1. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media
Unit IIIA
Political Parties

2. Political Party
A group of political activists organized to secure and operate the government and determine public policy
A permanent organization based on broad objectives and issues in order to attract support, power, and voters

3. The Functions of Political Parties
Recruitment
Discover political hopefuls to secure political offices
Elections
Organize voting drives, fundraisers, conventions
Positions
Establish political agendas to solidify base
Responsibility
Implement and secure support and influence through appointments of loyalists
Loyal Opposition
Force debate on issues against opposing party

4. Political Party Components
Party in the Electorate
Individual members of the party who identify with the party platform and/or vote based on party lines
Party in the Government
Elected and appointed officials identified with a political party
Party Organization
Party professionals responsible for recruitment (volunteers, candidates), organizing grassroots and conventions, and running campaigns and fundraisers

6. Party Platforms DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS
Minimum wages; tax increases on upper-class
Wages based on free market; no tax increases
Support Roe v. Wade; pro-choice; support Planned Parenthood
Overturn Roe v. Wade; pro-life; eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood
Decrease defense spending; make military more efficient
Defense and security a priority; increase defense spending
Support equality and affirmative action programs; support same-sex benefits
Against racial quotas; support ”traditional” marriage and family roles
Favor gun control
Favor gun rights
Against the Patriot Act based on restrictions of civil liberties
Favor security measures of the Patriot Act
Preserve welfare programs; oppose privatization of social security
Privatize social security; reduce government welfare programs
Support environmental regulations; endorse climate change
Reduce government regulation of energy-based industries; questionable on climate change
Expand national health care coverage
Health care controlled by industries

7. Major Political Party Bases
Democratic Party
Republican Party (GOP)
African-Americans
LGBTQ
Jews
Progressive liberals
Anti-war
Support United Nations
Environmentalists
Social justice/civil rights
Keynesian economics
Protestant evangelicals/Christian Right
Neoconservatives
War hawks
International interventionists
Expansion of American military and defense spending
Traditionalists/ Paleoconservatives
Pro-life
“traditional” marriage and family roles
Economic nationalists
Cultural conservatives
Supply-Side Economics
Low income and corporate taxes
Limited government regulation

8. Party in the Government
Executive
Appoint political party officials to enforce laws based on party platforms
Coerce Congress to implement party platform agendas
Legislative
Establish congressional and committee leadership to implement party platform legislation
Develop coalitions to ensure party platforms and electoral victories
Unified Government
Political party controls executive and legislative branches
Passage of party platform legislation relatively easy
Divided Government
Opposing political party holds majority in House, Senate, White House or two of those
Prevents relative dominance of one party
Gridlock leads to compromise or delay in addressing national issues

9. Political Party Organization

10. Local Party Organization Political Machines and Grassroots
Party organization that recruits members through incentives
Money, jobs, patronage, support
Tammany Hall in New York City
Modern Local Party Organizations
More restrictions established through voter registration and end of patronage
Grassroots
From-the-ground-up building of political support
Local campaigning and fundraising

11. Party Systems One-Party System Two-Party System Multi-Party System
Little to no choice in party affiliations; leaders choose candidates
Typical of dictatorial governments
Two-Party System
Dominated by two major parties; minor parties have little effect
Electoral College and single-member districts promote two-party system
Plurality system/winner-take-all system
American voters tend to choose between Democrat or Republican
Multi-Party System
Multiple major parties and influential minority parties
Proportional representation promotes this system
Securing majority power often difficult leading to coalitions among parties
Tend to be unstable

12. Party Polarization Ideological distance between the political parties
Causes
Gerrymandering
“Primaried”
Media-Driven Ideological Conflicts
Single-Issue Interest Groups
Citizens United / Rise of Super PACs
Effects
Gridlock
Lack of compromise

13. Constitutionality of Political Parties
The U.S. Constitution does not include any reference to political parties
Federalist #10 by James Madison warned of factions
George Washington’s Farewell Address warned of partisan politics
Threatens national unity and popular government
Federalists and Anti-Federalists originated two-party system in U.S.

14. Party Development 1789-1796 Washington’s Administration
Thomas Jefferson vs. Alexander Hamilton
Hamilton’s national policies
Bank of the U.S.
Debt plan
Jefferson’s egalitarian vision
States’ rights

15. First Political Party System (1789-1824)
Alexander Hamilton
Thomas Jefferson
Federalists
National policies
Strong central government
Loose constructionists
Commerce and manufacturing
Urban
The rich, the well-born, the able; merchants, bankers
Pro-British
Northeast
Democratic-Republicans
States rights
Strong local/state governments
Strict constructionists
Agricultural
Rural
Small farmers, plantation owners, artisans
Anti-British
West and South

16. Second Party System (1828-1854)
Democrats:
States’ rights
Limited government
Laissez-faire
Expansionism
Pro-slavery
Equal opportunity
South and West
Yeoman farmers, working class, southern planters, immigrants
Anti-Masonic Party:
issue party concerned about Freemasons
promoted economic nationalism and social conservatism
Liberty Party:
abolitionist party
Free Soil Party:
Prevent expansion of slavery
Andrew Jackson
National Republicans/Whigs:
American System
Strong federal government
Mixed on slavery
Social conservatives
New England
Upper and middle class professionals, evangelical Protestants
Henry Clay

