Political Parties

Political Parties: A Channel of Influence

Political Parties

Organizations that seek to achieve power by

winning public office

American Parties: A Historical Perspective

Federalists

Hamilton believed that the future of

the nation lay in the cities and a strong

manufacturing sector.

He felt that a strong central

government was key to future

growth.

Jeffersonian Republicans

Jefferson believed that America’s

hope lay in small, agriculturally-

based communities.

He distrusted a strong national

government.

Whigs

Formed by the opponents of Andrew JacksonRepresented a variety of regional interests

Southern plantersWestern farmersNorthern industrialists

United by their resistance to executive domination

Daniel Webster & Henry Clay—two strong leadersElected two presidents:

William Henry HarrisonZachary Taylor

Disappeared in the 1850s due to split over slavery issue

History of Political Parties In US

Democrats vs. Republicans

Democratic PartyTraces its origins to Thomas Jefferson’s Republican Party—

which evolved into the Democratic-Republican Party

Adopted the name “Democrats” in 1828 under Andrew Jackson

Originally was the party championing the interests of farmers and advocating limiting the power of the national government and protecting states rights

In the 2oth century, became the more liberal party advocating an activist government to tackle the nation’s problems

Was the dominant political party from 1828-1860 & again from 1932-1968

Republican PartyTraces its origins to the antislavery and

nationalist forces that united in the 1850s

Ran its first presidential candidate—John C. Fremont, in 1856

First elected president – Abraham Lincoln in 1860

Was the dominant political party from 1860-1932

Beginning in the 20th century, it became the party advocating less government and a laissez faire policy

FDR & Democratic DominanceThe New Deal Democratic

Party

Roosevelt’s optimism and “can do” attitude in the face of the Great Depression helped cement the New Deal Democratic

coalition that won him the presidency

Democratic New Deal Coalition1932-1968

Working class & union members

White ethnic groups

Catholics & Jews

African Americans

Poor people

Southern Whites

Reagan & Republican Dominance

A new Republican

majority

The Reagan Coalition:

•Economic & social conservatives•Religious

fundamentalists•Anti-Communists

Clinton & the “New Democrats”

In response to Republican successes in presidential

elections, Clinton attempted to

move the Democratic Party

in a more moderate direction

Political Party Rallies

Four Former Presidents: Two Democrats & Two Republicans

Presidential Elections: 1952-2004

Presidential Elections: 1980-2004

2004 Presidential Election (red states: Bush, blue states: Kerry)

2008 Presidential Election (blue states: Obama, red states: McCain)

Americans & Political Ideology

Political Parties & Ideology

Party and Ideology Among Voters

Republicans & Democrats: Issue Comparison

Democrats More activist government

Protect social programs

Pro-choice

Govt. regulations necessary to protect workers, consumers, environment, & end business abuses

Active govt. role in civil rights

Support affirmative action

Maintain separation of church & state

Republicans Less government  Strong national defense  Pro-life  Limit government economic

regulations  Anti-union  Less govt. in civil rights  End affirmative action  Traditional family values

Political Party Identification By Traits

POLITICAL PARTY IMAGESREPUBLICAN

IMAGES Positive Images

Party of Traditional Family Values**

Party of Free EnterpriseParty of IndividualismLaissez Faire PartyModerate PartyParty of Fiscal RestraintParty of Strong

Defense/Peace

DEMOCRATIC IMAGES

 Positive Images  Party of the Common

Man**Party of Equal Rights for

AllProgressive PartyParty of the

UnderprivilegedParty with a Social

ConscienceParty of Social ProgramsParty of Compassion

POLITICAL PARTY IMAGESREPUBLICAN

IMAGES

Negative Images Party of the

Wealthy/Elites**Dominated by Big

BusinessParty of the Radical RightAnti-Worker Tied to the Status QuoInsensitive to the

Poor/ElderlyParty of the Depression

DEMOCRATIC IMAGES

Negative Images  Radical-Liberal Party**Party of Big GovernmentTax & Spend PartyDominated by UnionsDominated by MinoritiesParty of WarParty That Promises

Anything/Everything to Get Elected

Which Party Does a Better Job?

