1. Opener Daily Show--Two Party System Colbert--Republican Party Colbert--Democratic Party Colbert Tea Party

4. Party Systems One Party: – One Party…total control of country…Examples? Multiparty: – # of parties compete; often rep. widely diff. ideologies Two-party: – Examples?

5. Political Parties Politics in America

6. I.Political Parties: group of people organized to influence govt. through the winning of elections and the setting of policy (LINKAGE INSTITUTION ) Group of citizens organize to: Win elections, Hold public offices, Operate the government, Determine public policy Functions Nominate candidates Run political campaigns/Win Articulate positions on issues Critique policies of party in power Responsibility Raise $ Register Voters Recruit “Inform” Voters Activate Organize Keep elections competitive Develop and implement policy Watchdog Provide Stability How do you join? “Declare” self a member— register 3 types: voter, party worker, elected official

7. Political Parties: A Bureaucracy? National Convention: – Every 4 yrs.: write party platform/nominate Pres. & VP National committee: – Made of delegates from states. Manage affairs between conventions Congressional campaign committees: – Support congressional candidates National Chair: – Manages daily work of the party States & localities: – Foundation of party. Have the most people & the greatest involvement. – National, State, Local party organizations are independent and NOT centrally controlled – Leads to fragmentation (Dem. Party WA v. WV)

8. Washington’s Farewell Address Why was Washington against political parties? FACTIONS – "It serves to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration....agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one....against another” -- G.W.

9. Party Identification Party Era: Period dominated by one political party Critical Elections (Connects to Party Eras) Voters change traditional patterns of party loyalty (new coalitions) Usually sign of Realignment National Crisis often assoc. w/ Crit. Elec. And Elec. Realign. Electoral Realignment: Switching of voter preference from one party to another…Minority party displaces majority, can lead to new party era – Characteristics of Realignment High voter turnout…often result of critical election Durable/long lasting electoral groups formed Electoral Dealignment: No Single Party is Dominant Shift away from major political parties to a more neutral, independent ideological view of party identification Most Americans I.D. themselves as moderates Older Americans less likely to be indep. though, why?

10. Party Eras 1.Party Development (1796-1824) a.Federalists/John Adams (Alexander Hamilton) b.Democratic-Republicans/Thomas Jefferson c.Election of 1800…1 st peaceful transfer of power d.Era of Good Feelings 2.Jacksonian Democrats (1828-1856) b. The Party of the “common man” a. increased political participatio b. increased local control; oppose national bank c. convention system replaces old-caucus system James Madison and the Political Party System

11. Recent Party Eras 1. Republican Domination (1860-1932) Why was Election of 1860 a “Critical Election” Only third party to rise to major party status Progressives: reaction to political machines – Institute Primaries; stricter voter registration policy; – 17 th Amendment: Increasing Democracy Why does this era end? 2. Return of the Democrats (1932-1968) FDR and New Deal…New Deal Coalition Urban, Labor Unions, Catholics, Jews, Southerners, African Americans 1968: Nixon’s Southern Strategy 3. Divided Government (1968-present) Divided Govt: Executive & Legislative branches controlled by diff. parties

12. Divided Government & Dealignment Divided Government – Executive & Legislative Branches ctrl. By opposing parties – ↑partisanship = less compromise Govt. Shutdown/Debt Ceiling…Impact of gerrymandering? – Gridlock…impacts policy and confirmation – More distrust of govt. Dealignment – ↓ motivation & participation – Fewer est. voting patterns; split ticket voting – No really dominant majority party to displace; How can this influence party platforms? What factors have caused divided government? Government Shutdown: Day 3

13. Single-Member Districts Single Member District – Only one candidate is elected to each office on ballot – Candidate who receives most votes is winner Plurality v. Majority…what’s the difference Winner Take All, Single Member, Plurality System v. Proportional Representation – Discourages 3 rd Parties…why?

14. Third Parties Types – Ideological Most Enduring/Comprehensive Libertarian Party – Single Issue “Right to Life” Party – Economic Protest Often regional; protest economic conditions “Rent is too damn high party”; Populist Party – Factional/Splinter Big Influence on public policy Tea Party?

15. Third Parties Why don’t they last? 1.Institutional Democrats/Republicans automatically on state ballots (3 rd parties must petition to get on ballot) Winner Take All System Single Member Districts Hard to field full slate of candidates Excluded from Presidential Debates/ballots 2.Political Party ID for major party is ingrained…political socialization Narrower focus than parties Difficulty fundraising

16. Third Parties Roles – Major parties often adopt policies of 3 rd party – Safety valve for discontent – Voice for the fringe/ underrepresented – Spoiler Ralph Nader – Critic/Innovator Prohibition Party : supported women’s suffrage Socialist Party: Social Security