offering American voters a choice. . .which is what democracy is all about!
Historically
Federalists v. anti-federalists
evolved into Democrats v. Republicans
Party Eras
When one party wins most elections because its coalition is bigger
Critical Election
An electoral “earthquake” where new issues and new coalitions emerge, beginning a new party era.
Party Realignment
The shifting of groups in a coalition, usually before a critical election. Groups leave one party and support the other party.
Party Eras in American History

16. Party Eras in American History
Republicans and Democrats have switched in dominance since 1800, referred to as re-alignment.
: New Deal Coalition
Forged by Democrats- relied upon urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners
Party Eras in American History

17. Party Eras in American History
1968-Present: Era of Divided Party Government
One party holds the presidency while one or both houses of Congress are controlled by the other party.
Party de-alignment- disengagement of people from parties
Rise of independent voters

18. Third Parties: Impact on American Politics
Political parties other than Democrat or Republican
Rarely win elections
But, they bring new groups and people into politics
Charismatic Leader- Ross Perot
Ideological - Socialists, Independents
Single issue - Free Soilers, Greenpeace
Economic protests - Greenback Party
Splinter - Bull Moose

19. Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics
Winner-take-all system:
First Past the Post/Single Member District
Legislative seats awarded only to first place finishers.
Proportional Representation:
Legislative seats awarded based on votes received by party- more votes, more seats
Coalition Government:
Two or more parties join to run government

20. Understanding Political Parties
Responsible Party Model: Parties should meet the following conditions:
Provide distinct, comprehensive programs for governing
Candidates must be committed to its program and have internal cohesion and discipline to carry out the program
Majority party must implement programs and minority party must explain what they would do differently if in power
Majority party must take responsibility for their performance in government

21. Understanding Political Parties
Is the Party over?
No longer chief source of information for voters
But, 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