1. Political Parties and Elections

2. Political Parties
Political Party: group of people with broad common interests who organize to…
Win elections
Control gov’t
Influence gov’t policies
The U.S currently has a two-party system
System in which two parties compete for power even though minor parties exist
Republicans & Democrats

3. Parties in the Great Depression and After
1932 Dems won control of the White House and Congress
For next 50 years remained majority
Beginning in 1968 Republicans controlled White House for 5 of next 8 presidential terms
1994: Repubs won both houses on Congress for first time in 40 years
1995: first time since 1945 that a Dem president worked with a Repub Congress

4. Role of Minor Parties Third Party: also called minor party
Variety of parties but common element is belief that neither major party is meeting certain needs
Types of third parties:
Single- issue: focuses exclusively on on major social, moral or economic issue. Usually short lived- 1840s Free Soil Party
Ideological: focuses on overall change in society- socialist, communists, libertarian
Splinter: splits away from major party because of disagreement Bull Moose Party led by T. Roosevelt

5. Obstacles to Third Parties
Difficulty getting on the ballot
Large number of voter signatures in a short time
Single-member districts: only one party will win so majority party usually victorious
Financing the campaign
Many reluctant to contribute for fear that third-party cannot will not win
Appeal to voters in certain regions or certain groups in society
Need wider appeal

6. Membership and Organization
Joining a political party is not required in the U.S
People join a party if they support their ideals and candidates
Some simply vote while others get more involved by contributing money or volunteering
Political party structure is broken up into local, state and national

7. State Party Organization
State central committee: made up of representatives from the party’s county organizations
Choose the party state chairperson with influence from a gov or senator
Main function of the committee: elect the party’s candidate for state gov’t offices
Also provides assistance to local candidates by coordinating activities and raising money

8. National Party Organization
2 parts:
National convention
National committee
National convention: gathering of local and state party members every 4 years to nominate party’s pres and vice-pres candidates
National committee: large group composed of reps from the 50 states that runs the party
Party national chairperson: manages daily operations- raises money, PR and promotes nat’l, state and local cooperation
Dems and republicans also have independent campaign committees for Congress
Assist senators and reps that are running for reelection

9. Political Party Functions

10. Recruiting Candidates
Seek people who have a good chance of being elected
Political parties select candidates and present them to the voters
Often said that political parties are election-oriented rather than issue-oriented
Members share general ideology but differ often exist on specific issues

11. Educating the Public
Each party publishes its position on current topics facing the country
Press conferences, speeches, pamphlets, ads, interviews
Sometimes candidates attack their opponents views rather than stating their own
When major party candidates fail to address issues, minor party candidates may force debate
Green party
Many Americans not informed about important issues
Political party affiliation helps voters assess which candidate will be more acceptable based on their views

12. Operating the Government
Congress and state legislatures are organized and work on basis of party affiliation
Party leaders make sure members support the party’s position when considering legislation
Party also acts as a link between legislature and chief executive (pres or gov)
Work through party leaders to promote their administration’s programs

13. Dispensing Patronage
Patronage: favors given to members to reward party loyalty
Jobs, contracts, appointments to gov’t positions
Example: Labor unions or business exes that contribute to a party may expect them to be sympathetic to their problems if they come to power
Laws and court decisions have limited patronage in recent years but practice remains major way that parties control and reward supporters

14. Loyal Opposition
Party out of power in the legislative or executive branch become the “watchdog”
Observes party in power, criticizes and offers solutions to political problems
If done successfully, public opinion may swing in the watchdog party’s favor and return it to power in a future election
Makes party in power more sensitive to the will of the people

15. Reduction of Conflict
To win an election a party must attract support from different groups
Accomplish this by encouraging groups to compromise and work together
Outcome: parties encourage gov’t to adopt moderate policies with mass appeal
Parties contribute to political stability by peacefully transferring power
Know the party will continue to exist as the opposition party and will return to power someday

16. How Candidates Are Selected

17. Caucuses Caucuses: private meetings of party leaders
Historically caucuses chose all candidates for office but became criticized as undemocratic because people had no say
Modern caucuses: party rules require openness with selection process
Selection starts local and works up to national
12 states use caucuses

18. Nominating Convention
Nominating convention: official public meeting of a party to choose candidates for office
Local party reps>county nominating convention selects candidates for county and state> state nominating convention selects candidates for state and nat’l>national convention
Convention system also became undemocratic because party leaders (bosses) chose delegates and controlled conventions
Public reaction against bosses in 1900s led to primary election as method of selection

