1. “Linkage Institution”
Political Parties
“Linkage Institution”

2. Political Parties Political Party
a group of citizens united by ideology and seeking control of government in order to promote their ideas and policies
Organized group that may include office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who pursue their common interests by gaining and exercising power through the electoral process
Question: What is the ultimate goal of a political party?

3. Goal of a Political Party?
Run candidates for office to WIN ELECTIONS

4. What Do Parties Do?
Electioneering: process of getting a person elected to office
Recruiting candidates
Nominating Candidates
Closed primaries/Open Primaries
Nominating Conventions
Defining Policy Agendas
General Elections
Soft money

5. Propaganda Techniques
Transfer/Symbols
Just Plain Folks
Bandwagon
Namecalling
Stacked Cards
Glittering Generalities
Endorsement/Testimonials

6. What Do Parties Do?
Governing: activities directed toward control of political resources by providing leadership, enacting agendas, mobilizing support and building coalitions
Controlling government
Divided vs. United Government
Midterm elections of 1994 and 2006
Policy
Do parties implement their ideas?

7. Function of Parties
Political Linkage - Connecting citizens to government
Political Efficacy (internal) – citizen participation level and awareness of government decisions
Unification of fragmented government – organizing government and coordinating government policy making
A voice for the opposition – informs the public – both sides of partisanship

8. Components of Political Parties
Party Organization – the official structure that conducts the political business of parties
Party-in-Government – members of the party who have been elected to serve in government
Party-in-the-Electorate – ordinary citizens who identify with the party (party identification)

9. History of Parties in America
George Washington’s Farewell Address
Avoid foreign affairs
Avoid foreign allies
Avoid sectionalism
Avoid political parties
The Evolution of Political Parties in America
What were the first two political parties in this country? What are the major parties today?

10. Theory Of Critical (Realignment) Periods
Party Eras – Extended periods of relative political stability in which one party tends to control both the presidency and Congress
Critical election – An election signaling a significant change in popular allegiance from one party to the other
Realignments – substantial and long-term shift in party allegiance by people usually resulting in a change in policy direction

11. Realignment
Realignments – major, lasting shift in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties
Scholars point to 1800, 1828, 1860, 1896, 1932
Two Kinds:
1) major party is beaten so badly that it disappears, and
new party takes its place
(Federalists in 1800, Whigs in 1860)
Two existing parties continue, but voters shift their support from one to the other (1896, 1932)

12. Party Eras 1st Party Era (1796-1824) – Development of Parties
Main cleavage: Federal vs. state rights
Federalists (end) vs. Democratic Republicans (split)
2nd Party Era ( ) – Jacksonian Democracy
Expansion in electorate
Democrats vs. Whigs (northern vs. southern)
3rd Party Era ( ) – Golden Age, Part I
Republican Party/Civil War
Republicans (north/west) vs. Democrats (southern and proslavery)

13. 3rd Party Era Political Machines
Use of tangible incentives such as jobs to win loyalty among voters
Provided upward social mobility
When historians consider the so-called "Golden Age" of politics, they note party stability, the dominance of political party associations in local and state governments, and the effect of those organizations on voters. This era, which lasted from the end of Reconstruction until the Progressive Era, featured surprising stability in the evolution and identity of both the Republican and Democratic Parties.
This was in part due the the existence of political machines, organizations that used tangible benefits, such as jobs and favors, to win loyalty among voters. A side effect of political machines was the opportunity for upward social mobility, especially for immigrants.

14. Party Eras 4th Party Era (1896-1932) – Golden Age, Part II
Merger of Democrats/People’s Party?
Economic issues; stock market crash
5th Party Era ( ) – The Modern Era
Democrats (New Deal coalition) vs. Republicans (identified with conservativism)
African Americans shift in party identification
Candidate-centered politics – a focus on those running for office, their issues, and character rather than party affiliation

15. Party Eras: What Does A Realignment Look Like?
The map on the left shows the Electoral College results of the 1928 election, won by Republican Herbert Hoover. The map on the right shows the results of the 1932 election, won by Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt. The numbers in the maps represent the number of Electoral College votes allocated to each state. Note the obvious increase in the number and percentage of "blue states."

16. Party Eras
6th Party Era (1968-?)
Divided nation, party competition, gridlock
Have we broken with patterns of clear dominance?
Question: Is there any evidence to suggest that 2008 or 2016 are realignment elections?

