1. Parties II: American political parties

2. Are American political parties strong or weak? Depends on how you look at party PIG PIE PAO Parties in government Parties in the electorate Parties as organizations Depends on the historical moment

3. Eras of strong and weak parties The golden age of parties 1828-1912 Declining party strength 1912-1972 Era of weak parties 1972-1994 Stronger parties? 1994-???

4. The golden age of parties 1828-1912 Strong, organized parties Mass participation Politics as entertainment Spoils system No secret ballot

5. What changed? Progressive era Australian ballot, secret ballot Civil service reforms Primary elections Candidate centered campaigns Direct election of senators Nonpartisan local elections New Deal welfare state

6. What changed? 1960s and 1970s Deep ideological divisions within parties –(Particularly the Democratic party!) TV Campaign finance

7. Era of weak parties 1972-1994 Deep ideological divisions Weak party discipline in Congress Candidate centered elections Rise in number of “independents” Split ticket voting

8. Stronger parties? 1994-??? Strong party discipline in Congress Highly partisan, competitive presidential elections Increased turnout New restrictions on party-building?

9. How strong are parties today?

10. Average party unity of Democrats in Congress

11. Average Republican party unity in Congress

12. Percent of votes on which majority of Congressional Democrats vote against majority of Republicans

13. Stable number of partisans

14. Number of civil servants and federal civilian employees