AP US Government and Politics Boucher Ch. 9 – Political Parties “The two real political parties in America are the Winners and the Losers. The people don’t acknowledge this. They claim membership in two imaginary parties, the Republicans and Democrats, instead.” – Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. “I sleep like a Democrat. I lie on one side, then I lie on the other!” – Republican bumper sticker “Vote Democrat. When’s the last time you heard of a nice piece of elephant?” – Democratic bumper sticker AP US Government and Politics Boucher

What are Political Parties? A group that seeks to elect candidates to public office by supplying them with a label Tasks of Political Parties Picking Candidates (Nominating) Running Campaigns Give Cues to Voters Articulate Policies Coordinate Policymaking Rational-Choice Theory Assumes that individuals act in their own best interest (including party identification)

History of Political Parties Founding – 1820s Viewed parties as factions Emergence of Federalists, Republicans (Ham v. Jeff) 1820s – 1860 Jacksonian Democracy Political participation becomes mass activity Parties built from bottom up

History of Political Parties Civil War and Sectionalism – 1860s – 1930s New Republicans dominate after Civil War Most states dominated by one party Republicans break into progressives (Mugwumps) and professionals (Old Guard) Era of Reform (1930s – present) Progressives push measures to curtail parties’ power and influence Primaries, strict voter registration, initiatives, referendum Effects?

Party Realignments Critical/Realigning Periods – When a sharp, lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties Five agreed upon realignments 1800, 1828, 1860, 1896, 1932 Two kinds of realignment 1980 a realignment? Presidential voting pattern shift

State and Local Parties Political Machine – A party organization that recruits members via incentives Abuses were extensive What is the “new” political machine format? Ideological Parties Principle is more important than winning election…so, they lose Solidary Groups Members motivated by companionship (Adv? Disadv?) Sponsored Parties Created or sustained by another organization (Detroit Democrats = UAW) Personal Following (Kennedys, Bushs, Byrds, etc.)

Local Parties to National Conventions Local (grassroots) parties differ from state and national 50 State Parties Primaries: Open, Closed, Blanket National Conventions Are they necessary? Formulas used to allocate number of delegates Democrat rules 1970s – Weakening of local party leaders to increase minority representation Hunt Commission – 1981 – Increased the influence of elected officials 1988 – Superdelegates! 1992 – Proportional representation implemented

Third Parties Ideological Parties One-issue Parties Factional Parties Socialist, Communist, Libertarian One-issue Parties Free Soil, Know-Nothing, Prohibition Factional Parties Bull Moose, American Independent Party What is the impact of third parties?

Find the Fake Third Party! Pansexual Peace Party (PPP) Pot Party Boston Tea Party American Nazi Party Maine Secession Party Pirate Party Modern Whig Party Ray O. Light Group