17. Historical Context: Review
Republic Party:
How the Republican Party Went From Lincoln to Trump
Democratic Party
From White Supremacy to Barack Obama: The History of the Democratic Party

18. Do Now
Take out your annotations for “Critical Elections and the Mainsprings of American Politics”
Working with your partner, identify the main idea of the article and the 5-10 most important takeaways from the article.
Each person should write them down!

19. Party Structure (Organization)
What does party structure look like in the US?
National
State
Local

21. Party Structure: National
National Convention – meets every 4 years, writes platform, nominates President and VP
National Committee – manages party affairs on daily basis between conventions
National Chairperson: What do they do?
Congressional campaign committee – supports party’s candidates, including mid-term elections

22. What Do the Parties Stand For: Policy
Party platform: list of policy positions a party endorses and pledges its elected officials to enact
National party’s campaign promises
During an election year, can change
Planks: each point
Reminder: YOUR PLATFORMS ARE DUE TODAY; them to me by 8:00pm

23. Do now
Create a T-Chart in your notes and identify general differences between Democrats and Republicans. Consider the following in your lists:
Characteristics
Issues
Individuals
Ideologies
Key people

24. Table 11.1 What Do Party Platforms Say?
Issue
Democratic Platform
Republican Platform
Abortion
Strongly supports Roe v. Wade (1973) and a woman’s right to choose
Upholds the “sanctity of human life”; believes unborn children have “Individual right to life”
Defense
Supports reductions in federal defense spending
Believes that cuts in defense spending would be “disaster” for national security
Medicare
Opposes any movement toward privatization of or vouchers for Medicare
Believes in “premium-support” model for Medicare
Public-Employee Unions
Opposes attacks on collective bargaining undertaken by some Republican governors
Supports Republican governors’ efforts to reform laws governing unions
Same-Sex Marriage
Supports marriage equality and equal treatment under law for same-sex couples
Supports constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman
Sources: “Moving America Forward: 2012 Democratic National Platform,” and

25. What Do the Parties Stand For: Membership
Democrats
Republicans
Working/lower class
Union members
Minorities
Women
Young people*
Urban dwellers
Upper/middle class
Non-union members
White
Religious
The elderly*
Suburban dwellers

27. Party Structure: State
Examples: NCDP, NCRP
State party holds state conventions;
Helps write state party platforms
Discussion Questions:
Why would a state platform be different?
How different can it be?
Supports candidates for state offices (for example, the General Assembly in NC)

28. Party Structure: Local
Each community divided into precincts --geographic areas that contain a specific number of voters who all vote in the same place
Chairperson, volunteers try to register voters
Local party nominates candidates to city and county offices
Political Machine -- party organization that recruits members by dispensing money, favors, and “patronage” (political jobs)
More common in late-19th century; but still occurs

29. Party Structure: Local
“Grass Roots” – parties can also reach the voters personally and “get-out-the-vote” on a local level

30. Responsible Party Model
Party government when four conditions are met:
Clear choice of ideologies
Candidates pledged to implement ideas
Party held accountable by voters
Party control over members
This reflects an “ideal party system.” Do we have that in America? Why not?

31. Party Identification
Party identification – voter affiliation with a political party
Dealignment - More people today identify themselves as independents (Why did this increase, specifically, in the 1960s and 1970s?)
Party base – members of a political party who consistently vote for that party’s candidates (straight ticket)

32. Party Identification

33. Party Identification and Ideology

34. Identification: Group Affiliations
Geography
Gender
Race and Ethnicity
Age
Social and Economic Factors
Religion
Marital Status
Groups can play a key role in determining whether a person leans Democratic or Republican. When it comes to geography, Democrats tend to dominate the Northeast and California, while Republicans are strongest in the South and Midwest.
Along gender lines, more women identify with Democrats, while more men are Republican. In terms of race and ethnicity, Africans Americans and Hispanics favor Democrats. As far as age is concerned, young adults and the elderly tend to side with Democrats, while middle aged Americans tend to identify themselves as Republicans.

35. Figures 11.6A–C How Do Gender, Race, and Age Influence Party Identification? (1 of 3)

36. Figures 11.6A–C How Do Gender, Race, and Age Influence Party Identification? (2 of 3)

37. Figures 11.6A–C How Do Gender, Race, and Age Influence Party Identification? (3 of 3)

38. Figures 11.6D–F How Do Income, Education, and Religion Influence Party Identification? (1 of 3)

39. Figures 11.6D–F How Do Income, Education, and Religion Influence Party Identification? (2 of 3)

40. Figure 11.6D–F How Do Income, Education, and Religion Influence Party Identification? (3 of 3)

41. Why 2 parties? Winner-take-all system (“plurality system”)
Winner receives a seat while loser receives nothing
It could be different….
Proportional Representation – % of votes = the % of representatives

