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8 Political Parties
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Video: The Big Picture http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MED IA_1/polisci/presidency/Edwards_Ch08_Political_Parties_S eg1_v2.html 8
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8 Learning Objectives Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy Determine the significance of party identification in America today 8.1 8.2
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8 Learning Objectives Describe how political parties are organized in the United States Evaluate how well political parties generally do in carrying out their promises 8.3 8.4
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8 Learning Objectives Differentiate the various party eras in American history Assess both the impact of third parties on American politics and their limitations 8.5 8.6
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8 Learning Objectives Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of responsible party government 8.7
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Video: The Basics http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MED IA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg2_PoliticalParties_v2.html 8
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What Is a Party? A political party is a group of persons who seek to control government by winning elections and holding office. Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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What Is a Party? Parties can be principle-oriented, issue- oriented, or election-oriented. Principle oriented Libertarians vs. Tea PartyLibertarians vs. Tea Party Libertarian – Complete non-aggression Tea Party – Limited govt in the economic sphere but not the social – aggression? Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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What Is a Party? Parties can be principle-oriented, issue- oriented, or election-oriented. Issue Oriented Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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What Is a Party? Parties can be principle-oriented, issue- oriented, or election-oriented. The two major parties are election-oriented. Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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Roles of Party Tasks of the Parties Parties, Voters, and Policy: Downs Model 8.1 Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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Meaning of Party Parties as “Instruments of Democracy?” The “responsible parties “ model Organize majorities around broad principles…To what end? Win public office and translate those principles into public policy Why does this model NOT accurately describe the Two Party American party system? Incentives push the parties to the center…away from ideological bases. Parties are perceived as ideological, however in practice?... 8.1 Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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What Do Parties Do? * Nominate Candidates - Recruit, choose, and present candidates for public office. Inform and Activate Supporters - Campaign, define issues, and criticize other candidates. Act as a Bonding Agent - Guarantee that their candidate is worthy of the office. Govern - Members of government act according to their partisanship, or firm allegiance to a party. Partisan VotingPartisan Voting Act as a Watchdog - Parties that are out of power keep a close eye on the actions of the party in power for a blunder to use against them in the next election. Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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Why a Two-Party System? 1. The Historical Basis. 2. The Force of Tradition. 3. The Electoral System 4. Ideological Consensus Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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Why a Two-Party System? Tradition! 1. The Historical Basis. The nation started out with two-parties: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. 2. The Force of Tradition. America has a two-party system because it always has had one. Minor parties, lacking wide political support, have never made a successful showing, so people are reluctant to support them. –What is the number 1 factor in an individuals party identification? Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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Why a Two-Party System? 3. The Electoral System. Certain features of government, such as single-member districts, are designed to favor two major parties. Winner take all (a.k.a., first past the post) Winner take all Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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Why a Two-Party System? 4. Ideological Consensus. Most Americans have a general agreement on fundamental matters(and a general traditional division – federalists v. anti-federalists…again) Conditions that would spark several strong rival parties do not exist in the United States. –Where did you fall on the political spectrum…? –Probably where the majority of Americans fall.where the majority of Americans fall. Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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Factors that can influence party membership: Age, Income, Race, Gender Roper Poll Party Membership Patterns Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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Tasks of the Parties Linkage institutions Parties, elections, interest groups, media Tasks that parties perform Pick candidates Run campaigns Give cues to voters Articulate policies Coordinate policies 8.1 Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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Parties, Voters, and Policy: Downs Model Rational choice theory Political scientist Anthony Downs’ model Most voters are moderate Center of political spectrum Parties seek voter loyalty Position themselves to left and right of center 8.1 Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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FIGURE 8.1: Downs model: How rational parties position themselves near (but not at) the center of public opinion 8.1 Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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Tea Party 8.1 Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
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8.1 How do parties maximize their appeal to voters? a.Position themselves near political center b.Lie about their opponents c.Stake out clear positions to the left or right d.Make party members sign loyalty oaths 8.1
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8.1 How do parties maximize their appeal to voters? a.Position themselves near political center b.Lie about their opponents c.Stake out clear positions to the left or right d.Make party members sign loyalty oaths 8.1
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Party in the Electorate Party membership is psychological Citizens think they know what parties stand for Choose parties based on affinity with personal preferences More Americans identify as independents 8.2
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FIGURE 8.2: Party identification in the United States, 1952–2012 8.2
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8.2 More Americans are identifying as Independents, especially: a.People over 65 b.Minorities c.Young people d.Less-educated citizens 8.2
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8.2 More Americans are identifying as Independents, especially: a.People over 65 b.Minorities c.Young people d.Less-educated citizens 8.2
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Video: Thinking Like a Political Scientist http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MED IA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg4_PoliticalParties_v2.html 8.2
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Party Organization: From the Grass Roots to Washington Local Parties 50 State Party Systems National Party Organizations 8.3
