The Organization of Political Parties
Reality of Political Parties Two major parties are highly decentralized (internal fighting) No real chain of command – States parties loosely tied to national – Local parties independent of states
The Role of the President The President’s party is usually more solidly united than the opposing The President is the party leader The other party has no comparable leader - party out of power
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National Party Machinery Four Elements 1. National Convention – Meet to nominate the presidential and vice presidential candidate every 4 years, create party platform 2. National Committee – Handles the party’s affairs between conventions
National Party Machinery Four Elements 3. National Chairperson – Heads up the national committee 4. Congressional Campaign Committees – Job to increase party’s congressional seats Platform: party’s position on public issues of interest
State and Local Party Machinery State – job is to further the party’s interests in that state Local –follow the State’s electoral map, most active a few months before an election
Three Elements of the Party Party Organization – leaders, activists, and hangers-on who control party machinery Party in the electorate – loyalists who vote their candidates Party in government – officeholders at all levels of government
The Future of the Majority Parties Political Parties have been in a state of decline since the late 1960s Parties are unlikely to disappear as long as they continue to perform necessary functions
Reasons for Decline Larger number of voters registering as independent SPLIT-TICKET VOTING – voting for candidates of both parties for offices at the same election.
Reasons (cont) Greater internal conflict Changes in technology of campaigning. Growth of single-issue organizations who side with a candidate on a specific issue.
Questions 1. What type of political party formed as the result of separating from one of the major parties? 2. What type of party grows during periods of economic discontent? 3. Name a key role minor parties play. 4. The “know nothings” are an example of what type of minor party. 5. What type of minor party usually forms around a strong personality?
6. In general, how are the the organization of the two major parties in the United States characterized? 7. When Mitt Romney lost the presidential election, why didn’t he become the leader of the Republican Party? 8. What is meant by the party platform? 9. What is split-ticket voting? 10. Why do some political analysts believe that the party system may collapse?
11. Tom Corbet is currently the Republican Governor of PA. John Boehner is one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress. Which of the three components of the political party is this an example?