42. It could be different…. Multiparty system: (ex., Israel, Iraq)
drawback is one party rarely wins enough support to control govt.
So, several parties often must work together in a coalition
Can be politically unstable, frequently breaks down

43. It could be different…. One-party system (ex., China, Cuba)
Undemocratic because there are no rival candidates; citizens don’t have a choice

44. Third Parties
Practice FRQ Question

45. Minor Parties In U.S. Third Parties have played a role in politics
Types
Individual personality (“factional”): dominated by one figurehead (Ex. – 1912 Theodore Roosevelt – Bull-Moose, 1968 George Wallace – American Independent Party)
Long-lasting goal or ideology: (Ex. – Socialist, Green, Libertarian)
3. One-issue: (Free-Soil, “Know-Nothing”, Prohibition

46. Minor Parties Minor Party Year Founded Primary Purpose
Liberty/Free-Soil
1840
Abolition of slavery
Prohibition
1880
Prohibition of alcohol sales and consumption
Progressive/Bull Moose
1912
Factionalism in Republican Party; gave Theodore Roosevelt the platform to run for the presidency
American Independent
1968
States’ rights; opposition to desegregation
Libertarian
1971
Opposition to governmental intervention in economic and social policy
Reform
1996
Economic issues; tax reform, national debt, federal deficit
Green
2000
Environmentalism and social justice
This table describes some of America's minor parties, such as the Libertarian and Green Parties.

47. Problems Third Parties Face
Hard to get on the ballot
People don’t donate to them because they don’t believe candidate can win
People who do agree with candidate may think they’re wasting a vote

48. Why Are Third Parties Important?
Can draw votes away from Reps. (Ross Perot in 1992) or Dems. (Ralph Nader in 2000)
Can focus attention on a certain issue and force two main parties to focus on it

49. 11.6 Causes of Polarization
Congressional Polarization
Democrats more liberal
Republicans more conservative
Polarization of the Public Is Less Clear.
Party Sorting
Parties providing clearer cues to the public
Scholars have noted increasing partisan divisions between members of Congress over the past two decades. As northern liberal Republicans, and particularly, southern conservative Democrats have become increasingly rare, the parties have retreated in two separate directions, with the Republican caucus appearing to move rightward and their Democratic counterparts appearing to shift to the left.
What is less clear is whether the American people are also polarized. Some scholars assert that bipartisanship remains elusive, while others have attempted to show that the electorate only appears polarized because of the choices they are given in elections.
Finally, polarization between the parties may also be rooted in the clearer articulation of party positions on a range of issues, from national defense and foreign policy to economic affairs to so-called cultural “wedge issues.” Some scholars contend that this is not polarization—a term carrying a negative connotation—but, rather, party sorting, which means that parties develop clear issue positions that more efficiently and effectively cue the electorate to identify with a particular label.

50. Figure 11.8 Are American Political Parties Polarized?
In the past ten years, scholars have hotly debated the question of whether American political parties are polarized. As we have argued in the text, the answer to this question appears to vary based on the definition of political party. The ideological distribution of party in government and the party in the electorate varies dramatically. These differences may have consequences for how Americans view the political parties, the political process, and institutions of government.
Source: Data from

51. 11.6 Consequences of Polarization
Congress
Least productive in history
Lack of moderates, lower incentives to compromise
Consequences to Electorate Are Unclear.
Increase in voter apathy or higher voter turnout?
Surely the divisiveness has a cost. The consequences of the growing division between the two parties have been on display in Congress, with political scientists noting that we've had among the least productive Congresses in history. The lack of moderate members and the lower incentive to compromise has led to staggering gridlock. And what effect could this have on American citizens themselves? Scholars have suggested that forcing generally moderate Americans to choose between political extremes could increase voter apathy.
Other scholars charge that polarization has positive outcomes, including more meaningful choices for the electorate between the parties, parties that are more attentive to their bases, higher voter turnout in elections, and greater engagement in campaign activism. Empirical evidence to date has been mixed.
Activity: Ask: How does the preference for divided government reconcile with increasing polarization in Congress? Consider using a segment from then- Senator Barack Obama's address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention ( which challenges the idea of polarization.

52. Realignment Any Time Soon?
“Gridlock” – Congress and Presidency controlled by different parties
Republican sweep of Congress and Presidency (Bush def. Kerry)
split the Presidency and Congress again
Democratic sweep (Obama def. McCain)
2010 – Republicans regain House