8 pump primer explain how political parties in a democracy serve as key linkage institutions to...

8Pump Primer

Explain how political parties in a democracy serve as key linkage institutions to translate inputs from the public into outputs from the policymakers.

8Political Parties

8Biblical Integration

Christians should never allow their party loyalty to over-shadow their loyalty to Christ and His Great Commission. (Matt. 18:19-20; I Peter 2:13-17, Rom. 13:1)

Video: The Big Picture

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8Learning Objectives

Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy

Determine the significance of party identification in America today

8.1

8.2

8Learning Objectives

Describe how political parties are organized in the United States

Evaluate how well political parties generally do in carrying out their promises

8.3

8.4

8Learning Objectives

Differentiate the various party eras in American history

Assess both the impact of third parties on American politics and their limitations

8.5

8.6

8Learning Objectives

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of responsible party government

8.7

Video: The Basics

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Meaning of Party

Tasks of the Parties

Parties, Voters, and Policy: Downs Model

8.1

Tasks of the Parties

Linkage institutions Parties, elections, interest groups, media

Tasks that parties perform Pick candidates Run campaigns Give cues to voters Articulate policies Coordinate policies

8.1

Democratic, Republican Parties Dominate

U.S. Politics

8.1

Parties, Voters, and Policy: Downs Model

Rational choice theory Political scientist Anthony Downs’ model

Explain the relationship among citizens, parties, and policy Assume that actors are rational and make decisions to

sensibly pursue goals

Most voters are moderate Center of political spectrum

Parties seek voter loyalty Position themselves to left and right of center

8.1

FIGURE 8.1: Downs model: How rational parties position themselves near (but not at) the center of public opinion

8.1

Tea Party 8.1

In spite of the name, the Tea Party is not a political party, but a conservative organization most of its members tend to belong to the Republican Party.

Because most of these enthusiasts belong to the Party, Republicans must pay attention to Tea Party concerns.

8.1 How do parties maximize their appeal to voters?

a. Position themselves near political center

b. Lie about their opponents

c. Stake out clear positions to the left or right

d. Make party members sign loyalty oaths

8.1

8.1 How do parties maximize their appeal to voters?

a. Position themselves near political center

b. Lie about their opponents

c. Stake out clear positions to the left or right

d. Make party members sign loyalty oaths

8.1

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”

8.2

The Meaning of Party

Parties can be thought of in three parts:

Party in the electorate • Individuals who perceive themselves as party

members; many voters have a party identification that guides and influences their votes

Party as an organization• Party activists keep the party running between

elections and make its rules Party in government

• Consists of elected officials who call themselves members

8.2

Party in the Electorate

Party membership is psychological

• Party identification

Citizens think they know what parties stand for

Choose parties based on similarity with personal preferences

More Americans identify as independents (especially younger citizens)

8.2

More than Romney vs Obama: Third-party candidates speak out on election night

8.2

FIGURE 8.2: Party identification in the United States, 1952–2012

8.2

Party In The Electorate 8.2

Ticket Splitting • voting with one party for one office and

another for other offices (is near an all-time high).

• Divided government has frequently been the result; often with Republican control of the White House and Democratic control of Congress (or vice-versa).

8.2 More Americans are identifying as Independents, especially:

a. People over 65

b. Minorities

c. Young people

d. Less-educated citizens

8.2

8.2 More Americans are identifying as Independents, especially:

a. People over 65

b. Minorities

c. Young people

d. Less-educated citizens

8.2

Video: Thinking Like a Political Scientist

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8.2

Party Organization: From the Grass Roots to Washington Local Parties

50 State Party Systems

National Party Organizations

8.3

Local Parties

Once main party organization

Party machines Rewarded voters

Campaign funds and appointments New York and Chicago

Most corrupt

Patronage Jobs for voters and contributors Progressive reforms ended this system

8.3

Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley 8.3

Mayor Daley and his Cook County Democratic Party machine were highly skilled at patronage. Richard J. Daley ruled the city of Chicago from 1955 until his death in 1976.

