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Political Party: A group of persons joined together on the basis of common principles
who seek to control government the
winning of elections.
There are two major parties in American politics today:
Democrats & Republicans
Some argue this does not fit the American version… the Democrats and Republicans are election oriented, not principle/issue oriented.
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Political Parties & Their Functions
Some believe American politics would function better without political parties
Others say political parties necessary for democratic government, but at the same time, do not trust them
Kind of a “love-hate” relationship
Distrust especially strong among younger voters
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Why are Political Parties important? The are the major mechanisms behind broad policies and leadership choices.
They act as a “the voice of the the voice of the governedgoverned” and some argue that parties are how the will of the people are best expressed.
Political parties bring conflicting groups together to find “common ground”. The soften extremist views and seek compromise and unity.
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What Is a Political Party?
An organization that sponsors candidates for political office under the organization’s name
Use a nomination process
Democracies must have at least two political parties that regularly compete against each other
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Party Coalitions TodayParty Coalitions Today
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What Is a Political Party?
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1) Nominating Candidates:
Political leadership requires certain qualities
The major function is to nominate, or name, candidates for public office… and then they help them win their elections.
Parties can perform “quality control” by choosing candidates
Recruiting and choosing candidates and gathering support for them.
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2) Structuring the Voting Choice
Work to reduce number of candidates on ballot to those with chance of winning
Loyal party voters provide predictable base of votes
Third-party candidate success difficult
Choice between only two parties reduces information needed by voters
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3) Informing and Activating Supporters:
Parties inform the people, spark their interest, inspire them, and get them to participate in public affairs.
Voters are inspired to campaign for candidates, take stands on issues, and criticize opponents.
Parties create campaign materials (buttons, posters, bumper stickers) and propaganda materials (pamphlets, TV, internet, newspaper and radio commercials, speeches, and rallies) to show their issues in the best light.
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4) Proposing Alternative Government Programs
Parties set out general policies candidates will pursue if they gain office
Candidates tend to support party positions, although exceptions occur
Some party names advertise policies, such as the Green Party, Socialist Party, and Libertarian Party
America’s two major parties have relatively neutral names
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Acting as Watchdog: Parties act as watchdogs over the publics business. The party out of power usually takes this role by criticizing the party and behavior of the party in power (in the executive branch).
The party out of power tries to convince voters that they should “throw the rascals out”. The party out of power tried to become “the voice of the people” by expressing their concerns. They become “the loyal opposition”---- opposed to the party in power but loyal to the people!
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Coordinating the Actions of Government Officials
U.S. government’s separation of powers divides responsibilities for policymaking
Political parties major bridge for bringing the separate powers together to govern effectively
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The Pre party Period Constitution does not mention political
parties Only factions, not parties, existed when
Constitution written
Federalist No. 10 hoped federalist system would prevent factional influences
Factions of the time included Tories or Loyalists, Whigs or Patriots, Federalists, and Anti-Federalists
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The Preparty Period
Elections vastly different from TODAY President and Vice President decided by
electoral college
Electors frequently met in private caucuses to propose candidates
George Washington opposed factional politics Because of neutrality, elected unanimously
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The First Party System: Federalists and Democratic
Republicans Federalists led by Alexander Hamilton
Democratic Republicans led by Thomas Jefferson
Election of 1796 saw John Adams (a Federalist) elected president, with Thomas Jefferson(Dem.-Rep.) elected vice president
In election of 1800, both parties nominated candidates for both president and vice president
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Figure 8.1
The Two-Party System in American History
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The Twelfth Amendment
Election of 1800 saw top two vote-getters from Democratic-Republican Party – but tied in Electoral College! Eventually Jefferson elected president
Ratification of 12th Amendment in 1804 split votes in Electoral College for president and vice president
Democratic-Republicans won next four elections, then fell apart
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The Second Party System: Democrats and Whigs
Jackson’s faction of Democratic Republicans represented “common people” Preferred to be called Democrats Jackson ran for president in 1828; birth of
today’s Democratic Party
Increase in suffrage rights led to voters choosing presidential electors
Greater numbers voting required changes from existing parties
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Party Changes Major parties began having national
conventions to select candidates and adopt party platforms First, Anti-Masonic Party in 1831;
Democrats and National Republicans followed in 1832
Coalition of those opposing Jackson formed Whig Party in 1834 Democrats and Whigs alternated
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The Current Party System: Democrats and
Republicans Antislavery forces organized Republican
Party in 1854 John Fremont presidential candidate in
1856; Abraham Lincoln in 1860
Election of 1860 first of four critical elections
Led to electoral realignment , with northern states voting Republican and southern states voting Democratic for decades
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Eras of Party Dominance Since the Civil War
Democrats and Republicans major parties since
1860 election Two-party system Third parties rarely successful, except at
state or local level
Balance of power between two major parties different in various parts of country and at different times
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Four Political Eras Since Civil War
A Rough Balance: 1860-1894 GOP (Grand Old Party, or Republicans)
won eight of 10 presidential elections House and Senate wins balanced
A Republican Majority: 1896-1930 Democrats in trouble because of
economic depression in 1896 Republican William McKinley won
presidency; Republicans basically in power until Great Depression
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William Jennings Bryan: When Candidates Were
Orators
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Four Political Eras Since Civil War
A Democratic Majority: 1932-1964 Voters unhappy with economic crisis
swarmed to support Democratic candidate Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932
Roosevelt won election; Democratic party won majorities in both House and Senate
A major electoral realignment
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Four Political Eras Since Civil War
A Rough Balance: 1968 to the Present
Richard Nixon’s victory in 1968 a fourth critical election; Republican presidential candidates have done well since
Congressional elections in this period mixed: Democrats generally control House, Senate control split about evenly
Party loyalty within regions has shifted; possible electoral dealignment
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The American Two-Party System
While two parties dominant, third parties make contributions also
Third parties usually one of four types: Bolter parties Farmer-labor parties Parties of ideological protest Single-issue parties
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Figure 8.2
Party Candidates for the U.S. House
in the 2010 Election
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Historical Third-Party Successes
Third parties not very successful Rarely receive more than 10% of the vote Bolter parties have won more than 10%
twice
Republican Party originated as single-issue third party
Third parties have better record as policy advocates, and serve as safety valves
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Four types of minor parties:
1)Ideological Parties: Based on set of beliefs
(social, economic, political)
e.g. socialist, socialist labor, socialist worker, communist
Libertarians Party is non-socialist
Don’t win many votes, but have been long lived.
