2. AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES Chapter 9

3. WHAT IS A POLITICAL PARTY?  A group of political activists who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to determine public policy.  How are p arties different from interest groups? 2

4. Political Parties  Run government  Select candidates  Multiple issues (party platform) Interest Groups  Influence government  Support candidates  Often a single issue 3 POLITICAL PARTIES VS. INTEREST GROUPS

5. 4 THE THREE COMPONENTS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

6.  Recruit candidates to run for elective offices at all levels of government  Mobilize citizens to vote and participate in elections  Bear the responsibility of operating government at all levels  Provide organized opposition to the party in power 5 FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

7. 6 WHERE THE VOTERS ARE

8.  The Formative Years: Federalists/Anti-Federalists (1789-1816)  The Era of Good Feelings (1816-1828)  National Two-Party Rule: Whigs and Democrats (1828-1860) 7 HISTORY OF POLITICAL PARTIES

9.  The Civil War Crisis  The Post-Civil War Period (1865-1896)  “Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion”  The Triumph of the Republicans 8 THE GOLDEN AGE OF PARTIES Courtesy of Smithsonian Institute, neg #98-4290

10.  The Progressive Interlude (1896-1932)  The New Deal Era (1932-1968)  An Era of Divided Government (modern period)  After 1968, the general pattern was often a Republican president and a Democratic Congress  2000 Presidential Election (Red vs. Blue States)  Parties in relative balance 9 HISTORY OF POLITICAL PARTIES

11. 10 ELECTION 1896

12. 11 ELECTION 2004

13. 12 ELECTION 2008

14.  The parties’ core constituents  Economic beliefs  Recent economic convergence?  Cultural politics  Democrats have the reputation of supporting the less-well-off, Republicans the prosperous  Regional factors 13 THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES TODAY

15. Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning 14

16. 15 INCOME AND PARTY IDENTIFICATION

17. 16 REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC ISSUES

18. 1.The people who identify with the party or who regularly vote for the candidates of the party in general elections 17 THE THREE FACES OF A PARTY

19. 2.Party Organization  National  Convention delegates  National Committee  National Chairperson  State party organization  Local (grassroots) organization  Patronage and city machines  Local party organizations 18 THREE FACES OF A PARTY (CONT)

20. 19 2008 NATIONAL CONVENTIONS

21. 3.The Party in Government  Divided Government  The Limits of Party Unity  Party Polarization 20 THREE FACES OF A PARTY (CONT) © Andy Levin/Photo Researchers, Inc.

22. This report discusses the importance of the Hispanic vote during the 2008 presidential election. Airdate: 7/13/2008 ETHNIC POLITICS AND THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE Click the icon to open the movie Video Supplied by Motion Gallery

23. 1.What concerns might Hispanic voters have that other voting blocks do not share? 2.Why is there a historic rivalry between Hispanics and blacks in some states? 3.What was Bush’s appeal to Hispanic voters in the 2004 election? 4.Which party is most likely to appeal to Hispanic voters in the next election? VIDEO QUESTIONS

24.  Duality  Political socialization and practical considerations  The Winner-Take-All Electoral System  Presidential Voting  Popular Election of the Governors and President  Proportional Representation  State and Federal Laws Favor the Two Parties  Ruling parties work to remain in control  No party organization to join as independents 23 WHY HAS THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM ENDURED?

25.  Ideological Third Parties  Green Party  Splinter Parties  The Impact of Minor Parties  Influencing the Major Parties  Affecting the Outcome of an Election  Spoiler in 2000 Elections? 24 THE ROLE OF MINOR PARTIES IN U.S. POLITICS

26. 25 POLICIES OF SELECTED AMERICAN THIRD PARTIES SINCE 1864

27.  Realignment (occurs about every 32-36 years)  Civil War era  1890s  Great Depression  Nixon’s victory in 1972 seemed to be a realignment, but Watergate changed this 26 MECHANISMS OF POLITICAL CHANGE

28.  Minor realignments  1980s conservative movement  Shift of white southerners to Republican party  Northern blue-collar workers to Republican party  Many professionals turn to Democratic party  Religious cleavage  Makes Republican party more conservative, Democrats more liberal: but neither party dominates 27 MECHANISMS OF POLITICAL CHANGE (CONT)

29.  Dealignment: A major drop-off in support for the parties.  Independent Voters  Not-So-Independent Voters  Tipping (demographically-based change)  Often due to immigration 28 MECHANISMS OF POLITICAL CHANGE (CONT)

30. 29 Party Identification: 1937–Present

31.  2008 Elections bring change  Democrats regain political momentum  Control White House AND Congress  Obama wins five key Republican states  Growing political divide between Democratic and Republican agendas  Political Maneuvering = Less Responsive Government  2010 Elections indicate a new direction? 30 A NEW DIRECTION IN 2008

32. 31 QUESTIONS FOR CRITICAL THINKING 1.Do democratic governments need political parties? If a democratic government has political parties, will the structure always be a two-party system? 2.What factors impact how many political parties will exist? 3.Is party identification a major factor for voters in presidential elections? 4.Do political parties make government more responsive? 31

