Chapter 5: Political Chapter 5: Political PartiesParties

““A party of order and stability, and a A party of order and stability, and a party of progress or reform, are both party of progress or reform, are both

necessary elements of a necessary elements of a healthy state of life.”healthy state of life.”

-John Stuart Mill--John Stuart Mill-

What is a party??What is a party??

• Political party – a group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office– i.e. Democrats, Republicans, Green

Party

What do parties DO??What do parties DO??

• Major function – nominating candidates for public office

• Inform the people– Campaign for their candidates

• Congress and State legislatures aligned with party lines– Conduct business with strong support of party

and its policy stands

• Act as a watchdog over conduct of public’s business

Electoral SystemElectoral System

• Single-Member Districts – only one candidate is elected to each office on the ballot– Member with a plurality (the largest

number of votes) wins the office• Two-party system

– Two major parties exist and compete• Democrats and Republicans

– Election laws shaped to preserve this system

Origins of Political Origins of Political Party SymbolsParty Symbols

• Political cartoons drawn by Thomas Nast– Also created Santa

Claus and Uncle Sam

• Cartoon published in Harper’s Weekly in 1874– First use of elephant

as the Republicans– Donkey appeared

for Democrats in 1870

Tell me about Democrats..Tell me about Democrats..

• Also known as…– Liberals, Left-wing

• Mascot…– Donkey

• Democrats support…– Social welfare programs– Government regulation of business

practices– Efforts to improve the status of minorities– Strive to support and protect the idea of a

government run by the people

More about Democrats…More about Democrats…

• In general, who votes for Democrats?– African-Americans– Catholics and Jews– Union members

Tell me about Tell me about Republicans…Republicans…

• Also known as…– Conservatives, Right-wing, GOP

• Mascot…– Elephant

• Republicans support…– Play of private market forces in economy– Less government involvement in social

welfare programs

More about More about Republicans…Republicans…

• In general, who votes for Republicans?– White males– Protestants– Business community

Minor Parties in the USAMinor Parties in the USA

• 4 types of minor parties– Ideological parties

• Comprehensive view of issues• i.e. Socialist, Communist Parties

– Single-issue parties• Focus only on one public-policy matter• i.e. Right to Life Party

– Economic protest parties• Disgusted with major parties• i.e. Populist Party

– Splinter parties• Split away from major parties• i.e. Progressive Party of 1912

Why are minor parties Why are minor parties important?important?

• 1st to use a national convention to nominate presidential candidate in 1831

• Strong 3rd party candidate can pull votes from major parties

• Roles of critic and innovator– Take clear-cut stands on controversial issues– Bring important issues to attention of people

Party OrganizationParty Organization

• Decentralized, fragmented, often much internal squabbling– President’s political party is generally

more organized than opposing party• President is automatically party leader

National Party National Party MachineryMachinery

• 4 basic elements– National convention

• Party’s national voice – nominate presidential candidates, write party platform

– National committee• Organize national convention (every 4 years)

– National chairperson• Leader of national committee – chosen by presidential

candidate, ratified by committee• Directs work of party’s headquarters and small staff in

D.C.

– Congressional campaign committee• Work to re-elect incumbents, make sure seats given up

stay within the party (2-year term)

State and Local Party State and Local Party MachineryMachinery

• State organization– Built around a State central committee, headed

by a State chairperson– Works to further the party’s interest in the state

• Finding candidates and campaign funds• Building effective organization and party unity

• Local organization– Party unit for each district in which elective

offices are to be filled• Wards – unit into which cities are divided for city

council representatives• Precinct – smallest unit of election administration, all

voters in a precinct report to one polling place

Components of a PartyComponents of a Party

• Party organization– Leaders, activists, etc.

• Party in the electorate– Electorate – voting population– Party’s loyalists who regularly vote the

straight party ticket

• Party in government– Party’s officeholders

Minor Party Websites…Minor Party Websites…• Libertarian Party

– http://lp.org

• Communist Party– http://cpusa.org

• Green Party– http://greenpartyus.org

• America First Party– http://www.americafirstparty.org

• Socialist Labor Party– http://www.slp.org