1. Political Parties
Chapter 8

2. Bell Ringer 3/5 Why are Third Parties important in the United States?
Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008
Bell Ringer 3/5
Why are Third Parties important in the United States?
Why do you think these people choose to run even though they know they will more than likely lose the election?
Did you find any third parties that interested you? What was appealing/not appealing about them?

3. 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 as “three-headed political giants”:
Party in the electorate (no dues or membership cards)
Party as an organization (Party Activists--U.S. parties loosely organized at nat’l, state, & local levels)
Party in government (Elected officials, don’t always agree on policy)

4. 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
What do parties do?
Parties Pick Candidates
Parties Run Campaigns
Parties Give Cues to Voters
Parties Articulate Policies
Parties Coordinate Policymaking

5. The Meaning of Party
The Downs Model: the relationship among parties, voters, and policy:
Voters want to maximize chances that policies they favor are adopted by government.
Parties want to win elected office.
In order to win, the wise party selects policies that are widely favored
Party A figures out want the voters want more accurately than Party B… Party A should win the election.
What is the consequence of this model?
Rational-choice theory
Assumes that parties and political actors have goals (like winning elections) that are more important to the party than ideology.

6. 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
National Committee: one of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions
National Chairperson: responsible for day-to-day activities of the party

7. Party Structure

8. The Meaning of Party
Individuals act in their own best interest, weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.
If both parties and voters are rational, both will try to select the best way to achieve their goals.
Pursue policies with broad appeal.
Rarely stray from midpoint of public opinion.
Often hear that there is not much difference between Dems. and Reps., but they don’t have to be much different given the moderate American electorate.

9. The Meaning of Party
The Downs Model

11. The Party in the Electorate
Party image: a voter’s perception of what Republicans or Democrats stand for
Party identification: a citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other
Republican, Democrat, or Independent
Ticket-splitting: voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices
Independents are most likely to split tickets.
No state or race is completely safe due to split tickets.

12. The Party in the Electorate

13. Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

14. 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
Due to progressive reforms, urban party organizations are generally weak.
Revitalization of party organization at county level

15. The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington
The 50 State Party Systems
Closed primaries: Only people who have registered with the party can vote for that party’s candidates.
Open primaries: Voters decide on Election Day whether they want to vote in the Democrat or Republican primary.
Blanket primaries: Voters are presented with a list of candidates from all parties.
State parties are better organized in terms of headquarters and budgets than they used to be.

16. 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
National Committee: one of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions
National Chairperson: responsible for day-to-day activities of the party

17. The Party in Government: Promises and Policy
Party members actually elected to government
The party that controls government has policy consequences.
Coalition: a group of individuals with a common interest upon which every political party depends
Parties and politicians generally act on their campaign promises.

19. Party Websites
Democratic Party
Republican Party

20. Party Eras in American History
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.
Critical election period may require more than one election for the change to become apparent, but the party system will be transformed.
Party Realignment (Rare event)
The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, typically associated with a major crisis.
New Coalition (individuals or groups supporting the party)
Formed for each party and endures for many years.

21. Party Eras in American History
: The First Party System
Madison warned of “factions”
Federalists: first political party
: Jackson and the Democrats Versus the Whigs
Modern party founded by Jackson
Whigs formed mainly to oppose Jacksonian Democrats

22. Party Eras in American History
: The Two Republican Eras
Republicans rose as the antislavery party
1896 election centered on industrialization
: The New Deal Coalition
New Deal coalition: forged by the Democrats; consisted of urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics, Jews, the poor, Southerners

23. Party Eras in American History
1968-Present: The Era of Divided Party Government
Divided government: one party controls Congress and the other controls White House
Divided government due in part to:
Party dealignment: disengagement of people from parties as evidenced by shrinking party identification
Party neutrality: people are indifferent towards the two parties

24. The Party in Government: Today
Presidency controlled by the Democratic Party
Congress – 113th Congress, 1st Session
Senate
House
Democrat
Independent
Republican
112th Congress 51 2 47
113th Congress 53 45
Democrat
Republican
Vacant
112th Congress
191
240 4
113th Congress
199
232

25. Party Eras in American History

26. Party Eras in American History

27. Party Eras in American History

28. Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics
Third parties: electoral contenders other than the two parties rarely win elections
Third parties are important.
Are “safety valves” for popular discontent
Bring new groups and ideas into politics
Two-party system
Discourages extreme views
Contributes to political ambiguity

30. American Political Parties:
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Libertarian Party
Constitution Party
Socialist Party
Communist Party USA
Directory of American Political Parties

31. Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics
Multiparty Systems in Other Countries
Winner-take-all system: legislative seats awarded only to first place finishers
Proportional Representation: legislative seats awarded based on votes received by the party - more votes, more seats
Coalition Government: two or more parties join to form a majority in a national legislature

32. Understanding Political Parties
Parties are essential elements of democracy
Democracy and Responsible Party Government
Responsible Party Model
1. Parties have distinct comprehensive programs.
2. Candidates are committed to the program.
3. The majority party must carry out its program.
4. The majority party must accept responsibility.
American political parties fall short of these conditions.
No mechanism for party discipline

33. Understanding Political Parties
American Political Parties and the Scope of Government
Lack of uniformity keeps government small
Big programs like Health Care (1994) fail
But also makes cutting government programs difficult
Individuals focus on getting more from government for their own constituents

34. Understanding Political Parties
Is the Party Over?
Political parties are no longer main source of information for voters (media are), but
Party identification still the best predictor of vote choice
State and national party organizations have become more visible and active
Majority of people still identify with a party

35. Summary
Parties are a pervasive linkage institution in American politics.
Party in electorate, government, and as organization
America has a two-party system.♥ decentralized re of political parties makes major change difficult and encourages individualism in politics.212