POLITICAL PARTIES Unit 5.1

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. 1.What is a Political Party?

Tasks of the Parties Linkage Institution: The channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda. Parties Pick Candidates Parties Run Campaigns Parties Give Cues to Voters Parties Articulate Policies Parties Coordinate Policymaking

2.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.

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 – closely competitive – Republican dominance –1930s and 1940s -- Democratic dominance –1950s and 1960s -- closely competitive –1970-present -- neither party dominant

Crazy times for parties Critical Election An electoral “earthquake” where new issues and new coalitions emerge. Party Realignment The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election. Party Dealignment disengagement of people from parties

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington The 50 State Party Systems –Closed primaries: voters must be registered with their party in advance and can only vote for that party –Open primaries: voters decide on election day which party to participate in, and then only that party –Blanket primaries: voters get a list of all candidates and can vote for one name for each office, regardless of party label –State party organizations are on an upswing in terms of headquarters and budgets.

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington These are the people that work for the party. Local Parties –Party Machines: A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements to win votes and to govern. –Patronage: A job, promotion or contract given for political reasons rather than merit. Used by party machines. –Now urban party organizations are generally weak. –County organizations have partially filled the void.

The Basic Structure of American Political Parties

Current trends The formerly "Solid South" is no longer only Democratic. There are no exclusively Republican or Democratic states at this time. Ticket-splitting: –Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. –Ticket-splitting has become the norm in American voting behavior.

Party Dominance Partisan Control of State Governments: 2005 (Figure 8.3)

Political Party Finances,

Declining Party Loyalty? 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 Democratic or Republican party. “Leaners” do feel party affiliations, but choose not to self-identify with a party.

8.Third-Parties Political parties other than Democrat or Republican Rarely win elections Third parties bring new groups and ideas into politics Winner take all and the Two-party system discourages third parties

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

Understanding Political Parties Is the Party Over? –Political parties are no longer the chief source of information for voters –State and national party organizations are getting stronger –Majority of people still identify with a party, but still split their tickets –Parties will continue to be around

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