Republicans & Democrats: A Comparison

DemocratsLiberalsMinoritiesBlue Collar Workers &

UnionsJews & CatholicsInner City ResidentsLower IncomeLess EducatedEast & West CoastsYounger Voters

RepublicansConservativesAnglosWhite Collar Workers

& BusinessProtestantsSuburbs & Rural

ResidentsUpper IncomeMore EducatedSouth, Plains &

Mountain StatesOlder Voters

Political Party Identification: 1952-2006

Trends in Party Identification

Party Identification, 1950s-2000s

Democratic & Republican Party Strength – By State

Third Parties in the U.S. SystemGreen Party

Third Parties in the U.S. System

Ideological Parties

Protest Parties

Single-Issue Parties

Splinter Parties

Ideological Parties

Ideological Party

Third party that exists to promote an ideology rather

than to win elections

The socialist parties, which have run candidates in virtually every presidential election in this century are ideological parties

Protest Parties

Protest Parties

Third party that arises in response

to issues of popular concern which have not

been addressed by the major parties

William Jennings Bryan of the Populist Party (who ran as a Democrat) did not win the presidency in 1896, but he

came very close

Single-Issue Parties

Single-Issue Party

Third party formed around one

particular cause

Prohibition PartyAdvocated

prohibition of alcohol

Green PartyAdvocates greater

protection for the environment

Splinter Parties

Splinter Party

Third party formed by a dissatisfied

faction of a major party

Temporarily leave the party to make a

point, then eventually return

Strom Thurmond (left) was a States’ Rights Democratic candidate for the presidency in

1948. The party formed in protest to the civil rights plan in the Democratic Party platform

Third PartiesIdeological Third

PartiesSocialist Labor - 1888Socialist Party – 1909-

1960sSocialist Workers – 1938-Communist – 1924-Libertarian – 1972-

Protest Third PartiesGreenback – 1876-1884Populists – 1892-1908Labor Reform – 1872Union Labor - 1888

Splinter Third PartiesBull Moose Progressives-1912LaFollette Progressives – 1924States Rights (Dixiecrats) – 1948Henry Wallace Progressives – 1948American Independent – 1968-

72

Single-Issue Third PartiesLiberty – 1840-44Free Soil – 1848-52American (Know Nothing) -

1856Prohibitionists - 1869-

REFORMS WHICH BEGAN AS THIRD PARTY ISSUES

Abolishing slavery

Giving women the vote

Monopoly regulations

Minimum wage laws

Direct election of US Senator

Progressive income tax

Right to organize into unions

Safety & health regulations

Kindergartens

Farmer aid programs

Barriers to Minor-Party Success

Why Does the Two-Party System Persist?

Cultural Consensus

There is little support in the American political culture for avowedly fascist, communist,

authoritarian, or other antidemocratic parties

Why Does the Two-Party System Persist?

Winner-Take-All Electoral

SystemLegal Access

to the Ballot

REASONS THIRD PARTIES HAVE DONE POORLY

American 2-party mentality

Lack of money

Lack of media coverage

Radical Image

Wasting vote argument

Popular issues stolen

Rules of game slanted against them: ballot access

Refusal to compromise

Twentieth-Century Third-Party Presidential Votes

Third Party Vote: Presidential Races

National Party Conventions

Convention delegatesNominate Presidential candidate

Making party rulesParty platforms

Party’s promises and issue stands

Selecting a Vice Presidential Running Mate

RealignmentA long-term shift in social group support for

various political parties that creates new coalitions in each party

Election of 1824 (Jackson & the Democrats)Election of 1860 (Lincoln & the Republicans)Election of 1932 (Roosevelt & the Democrats)Election of 1980 ? (Reagan & the

Republicans)

Ticket-Splitter

A person who votes for candidates of different parties for different offices in a general election = a ticket-splitter

the opposite of a “straight-ticket” voterA “straight ticket voter” votes ALL for

one party

Party PrimariesCLOSED

Declare party affiliation when register Voters must vote in that party’s primary

  OPEN

Allows voter to vote in either party primary without a party declaration

Allows “crossover voting” (voters of other party cross over & vote in other party primary)

  BLANKET/MIXED

Lists all candidates of all parties on one ballot Voters allowed to vote for only one candidate per position,

but may switch parties between offices  “TEXAS TYPE”

Voters declare party affiliation on day of party primary, not before

Voters must then vote in that party’s primary Is a type of closed primary but operates more like an open

primary