1. Introduction to Chapter 9
Political Parties
Introduction
to Chapter 9

2. Pop Quiz 9 Log on to www.socrative.com Join room 917563.
Take the quiz using the notes you took. You may not use the handouts…only the notes you took about them. You may use the questions you answered, too.

3. Political Parties
Political parties are groups with broad common interests that seek to elect candidates to offices to influence the government.
Supply candidates labels to help the electorate identify.
Our political parties have become decentralized like our government.

4. Arenas of Politics for Parties
Label
In the minds of voters—weakening
More split –ticket voting
Organization
Recruiting and campaigning for candidates—parties have weakened
Set of leaders
Organize and try to control the legislative and executive branches

5. US Parties v. Parties Abroad
Labels more important than candidates names
Parties nominate their candidates for office-No primaries
Campaigns run by the party
Most election decisions made at the national level
Legis. Controls who chief executive will be
Join parties by paying dues & attending meetings
Parties sponsor unions, clubs & social activities
Candidate names w/ labels
Individuals choose to run
Campaigns run by the candidate
States & localities make decisions about elections
Voters choose party’s nominees in primaries
Exec. & Legis Branches are separate
People do not “join” parties
Social & political lives rarely overlap
Try to win to influence government
Provide a label to assist voters
Help recruit candidates to run
Loyalty to parties has decreased everywhere

6. Chart Summary European parties are disciplined gatekeepers.
Voters are very loyal, but is declining
US Federal system decentralizes power.
Early on, government decisions were made at state and local levels & held most jobs
National parties were coalitions of local parties
As political power became centralized, parties decentralized & weakened

7. Chart Summary State and federal election laws weakened parties.
Candidates chosen today mainly through primaries-not by parties.
President elected separately from Congress.
Presidential appointees are drawn from many sources.

8. American Political Culture
Parties relatively unimportant in day-to-day life.
Most Americans do not “join” parties like Europeans—simply vote.
Dues, attend meetings, control unions, etc.
Americans separate political parties from other aspects of life.
Most parts nonpartisan, growing number of independents

9. The Rise & Decline of Political Parties
The Founding (to 1820’s)
Founders disliked parties-factions
For parties to be acceptable, distinction between policy disputes and challenges to the legitimacy of government had to be made.

10. The Founding (to 1820’s)
What’s in a name? Discuss letters and Washington’s farewell address
Jefferson’s Democratic Republicans
Hamilton’s Federalists
What were the results of the rivalry?
Elections
Speeches
Successors
Few homogeneous interests, heterogeneous coalitions

11. Jefferson versus Hamilton
What are the major differences between the 2 visions?
Whose vision for America was best during the Washington administration & why?
How do the views of each man line up with today’s political parties?
Which side’s view is best for our country today? Why?
How did GW feel about the rivalry?

12. The Jacksonians (to Civil War)
Political participation became a phenomenon.
More voters to be reached.
More voters enfranchised
By 1832, pres. Electors selected by popular vote in most states.
Party built from the bottom, up.
Abandonment of party caucuses composed of Congress members
Beginning of party convention, allowing local control

13. The Civil War & Sectionalism (1860-1930’s)
Jacksonian system unable to survive civil war
Why did the new Republican dominate?
Began as 3rd party
Relied on Union pride during war
WJ Bryan’s creation of sectionalism
North Republican, South Democrat

14. The Civil War & Sectionalism (1860-1930’s)
Most states were dominated by one party
Factions emerged in each party
Republicans “Old Guard” (party people) versus “mugwumps” (reformers, issues)
Progressives often shifted loyalty initially, but then attacked Republican partisanship

15. The Era of Reform
Progressives pushed measures to curtail party power and influence.
Primaries over party conventions
More nonpartisan elections locally & some statewide
No party-business alliances due to corruption
Strict voter registration requirements to reduce fraud
Civil service to replace patronage
Allow initiatives and referendums for voters

16. The Era of Reform Effects of the Progressives
Reduced the worst forms of political corruption
Weakened all political parties
Office holders less accountable to parties
Less coordination across the branches
Reduced voter turnout
Succeeded in using media to promote ideas

17. Party Realignments
Critical or realigning periods: Periods during which a sharp, lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties. Issues that separate the two parties change, and so the kinds of voters that support each party change.

18. Party Realignments
There have been 6 distinct realignments so far in US history:
Early 1800s: Jeffersonian “Republicans” defeated the Federalists
1828 Antebellum: Rise of Jacksonian Democrats
Civil War/Reconstruction: The collapse of the Whigs, Rise of the Republicans
1896: The Republicans defeat of WJ Bryan
1932: The Democrats under FDR
1968: Social Movements & Southern Shift begins

20. What are the kinds of realignments?
Disappearance of a major party
Examples: 1800, 1860
Voters shift from one party to another
Examples: 1896, 1932, 1968-present
The clearest cases of realignment are over social and economic issues…1860, 1896, 1932

21. Recent Trends Why was 1980 not a realignment? 2 reasons…
How has the South shifted in Presidential elections? Why?
Why may dramatic realignments not occur again? (De-alignment)

22. Party Decline What is the proof that parties are declining?
Party id declining-More independents
More split ticket voting
Office Bloc Balloting
Non-Partisan Elections: Exs?

23. Read pp in Chapter 9
For the sections on National, state & local parties (pp ), Take down vocabulary but focus on structure of the parties.
For the sections on 2-party system & minor parties (pp ) focus on the “workings” of each in our electoral system.
Complete the CT packet on alternative voting systems.