19. Primary Elections
Direct primary: election in which party members select people to run in general election
Closed primary: only members of a political party can vote
Open primary: all voters may participate even if they do not belong to a party
Runoff primary: primary election between 2 candidates who received most votes in the first primary
Each state sets date of its primary
In most states a primary candidate does not need a majority of votes to win but only a plurality: more votes than any other candidate

20. Petition
Person announces his/her candidacy and files petitions that a specified number of voters have signed to be placed on the ballot
Some states require all candidates file petitions
Party-backed candidates have an advantage because party workers will circulate petitions
Also use financial and organizational resources to back choice

21. National Convention

22. Pre-Convention Planning
National committee chooses site and date
Also tell each state party org how many votes the state will have at convention
In the past electoral votes=convention votes BUT recently parties have used complicated formulas

23. National Conventions 1992 New York City Bill Clinton Houston
George H.W. Bush
1996
Chicago
San Diego
Bob Dole
2000
Los Angeles
Al Gore
Philadelphia
George W. Bush
2004
Boston
John Kerry
2008
Denver
Barack Obama
St. Paul, Minn.
John McCain
2012
Charlotte
Tampa
Mitt Romney

24. Assembling the Convention
Thousands of delegates assemble in the convention city
Media, protestors, spectators
Many delegates arrive already pledged to a candidate but those who are not are sought after by the candidates
Evening of the opening day has keynote speech: party member intended to unite the party for the upcoming campaign

25. Nominating the Candidates
Convention chairperson oversees delegates voting
However, in recent conventions most candidates have already been chosen
Partly because TV has helped to narrow candidates in the primaries- some drop out knowing they cannot continue on in the primaries
Party leaders benefit from early victory of one candidate- have more time to plan the convention and unify the party

26. Vice-Presidential Nomination
Normally takes place on last day of the convention
Party’s presidential nominee selects a running mate and convention automatically nominates person chosen
Person chosen usually balances out ticket
Different personal, political, and geographic background from pres nominee

27. Acceptance Speech Last event of the convention
Speeches are intended to:
Unify the party
Attack the opposition party
Create a theme for the upcoming campaign
Appeal to a national TV audience

28. Election Campaigns

29. Campaign Strategy & Organization
270 Electoral Votes to win- focused on states with large number of votes and swing states
Campaign strategy questions can include:
Aggressive attack vs. low-key campaign?
Theme or slogan of campaign?
What issues should be stressed?
How much $ should be spent on: TV, radio, newspaper?
Strong organization is essential to running a campaign
Campaign manager: responsible for overall strategy and planning

30. TV and the Candidate’s Image
Image voters have is important- which candidate is perceived as more “presidential”?
Mass media can create both positive and negative images for the candidates
TV is the most important communication tool- single most commonly used source of news for most Americans
Studies have shown that people are more likely to believe what they see and hear on TV than read in newspapers or hear on radio
Televised debates first held in 1960

31. Influence on Voters Personal Background of Voter
Degree of Loyalty to a political party
Issues of the campaign
Voter’s image of the candidate
propaganda

32. Personal Background of Voters
Age and the differences that come with young vs. old
Education, religion, and racial or ethnic background
Cross-pressured voter: one who is caught between conflicting elements of his/her own life
Catholics more inclined to vote Democrat
BUT if an individual Catholic voter is also a wealthy business exec, usually wealthy business people are Republican

33. Loyalty to Political Parties
Strong party voters select their party’s candidate in election after election
Usually vote straight-party ticket: select the candidates of their party only
Weak party voters are more likely to switch their votes to the rival party from time to time
Independent voters: don’t think of themselves as Republican or Democrat
Number of independent voters has increased over the years
Become important element in presidential elections along with weak party voters

34. Issues in the Election Campaigns & The Candidate’s Image
Voters are better informed due to: TV
better education on the issues
greater impact of current events on people’s lives (crime, inflation, unemployment, personal rights, ect)
Americans want a president who appears to be someone they can trust
Many select a candidate on image alone

35. Propaganda
Propaganda: involves using ideas, information or rumors to influence opinion
As political campaigns adapted to TV, campaign managers developed several propaganda techniques:
Patriotism
Famous actor or musician
Negative labels- ‘liberal’, ‘conservative’, ‘right-wing’
When political propaganda becomes obviously misleading, people become skeptical and some analysts believe the result can be reduced voter participation