Quick Survey  Do you agree or disagree with the following:  parties do more to confuse the issues than to provide a clear choice on issues.  the best way to vote is to pick a candidate regardless of party label.  it would be better if we put no party labels on the ballot at all.

The Definition of Party  organizations that recruit and sponsor candidates for public office under the organization's name.  The aim of parties is to establish control of government at a particular level.

Functions of Parties  organized critique of the party in power  a choice of leaders and programs  recruit and nominate electoral candidates  Provide cues to voters  Mobilize voters

2 Party System-Why  United States  Electoral system  Winner take all  Ballot access laws/campaign finance system  France- 2 rounds  First round, all parties participate  Runoff election between 2 top parties

Single Member Simple Plurality  SMSP System  GOP 40% Winner  Dem 35%  Green 25%  Proportional System  40% seats GOP, 35% Dem, 25% Green  SM majority system, runoff elections  2 nd election between GOP and Dem candidate

Societal Consensus  United States--Less ideological/religious cleavages  Separation of church and state  Desirability of capitalism, free markets  France  Desirability of revolution  Desirability of capitalism  Desirability of religion  Desirability of centralization; Paris v. Regions  Communists v. Socialists  RPR v. Free Republic v. National Front

Third Parties  Third parties rarely last  Electoral system- wasted votes  Main parties absorb issues  Perot and budget deficits  Nader and campaign finance reform?

Characteristics of the American Party System  highly fragmented and localism – most elections are at local level  50 state party organizations governed by state, not national, laws  National party only during presidential elections  New Deal Coalition- labor, blacks, and south?

The Democratic Parties  Democratic National Committee  Senate Democratic caucus, House Democratic Caucus  NY democratic party  Saratoga County democratic party  Saratoga Springs Democratic party

Evolution of Parties  Up until 1952, parties dominate American politics  Party workers mobilize voters  Dominate citizen’s conceptions of politics  But are weakening in face of progressive reforms

Why did parties die?  Civil service reform  Nonpartisan local elections, reliance on “experts”  The new “intelligent” and “independent” voter  Changes in technology

New technologies  Polling – Al D’Amato  Direct Mail fundraising  TV advertising  Change from politics dominated by parties to one dominated by technology and consultants  Capital not labor intensive

Weakening Parties  Party in electorate- increase independents, split ticket voting  Party in government – reduction in party voting  Party as organization – most campaigns are candidate centered

Who benefits from weak parties?  special interests  Wealthy and celebrity candidates  Incumbents gain  Political consultants

Consequences of Party Decline  decline of collective responsibility  Rise of blame game  Stronger parties would  Increase voters’ power  Promote more responsible govt

Party decline causes  Immobilism  Single Issue Politics  Popular alienation from government

Are Parties Alive and Well?  National committees, campaign committees

Differences between Parties  What do Democrats believe?  favor stronger role for the national government in areas such as health care, education, and the environment.  More supportive policies supporting various groups (minorities, women, gays).  More in favor of redistributive policies.  More permissive socially

Differences between 2 Parties  What do Republicans believe?  More limited role for government in general, but especially the national government.  Deregulation--give more power to the free market, less power to the government.  Lower taxes and spending.  Stricter social policy; “family values”