1. Chapter 5 Political Parties

2. The Two-Party System
“A party of order or stability, and a party of progress or reform, are both necessary elements of a healthy state of political life.” ~ John Stuart Mill

3. Two-Party System
(Major) Party- a group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office(s).
Republicans
Democrats
(Minor) Party- one of the many political parties without wide voter support.
Green Party
Prohibition Party

4. Two-Party System
Where in a typical political election, two major parties dominate American politics.
A number of factors explain why America has had and continues to have a two-party system.

5. The Historical Basis
Framers of the Constitution were opposed to political parties.
Federalist No. 10: One can either destroy the factions, or somehow, control its outcomes.
Bi-partisan system still follows Madison’s “multiple” faction government.
Federalist No. 14: “Big Tent” involves inviting multiple factions/spheres of thought into the Big Tent
A means of controlling the “mob mentality”

6. The Force of Tradition
Started with the Federalists and Anti- Federalist
More Americans except the idea of a two-party system because there has always been one
James Madison said that a larger Republic is better, as to increase the number of factions, and to distribute power
No one party can overpower the system… or can they?

7. The Electoral System
Single-member districts: Electoral process in which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office
Plurality: The winning candidate who receives a the largest number of votes cast for an office
The plurality does NOT have to be the majority
Bipartisan: The two major political parties find common ground and work Together

8. The American Ideological Consensus
The American people over time have shared many of the same ideals, same basic principles, and same patterns of belief
Pluralistic Society: One consisting of several distinct cultures and groups
The United States is the “melting pot” of the world
Federalist Paper No. 55
Argues that a smaller assembly is better for the country. More likely to get things RATIFIED
However, this is contradictory to the People’s Voice

9. American Ideological Consensus
Consensus: A general agreement
Not always so in American society
American Civil War
Great Depression
Vietnam Era
Persian Gulf War II (Afghanistan and Iraq)
Party Polarity (Republicans v. Democrats)

10. Third Party?

11. Multiparty Systems
A system in which several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for, and actually win public office(s).
Based around particular interests, including:
Economic class
Religious beliefs
Sectional attachment
Political ideology
Creates a broader and more diverse representation of electorates.

12. One-party Systems A political system in which only one party exists.
Falls under a dictatorship in many nations.
Within the United States, a modified one- party system is prevalent in certain regions of the country.
Post Civil War Elections:
Republican party = New England & Midwest
Democrats = South

13. The Two-Party System in America
Federalist No. 10 & 51
Both majority and minority factions are brought up, and Madison believes that the majority factions are the most dangerous.
Using the liberties of citizens can bring down a Democracy.
Factions- conflicting groups

14. First Political Parties
Election of 1800
“The Great Revolution” signified the transfer of political powers from one political party to another
The incumbent Federalist president, John Adams, was defeated by Republican Thomas Jefferson
Incumbent- current office holder
Since then, there have been 4 major periods of political party dominance.

15. American Parties Era of the Democrats (1800-1860)
Although called Republicans, the Democratic- Republicans can be compared to the Democratic Party of today.
Ran unopposed in national politics up to
Split up into factions with the introduction of the Andrew Jackson administration
National Republicans (Whigs) vs. Democrats

16. American Parties Era of the Republicans (1860-1932)
Republican dominance started in 1860 with the election of President Lincoln.
Only political party to jump from 3rd party to major party status
Electorate- the people eligible to vote.
Sectionalism- the devotion toward interests of one section of the country or population

17. American Parties The New Democratic Era (1932-1968)
The Great Depression brought the election of a new American leader, FDR
Democrats held the national government up to the Vietnam War
Richard Nixon’s second attempt for the presidency proved successful for a short-term Republican reign

18. American Parties Era of Division (1968-current)
New points of interest have created a rift between the public’s concern and that of the political parties’ agendas

19. The Minor Parties
Ron Paul
Ralph Nader

20. Minority Parties in the U.S.
There are MANY neglected third parties that field a presidential candidate
Constitution Party
Green Party of the U.S.
Communist Party
Libertarian Party
America First Party
Freedom Socialist Party
Reform Party
Prohibition Party
American Nazi Party
And Many More…

21. 4 Types of Minor Parties Ideological Parties
Parties based on a particular set of beliefs-a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters.
Have seldom been able to win many votes
Libertarian Party- focuses on the individual
Communist Party- focuses on the well-being of the society

22. 4 Types of Minor Parties Single-Issue Parties
Parties that focus on only one public-policy matter
Most of these parties fade into history, with the issue they stood for.
The two major parties may address their key issue, as one of their own.
Usually found in the minor party name.
Prohibition Party (Founded 1869)
U.S. Marijuana Party (Founded 2002)

23. 4 Types of Minor Parties Economic Protest Parties
Parties rooted in periods of economic discontent.
There is no clear-cut ideological base
A disgust toward the two major parties
Occupy Wall Street
Most often, they have been sectional parties
Drawing strength from the South & West
Greenback Party ( )
Populist Party (1890s)

24. 4 Types of Minor Parties Splinter Parties
Parties that have split away from one of the major political parties
Most of the more important 3rd parties have been splinter parties
Form around a strong personality-an individual
These parties usually collapse when the individual steps down
Bull Moose Progressive Party Progressive Party (1912)
Green Party with Ralph Nader

25. Why Minority Parties are Important
Third-party candidacy can act as a “spoiler role” in a close election.
Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party took away votes from the Republican candidate in the election
Minor parties act as the critics (bring attention to wrong doing) and innovators (new ideas are co-opted by major parties) for political issues

26. Effects of Third Party
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27. Party Organization

28. The Decentralized Nature of the Political Parties
State party organizations are loosely tied to the party’s national structure
Both major political parties are highly decentralized, fragmented, disjointed, and often beset by factions

29. National Party Machinery
Each major American political party builds its structure from four basic elements:
The National Convention
The National Committee
The National Chairperson
The Congressional Campaign

30. State & Local Party Machinery
State party foundations are set by State law:
State Organization- chairperson and the State Central Committee
Local Organization- follow the electoral map of a State
Ward: a unit into which cities are often divided for the election of city council members
Precinct: the smallest unit of election administration

31. The Three Components of the Party
The party organization
Party’s leaders, activists, and all those who contribute [time, money, and skills]
The party in the electorate
Appealing to the party’s loyalists
They call themselves party members
The party in government
Party’s officeholders

32. Future of the Major Parties
Americans (for the most part) have excepted the necessity for political parties in our country
However, these same people believe that political parties need to be controlled and regulated
Limited Government

33. The Decline of Political Party Influence
The current weakness of political parties can be traced back to several factors.
Political Parties have been in a period of decline ever since the late 1960s
The unpopular Vietnam War

34. Reasons for Party Decline
Sharp drop in number of voters who classify themselves as Republican or Democrat
Rise in Independents/Minor Parties
Split-Ticket Voting: voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election
A true system with bipartisan behaviors

35. Reasons for Party Decline
Making parties more “open” to internal conflict
Changes in technology
Changes in media and campaigning
Growth of single-issue organizations in our politics
Putting previous concerns and focusing on one issue
Currently the (world) economy

36. I highly suggest you review the following vocabulary.
One-Party System
Plurality
Factions
Partisanship
Two-Party System
Multiparty
Bipartisan
Split-ticket Voting
Incumbent
Major Party
Electorate
Splinter Parties
Sectionalism
Coalition