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2. Single-Issue Parties: Concentrate on one public policy matter (usually short lived)
Names indicate primary concern:
Free Soil Party- end expansion of slavery
Know Nothing Party (American Party) - opposed immigration, particularly of Irish Catholics
Right to Life Party- opposes abortion
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3. Economic Protest Parties: No clear cut ideological base, unlike socialists which focus on economic issues
Focus on their “enemies” such as:Monetary system, Wall Street Bankers, railroad, foreign imports
Greenback Party: (1876-1884) appealed to farmers- free silver, federal regulation of railroads, income tax, labor legislation
Populist Party: (1890’s) public ownership of railroad, telephone, and telephone. Wanted lower tariffs, adoption of initiative and referendum
These parties often form in times of economic turmoil- also short lived
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4. Splinter/BOLTER Parties: Break away from major parties (usually short lived)
“Republican Splinters”:
“Bull Moose” Progressive Party: (1912)Theodore Roosevelt challenged Howard Taft’s Republican nomination called for women's suffragerecall of judicial decisionseasier amending the U.S. Constitution social welfare legislation for women and children, workers' compensationlimited injunctions in strikesfarm reliefrequired health insurance in industrynew inheritance taxes and income taxes
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“Republican Splinters”:
Progressive Party: (1924) Candidate Robert La Follette called for
government ownership of the railroads and electric utilities,
cheap credit for farmers outlawing child labor stronger laws to help
labor unions more protection of civil
liberties
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“Democratic Splinters”:
States’ Rights “Dixiecrat” Party: (1948) Led by Strom Thurmond advocatedretention of Jim Crow lawsracial segregation.
American Independent Party (1968) led by former Alabama Governor George Wallace who advocatedA reversal of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 opposed to federal government
welfare programs.
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One Party that does not fit into any category is the
Green Party USA (founded 1984).
Began as single issue party, but…
In 2000, Ralph Nadar accepted their endorsement as President and adopted a variety of issues:
environmental protection universal health care gay rights restraints on corporate power campaign finance reform opposition to global free trade more…
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Why a Two-Party System?
U.S. two-party system results from electoral process and political socialization
Elections based on majority representation, not proportional representation
Major parties make election laws Presidential politics and persistence drive
survival of Democratic and Republican parties
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The Federal Basis of the Party System
Party identification important political concept Most people identify with one of the two
major parties
Data show three tendencies:
Republicans and Democrats together outnumber Independents
More Democrats than Republicans Democratic numbers shrinking over time
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Figure 8.4
Distribution of Party Identification, 1952-2008
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Party Identification
Party identification predisposes but does not mandate voting behavior
Factors affecting party identification:
Parental party identification also important
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Income Education
Religion Gender
Region Ethnicity
Age
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Figure 8.5
Party Identification by Social Groups
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Fewer Citizens Are Partying
Partisanship has declined since early 1950s
Also true in many other democracies
Reasons given include more education and political sophistication
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Party Ideology and Organization
Significant differences in ideology between Republicans and Democrats Approaches to concepts of freedom,
order, and equality affect spending priorities
Differences drive party platforms
Ideological differences more pronounced when looking at party activists
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Figure 8.6
Ideologies of Party Voters and Party Delegates in 2008
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National Party Organization
Some believe Republicans more organized as a party than Democrats
Each party has four major organizational components:
National convention National committee Congressional party conferences Congressional campaign committees
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Building a Bigger Republican Tent?
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National Party Organization
National parties not particularly powerful Do not direct or control presidential
campaigns
Beginning in 1970s, Democrats made procedural changes and Republicans made organizational reforms
Both parties have made significant organizational changes in recent years
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State and Local Party Organizations
At one time, both parties had powerful state and local party machines
Individual organizations vary in size and strength
National parties supply funding, candidate training, poll data and research, and campaigning instruction
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Decentralized but Growing Stronger
American parties one of most decentralized in the world
Even though party identification dropping, political party organizations growing stronger
Still, not clear how well parties link voters to government
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The Model of Responsible Party Government
Parties essential to making government responsive to public opinion in majoritarian model
Parties should present clear and coherent programs to voters
Voters should choose candidates based on party programs
Winning party should carry out proposed programs
Voters should hold governing party responsible for program execution at next election
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