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

2. Essential Question
To what extent are political parties necessary to democracy?

3. Linkage
Political parties “link” government and its power to us, the people
They provide a bridge to government
Did you know political parties are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution?

4. The Framers
The Founding Fathers actually viewed “factions” as dangers which needed to be controlled. They distrusted them!
Yet those same guys became the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists (the first political “parties”)
This was the main debate transitioning from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution of 1787.

5. The Framers cont. Here are the basics….. Anti-Federalists Federalists
Opposed a strong federal government
Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams
Federalists
For a strong federal government
Alexander Hamilton, John Adams

6. Why Parties?
The competition for power in a democracy needs to be organized
Otherwise the democracy would be chaotic and unworkable
Even though we inherently distrust their partisanship

7. 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

8. Goal of a Political Party?
WIN ELECTIONS

9. 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
Act as a watchdog

10. Parties are unifying Too many parties might splinter society
A few, well organized parties:
Encourage compromise
Blunt tensions
Marginalize extremism
This is why political parties formed in every democracy
Despite a lack of definition in Constitution

11. 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

12. U.S. Political Parties
                                                                                   
                                                                                   

13. Left or Right? Left Federalists Whigs Republicans Progressives
Democrats
Liberal
Right
Anti-Federalists
Democratic-Republicans
Democrats
Republicans
Conservative

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

15. 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)

16. Major Third Parties Ideological One-issue (or single-issue)
Socialist Party, Communist Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party
One-issue (or single-issue)
Free-soil, “Know-Nothing”, Prohibition, Woman’s Party
Economic protest
Populists
Factional
Progressives, Dixiecrats, Reform

17. Party Identification
Dealignment – weak membership, more “independents” or moderates – popular trend in the last 50 years.
“I’m not Republican or Democrat”
Strait ticket voting – strong party membership, support all candidates for one party
Ticket splitting – voting for candidates from multiple parties

18. Eras in American History
Founding (1789 – 1824)
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists/Dem-Rep
Controversy: Federalism
Jacksonian Period (1824 – 1840)
Democrat vs. Whig
Controversy: Jackson himself

19. Eras in American History
Sectionalism (1840 – 1876)
Democrats vs. Whigs (and Republicans)
Controversy: Slavery and Reconstruction
Era of Reform (1876 – present)
Democrats vs. Republicans
Controversy: Government in economy

20. Realignments
1800
First peaceful transition of power
1828
First “heated” election
1860
Lead to Civil War based around civil rights
1896
Decided social roles of the parties re: business
1932
Decided social roles of the parties re: the people

21. 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
2010 – Republican sweep, but Senate still barely Democrat
2012?

22. Divided government
When one branch is one party, the other branch is the other party
President Obama, Democrat
House of Reps, Republican
Senate, Democrat
How might this affect the dynamic process of government?
Does it constrain or enhance change?
Is this good for government?

25. Review
Political parties “link” government and its power to us, the people
They provide a bridge to government
Political parties are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution.

26. Why Parties?
The competition for power in a democracy needs to be organized
Otherwise the democracy would be chaotic and unworkable
Even though we inherently distrust their partisanship

27. Essential Question
To what extent are political parties necessary to democracy?