Chapter 8 Political Parties

The Meaning of Party Political Party: –A “group that seeks to control politics, mainly by electing candidates to political office” Parties can be thought of in three parts: –1. Party in the electorate (you are if you say you are) –2. Party as an organization (national, state, local offices- with rules and bylaws) –3. Party in government (the elected officials who carry the title)

The Meaning of Party Tasks of the Parties –1. Linkage Institution: the channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda –2. Parties Pick Candidates –3. Parties Run Campaigns –4. Parties Give Cues to Voters ( Jan Doe (D) ) –5. Parties Articulate Policies –6. Parties Coordinate Policymaking (support in making policies comes from party 1 st )

The Meaning of Party The Downs Model –Downs Model Voters maximize chances that policies they favor are adopted by government. Parties want to win elected office.

The Party in the Electorate Straight Ticket- voting for all of the candidates from the same party Ticket-splitting –Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices –Independents are most likely to split tickets. –No state or race is completely safe due to split tickets.

The Party in the Electorate

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington Grass Roots-These are the people at the local levels that work for the party, organize, promote, canvass… Local Parties –Party Machines: a type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements (incentives, bribes) to win votes and to govern –Patronage: a job, promotion or contract given for political reasons rather than merit; used by party machines –Revitalization of party organization at the state and local level, party has declined in importance at the national level. State parties are better organized in terms of headquarters and budgets than they used to be.

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington: Primaries and Caucuses The 50 State Party Systems –Closed primaries: Only people who have registered with the party can vote for that party’s candidates. –Open primaries: Voters decide on Election Day whether they want to vote in the Democrat or Republican primary. –Caucuses: pretty much the same as a primary…

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington The National Party Organization: –National Convention: the meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and the party’s platform: The delegates are chosen during the primaries and caucuses for the political party. (usually party loyalist, organizers at the grassroots level) Each state is assigned a number of delegates that will be won by the candidates (caucuses are usually proportional) The candidate that wins the majority of delegates will be the presidential nominee for that party.

–National Committee: one of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions- sets the rules for the party and also sets the line up for who gets to go first in the primary season. (skipping your place can cause you a penalty). –National Chairperson: responsible for day-to- day activities of the party (the face of the national committee, chief executive type)

Assignment: Research the republican primary season thus far. Find out the following: –Order of the primaries (what state goes when?) –Winners and losers of each primary thus far –Candidates running, any drop out etc… –Number of delegates needed to win the nomination –Big primary dates ahead –Polling in those states-who's projected to win Due Tomorrow

The Party in Government: Promises and Policy Party members actually elected to government Which party controls government has policy consequences. Coalition: a group of individuals with a common interest upon which every political party depends- dems depend on blacks, repubs depend on the rich. Parties and politicians generally act on their campaign promises – whether they actually make policy is another story!

The Citizen and the Party:

The Party in Government: Promises and Policy

Party Eras in American History

Minor Parties (3 rd Parties ): Their Impact on American Politics Third parties: electoral contenders other than the two major political parties. –rarely win elections Reasons: Winner take all system, local elections, political socialization, plurality system, voting ballot rules in states. Third parties are important: –They are “safety valves” for popular discontent (Tea Party! American Independent Party (G. Wallace)! –Bring new groups and ideas into politics –Aspects of some of the policies will be adopted by the 2 major parties on occasion (Tea Party- cut budget) –Play “spoiler” role in elections? Nader- screwed Gore 2000, Perot-screwed Bush in ’92????

Minor Parties (3 rd Parties) Types: 1. Ideological Parties: proclaiming radically different ideas than the establishment. –Socialist Labor Party (1888-Present) –Communist Party (1920’s-Present) –Libertarian Party (1972-Present) –Green Party (1984-Present) 2. One-Issue Parties: Parties seeking single policy outcomes, they avoid other issues. –Prohibition Party (18 th amendment, 21 st amendment) –Womans Party ( ) help obtain the right to vote 3. Economic-Protest Parties: Parties advocating because of depressed economic conditions. Usually quickly disappear as conditions approve. –Tea Party? 4. Factional Parties (Splinter Parties): Parties that are created by a split in a major party, usually over the identity/philosophy of the major parties presidential candidate. –Republican Example: “Bull Moose” Progressive Party (1912) T. Roosevelt –Democrat Example: American Independent Party (1968) G. Wallace –Both Example: Reform Party (1992) R. Perot…. *More split from republican than democrat

Understanding Political Parties Democracy and Responsible Party Government –Responsible Party Model: A view by some political scientist on how the parties SHOULD work. 1. Parties have distinct comprehensive programs. 2. Candidates are committed to the program. 3. The majority party must carry out its program. 4. The majority party must accept responsibility. –American political parties fall short of these conditions. And critics argue that its good that they do-policies are too complicated for such “idealism” –No mechanism for party discipline

Understanding Political Parties American Political Parties and the Scope of Government –Lack of uniformity keeps government small Big programs usually fail- like Health Care (1994) –However, it also makes cutting government programs difficult when big programs or policies are passed- NCLB, Obamacare

Understanding Political Parties Is the Party Over? –Political parties are no longer the main source of information for voters; media is –Yet parties will play an important but diminished role in American politics? State and national party organizations have become more visible and active Majority of people still identify with a party Interest groups and PACS have taken on more influence in the political arena

Summary Parties are linkage institutions in American politics. Three Types of Party: –1. Party in electorate (I am bc I say I am) –2. Party organizational structure – l,s,national- platforms, conventions, rules for primaries –3. Party in Government- those who govern that are affiliated with a party America has a two-party system. With minor parties playing a key role. (technically we are multi-party system). The political party is in decline overall: –not the major source of info, attention (media), or affection (interest groups)