1. Political Parties 1

2. What is a Political Party?
Political Party: A group of persons joined together on the basis of common principles who seek to control government the winning of elections.
There are two major parties in American politics today:
Democrats & Republicans
Some argue this does not fit the American version… the Democrats and Republicans are election oriented, not principle/issue oriented. 2

3. Political Parties & Their Functions
Some believe American politics would function better without political parties
Others say political parties necessary for democratic government, but at the same time, do not trust them
Kind of a “love-hate” relationship
Distrust especially strong among younger voters

4. Political Party Funtions
Why are Political Parties important? The are the major mechanisms behind broad policies and leadership choices.
They act as a “the voice of the governed” and some argue that parties are how the will of the people are best expressed.
Political parties bring conflicting groups together to find “common ground”. The soften extremist views and seek compromise and unity. 4

5. What Is a Political Party?
An organization that sponsors candidates for political office under the organization’s name
Use a nomination process
Democracies must have at least two political parties that regularly compete against each other

6. Party Coalitions Today

7. What Is a Political Party?

8. Political Party Funtions
1) Nominating Candidates:
Political leadership requires certain qualities
The major function is to nominate, or name, candidates for public office… and then they help them win their elections.
Parties can perform “quality control” by choosing candidates
Recruiting and choosing candidates and gathering support for them.

9. Political Party Funtions
2) Structuring the Voting Choice
Work to reduce number of candidates on ballot to those with chance of winning
Loyal party voters provide predictable base of votes
Third-party candidate success difficult
Choice between only two parties reduces information needed by voters

10. Political Party Funtions
3) Informing and Activating Supporters:
Parties inform the people, spark their interest, inspire them, and get them to participate in public affairs.
Voters are inspired to campaign for candidates, take stands on issues, and criticize opponents.
Parties create campaign materials (buttons, posters, bumper stickers) and propaganda materials (pamphlets, TV, internet, newspaper and radio commercials, speeches, and rallies) to show their issues in the best light.

11. Political Party Funtions
4) Proposing Alternative Government Programs
Parties set out general policies candidates will pursue if they gain office
Candidates tend to support party positions, although exceptions occur
Some party names advertise policies, such as the Green Party, Socialist Party, and Libertarian Party
America’s two major parties have relatively neutral names

12. Political Party Funtions
Acting as Watchdog: Parties act as watchdogs over the publics business. The party out of power usually takes this role by criticizing the party and behavior of the party in power (in the executive branch).
The party out of power tries to convince voters that they should “throw the rascals out”. The party out of power tried to become “the voice of the people” by expressing their concerns. They become “the loyal opposition”---- opposed to the party in power but loyal to the people! 12

13. Coordinating the Actions of Government Officials
U.S. government’s separation of powers divides responsibilities for policymaking
Political parties major bridge for bringing the separate powers together to govern effectively

14. The Pre party Period Constitution does not mention political parties
Only factions, not parties, existed when Constitution written
Federalist No. 10 hoped federalist system would prevent factional influences
Factions of the time included Tories or Loyalists, Whigs or Patriots, Federalists, and Anti-Federalists

15. The Preparty Period Elections vastly different from TODAY
President and Vice President decided by electoral college
Electors frequently met in private caucuses to propose candidates
George Washington opposed factional politics
Because of neutrality, elected unanimously

16. The First Party System: Federalists & Democratic Republicans
Federalists led by Alexander Hamilton
Democratic Republicans led by Thomas Jefferson
Election of 1796 saw John Adams (a Federalist) elected president, with Thomas Jefferson(Dem.-Rep.) elected vice president
In election of 1800, both parties nominated candidates for both president and vice president

17. Figure 8.1 The Two-Party System in American History

18. The Twelfth Amendment
Election of 1800 saw top two vote-getters from Democratic-Republican Party – but tied in Electoral College!
Eventually Jefferson elected president
Ratification of 12th Amendment in 1804 split votes in Electoral College for president and vice president
Democratic-Republicans won next four elections, then fell apart

19. The Second Party System: Democrats and Whigs
Jackson’s faction of Democratic Republicans represented “common people”
Preferred to be called Democrats
Jackson ran for president in 1828; birth of today’s Democratic Party
Increase in suffrage rights led to voters choosing presidential electors
Greater numbers voting required changes from existing parties

20. Party Changes
Major parties began having national conventions to select candidates and adopt party platforms
First, Anti-Masonic Party in 1831; Democrats and National Republicans followed in 1832
Coalition of those opposing Jackson formed Whig Party in 1834
Democrats and Whigs alternated presidency for next 30 years

21. The Current Party System: Democrats and Republicans
Antislavery forces organized Republican Party in 1854
John Fremont presidential candidate in 1856; Abraham Lincoln in 1860
Election of 1860 first of four critical elections
Led to electoral realignment , with northern states voting Republican and southern states voting Democratic for decades

22. Eras of Party Dominance Since the Civil War
Democrats and Republicans major parties since
1860 election
Two-party system
Third parties rarely successful, except at state or local level
Balance of power between two major parties different in various parts of country and at different times

23. Four Political Eras Since Civil War
A Rough Balance:
GOP (Grand Old Party, or Republicans) won eight of 10 presidential elections
House and Senate wins balanced
A Republican Majority:
Democrats in trouble because of economic depression in 1896
Republican William McKinley won presidency; Republicans basically in power until Great Depression

24. William Jennings Bryan: When Candidates Were Orators

25. Four Political Eras Since Civil War
A Democratic Majority:
Voters unhappy with economic crisis swarmed to support Democratic candidate Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932
Roosevelt won election; Democratic party won majorities in both House and Senate
A major electoral realignment

