Political Parties Chapter 8 Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy Thirteenth AP* Edition Edwards/Wattenberg/Lineberry Chapter 8 Political Parties Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008 The Meaning of Party Political Party: Group of people who share similar views regarding policy and wish to enact that policy through elected gov. officials Parties can be thought of in three parts: Party in the electorate Party as an organization Party in government Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008 The Meaning of 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 through different governments and branches Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008 The Meaning of Party Parties, Voters, and Policy: The Downs Model Rational-choice theory Assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives Downs Model Parties compete for voters The parties products are the candidates and policies Wise parties will choose policies that help the most people Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008 The Meaning of Party The Downs Model Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

The Party in the Electorate No formal membership in the U.S. Psychological Label Party identification: a citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other Republican, Democrat, or Independent 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. Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

The Party in the Electorate Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

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 Due to progressive reforms, urban party organizations are generally weak. Revitalization of party organization at county level Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington 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. Blanket primaries: Voters are presented with a list of candidates from all parties. State parties are better organized in terms of headquarters and budgets than they used to be. Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington The National Party Organizations National Convention: the meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and the party’s platform National Committee: one of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions National Chairperson: responsible for day-to-day activities of the party Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

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 Parties and politicians generally act on their campaign promises. Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

The Party in Government: Promises and Policy Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Party Eras in American History Historical periods in which a majority of votes cling to the party in power 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 Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Party Eras in American History 1796-1824: The First Party System Madison warned of “factions” Federalists: first political party 1828-1856: Jackson and the Democrats Versus the Whigs Modern party founded by Jackson Whigs formed mainly to oppose Jacksonian Democrats Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Party Eras in American History 1860-1928: The Two Republican Eras Republicans rose as the antislavery party 1896 election centered on industrialization 1932-1964: The New Deal Coalition New Deal coalition: forged by the Democrats; consisted of urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics, Jews, the poor, Southerners Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Party Eras in American History Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Party Eras in American History 1968-Present: The Era of Divided Party Government Divided government: one party controls Congress and the other controls White House Divided government due in party to: Party dealignment: disengagement of people from parties as evidenced by shrinking party identification Party neutrality: people are indifferent towards the two parties Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Party Eras in American History Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Party Eras in American History Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics Third parties: electoral contenders other than the two party parties; rarely win elections Third parties are important. Are “safety valves” for popular discontent Bring new groups and ideas into politics Two-party system Discourages extreme views Contributes to political ambiguity Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics Multiparty Systems in Other Countries Winner-take-all system: legislative seats awarded only to first place finishers Proportional Representation: legislative seats awarded based on votes received by the party - more votes, more seats Coalition Government: two or more parties join to form a majority in a national legislature Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Understanding Political Parties Parties are essential elements of democracy Democracy and Responsible Party Government Responsible Party Model 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. No mechanism for party discipline Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Understanding Political Parties American Political Parties and the Scope of Government Lack of uniformity keeps government small Big programs like Health Care (1994) fail But also makes cutting government programs difficult Individuals focus on getting more from government for their own constituents Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Understanding Political Parties Is the Party Over? Political parties are no longer main source of information for voters; media are 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 Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008 Summary Parties are a pervasive linkage institution in American politics. Party in electorate, government, and as organization America has a two-party system. The decentralized nature of political parties makes major change difficult and encourages individualism in politics. Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008