1. POLITICAL PARTIES Chapter 12 O’Connor and Sabato American Government:
Continuity and Change

2. POLITICAL PARTIES In this chapter we will cover…
What is a Political Party?
The Evolution of American Party Democracy
The Roles of American Parties
One-Partyism and Third-Partyism
The Basic Structure of American Political Parties
The Party in Government
The Party-In-The-Electorate

3. What is a Political Party?
A political party is a group of voters, activists, candidates, and office holders who identify with a party label and seek to elect individuals to public office.

4. The Evolution of American Party Democracy
Hamilton and Jefferson, as heads of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist groups respectively, are often considered 'fathers' of the modern party system.
By 1800, this country had a party system with two major parties that has remained relatively stable ever since.

6. Democrats and Republicans: The Golden Age
From the presidential elections of 1860 to the present, the same two major parties have contested elections in the United States: Democrats and Republicans.
Reconstruction -- Republican dominance
Republican party formed 1854 by anti-slavery activists
closely competitive
Republican dominance
1930s and 1940s -- Democratic dominance
1950s and 1960s -- closely competitive
1970-present -- neither party dominant

7. The Roles of American Parties
The two party system has been used to resolve political and social conflicts.
Mobilizing Support and Gathering Power
A Force for Stability
Unity, Linkage, Accountability
The Electioneering Function
Party as a Voting and Issue Cue
Policy Formulation and Promotion

8. One-Partyism
A significant trend of recent times is the demise of one-partyism (one party dominance of elections in a given region).
The formerly "Solid South" is no longer only Democratic.
There are no Republican or Democratic states at this time.
Many individuals split their vote between the parties, and sometimes vote for third parties.

9. Minor Parties: Third-Partyism
Minor parties are not a threat to the two major parties.
Only eight third parties have won any electoral votes in a presidential contest.
The third parties that have had some success are:
1996 and 1992: Ross Perot’s Reform Party
1968: George Wallace’s American Independent Party
1924: Robert LaFollette’s Progressive Party
1912: Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party
1856: Millard Fillmore's American Party

10. The Golden Age 1874-1912 Party stability- rare
Big city and big party organization-political “machines” Chicago
Party was viewed as government-party provided social services directly=patronage and allegiance
Intense devotion=high voter turnout 76% or better in elections form

11. Modern Era
1930s-social services began to be provided by national gov. not parties
Direct primaries meant power of party diminished
Loose ties between candidate and party
Post WWII- issue oriented politics
Individual candidate became focus
Interest groups rather than party stepped into void
More ticket splitting-voters vote for candidate as much as the party

12. Realignment
A shifting of party coalition groupings in the electorate that remains in place for several elections
Jefferson formed Dem-Rep party
Whig dissolved, Republican emerged won pres. 1860
Great Depression-many voters realigned to Dem

13. Crashing the Party Winning isn’t everything, it is the only thing
Two party domination b/c need 50% +1 and you win
Third parties do best when there is declining trust in two parties

14. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties

15. Party organization National Committees
estab. National governing bodies Dems 1848(DNC) , Rep (RNC)1856
Congress estab party committees to help candidates
DNC & RNC have national chairpersons
Republican National Committee chair Dem
Regulation of party is up to STATES
100,00 precincts primary dates

16. Show Me the $$$$$$
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) McCain Feingold Act
Attempted to limit $ spent on campaigns, but opened a tax loophole=527
527s can raise unlimited funds used to influence voters through ads-can’t ask for votes
some 527s have been fined for being too political and breaking rules
Soft $ virtually unregulated banned by BCRA but Supreme Court had muddied the waters-527s filled the void
-Citizens United v FEC-unions and corporations can spend unlimited $ on issue ads, not express advocacy
Hard Money-can only be used for direct electioneering-regulated by FEC Federal Elections Commission

19. The Party-In-The-Electorate
The party-in-the-electorate is the mass of potential voters who identify with specific party.
American voters often identify with a specific party, but rarely formally belong to it.
Party identification is often a voter's central political reference symbol.
Party identification generally come from one's parents.
However party id can be affected by a number of factors such as education, peers, charismatic personalities, cataclysmic events, and intense social issues.

22. Loyalty Trends - Republican
Chambers of Commerce tend to vote Republican
The West tends to be more Republican
Men tend to split fairly evenly between the two parties
Cuban Americans are generally Republicans (anti-Castro)
Professionals, executives, and white collar workers tend to be Republican
High status Protestants tend to be Republican
Married couples tend to be Republican
Conservatives tend to be Republican

23. Loyalty Trends - Democratic
Labor union members tend to vote Democratic
Democrats have a lead in garnering the women's votes
Over 80% of African Americans
Hispanics vote 3 to 1 Democratic
Young people are again more Democratic
Most blue collar workers and unemployed are Democrats
Catholics and Jews are mostly Democrats
The widowed are mostly Democrats

24. Declining Party Loyalty?
Dealignment-general decline in partisan id
The number of independents in the U.S. rose from 19% in 1958 to 37% twenty years later.
Identification with the two major parties today is in the mid 80% range.
Pollsters often find that many self declared independents often 'lean' quite strongly to either the Democrat or Republican party.
“Leaners” do feel party affiliations, but choose not to self-identify with a party.

27. 2008 http://www.mysterypollster.com/main/2006/04/rasmussen_and_p.html

31. Websites Major Parties Democratic National Committee
Republican National Committee
Third Parties
Third Party Central
Libertarian Party
Reform Party.