1. The Party Structure and System Linkage Institutions #2

2. Political Parties A group that seeks to elect candidates to public office by supplying them with a label by which they are known by the electorate. PRIMARY GOAL

3. Arenas of Politics Parties Exist In Label Political parties exist as a label (or brand) in the eyes of the voters. That label allows voters who might not be familiar with individual candidates to have a general idea of their values

4. Arenas of Politics Parties Exist In Organization Parties seek to recruit potential candidates and to help campaign on their behalf for political office

5. Arenas of Politics Parties Exist In Set of Leaders Once elected party members work together to organize and control the branches of government they are in so they can achieve their policy goals.

6. Weakening of Parties In all three areas Political Parties are weaker… … As a label More independent voters and more split-ticket voting (Voting for candidates of different parties) … As organizations Been less effective in recruitment and mobilization of voters since the 1960s (more individual elections) … As a set of leaders Weakened the least, but not as disciplined as once due to rule changes (Although changing)

7. European vs. U.S. Parties Europe Disciplined Gatekeepers Loyal Voters Unitary System Unregulated by Government Party leaders choose candidates Parliamentary System United States Not as disciplined Voters shift alliances (Pluralism) Federal System Regulated by Government Primary Elections President elected separately from Congress

8. Evolution of Political Parties Central Theme: Decentralization Over time Parties have become less powerful Founding Period Originally a loose caucuses of political notables. Aligned along Hamilton (Federalist) and Jefferson (Democratic-Republicans). Jefferson’s Party eventually dominates. Jacksonian Period Political participation became a mass phenomenon and reacted to the support of leaders to Adams over Jackson. Party during this period was built from bottom up rather than top down.

9. Evolution of Political Parties Civil War and Sectionalism Party system was unable to survive and sectionalism. The Republican Party emerges as an Anti-Slave Party and becomes dominant. Democrats became sectionalized. Led to states being dominated by one party and factions Era of Reform Began in 1900 but picked up steam since the New Deal Primary Elections replace nominating conventions Nonpartisan elections at city levels Stricter voter registration requirements to reduce fraud Civil service reform to eliminate patronage Initiative and Referendum process in states.

10. Party Realignment Critical or Realignment Periods/Elections Periods when a sharp, LASTING shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties. 1800: Democratic-Republicans defeat Federalists 1828: Jacksonian Democrats come into power 1860: Whig party collapses, Republicans emerge 1896: Republicans defeat William Jennings Bryant 1932: Democrats come into office under FDR

11. Types of Realignments 1)A major party is defeated so badly that it disappears, and a new party emerges. 1828, 1860 2)Two existing parties continues, but voters shift their loyalty from one to another. 1800, 1896, 1932

12. Historical Trends Previously there have been realignments every 30-40 years in the United States. Which means we should have had one around 1962-1972. Have we? Proposed “Re-alignments” 1968: Southern Re-Alignment 1980: Republican Dominance? 1970s: “De-Alignment”

13. Nominating the President (Primary Elections) Primary elections are elections held within the political party to select who will be that parties official candidate.

14. Types of Primaries Primary Elections Closed primaries: Voters must be registered with their party in advance and can only vote for that party Open primaries: Voters decide on election day which party to participate in, and then only that party Blanket primaries: Voters get a list of all candidates and can vote for one name for each office, regardless of party label Nominating Caucuses Meeting of party followers at which delegates are picked. Takes up much more time so only the most dedicated party members show up. Produces the most ideological candidate in each party.

15. Primary Elections Primary elections were adopted to give the individual members of the party a greater say in their candidate. The nature of primary elections changes the strategy of the candidates. Voters are different (More activist and ideological) Media attention is less Must mobilize activists to give money and volunteer

16. Primary Elections RadicalLiberalModerateConservativeReactionary

17. The Delegates Selected on basis on Primary Elections (Candidates pick them based on loyalty and other factors) Delegates Today tend to be issue-oriented activists (high education and income, not the same as typical voter) Advantages Increased Opportunity for Activists to participate Decreased Probability they flee the party Disadvantage These delegates may nominate a candidate unacceptable to majority of voters, or even rank and file members of the party.

18. Party Make-Up Democrats African-Americans, Immigrants, Jews, Catholics, Union Members (1932) Women (Late 1970s) Recent Changes – Catholics are less reliable Democratic voters due to social issues becoming large deciding factors – Union members are less reliable due to decrease in number of them. Republicans Upper-Income “Business Men” (1896) Protestant Fundamentalist Social Conservatives (1980s) – Previously a non-existent group that was organized by the Christian Coalition in the 1980s. Strong supporters of the Republican Party

19. The Two Party System Although we have multiple parties, we still are a two party system because only the two major parties have realistic chances of winning elections on a national level Parties are balanced nationally but not locally WHY????

20. Why a Two Party System? (Legislative) Proportional Representation Used in Europe Ballots list party, not candidate. Parties votes are tallied Party gets to name the representatives based on the percentage they get. Example: 100 Seats in Parliament, party wins 45% of the vote, therefore they name 45 people to Parliament Plurality System Used in the United States Ballots list individual candidates Each seat is run for separately The person who gets the most votes gets the seat Encourages candidates to try to appeal to the “most” people possible

21. Why a Two Party System? (Presidential) In the electoral college (more on that later) each state is worth a certain amount of votes In all but 2 states (Maine and Nebraska) the winner of the state gets ALL of the electoral votes Encourages candidates to appeal to broadest group possible

22. Role of Minor Parties Most Minor Parties are ideological parties that are not interested in immediate electoral success. Third Party Successes (Carrying States) – Economic Protest – Factional Parties Tea Party? At this point a social movement who holds influence in the Republican Party.

23. Impact of Minor Parties Contribute New Ideas to System Voice for the Fringe Enhanced Participation Protest Vote Pushes Major Parties to go after underrepresented voters