17. Third Party System (1860-1896) Democrats Platform Republicans Platform
Antebellum and Post War Issues( )
Slavery and Emancipation
Reconstruction policies
Post Reconstruction Issues ( )
Civil Service Reform
Tariffs and Protectionism
Gold Standard and Silver
Populist Party
Democrats
Platform
Pro-slavery
States’ rights; laissez-faire
Factions
Bourbon Democrats
Pro-business Democrats
Supported civil service reforms
Redeemer Democrats
Coalition
White Southerners, Catholics, Lutherans, Jews, Immigrants, working class
Solid South
Republicans
Platform
Radical Reconstruction
Pro-business; tariffs; protectionism
Factions
Stalwarts
Preserve spoils system and machine politics
Half-Breeds
Pursued civil service reform
Mugwumps
Independents discouraged with corrupt GOP
Coalition
Business, upper-class, middle-class, Northern WASPs, reformers, blacks, scalawags, carpetbaggers
Northeast and West

18. Fourth Party System (1896-1932)
Democrats
Coalition
Solid South, western farmers, urban immigrants, working class
Laissez-faire policies
New Freedom
Socialist Party of America
German and Jewish immigrants, unionists, former Populist farmers, Progressive social reformers
Elections
Two members of U.S. House
Dozens of state legislators, mayors, council members
Eugene V. Debs
Ran in , 1912, 1920
Received over 900,000 votes in 1912 and 1920
Republicans
Dominated the federal government during this era
Coalition
Industrialists, corporations, upper-class, fundamentalists, Northeast
Nationalists and Imperialists
Bull Moose Party
aka Progressive Party
New Nationalism

19. Fifth Party System (1932-1968) Republicans Democrats Pro-business
New Deal Coalition
Catholics
Jews
Blacks
Progressive Intellectuals
Urban Machines
Populist Farmers
White Southerners
Labor Unions
Low-Income
Immigrants
Philosophy
Social liberalism/social democracy
Social justice
Keynesian economics
Dominated Congress and American public for the next 36 years
Republicans
Pro-business
Economic conservatives
Social conservatives
Northeast, parts of the Midwest

20. Sixth Party System (1968-Present)
Republicans
Democrats
Platform
Conservatism
New Federalism
Supply-Side Economics
Privatization
Southern Strategy
Christian Coalition/Moral Majority
Proactive and expanded military
Judicial restraint
Pro-life
Electoral Events
Republican Revolution
1994 Mid-Term Elections
Contract with America
2010 Mid-Term Election
Tea Party
Demographics
Business Professionals/Corporations
Blue-Collar Workers
Bible Belt, Midwest, Rocky Mountains
Platform
Liberalism
Equal opportunity and social welfare
Keynesian economics and progressive taxes
National health insurance
Affirmative action
Environmentalism
Multinational coalitions
Judicial activism
Pro-choice
Electoral Events
1968 Democratic National Convention
2006 Mid-Term Elections
2008 Presidential Election
Demographics
Professionals/Academics
Women, Youth, and Minorities
Urban sectors
Unions
Northeast and Pacific West (Left Coast)

21. Republican Party GOP - Grand Old Party Elephant
Possible origin in New York Times headlines
Elephant
Thomas Nast of Harper’s Weekly in 1874
Signified Republican vote in response to possible third term for President Grant (R)

22. Democratic Party
Probably in reference to Andrew Jackson’s opponents calling him a jackass
Thomas Nast of Harper’s Weekly in 1870

23. Minor/Third Parties Ideological Splinter Single-Issue Protest
Based on social, economic, or political beliefs
Socialist Party, Libertarian Party
Splinter
Split from major national party
Bull Moose Party, States’ Rights Party
Single-Issue
Based on a individual policy matter
Free Soil Party, Know-Nothing Party
Protest
Formed on basis of poor conditions
Populist Party

24. Impact of Minor Parties on Political System
Anti-Masonic Party introduced national conventions
Republican Party began as minor party and became major national party
Populist Party fueled Progressive Era reforms
States’ Rights Party and American Independence Party showcased racial attitudes of Solid South

25. Why Don’t Minor Parties Succeed
Based on single-issue thus attract very few supporters
Major national parties may assimilate them into broader coalition
Die out when issue is either solved, loses support, and/or leaders pass on
More success in state and local governments
Winner-take-all systems and single-member districts

26. Minor Party Assimilation by a Major Party
Election of 1892
Election of 1896

27. Minor Party Impact on Electoral College

28. Minor Party Impact on Electoral College

29. Current Minor Party National Officeholders
Senator Angus King (I) of Maine (2013-Present)
Senator Bernie Sanders (I) of Vermont (2007-Present)

30. Current National Political Parties
Democratic (1828*)
Republican (1854)
Libertarian (1971)
Green Party (1991)
Constitution Party (1992)
America First Party (2002)
American Conservative Party (2008)
American Freedom Party (2010)
American Nazi Party (1959)
American Populist Party (2009)
America’s Party (2008)
Christian Liberty Party (1996)
Citizens party of the United States (2004)
Communist Party USA (1919)
Freedom Socialist Party (1966)
Independent American Party (1998)
Justice Party (2011)
Modern Whig Party (2008)
National Socialist Movement (1974)
Objectivist Party (2008)
Party for Socialism and liberation (2004)
Peace and Freedom Party (1967)
Prohibition Party (1869)
Reform Party (1995)
Socialist Action (1983)
Socialist Alternative (1986)
Socialist Equality Party (1966)
Socialist Party USA (1973)
Socialist Workers Party (1938)
Transhumanist Party (2014)
United States Marijuana Party(2002)
United States Pacifist Party (1983)
United States Pirate Party (2006)
Unity Party of America (2004)
Veterans Party of America (2013)
Workers World Party (1959)