No two exactly alike Some well-funded, some weak Permanent headquarters Provide technical services

Open or closed primaries Open – vote for either party Closed – registered with particular party

Straight-ticket voting

Single column or random list of candidates

50 State Party Systems 8.3

National Party Organizations

National convention Meets every four years Writes party platform Formal nomination of candidates

National committee Operates between conventions Led by national chairperson

8.3

8.3 What are the functions of the party’s national convention?

a. Write party platform

b. Nominate candidate for president

c. Meet every four years to revise rules

d. All of the above

8.3

8.3 What are the functions of the party’s national convention?

a. Write party platform

b. Nominate candidate for president

c. Meet every four years to revise rules

d. All of the above

8.3

Party in Government: Promises and Policy Party in power determines policy

Public policy – a choice that government makes in

response to a political issue. Determine who gets

what, where, when, and how

Coalitions support parties

Most presidents fail to implement campaign promises

But they do live up to some of them

Party platforms are blueprints

8.4

Video: John Stossel - Top 10 Politicians Promises Gone Wrong

8.4

Explore the Simulation: You Are a Voter

http://media.pearsoncmg.com/long/long_longman_media_1/2013_mpsl_sim/simulation.html?simulaURL=17

8.4

8.4 Which of the following is a campaign promise kept by President Reagan?

a. Increase social welfare spending

b. Increase defense spending

c. Increase the federal deficit

d. Increase funding for education

8.4

8.4 Which of the following is a campaign promise kept by President Reagan?

a. Increase social welfare spending

b. Increase defense spending

c. Increase the federal deficit

d. Increase funding for education

8.4

Explore Political Parties: Which Party Governs Better?

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8.4

Party Eras in American History

1796-1824: First Party System

1828-1856: Jackson and Democrats Versus the Whigs

1860-1928: Two Republican Eras

1932-1964: New Deal Coalition

1968-Present: Southern Realignment and the Era of Divided Party Government

8.5

Party platforms, 2012 8.5

Party Eras One party has been the dominant

majority party for long periods of time Punctuated by critical elections

New issues appeared that divided the

electorate Party realignment (a rare event) Associated with a major crisis or trauma in the

nation’s history Civil War or the Great Depression

8.5Party Eras in American History

8.5

Clip: Politics Tutorial - The Evolution of Americas Major Political Parties

1796-1824: First Party System Madison warned against factions

Hamilton and the Federalist Party Capitalist support, Northeast Short-lived Ideas of loyal opposition and rotation of power

new

Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans Agrarian support, South Torn by factions

8.5

1828-1856: Jackson and Democrats Versus the Whigs General Andrew Jackson as leader

Democratic-Republicans -> Democratic Party New coalition in election of 1828 Westerners, Southerners, poor whites Broaden suffrage

Martin Van Buren Theory of loyal oppositionWhig Party

Northern industrialists and Southern planters

8.5

1860-1928: Two Republican Eras 1850s: Slavery dominated politics

Split both parties Republicans rose as anti-slavery party Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War

Second party realignment Lasted 60 years Democrats controlled the South

1896: Second Republican era Democrats and “free silver”

Throw out the gold standard so poor could pay with

“free silver”

8.5

1932-1964: New Deal Coalition Hoover loses to FDR

FDR promises New Deal New coalition formed

Elements of New Deal coalition Urban dwellers Labor unions Catholics and Jews The poor SouthernersAfrican Americans

8.5

Franklin Roosevelt reshaped the Democratic Party, bringing together a diverse array of groups that had long been marginalized in American political life. Many of the key features of the Democratic Party today, such as support from labor unions, can be traced to the FDR era.

8.5The Roosevelt realignment

FIGURE 8.3: Party coalitions today 8.5

Each party draws support from different social and economic groups, many of which have existed since the New Deal era.

