1. Unit III: Political Parties, Interest Groups and Media Chapter 8: Political Parties

2. What are political parties POLITICAL PARTY: an organization that sponsors candidates for public office under the organizations name THIS IS NOT AN INTEREST GROUP AS INTEREST GROUPS DO NOT NOMINATE CANDIDATES!!!

3. 4 FUNCTIONS OF PP 1.Nominating Candidates 2.Structuring the Vote choice 3.Proposing alternative government programs 4.Coordinating the actions of government officials

4. How are parties organized?Pyramidal National Level State Level Local Level

5. Organization National Level has 4 components 1. National Convention (4 years) - nominate POTUS/VP candidates - party platform - rules of governing - designates national committee

6. Organization 2.National Committee - select date and place of convention -comprised of party officials and reps from states -Chairman picked by Pres. Winner and ok’d by committee (chairman of losing party picked by party members RNC: Reince Preibus (WI) DNC: Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL)

7. Organization 3.Congressional Party Conference (or caucus) - selection of party leader and committee assignments at the beginning of the Congressional term

8. Organization 4.Congressional campaign committees - collect funds for candidates http://www.opensecrets.org/parties/index.php?c mte=&cycle=2000 Past raising??? For 2012 POTUS candidates only RNC: $78,547,627 DNC: $86,425,605

9. Organizational power-national Up until the 1970s, national committees did not have much power (congressional and state committee on own; do not direct POTUS campaigns) RNC: focused on organizational reform - fundraising, research and service roles DNC: focused on procedural reform - affirmative action guidelines for candidates(1972)

10. Organizational Power-state Party Machine: a centralized party organization that dominates local politics by controlling elections - patronage/social service functions were decreased by federal gov’t -Most machines lost their ability to deliver votes Progressive era-New Deal reforms :)

11. Organizational Power- state/local State/Local party organizations vary in strength and resources Regional power?? National org. generally does not interfere in state operations except to give funding or other forms of support.

12. Decentralization? PP’s are not centralized (US factor) However, PP is an organization due to voting patterns, funding, and media Most call themselves “independent”, so even though PP’s gaining as organization, people not strongly identifying with them.

13. Political Party Project Due December 10 -Group of 1, 2, 3 or 4. Choose wisely -Create a new Political Party!

14. History of the Major Political parties OVERHEAD IN CLASS OR IF ABSENT READ ABOUT IN TEXTBOOK:) 1. Remember… Constitution mentions nothing of Political Parties 2.Federalist #10: factions inevitable, but dangerous

15. Republicans v. Democrats Inclass handout and discussion

16. Current Party Effects on the Political Process 1.Critical elections: an election that produces a sharp change in the existing pattern of party loyalty among a group of voters; the changed pattern is called 2. Electoral realignment: the change in voting patterns that occurs after a critical election

17. CRITICAL ELECTION #1 1860 ELECTION -Est. the 2 party system!! -TWO PARTY SYSTEM: a political system in which 2 major parties compete for control of the government (3rd parties have little chance of winning)

18. Critical Election #1 1860-1894 highlights A.Republicans won 8/10 POTUS A.LINCOLN WINS DUE TO SPLIT OVER SLAVERY IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY B.North dominated Southern politics C.Balance of control in Congress D.North= Rep, South=Dem

19. CRITICAL ELECTION #2 1896 ELECTION - Republicans become true majority party!!!

20. CRITICAL ELECTION #2 1896-1930 highlights A.Republicans win 8/10 POTUS again B.Republicans now supported with industrial interests of East and Midwest C.Republicans continuously control government (except Wilson) until crash of 1929 A. WILSON GETS ELECTED DUE TO SPLIT IN REPUBLICAN PARTY OVER FIGHT BETWEEN TR AND TAFT (BULLMOOSE PARTY)

21. CRITICAL ELECTION #3 1932 ELECTION -Democratic Party take over with the election of FDR

22. CRITICAL ELECTION #3 1932-1964 highlights A.Democrats win 7/9 POTUS A.FDR elected due to Great Depression (crises= need for increased federal government) B.Democrats supported by new national majority of urban workers, middle-class liberals, European immigrants and southerners.CONTINUED SOLID SOUTH! C.Congress controlled by Dems

23. CRITICAL ELECTION #4? 1968 -1994 ELECTION - decline of the Solid South (Republicans win in the south now) -Party control more mixed in congress ELECTORAL DEALIGNMENT?: lessening importance of party loyalty in voting “I’m independent”

24. CRITICAL ELECTION #5 Some politicial scientists question if we are realigning back to parties again…. 1994-today= Republican control increased in Congress as wells as increase in Republican POTUS’… but not marked by a single critical election.

25. Why do we have a 2 party system? 1.Electoral system 1.Majority representation, Winner takes all (or 1st past the post) 2.Importance of Presidency 1.Electoral college 3.Socialization 1.We are taught that 3rd parties are not serious and can’t raise money; Third parties can’t raise money so they are not taken seriously (Catch 22)

26. So where do we link up to Parties? Party identification: not voting pattern, but you psychological attachment to a party in a given election 1952- present facts: 1. R/D together outnumber I 2. D consistently higher than R 3. D shrinking over time where R/D/I very close in %

27. Social groups? 1.Jews/African Americans= D 2.Low socioecomic= D 3.High ed= D 4.Women= D 5.South= D 6.50% young= parents; the other half= I 7.Young in 1980s=R; Older= D

28. Bibliography www.gop.com www.democrats.org www.opensecrets.org http://politicsstudio.wetpaint.com/page/Party+Aff iliation#at http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/po lls/#USP00p1 http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/presid ent/exit-polls.html