1. Political Parties

2. What is a political Party?
A group of citizens who organize to…
1. win elections
2. hold public office
3. operate the government
4. determine public policy

3. Levels of American Political Parties
Party electorate is made up of Democrats or Republicans
Party organization includes national leaders, state chairpersons, county chairpersons, and other activists. (independent and not centrally controlled)
Party in government includes the party’s candidates and office holders

4. Functions of Parties
Recruiting and nominating candidates for public office
Running political campaigns
Articulating positions on issues
Critiquing the policies of the party in power
Serving as a link between citizens and government
How?

5. Types of Party systems One-party systems – 1 party has total control
China, Korea, Iran
Multiparty System – number of political parties compete for offices
Parties represent a wide variety of issues
France, Italy, Israel
Two-party system – two major political compete for control of offices
US is 1 of 15 nations
United Kingdom, India, Jamaica

6. Why 2 parties? Strong consensus on core political values
Freedom, political equality, individualism, equality under the law
Never had a strong socialist party dedicated to a new political system
Most identify as moderates
Single member districts
Visit this in the next slide…
Legal barriers to third parties
Dems and Reps automatically put on ballot
Third party need petitions to be on ballot
Historic tradition
Since 1800’s
Generated traditions and laws – difficult to include a minor party

7. *Single Member Districts
Almost all elections are held in single-member districts – one candidate elected to each office on ballot
Much different than proportional system where legislative seats are in proportion to votes received
Minimal chance with winner-take-all, single-member system for third party to gain enough support
Candidate with most votes wins the office
Plurality election- candidate with most votes
Majority election – winning candidate receives more than half of all votes casted (Electoral College)

8. Party Eras Party Era – historic periods dominated by one party
Critical Election – national crisis forces voters to confront divisive issues. Members change traditional patterns
Party realignment – triggered by a critical election

9. The Frist party System 1796-1824
Alexander Hamilton, Federalist supported strong national government and national bank
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, Democratic-Republicans supported limited federal government and opposed the national bank.
Jefferson defeated Federalist president John Adams in First time that a party in power peacefully gave up power after losing an election.

10. Jackson and the Democrats 1828-1856
Andrew Jackson, Democratic Party supported voting rights for all white males, opposed a national bank, and used the spoils system to reward party loyalists
Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, Whigs supported high tariffs and the national bank. Two Presidents = William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor

11. The Republican Era
Slavery dominated politics in 1850’s – split Democrats and ended the Whigs
Abraham Lincoln, Republican Party emerged as antislavery party. Only party in history to go from minor to major party status – election of Lincoln
Democrats were dominant part in the South. Southern Dems became a fixture in politics for the next 100 years
1896 = second critical election with William McKinley (R) and Willaim Jennings Bryan (D)

12. FDR and New Deal Coalition 1932-1964
Great Depression = abrupt end to Republican dominance
New Deal = social reforms
Party realignments with urban dwellers and African Americans who had traditionally been Reps

13. *Divided Government 1968 - Present
Nixon marked another Republican Era (except Carter, all Presidents were Rep until 1993.
Starting with Nixon, Rep tried to break Southern Dem dominance. Slowly see South transfer loyalty to Republican.
2008 Republicans held majority of southern house and senate seats
Nixon’s election was first time in a century that the White House held one party and Congress held another.
Same control has only happened for 12 years
Seeing a rise in “Independents” and less identify with either major party