Chapter 7 Political Parties

The Meaning of Party Political Party: A “team of men [and women] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.” Parties can be thought of in three parts: Party in the electorate Party as an organization Party in government

The Meaning of Party Tasks of the Parties Linkage Institution: The channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda. These translate input from the public into outputs from the policymakers. Parties Pick Candidates Parties Run Campaigns Parties Give Cues to Voters Parties Articulate Policies Parties Coordinate Policymaking

The Meaning of Party Parties, Voters, and Policy: The Downs Model Rational-choice theory: Assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, weighing the costs & benefits. Policies closest to the views of a majority of voters.

The Party in the Electorate Party identification is a citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other. Recent party id trend: decline in both parties and growth of independents. Ticket-splitting: Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. Ticket-splitting has become the norm in American voting behavior. -Divided party government

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington These are the people that work for the party. Local Parties Party Machines: A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements to win votes and to govern. Patronage: A job, promotion or contract given for political reasons rather than merit. Used by party machines. Now urban party organizations are generally weak. County organizations have partially filled the void.

The Party Organization: From the Grass Roots to Washington The 50 State Party Systems Closed primaries: voters must be registered with their party in advance and can only vote for that party Open primaries: voters decide on election day which party to participate in, and then only that party Blanket primaries: voters get a list of all candidates and can vote for one name for each office, regardless of party label State party organizations are on an upswing in terms of headquarters and budgets.

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington The National Party Organizations National Convention: The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and the party’s platform. Supreme power within each of the parties National Committee: One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. National Chairperson: Responsible for day-to-day activities of the party.

The Party in Government: Promises and Policy These are the party members actually elected to government. Candidates are less dependent on parties to get elected. Coalition: A group of individuals with a common interest upon which every political party depends. Parties & politicians generally do what they say they will do. For every broken promise, many more will be kept.

Party Eras in American History America is a two party system. Party Eras Historical periods in which a majority of votes cling to the party in power. Critical Election An electoral “earthquake” where new issues and new coalitions emerge. Party Realignment The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election.

Party Eras in American History : The First Party System Madison warned of “factions” First party were the Federalists Democratic-Republicans were the party that defeated the Federalists. -led by Jefferson, Madison, & Monroe : Jackson and the Democrats Versus the Whigs Modern party founded by Jackson, who forged a new political coalition. Whigs formed mainly in opposition to Democrats

Party Eras in American History : The Two Republican Eras Republicans rose as the antislavery party 1896 election revolved around the gold standard and silver Resulted in party realignment and entrenched republicans another generation : The New Deal Coalition Forged by the Democrats - relied upon urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, and African Americans. LBJ’s Vietnam policies tore Democrats apart in 1968.

Party Eras in American History Party Coalitions Today (Figure 8.2)

Party Eras in American History 1968-Present: The Era of Divided Party Government Nixon started the era of divided party gov’t. Continued with Reagan, Bush, and eventually Clinton. Political Scientists believe we could be seeing an era of party dealignment. Party dealignment - disengagement of people from parties

Party Eras in American History Partisan Control of State Governments: 2005 (Figure 8.3)

Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics Parties other than Democrat or Republican 3 types of third parties Parties promoting single issues Splinter party Parties that are extensions of popular individuals with presidential aspirations. Rarely win elections Third parties bring new groups and ideas into politics

Understanding Political Parties Democracy and Responsible Party Government Responsible Party model: Parties must present distinct, comprehensive programs for governing the nation. Majority party must implement its programs, and minority party must state what it would do if it were in power. Majority party accepts responsibility. Voters would know who to blame! Critics: Believe its not appropriate for the type of limited gov’t that the founders sought to create.

Understanding Political Parties American Political Parties and the Scope of Government Lack of uniformity keeps government small But, it also makes cutting government programs harder to do

Understanding Political Parties Is the Party Over? One of the key problems for political parties is that they are no longer the chief source of information for voters. Television allows voters to find out about candidates without party information. Parties still have a role in articulating policies.