Unit 2: Political Behavior Chapter 5- Political Parties

Nolan Chart Emphasis on personal and economic freedom

Pournelle Model Emphasis on reason and power of the state

Friesian Institute Model Stacks political rights on top of economic and Personal rights

Generalizations Democrats Republicans Higher SES Lower SES Lower Ed & Intellectuals Minorities Blue Collar/Union Urban Coastal Women Non-Christian Non-Church Goer Higher SES Above avg. Ed (BA &MA) WASPs White Collar Rural/Suburban Middle America Men Christian Regular Church Goer

I. Parties and What They Do What is a Party? 1. Political party- a. Not issue-oriented- they are ELECTION ORIENTED!

B. What Do Parties Do? 1. Nominating Candidates- 2. Inform and Activate Support- a. news media and Interest groups

3. Bonding Agent Function: 4. Government Function:

5. Watchdog Function: a. “throw the rascals out” b. the “loyal opposition”

II.Why 2 Parties? 1. British Tradition (Tories v. Whigs) 2.American 2-sided issues a. Federalists v. Anti-Federalists b. North v. South c. Rich v. Poor 3. Electoral System:

a. single member districts b. plurality-````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

c. The result is? 4. Commonality of views a. effect on major parties? 5. Laws against 3rd parties a. 5% b. 700,000 signatures

The Big Tent Parties

Multiparty systems 1. European democracies 2. Parliamentary C. One Party System- No Party

` D. Party Membership Patterns: 1. Family 2. Major events 3. Economic status 4. Age, education, residence, etc. a. Most important of these?

Minor Party

Minor Parties Minor Parties in the United States: 1. Four types a. ideological parties-

1. www.lp.org 2. www.slp.org b. Single-issue parties:

1. Hope for adoption of their issues by major parties. c. Economic Protest parties: 1. www.constitutionparty.com

d. Splinter parties: 1. Most important minor parties. 2. Bull Moose Party, Dixiecrat Party, American Independent Party

2. Importance of Minor Parties: a. Spoiler Role- b. critic and innovator- clear-cut stance on controversial issues. 1. Most important of roles

Future of Major Parties 1. Been in decline since 1960s: a. increase in # of independents b. split-ticket voting c. use of television and internet d. increase in # of single-issue organizations

V. Party Organization Decentralized Nature of Parties 1. Fragmented, disjointed, and squabbling 2. No chain of command from National-local.

3. Role of Presidency- a. party leader b. opposition party- no real leader 4. Impact of Federalism- # of elective offices

B. National Party Machinery 1. 4 Basic elements: a. National Convention- platform, rules, etc.

b. National Committee- large organization; little power 1. Focuses on National Convention c. National Chairperson- leads Nat. committee 1. Elected to 4-year term 2. Directs work of party headquarters

d. Congressional Campaign Committee 1. Work to reelect incumbents and hold onto vacant seats

D. 3 Components of the Party 1. Party organization- leaders, activists, and hangers-on 2. Party in the electorate- loyalists, straight ticket voters, etc. 3. Party in government- hold elective office