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Local Parties Once main party organization Party machines Rewarded voters New York and Chicago Patronage Jobs for voters and contributors Progressive reforms ended this system 8.3
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Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley 8.3
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No two exactly alike Some well-funded, some weak Permanent headquarters Provide technical services Open or closed primaries Straight-ticket voting Single column or random list of candidates 50 State Party Systems 8.3
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National Party Organizations National convention Meets every four years Writes party platform Formal nomination of candidates National committee Operates between conventions Led by national chairperson 8.3
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8.3 What are the functions of the party’s national convention? a.Write party platform b.Nominate candidate for president c.Meet every four years to revise rules d.All of the above 8.3
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8.3 What are the functions of the party’s national convention? a.Write party platform b.Nominate candidate for president c.Meet every four years to revise rules d.All of the above 8.3
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Party in Government: Promises and Policy Party in power determines policy Coalitions support parties Most presidents fail to implement campaign promises But they do live up to some of them Party platforms are blueprints 8.4
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Explore the Simulation: You Are a Voter http://media.pearsoncmg.com/long/long_longman_media _1/2013_mpsl_sim/simulation.html?simulaURL=17 8.4
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8.4 Which of the following is a campaign promise kept by President Reagan? a.Increase social welfare spending b.Increase defense spending c.Increase the federal deficit d.Increase funding for education 8.4
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8.4 Which of the following is a campaign promise kept by President Reagan? a.Increase social welfare spending b.Increase defense spending c.Increase the federal deficit d.Increase funding for education 8.4
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Explore Political Parties: Which Party Governs Better? http://media.pearsoncmg.com/long/long_edwards_mpslgi a_16/pex/pex8.html 8.4
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Party Eras in American History 1796-1824: First Party System 1828-1856: Jackson and Democrats Versus the Whigs 1860-1928: Two Republican Eras 1932-1964: New Deal Coalition 1968-Present: Southern Realignment and the Era of Divided Party Government 8.5
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Party platforms, 2012 8.5
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1796-1824: First Party System Madison warned against factions Hamilton and the Federalist Party Capitalist support, Northeast Short-lived Ideas of loyal opposition and rotation of power new Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans Agrarian support, South Torn by factions 8.5
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1828-1856: Jackson and Democrats Versus the Whigs General Andrew Jackson as leader Democratic-Republicans -> Democratic Party New coalition in election of 1828 Westerners, Southerners, poor whites Broaden suffrage Martin Van Buren Theory of loyal opposition Whig Party 8.5
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1860-1928: Two Republican Eras 1850s: Slavery dominated politics Split both parties Republicans rose as anti-slavery party Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War Second party realignment Lasted 60 years Democrats controlled the South 1896: Second Republican era Democrats and “free silver” 8.5
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1932-1964: New Deal Coalition Hoover loses to FDR FDR promises New Deal New coalition formed Elements of New Deal coalition Urban dwellers Labor unions Catholics and Jews The poor Southerners African Americans 8.5
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The Roosevelt realignment
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FIGURE 8.3: Party coalitions today 8.5
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1968-Present: Southern Realignment and the Era of Divided Party Government Nixon’s Southern strategy Support for states’ rights, law and order, strong military posture Win Southern Democrats 8.5
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FIGURE 8.4: Realignment in the South 8.5
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1968-Present: Southern Realignment and the Era of Divided Party Government Republicans did not have Congress New pattern Divided government now normal Dealignment 8.5
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8.5 Which events sparked party realignments? a.Civil War b.Great Depression c.Nixon’s Southern strategy d.A and B only 8.5
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8.5 Which events sparked party realignments? a.Civil War b.Great Depression c.Nixon’s Southern strategy d.A and B only 8.5
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Video: In Context http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MED IA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg3_PoliticalParties_v2.html 8.5
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Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics Three types of third parties Cause parties Offshoots of major parties Vehicles for individual candidacies Rarely win office but can affect elections Why only two parties? 8.6
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A successful third party candidate
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Video: In the Real World http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MED IA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg5_PoliticalParties_v2.html 8.6
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8.6 Why are there only two major parties in the U.S.? a.Only two parties are constitutionally allowed b.Two parties fulfill preferences of all voters c.No interest in additional parties d.Winner-take-all elections 8.6
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8.6 Why are there only two major parties in the U.S.? a.Only two parties are constitutionally allowed b.Two parties fulfill preferences of all voters c.No interest in additional parties d.Winner-take-all elections 8.6
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Understanding Political Parties Democracy and Responsible Party Government: How Should We Govern? American Political Parties and the Scope of Government 8.7
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Democracy and Responsible Party Government: How Should We Govern? Responsible party model Distinct governing programs Internal cohesion and commitment Major party must implement program Major party must accept responsibility Party leadership weak in U.S. “Blue Dog Democrats” Is this good or bad? 8.7
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TABLE 8.2: Partisan divisions on key roll call votes during George W. Bush’s presidency 8.7
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American Politics and the Scope of Government Not as broad as in Europe Health care example Parties not disciplined Hard to cut spending Not disciplined enough to say “no” Get more for own constituents 8.7
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Discussion Question How did the modern two-party system develop in the United States? What are party realignments and when have they occurred? What role do parties play in American democracy? 8
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Video: So What? http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MED IA_1/polisci/presidency/Edwards_Ch08_Political_Parties_S eg6_v2.html 8
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Further Review: On MyPoliSciLab Listen to the Chapter Study and Review the Flashcards Study and Review the Practice Tests 8
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