26. Four Political Eras Since Civil War
A Rough Balance: to the Present
Richard Nixon’s victory in 1968 a fourth critical election; Republican presidential candidates have done well since
Congressional elections in this period mixed: Democrats generally control House, Senate control split about evenly
Party loyalty within regions has shifted; possible electoral dealignment

27. The American Two-Party System
While two parties are dominant, third parties make contributions also
Third parties usually one of four types:
Bolter parties
Farmer-labor parties
Parties of ideological protest
Single-issue parties

28. Figure 8.2 Party Candidates for the U.S. House in the 2010 Election

29. Historical Third-Party Successes
Third parties not very successful
Rarely receive more than 10% of the vote
Bolter parties have won more than 10% twice
Republican Party originated as single-issue third party
Third parties have better record as policy advocates, and serve as safety valves

30. The Minor Parties Four types of minor parties: Ideological Parties:
Based on set of beliefs
(social, economic, political)
e.g. socialist, socialist labor, socialist worker, communist
Libertarians Party is non-socialist
Don’t win many votes, but have been long lived. 30

31. The Minor Parties 2. Single-Issue Parties: Concentrate on one public
policy matter
(usually short lived)
Names indicate primary concern:
Free Soil Party- end expansion of slavery
Know Nothing Party (American Party) - opposed immigration, particularly of Irish Catholics
Right to Life Party- opposes abortion 31

32. The Minor Parties 3. Economic Protest Parties:
No clear cut ideological base, unlike
socialists which focus on economic issues
Focus on their “enemies” such as:
Monetary system, Wall Street Bankers, railroad, foreign imports
Greenback Party: ( ) appealed to farmers- free silver, federal regulation of railroads, income tax, labor legislation
Populist Party: (1890’s) public ownership of railroad, telephone, and telephone. Wanted lower tariffs, adoption of initiative and referendum
These parties often form in times of economic turmoil- also short lived 32

33. 4. Splinter/BOLTER Parties:
Break away from major parties
(usually short lived)
“Republican Splinters”:
“Bull Moose” Progressive Party: (1912)
Theodore Roosevelt challenged Howard Taft’s Republican nomination
called for women's suffrage
recall of judicial decisions
easier amending the U.S. Constitution social welfare legislation for women and children, workers' compensation
limited injunctions in strikes
farm relief
required health insurance in industry
new inheritance taxes and income taxes 33

34. The Minor Parties Robert La Follette
“Republican Splinters”:
Progressive Party: (1924) Candidate Robert La Follette called for
government ownership of the railroads and electric utilities,
cheap credit for farmers
outlawing child labor
stronger laws to help labor unions
more protection of civil liberties
Robert La Follette 34

35. “Democratic Splinters”:
States’ Rights “Dixiecrat” Party: (1948)
Led by Strom Thurmond advocated
retention of Jim Crow laws
racial segregation.
American Independent Party (1968)
led by former Alabama Governor George Wallace
who advocated
A reversal of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
opposed to federal government welfare programs. 35

36. Green Party USA (founded 1984).
One Party that does not fit into any category is the
Green Party USA
(founded 1984).
Began as single issue party, but…
In 2000, Ralph Nadar accepted their endorsement as President and adopted a variety of issues:
environmental protection
universal health care
gay rights
restraints on corporate power
campaign finance reform
opposition to global free trade
more… 36

37. 37

38. Why a Two-Party System?
U.S. two-party system results from electoral process and political socialization
Elections based on majority representation, not proportional representation
Major parties make election laws
Presidential politics and persistence drive survival of Democratic and Republican parties

39. The Federal Basis of the Party System
Party identification important political concept
Most people identify with one of the two major parties
Data show three tendencies:
Republicans and Democrats together outnumber Independents
More Democrats than Republicans
Democratic numbers shrinking over time

40. Figure 8.4 Distribution of Party Identification, 1952-2008

41. Party Identification
Party identification predisposes but does not mandate voting behavior
Factors affecting party identification:
Parental party identification also important
Income
Education
Religion
Gender
Region
Ethnicity
Age

42. Figure 8.5 Party Identification by Social Groups

43. Fewer Citizens Are Partying
Partisanship has declined since early 1950s
Also true in many other democracies
Reasons given include more education and political sophistication

44. Party Ideology and Organization
Significant differences in ideology between Republicans and Democrats
Approaches to concepts of freedom, order, and equality affect spending priorities
Differences drive party platforms
Ideological differences more pronounced when looking at party activists

45. Figure 8.6 Ideologies of Party Voters and Party Delegates in 2008

46. National Party Organization
Some believe Republicans more organized as a party than Democrats
Each party has four major organizational components:
National convention
National committee
Congressional party conferences
Congressional campaign committees

47. Building a Bigger Republican Tent?

48. National Party Organization
National parties not particularly powerful
Do not direct or control presidential campaigns
Beginning in 1970s, Democrats made procedural changes and Republicans made organizational reforms
Both parties have made significant organizational changes in recent years

49. State and Local Party Organizations
At one time, both parties had powerful state and local party machines
Individual organizations vary in size and strength
National parties supply funding, candidate training, poll data and research, and campaigning instruction

50. Decentralized but Growing Stronger
American parties one of most decentralized in the world
Even though party identification dropping, political party organizations growing stronger
Still, not clear how well parties link voters to government

51. The Model of Responsible Party Government
Parties essential to making government responsive to public opinion in majoritarian model
Parties should present clear and coherent programs to voters
Voters should choose candidates based on party programs
Winning party should carry out proposed programs
Voters should hold governing party responsible for program execution at next election