Political Parties Teams of people competing to win public office or influence public policy This presentation is the property of Dr. Kevin Parsneau for use by him and his current students. No other person may use or reprint without his permission.

Are political parties “factions” or mechanisms for unity and action? What is a political party and why do we have them? How do parties work in the ideal world? Why does the U.S. have a two-party system? What role do third parties have in the U.S. system?

Political Parties Definition(s): a team of people seeking to win office or influence public policy through elections (not to be confused with revolutionary parties that may not use elections or seek to gain office).

Three Aspects of Parties Political Parties – Party in organization – Party in the electorate – Party in government These can be seen as ways to look at parties or parts of the parties

Party in Organization “Party in Organization”--party "professionals" who run the day-to-day tasks of the party as well as those who hold official offices within the party – National Committees – Campaign Committees – National Conventions – State and local parties

Some Important Party Groups Democratic National Committee D.N.C. Chair and Members Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Republican National Committee R.N.C. Chair and Members National Republican Congressional Committee National Republican Senatorial Committee

Party Platforms Formal statements of the party’s official principles, beliefs and position on policies and issues. Drafted and approved at national conventions Can be used to pressure party’s officeholders to uphold the ideals of party delegates

Party in the Electorate Party in the Electorate--people who identify themselves with the party or register as a member of the party

Party in the Electorate Ideological Parties: parties whose members generally share a single ideology even though they may differ on some specific issues. Coalition Parties: parties whose members have a relatively diverse set of beliefs or important issues but usually agree enough to act as a team to elect their candidates.

Party in Government Party in Government--officeholders at any level who affiliate with a political party

Why do we have parties? Party Labels Electoral Coordination Legislative Coordination Laws and Rules Voter Mobilization

How do parties work in the ideal world? Responsible Party Government: the theory that political parties are necessary and good for democracy because they are the means for voters to hold government accountable. It argues that parties advocate clearly different policies, and they try to promote successful policies because voters will reward or punish them based upon their performance in office.

Problems w/ RPG Rarity of unified government Parties don’t articulate clear policy choices Candidates win based on individual appeal and fundraising independent of parties No strong enforcement mechanisms to make them stick to the platform Checks and balances and assigning credit/blame Federalism and assigning credit/blame

Why does the U.S. have only two parties? Natural Ballot access Coopting Duverger's Law

Duverger’s Law Duverger’s Law: Single-member, winner- takes-all districts discourage third parties by squeezing out any party is not a viable threat to win a plurality in the election.

Third Parties Famous Third Parties Populist Party—1892 William Jennings Bryant Progressive Party—1912 Theodore Roosevelt Socialist Party—1900 Eugene Debs American Indep. Party—1968 George Wallace Libertarian Party—1971 Green Party—1984 Ralph Nader Reform Party—1995 H. Ross Perot

Third Parties Types of Third Parties Fracture Parties Ideological Parties Personality Parties Single Issue Parties

Third Parties Strategies of Third Parties Displace a major party Pressure major parties Suggest a new way Raise important issues Register a protest vote

Some thoughts Political parties may have a invidious effect Democracies seem unthinkable except in terms of political parties Parties are elected officials, party workers and supporters among the public. Parties work in an ideal, but we do not match the ideal The U.S has a two-party system Conscious choice by parties Institutional arrangements and Duverger’s Law Third Parties have a role