Chapter 5 Political Parties

Section 1: Parties and What They Do Objectives: Define a political party Describe the major functions of political parties Identify the reasons why the United States has a two-party system Understand multiparty and one-party systems and how they affect the functioning of a political system.

What is a Party A group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office Democrats and Republicans Organization made of three separate but closely related elements The party organization Leaders, activists, “hangers-on” The party in government Party candidates and officeholders The party in the electorate People who call themselves Republicans or Democrats

What Parties Do Essential to a Democratic Government Link between the people and their government Will of the people made known to the government Government is held accountable

Nominating Candidates Nominate candidates for a public office Activity that most clearly sets political parties apart from all of the other groups that operate in the political process

Informing and Activating Supporters Inform and inspire voters Campaigning Taking stands on current issues Criticizing opposing candidates Inform voters Propaganda

The Bonding Agent Function agreement that protects a person or a company against loss caused by a third party Ensure the good performance of its candidates and elected officeholders

Governing Those who govern are chosen on the basis of party Partisanship-strong support of their party and its policy stands Parties must also work together Executive and legislative branches Political Parties House of Representatives Senate Republican Party 245 54 Democratic Party 188 44 Independent 2 Vacant

The Watching Function Parties act as watchdogs over the conduct of the public’s business Party out of power Criticizes the party in power

The Two-Party System Republicans and Democrats Historical Basis Framers were opposed to political parties Ratification of the Constitution gave rise to the Federalist and Anti-federalist The force of Tradition-All that Americans know The Electoral System-promote two major parties

Multiparty Systems Scrap the two party system Several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for and actually win public offices Each party is based on a particular interest Example: economic lass, religious belief, political ideology.

One-Party Systems Only one political party, the party of the ruling clique is allowed to exist “no-party” system Many states have a one party system, gains the majority of the votes all the time

International Affiliations Democratic Party 50 + DC 1828 Major political parties A party that has "an independent state organization... in a majority of the states" is listed as a major party. An "independent state organization" is not to be confused with the organization of an Independent Democrat or Independent Republican. Political Party States* Founded in Former Titles International Affiliations Democratic Party 50 + DC 1828 Progressive Alliance Republican Party 1854 International Democrat Union Libertarian Party 48 + DC 1971 Interlibertarians Green Party 36 + DC 1991 Global Greens Constitution Party 26 1992 U.S. Taxpayers' Party

Section 2: Two-Party System in American History Objectives: Understand the origins of political parties in the United States Identify and describe the three major periods of single-party domination and describe the current era of divided government

The Nation’s First Parties Federalists “the rich and the well-born” Supported the Constitution Anti-Federalist Becomes the Democratic party in 1828 “common man” Favored a very limited role by the new government First clashed in the election of 1796

Four Major Eras 1800-1860 Democrats won 13 of 15 presidential elections Lost in 1840 and 1848 1860-1932 Republicans won 14 of 18 elections Lost in 1884, 1892, 1912, and 1916 1932-1968 Democrats return to power and Franklin Roosevelt’s first election to the presidency

The Era of Democrats Thomas Jefferson’s election in 1800 marked the beginning Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)-changes in political landscape 1)voting rights for all white males 2)a huge increase in the number of elected offices around the country 3)the spread of the spoils system-the practice of awarding public offices, contracts, and other governmental favors to those who supported the party in power

Whig Party Major party from the mid 1830s to the 1850s Lead by Henry Clay and Daniel Webster Elected only two men to the Whitehouse William Henry Harrison in the 1840s Zachary Taylor in 1848 1850s-Whig Party fell apart

The Era of the Republicans The Civil War signaled the beginning of the second era of one-party sway Remained the leading party for 75 years

The Return of the Democrats Great Depression-1929 Massive impact on nearly all aspects of American life 1932-presidential election-Franklin Roosevelt New electoral base: southerners, small farmers, organized labor, and big-city political organizations

Section 3: The Minor Parties Objectives: Identify the types of minor parties that have been active in American politics. Understand why minor parties are important despite the fact that none has ever won the presidency

Minor Parties in the United States Particular locale, single state, one region of the country Ideological Parties Based on a particular set of beliefs Socialist, Socialist Labor, Socialist Worker and Communist Parties Single-Issue Parties Focus on a single public question. Names usually indicate their primary concern Free Soil Party-opposed slavery in the 1840s Right to Life Party-opposes abortion today Economic Protest Parties Rooted in periods of economic discontent. No clear-cut ideological base. Disappeared as the nation has climbed out of the problem Splinter Parties Have split away from one of the major parties Teddy Roosevelt's “Bull Moose” Progressive Party of 1912-pulled away from Republicans

Why Minor Parties are Important -1st used a national convention to nominate a presidential candidate in 1831 Can play a third party candidacy-spoiler role

Section 4: Party Organization Objectives: Understand why the major parties have a decentralized structure Describe the national party machinery and party organization at the State and local levels

Decentralized Nature of the Parties Myth Often described as highly organized, close-knit and well disciplined Truth Highly decentralized, fragmented and often plagued by factions and internal squabbling Neither party has a chain of command running from the national through the State to the local level Presidents party is usually more organized and united than the minor party. President is leader of the party

National Party Machinery Both major parties are composed of five basic elements National Convention Pick the party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates, adoption of the party’s rules and the writing of its platform National Committee Reps from each state and territories, plan national convention National Chairperson Leader of the National Committee, directs the work of the party’s headquarters and professional staff Congressional Campaign Committees Each party has a campaign committee in each house of Congress, work to get seats for their party.

State and Local Party Machinery At the State and local levels, party structure is determined by State Law State Organization Built around a state central committee, headed by a State Chairperson. Republicans: Jeff Essmann Democrats: Jim Elliott