1. Political Parties

2. The Role of Political Parties
Build stable legislative and electoral alliances
Mobilize voters
Choose candidates and get them elected
Inform and stimulate the public

3. Party Differences Democrats Pro-choice Gun control Liberal
Government involvement

4. Party Differences Republicans Pro-life Anti-gun control Conservative
Limited government involvement

5. U.S. Parties vs. European Parties
United States
Primaries, party has less of a role
Candidate runs the campaign
Elected officials often vote against party line
Citizens vote more based on issues and the candidate’s personality
Europe
Party selects candidate
Party runs campaign
Elected officials vote party line
Citizens vote based on party labels

6. Development and Evolution of the U.S. Party System

7. First Party System: The Founding 1789-1824
Founders believed that factions were motivated by self-interest
The first parties were small coalitions based more on geography and class than on common economic interests
First two parties
Federalists (Hamilton)- New England
Republicans (Jefferson)- South

8. Second Party System: Jacksonians 1828-1854
Two Parties
Democrats (Jackson)
Whigs (opponents of Jackson)
Political participation became a mass phenomenon
Replaced the caucus system with the party convention
Organized the parties at local levels

9. Third Party System: Civil War & Sectionalism 1856-1896
Rise of the Republican Party
Party was made up of old Whigs and Democrats who opposed slavery
Party Machinery
Gave favors in exchange for votes
Two factions developed within each party
Republican Party
Stalwarts or Old Guard
Mugwumps or Progressives

10. Fourth Party System: Era of Reform 1896-1932
Progressive Era Reforms
Civil Service Exam
Australian Ballot- secret ballot
Primary Elections
Ended Patronage

11. Fifth Party System: 1932 to Present
Party line voting declined, and ticket splitting increased
Voters become more indifferent to parties
Increase in Third Parties
Rise in Divided Government

12. Party Realignments

13. Party Realignments
1800- the Jeffersonian Republicans defeated the Federalists
1828- the Jacksonian Democrats came to power
1860- the Whig Party collapses and the Republicans under Lincoln come to power
1896- the Republicans defeat William Jennings Bryan
1932- the Democrats under Roosevelt come to power

14. The National Party Structure

15. The National Party Structure
National Convention
Every 4 years
Purpose
Select presidential nominee
Write party platform
National Committee
Run the general operations of the party
Raise money
Help candidates

16. National Party Structure
National Chairperson
Purpose
Run day-to-day operations
Republican: Reince Priebus
Democratic: Tim Kaine

17. Local Level Organization
The Machine
Party Machine
Ideological Parties
Parties based around values
Solidarity Groups
People participate in politics for the social elements
Sponsored Parties
A group sponsors a party
Example: United Auto Workers (UAW)

18. Campaigns and Elections

19. Function of the Election
Elections have 2 crucial phases
Getting nominated
Getting elected

20. Congressional Elections vs. Presidential Elections
Presidential Campaigns
Congressional Campaigns
Produce the largest voter turnout
Presidential candidate must work harder and spend more $
More competitive
Rely more on mass media
Responsible for the “mess in D.C.”
The incumbent often wins
These candidates only need to be appealing to the more motivated voter
Congress does things for their constituents that a president cannot
Congress can pass the blame for the “mess in D.C.”

21. Presidential Election Process
Each state holds a primary or caucus between January and June to determine candidates for parties
The Iowa Caucus (Feb. 12) is the first real test of a candidate trying for president
Candidates then enter into general elections against the other political parties

22. Congressional Elections
If you are running against an incumbent in Congress then the odds are against you
Districting in the House is always an issue
Malapportionment
Gerrymandering
The Constitution requires reapportionment every 10 years

23. Congressional Qualifications
House of Representatives
Senate
25 years of age
Citizen of the U.S. for 7 years
Must be an inhabitant of the state elected
30 years of age
Citizen of the U.S. for 9 years
Must be an inhabitant of the state elected

24. Campaign Issues There are two kinds of campaign issues Position Issues
Valence Issues

25. T.V., Debates & Direct Mail
Television
The role of T.V. ads in determining the outcome of an election is minimal
Debates
The drawback to candidates of T.V. visuals and debates are verbal slips
Mail
Direct mail is the best way to reach all the supporters of a certain issue in a certain area

26. Campaign Financing
Study Pages

27. Running for President Money Organization Strategy and Themes
Fund-raisers, lawyers, accountants, media consultants, advisors, pollsters, etc. Staff of hundreds
Strategy and Themes
Tone, theme, timing, target

28. Running for Congress Incumbents have huge advantage
Franking privileges
Cater to distrust by public of federal gov
“Run against Congress, not for it.”
Sophomore surge
Newly elected members become strong in their districts very quickly

29. What Decides the Election?
Political Party
Republicans tend to be more loyal than Democrats
Republicans do better with Independent voters
Issues
Prospective v. Retrospective Voting
Campaign
Campaigns allow voter to see a candidate under pressure