1. Chapter 8: Political Parties, Candidates and Campaigns

2. General Information  Political parties are broadly based coalitions that attempt to gain control of the government by winning elections in order to exercise power and reward its members Party in the electorate Party in the electorate Party as organizations Party as organizations Party in the government Party in the government

3. General Information  One party system  Two party system  Multiparty systems

4. Party Trends: Early 20 th Century  Late 1800s party machines prevalent and parties had an incredible amount of discretion in distributing government jobs  Progressive movement weakened the power of parties (more power to voters) Nominations for offices more grassroots Nominations for offices more grassroots Establishment of civil service Establishment of civil service Use of primary elections Use of primary elections Direct election of senators (17 th Amendment) Direct election of senators (17 th Amendment) Women’s suffrage (19 th Amendment ) Women’s suffrage (19 th Amendment )

5. Party Trends: Late 20 th Century  Continued decrease in party power due to changing nature of political campaigns Candidates do most of their own fundraising Candidates do most of their own fundraising Increased independent expenditures (activities of PACs) Increased independent expenditures (activities of PACs) Emphasis on electronic media, professional consultants and direct mail solicitations Emphasis on electronic media, professional consultants and direct mail solicitations

6. Party Identification Trends http://www.gallup.com/poll/15370/Party-Affiliation.aspx DateRepublicanIndependentDemocrat January, 200432%40%28% January, 200830%35%34% January, 201028%36%34%

7. Party Trends  More people identifying as independents  General weakening of party loyalties (party dealignment)  Voters more willing to split tickets than in 1950s 1950s  12% 1950s  12% 1980s  28% 1980s  28%  However, ticket splitting down from 1980s level partially because conflict has increased between Democrats and Republicans since the 1980s 1996  <20% 1996  <20%   As of September 2010, 48% of registered voters favor for GOP, 43% for Democrats in terms of midterm congressional preferences

8. Parties are still important!  Better funded than in early 20 th century  Parties use electronic media and professional consultants  Parties still advise candidates, fundraise, help with polling  Still provide voters with party labels  Candidates still need organizational structure that parties can provide  Still conduct voter registration and get-out- the-vote drives

9. Party Organizations  Local Level (grassroots) 500,000 elected offices in US; most of these are local 500,000 elected offices in US; most of these are local 95% of party activists work at local level 95% of party activists work at local level Most active in urban areas Most active in urban areas  State Level Central committee with chairperson Central committee with chairperson Fundraising, voter registration activities to promote party’s candidates Fundraising, voter registration activities to promote party’s candidates

10. Party Organizations  National Level National committee headed by chairperson National committee headed by chairperson DNC or RNCDNC or RNC Organize national convention Organize national convention Aid national level candidates Aid national level candidates

11. Characteristics of Party Realignments (Patterson, 2006, pp. 262-263)  Emergence of a divisive political issue  Election results that indicate a strong shift in voter support for one party  A major change in policy resulting from stronger party  Lasting change in party coalitions that advantages stronger party

12. Party Realignments

14. Party Realignments 2004 Electoral Map 251 Kerry, 286 Bush

15. Election 2008 McCain 173, Obama 365

16. What are the functions or roles of political parties?  Connecting citizens to their government  Running candidates for political office  Informing the public  Organizing the government  Other Managing transfer of power Managing transfer of power Offering choice of rival candidates and programs Offering choice of rival candidates and programs

17. Why does the US have a two party system?  Consensus of Values =  Historical Influence

18. Why does the US have a two party system?  Electoral System Winner –take-all Winner –take-all Single member district system Single member district system The electoral system encourages parties to become larger, embracing more and more voters The electoral system encourages parties to become larger, embracing more and more voters On the national level a third party candidate would need to get the most votes in a state, to win any electoral votes On the national level a third party candidate would need to get the most votes in a state, to win any electoral votes State election law makes it difficult for third party candidates to get on the ballot State election law makes it difficult for third party candidates to get on the ballot

19. What are the major periods in the evolution of parties?  Early Years: Federalists v. Anti-Federalists  Jacksonian Democracy (1828-1840s)  Democrats v. Republicans (1840s-1860s)  Republican Era (1861-1933)  Second Democratic Era (1933-1969)  Republican Hold on the Presidency (1969-1993)  Era of Divided Government (1969-2008,2010-?)

20. What are the types of minor parties?  Single-Issue Parties  Factional Parties  Ideological Parties

21. Modern Day Minor Parties  Green Party  Reform Party

22. What role do third parties play in the American political system?  Forcing major parties to face important issues  Influencing outcomes of elections

23. How do political parties impact the political process in the United States?  Parties and democracy are mutually dependent  Parties are linkage institutions  Parties provide informational shortcuts to voters and manage peaceful transitions of power  Parties help influence which candidates win office  Parties are indirectly accountable to voters