1. Political Parties

2. in the most solemn manner, against the baneful effects of the
Who warned the nation of factions (group seeking to promote partisan interests)
in the quote below?
Let me… warn you,
in the most solemn manner,
against the baneful effects of the
spirit of party.

3. What is a Political Party?
Essential to representative government
Provides party competition for power
No member dues
Party Identification: self-proclaimed preference

4. What do Parties Do? Nominate candidates
Inform and inspire people to participate
Articulate policies
Coordinate policy making
Act as watchdog

5. Why Two-Party System? No solid answers, a combination of answers
Two-party rooted from beginning
First two set precedent
Single-member districts (one per office)
Plurality (winner by largest # of votes cast)
Easier to compare two people
Pluralistic society (several distinct groups)
Same yet different

6. Parties can be thought of in 3 parts:
Party-in-the-electorate: identify with party
Decline of both parties
Upsurge of independents
Party as organization: keep the party running
National office, full-time staff, rules
National Conventions (4 Years)
National Committee
Party-in-government: people in office
Party control matters when official are elected

7. The Party in the Electorate

8. Party Organization 50 Party System: they are all different
Well-organized
Spend lots of money
Some have more power than others
Closed primaries
Open primaries
Blanket primaries
Split-ticket voting
Straight-ticket voting

9. National Chairpersons
Democrats
Tim Kaine, VA
Republicans
Michael Steele

10. Party Organization National organization
National Convention: 4 yrs, write parties platform, nominate a candidate
National Committee: composed of reps from states
National Chairperson: person in charge of day-to-day activities of the National party

11. History of the Democrats and Republicans

12. Democrat & Republican Rap

13. Two-Party System Section 3
First Parties
Federalist
Alexander Hamilton, “Rich and well-born”, strong national gov’t, liberal interpretation of constitution
Democratic-Republicans
Thomas Jefferson, more sympathetic to common man, strict interpretation of Constitution

14. Political Eras
Party Eras: dominance of one political party for a lengthy period of time
Divided government: when executive and legislative branches are controlled by different parties

15. American Parties: Four Major Eras
: The First Party System
First party: Federalists
: Jacksonian Democrats v. Whigs
Modern party founded by Jackson
Whigs formed to oppose Democrats
: The Two Republican Eras
Republicans rose as the antislavery party
1894 Depression kept Republicans in power
: The New Deal Coalition
Forged by the Democrats- relied upon urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners

16. The Era of the Democrats, 1800—1860
Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections.
The Whig Party emerges in 1834, but declines by the 1850s, electing only two Presidents.
The Republican Party is founded in 1854.

17. The Era of the Republicans, 1860—1932
Republicans dominate all but four presidential elections.
The Civil War disables the Democratic Party for the remainder of the 1800s.

18. The Return of the Democrats, 1932—1968
Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections.
Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected President four times.

19. American Parties: Parties Today
The Start of a New Era: The Era of Divided Government
Since 1968, neither Republicans nor Democrats have dominated the presidency and Congress has often been controlled by the opposing party.
1968–1976
Republicans hold the presidency
Congress is controlled by Democrats
1976–1980
Democrats hold the presidency
Congress is controlled by Democrats
1980–1992
Republicans hold the presidency
Senate controlled by Republicans , controlled by Democrats from 1986 to 1994
1992 – 2000
Democrats hold the presidency
Congress controlled by Republicans, 1994 to present
2000
Republicans hold the presidency
Congress is controlled by Republicans

20. Minor Parties
4 Types
Ideological: particular set of beliefs (Socialist, Communist)
Single-issue: focus on 1 public policy (Right to Life Party (against abortion)
Economic: rooted in period of economical discontent (Populist 1890)
Splinter: split from one of the major parties
Bull Moose 1912 (Progressive Party)

21. Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics
Political parties other than Democrat or Republican
Rarely win elections
Third parties bring new groups and ideas into politics
Two-party system discourages extreme views
Spoiler role- “pull vote”

22. Summary Parties are a linkage institution
Parties’ goal is to win elections
Parties have operated in several distinct party systems or eras
The current party system is one of divided government and weak parties
But this trend is beginning to change 22