1968-Present: Southern Realignment and the Era of Divided Party Government

The New Deal Coalition Weakened, “Solid [Democratic] South”Conservative Democrats unsatisfied with

the national party

Nixon’s Southern strategy Support for states’ rights, law and order,

strong military posture Win Southern Democrats

8.5

FIGURE 8.4: Realignment in the South 8.5

The swapping of party loyalty of Southern white voters from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party over the issue of civil rights has been crucial to the GOP gaining majority party status in Congress.

1968-Present: Southern Realignment and the Era of Divided Party Government

Republicans did not have Congress New pattern Divided government now normal

Dealignment Voters are gradually moving away from both parties Are parties becoming useless and ineffective?

8.5

8.5 Which events sparked party realignments?

a. Civil War

b. Great Depression

c. Nixon’s Southern strategy

d. A and B only

8.5

8.5 Which events sparked party realignments?

a. Civil War

b. Great Depression

c. Nixon’s Southern strategy

d. A and B only

8.5

Video: In Context

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8.5

Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics Three types of third parties

Cause parties Prohibition Party – outlawing alcoholic

beveragesOffshoots of major parties

1912 Progressive Party from Republican Party 1996 Green Party from Democratic Party

Vehicles for individual candidacies

Rarely win office but can affect elections

Why only two parties?

8.6

Third Party Presidential Candidates Can Affect Outcome

8.2

8.6A successful third party candidate

Third party candidates usually struggle to get noticed in the United States, as almost all major elected officials are affiliated with either Democrats or Republicans. But occasionally a third party candidate will become a serious contender, as Lincoln Chaffee did when he ran successfully for governor of Rhode Island in 2010.

Video: In the Real World

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8.6

Are Third Parties Important? New groups into the electorate, tipping the electoral

college vote “Safety valves” for popular discontent Social reforms on the political agenda New issues ignored by the major parties

8.6Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics

Winner-Take-All System “Major reason the United States only has two parties

represented in government Party that receives a plurality (more votes than anyone

else, even though it may be less than a majority) is

declared the winner System discourages small parties

Not enough votes to win

8.6Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics

8.6 Why are there only two major parties in the U.S.?

a. Only two parties are constitutionally allowed

b. Two parties fulfill preferences of all voters

c. No interest in additional parties

d. Winner-take-all elections

8.6

8.6 Why are there only two major parties in the U.S.?

a. Only two parties are constitutionally allowed

b. Two parties fulfill preferences of all voters

c. No interest in additional parties

d. Winner-take-all elections

8.6

Understanding Political Parties

Democracy and Responsible Party Government: How Should We Govern?

American Political Parties and the Scope of Government

8.7

Democracy and Responsible Party Government: How Should We Govern?

Responsible party model Distinct governing programs Internal unity and commitment Major party must implement program

Carry out its program if elected Major party must accept responsibility

Party leadership weak in U.S. “Blue Dog Democrats”

Conservative Democrats – votes opposite of party

on social issues Is this good or bad?

8.7

TABLE 8.2: Partisan divisions on key roll call votes during George W. Bush’s presidency

8.7

American Politics and the Scope of Government

Party discipline Not as broad as in Europe

Health care example Parties not disciplined – lacks strength

Hard to cut spending Not disciplined enough to say “no” Get more for own constituents

8.7

Discussion Question

How did the modern two-party system develop in the United States?

What are party realignments and when have they occurred?

What role do parties play in American democracy?

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Video: So What?

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Video Citation:Democratic, Republican Parties Dominate U.S. Politics. YouTube.com. 20 Aug 2008. Web. 14 Jul 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kkV7vJdBzE

More than Romney vs Obama: Third-party candidates speak out on election night. YouTube.com. 6 Nov 2012. YouTube.com. 14 Jul 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jQdksa01q8

Politics Tutorial - The Evolution of Americas Major Political Parties. YouTube.com. 12 Mar 2011. Web. 13 Jul 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH46Ogc3UN0

Third Party Presidential Candidates Can Affect Outcome. YouTube.com. 14 Aug 2008. Web. 25 Jul 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dd2-OAgn8Q

Top 10 Politicians Promises Gone Wrong. YouTube.com. 18 Dec 2010. Web. 25 Jul 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsUZkxyYJUk

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