A Focus on Political Parties Their purpose, practices and how they work Chapter 8 Vs.

Third Term Panic

Republican Elephant Symbol Nast invented the famous symbol- the Republican elephant - in a cartoon that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1874 “Third Term Panic” G.O.P. = “Grand Old Party” Original meaning 1875 – “gallant old party”

Democratic Donkey Symbol first associated with Democrat Andrew Jackson's 1828 presidential campaign Later, cartoonist Thomas Nast used the Democratic donkey in newspaper cartoons and made the symbol famous.

1 st use of democratic donkey by Thomas Nast January 15, Harper's Weekly commentary on Northern Democrats (nicknamed Copperheads) dealings with Edwin M. Stanton, Lincoln's Secretary of War.

"Stranger Things Have Happened" December 27, 1879 “Hold on, and you may walk over the sluggish animal up there yet.”

Thomas Nast [Self-caricature] detail, Harper's Weekly, December 2, 1876, cover.

Thomas Nast Thomas Nast was a Radical Republican, a liberal, progressive, nationalistic, and Protestant wing of the party fierce supporter for the Union cause published in Harper's Weekly on September 3, 1864, shows Columbia weeping at the grave of "Union Heroes in a Useless War" as a weary Union amputee shakes the hand of a neatly groomed Southern soldier.

Thomas Nast scourge of Boss Tweed and the Tammany Hall political machine

‘Hands Off’ Socially, while ‘Hands On’ Economically ‘Hands Off’ Economically, while ‘Hands On’ Socially ‘HANDS OFF!’ EVERYTHING!! ‘HANDS ON!’ EVERYTHING!!

What is a Political Party?Political Party

What is a Political Party? Definition: a group of political activists who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to determine public policy. o Not mentioned in Constitution o Federalist Papers warn against factions Functions of parties o Recruit candidates to run for elective offices at all levels of government o Mobilize citizens to vote and participate in elections o Bear the responsibility of operating government at all levels o Provide organized opposition to the party in power

Tasks of Parties Parties Pick Candidates Parties Run Campaigns Parties Give Cues to Voters Parties Articulate Policies Parties Coordinate Policymaking A political party is a linkage institution

Political Party Organization

Party Organization * National Convention: meet every 4 years; decide President/VP candidates; write platformNational Convention * National Committee: manages party ’ s business between conventions, raise money, convention rules * National Chairperson: directs work of national committee * State & Local Organization: better funded/organized today than in past; organized similarly to national - State parties organize primary elections, raise $ -Decrease of local ‘ political machines ’ - Use specific and material inducements to win party loyalty & power.

Why Has the 2-Party System Endured in the USA?

Reasons for the Two Party System Electoral system: Duverger ’ s Law (Maurice Duverger, French sociologist – published papers in 1950’s & 1960’s) (1)Winner-Take-All (2)Plurality State laws deter 3rd Party Ballot Access: o States control candidate access to ballot - need sufficient # of votes in previous election o some states require registered voters to sign a petition to get ballot access

The Role of Minor Parties in US Politics

Reasons for 3rd Party Creation Failure of major parties to represent an emerging group or view: ▫ ex: George Wallace — American Independent Party (1968) Promote Ideology/Issue: ▫ Libertarian ▫ Green Desire to get major parties to champion an issue: ▫ Populist Party — reforms in economics/politics (1892) ▫ Ross Perot---Reduce federal deficit (1992 & 1996)

ImpactImpact of Third Parties Spoiler? Conventional wisdom holds that minor parties develop ideas that the major parties adopt o Ending slavery o Giving women the right to vote Factional parties have had probably the greatest influence on public policy o Perot (1990s)- deficit reduction became big part of Clinton ’ s platform

Third Parties Ideological parties: comprehensive, radical view; most enduring (communist, socialist, libertarian) Single-issue parties: address one concern, avoid others (Right to Life, Prohibition) Economic protest parties: regional, protest economic conditions Splinter/Factional parties: from split in a major party, usually over the party ’ s presidential nominee (TR - Bull Moose Party, Thurmond- States ’ Rights Party)

A History of Political Parties in the United States

Realignment vs. Dealignment Changes in Political Party Composition

Political Party Realignment Def: concept that a few elections in US history were more important than others because they resulted in “sharp & durable changes” in the political climate or nation Occurs when a minority party becomes stronger than the majority party – win election (ex:1860 and 1932) ▫ Political scientist Alan Beck asserts that 2 preconditions must exist prior to a realignment election: ▫ (1) loyalty to the party in power must be weak ▫ (2) some sort of societal trauma (such as the depression) must exist

Political Party Dealignment Def: a large portion of electorate abandon its previous partisan affiliation without developing a new one to replace it ▫ Is this happening now?

5 Realigning Elections

History of Party Eras in America Party era= a period of history in which there is one dominant majority party that wins most elections A. Rise of Political Parties ( ):  Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists B. Democratic Domination ( ):  Democratic-Republicans dominate until 1824  Whigs win presidency twice C. Republican Domination ( ):  Republicans began as 3rd Party  Lincoln solidified party  **Major Electoral Realignment** -- Slavery!

History of Party Eras in America (cont ’ d … ) D. Return of Democrats ( ):  FDR ’ s New Deal Coalition (blacks, urbanites, blue- collar/union workers, Catholics, Jews, and women)  **Major Electoral Realignment**  Economics! E. Divided Government (1968-present):  Split party control of Congress & President creates gridlock  led to dealignment (more people ID as independents; more split-ticket voting)

Party Identification: 1937-Present

Party in Government Today Presidency controlled by Democrat 111 th Congress controlled by Democrats ▫House  Republican: 178  Democrat: 257 ▫Senate  Republican: 40  Democrat: 58  Independent: 2  17 women