1. Political Parties Chapter 8
Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy
Thirteenth AP* Edition
Edwards/Wattenberg/Lineberry
Chapter 8
Political Parties
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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
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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
Parties Pick Candidates
Parties Run Campaigns
Parties Give Cues to Voters
Parties Articulate Policies
Parties Coordinate Policymaking
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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 and benefits of possible alternatives
Downs Model
Voters maximize chances that policies they favor are adopted by government.
Parties want to win elected office.
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The Meaning of Party
The Downs Model
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6. 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.
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7. The Party in the Electorate
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8. 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
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9. 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.
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10. 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
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11. The Party in Government: Promises and Policy
Party members actually elected to government
Which party 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.
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12. The Party in Government: Promises and Policy
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13. 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
Party Realignment
The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election
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14. 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
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15. 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
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16. Party Eras in American History
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17. 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 party to:
Party dealignment: disengagement of people from parties as evidenced by shrinking party identification
Party neutrality: people are indifferent towards the two parties
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18. Party Eras in American History
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19. Party Eras in American History
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20. Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics
Third parties: electoral contenders other than the two party 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
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21. 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
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22. 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
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23. 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
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24. Understanding Political Parties
Is the Party Over?
Political parties are no longer main source of information for voters; media are
Yet parties will play an important but diminished role in American politics
State and national party organizations have become more visible and active
Majority of people still identify with a party
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Summary
Parties are a pervasive linkage institution in American politics.
Party in electorate, government, and as organization
America has a two-party system.
The decentralized nature of political parties makes major change difficult and encourages individualism in politics.
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