33. 32 QUESTIONS FOR CRITICAL THINKING 5.Why is it difficult for independent candidates or minor party candidates to get elected to Congress? 6.What inferences can be made about the voting population through the closely divided elections of 2000 and 2004? 7.Between 2008 and 2010, how did the interests and mood of voters change? 32

34.  The White House The White House  GOP.com GOP.com  The Democratic Party The Democratic Party  National Republican Senatorial Committee National Republican Senatorial Committee  Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee  The National Republican Congressional Committee The National Republican Congressional Committee 33 WEB LINKS

35.  Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee  GOP.gov GOP.gov  Townhall.com Townhall.com  National Political Index National Political Index  The Greens/Green Party USA The Greens/Green Party USA 34 WEB LINKS

36. Political Party: – A “team of men [and women] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.” Parties can be thought of in three parts: – Party in the electorate – Party as an organization – Party in government THE MEANING OF PARTY

37. Tasks of the Parties – Linkage Institution: The channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda. – Parties Pick Candidates – Parties Run Campaigns – Parties Give Cues to Voters – Parties Articulate Policies – Parties Coordinate Policymaking THE MEANING OF PARTY

38. Parties, Voters, and Policy: The Downs Model – Rational-choice theory: Assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, weighing the costs & benefits. Figure 8.1

39. THE PARTY IN THE ELECTORATE Party identification is a citizen’s self- proclaimed preference for one party or the other. Ticket-splitting: – Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. – Ticket-splitting has become the norm in American voting behavior.

40. THE PARTY IN THE ELECTORATE

41. These are the people that work for the party. Local Parties – Party Machines: A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements to win votes and to govern. – Patronage: A job, promotion or contract given for political reasons rather than merit. Used by party machines. – Now urban party organizations are generally weak. – County organizations have partially filled the void. THE PARTY ORGANIZATIONS: FROM THE GRASS ROOTS TO WASHINGTON

42. The 50 State Party Systems – 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 – State party organizations are on an upswing in terms of headquarters and budgets. THE PARTY ORGANIZATIONS: FROM THE GRASS ROOTS TO WASHINGTON

43. The National Party Organizations – National Convention: The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and the party’s platform. – National Committee: One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. – National Chairperson: Responsible for day-to-day activities of the party. THE PARTY ORGANIZATIONS: FROM THE GRASS ROOTS TO WASHINGTON

44. These are the party members actually elected to government. Candidates are less dependent on parties to get elected, but they still need help. Coalition: – A group of individuals with a common interest upon which every political party depends. Parties & politicians generally do what they say they will do. THE PARTY IN GOVERNMENT: PROMISES AND POLICY

47. Party Eras – Historical periods in which a majority of votes cling to the party in power. Critical Election – An electoral “earthquake” where new issues and new coalitions emerge. Party Realignment – The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election. PARTY ERAS IN AMERICAN HISTORY

48.  YouTube: The Evolution of America's Major Political Parties YouTube: The Evolution of America's Major Political Parties The Evolution of America’s Major Political Parties

49. 1796-1824: The First Party System – Madison warned of “factions” – First party were the Federalists 1828-1856: Jackson and the Democrats Versus the Whigs – Modern party founded by Jackson – Whigs formed mainly in opposition to Democrats PARTY ERAS IN AMERICAN HISTORY

50. 1860-1928: The Two Republican Eras – Republicans rose as the antislavery party – 1896 election revolved around the gold standard 1932-1964: The New Deal Coalition – Forged by the Democrats - relied upon urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners PARTY ERAS IN AMERICAN HISTORY

51. Party Coalitions Today (Figure 8.2)

52. 1968-Present: The Era of Divided Party Government – Party dealignment - disengagement of people from parties – Party neutrality - people are indifferent towards the two parties PARTY ERAS IN AMERICAN HISTORY

53. Partisan Control of State Governments: 2005 (Figure 8.3)

54. Political parties other than Democrat or Republican Rarely win elections Third parties bring new groups and ideas into politics Two-party system discourages extreme views THIRD PARTIES: THEIR IMPACT ON AMERICAN POLITICS

55. Winner-take-all system: – Legislative seats awarded only to first place finishers. Proportional Representation: – Legislative seats awarded based on votes received by the party - more votes, more seats Coalition Government: – Two or more parties join to run government THIRD PARTIES: THEIR IMPACT ON AMERICAN POLITICS

56. Democracy and Responsible Party Government 1. Parties have distinct comprehensive programs. 2. Candidates are committed to the program. 3. Majority party must carry out its program. 4. Majority party must accept responsibility. UNDERSTANDING POLITICAL PARTIES

57. American Political Parties and the Scope of Government – Lack of uniformity keeps government small – But, it also makes cutting government programs harder to do UNDERSTANDING POLITICAL PARTIES

58. Is the Party Over? – Political parties are no longer the chief source of information for voters – State and national party organizations are getting stronger – Majority of people still identify with a party, but still split their tickets – Parties will continue to be around UNDERSTANDING POLITICAL PARTIES