Chapter 8

WSU Essay #5 – Political Parties

Exceeds expectations Student addresses 5 or 6 of these pointsMeet expectations student addresses 3 or 4 of these pointsDoes NOT meet expectation

student addresses fewer than 3 of these points

2

Explain the main functions of American parties. Also indicate those instances where significant changes have occurred in the American party system.

WSU Essay – Main Functions of P.P.

Nominating candidates Change: Candidates set out on own/don’t let

party screen them out Funding candidates

Change: Candidates raising more of own money

Structure voting choice reduce number of candidates on ballot

to those with chance of winning3

WSU Essay Continued Intermediary between unorganized voters

and government Change: Media/interest groups taking over this

role Provide platform for issues to be discussed Policies candidates pursue if elected

Mavericks may vote against party lines Other

4

5

Chapter 8 Scenario: (put into your portfolio)

Read page 243-244. Then answer the following: •What do you think about the situation in the 23rd Congressional District in New York? Was the support of the conservative candidate the right move by the Republican Party? Why or why not? •Do you think Republicans and Democrats are really different, or do they essentially behave the same why? Explain.

89% of Americans surveyed after the 2008 election felt elections make the government “pay attention to what the people think.”

Do you agree?

6

Political Parties and 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 voters7

What Is a Political Party?

An organization that sponsors candidates for political office under the organization’s name

Use a nomination process See the paragraph on pg. 244-245

Democracies must have at least two political parties that regularly compete against each other

8

Only Two to Tangle

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Compared with party systems in other countries, the U.S. two - party system is unusual. Most democracies have multiparty systems in which 4 or 5 parties win enough seats to contest for power. (See next slide)

Only Two to Tangle (cont.)

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(Continued from previous slide)The United Kingdom is the most notable example of a country having a two - party system. The purer U.S. pattern of two-party politics shows clearly in these graphs of votes cast for party candidates running for the U.S. House compared with the British House of Commons.

Party Functions 4 of the most important include:

Nominating candidates for election to public office

Structuring the voting choice in elections

Proposing alternative government programs

Coordinating actions of public officials

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Nominating Candidates Political leadership requires certain

qualities (OR should we hold a lottery to fill positions randomly??)

Parties can perform “quality control” by choosing candidates Party leaders know strengths/faults of

candidates better than average voter Parties also can recruit talented

persons to become candidates

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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

13

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

14

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

Members of same party in the House, Senate, and Presidency tend to share principles and cooperate in making policies

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Getting Older? The Democratic party formed in 1828

Oldest party in existence? Republicans formed in 1854 Generations have supported these

parties - institutionalized

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History of U.S. Politics: The Preparty Period

Constitution no mention of 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/Loyalists Whigs/Patriots, Federalists and Anti-Federalists

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Not parties since they didn’t sponsor candidates for elections

The Preparty Period (cont.)

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

Wanted stronger national govt

Democratic Republicans led by Thomas Jefferson

Feared strong national govt

Election of 1796 saw John Adams (a Federalist) elected president, with Thomas Jefferson elected vice president

In election of 1800, both parties nominated candidates for both president and vice president

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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

20

Figure 8.1

The Two-Party System

in American History

21

Over time, the American party system has undergone a series of wrenching transformations. Since 1856, the Democrats and Republicans have alternated irregularly in power, each party enjoying a long period of dominance.

The Second Party System: Democrats and Whigs

Jackson’s faction of Democratic Republicans represented “common people” in South and West Preferred to be called Democrats Jackson ran for president in 1828; birth of

today’s Democratic Party Increase in suffrage rights led to voters,

instead of state legislators, choosing presidential electors

Greater numbers voting required changes from existing parties

22

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 (not today’s Republicans)

Coalition of those opposing Jackson formed Whig Party in 1834 Democrats and Whigs alternated

presidency for next 30 years23

Whigs thought Jackson was governing like a king.

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

24

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

25

Four Political Eras Since Civil War A Rough Balance: 1860-1894

GOP (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 over William Jennings Bryan; business started supporting Repubs; Republicans basically in power until Great Depression

26

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 over Hoover; Democratic party won majorities in both House and Senate

A major electoral realignment27

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 in South 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?

28

Figure 8.1

The Two-Party System

in American History

29

Over time, the American party system has undergone a series of wrenching transformations. Since 1856, the Democrats and Republicans have alternated irregularly in power, each party enjoying a long period of dominance.

Scenario 2- The Wizard of Oz Read the Feature Story on page 256-257. Have you ever thought of the Wizard of Oz

in these terms? What was the most interesting part of this

reading? Do you think it really was written to

promote the Populist movement? Explain.

30

Third Parties/Minor Parties While two parties dominant, third parties

make contributions also Third parties usually one of four types:

Bolter parties (splinter) Challenge former parties by forming new parties. T.R.’s Progressives

Farmer-labor parties Working class doesn’t think it’s getting fair share. Populist/People’s

Party

Parties of ideological protest Propose radically different principles. Socialist, Libertarian, Green

Single-issue parties Free Soil, Prohibition

31

Figure 8.2

Party Candidates for the U.S. House in the 2010 Election

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The Third Party Theme

33

The Libertarian Party, founded in 1971, has run presidential candidates in every election since 1972, but has never won a million votes. Ron Paul was the 1988 Libertarian presidential candidate, but was elected to Congress in 1996 as a Republican. The Libertarian party’s website justifiably describes itself as “America’s 3 rd largest and fastest growing political party.” That says something about the state of 3 rd parties in the U.S.

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 safety valves Women’s suffrage, graduated income tax, direct election of

Senators all started with 3rd parties. Safety valve- discontented can show unhappiness

34

35

24 total candidates ran in various states of many different parties in the 2008 Presidential election. All of them together captured less than 2% of the actual vote.

Why a Two-Party System?

Historical basis Tradition Electoral system Majority vs. proportional

representation Head start in structuring the vote Laws getting on the ballot – petitions

with thousands of signatures and $$$36

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 37

Figure 8.4

Distribution of Party Identification, 1952-2008

38

Party Identification Party identification predisposes but

does not mandate voting behavior Factors affecting party identification:

50% Americans adopt parents’ party39

Income EducationReligion GenderRegion EthnicityAge

Figure 8.5

Party Identification

by Social Groups

40PEW 2008 survey

• As income increases, more likely: R

• As education increases, more likely: R, except advanced degrees

• Protestants more likely than unaffiliated to be R

• Women, Hispanics, nonwhites more likely D

• Easterners least likely to be R• Less Independents as age

increases• Younger people identify with a

party as they mature

Fewer Citizens Are Partying

Partisanship has declined since early 1950s Also true in many other

democracies Reasons given include more

education and political sophistication

See pg. 268 chart

41

Party Ideology and Organization

Significant differences in ideology between Republicans and Democrats Approaches to concepts of freedom,

order, and equality affect spending priorities

R = spending on order (defense) D = spending on equality (welfare)

42

Figure 8.6

Ideologies of Party Voters and Party Delegates in 2008

43

Ideological differences more pronounced when looking at party activists

Republicans classify themselves as much more conservative than Democrats classify themselves as liberal.

2008 Party Convention Platforms

(Both parties said about same number of words at convention)

Reps. said “free/freedom” 59 to 26 compared with Dems.

Dems said “equal/equality/inequality” 14 to 6.

Reps said order/”crime/criminals” 34 to 18. Reps said “taxes” 98 to 42 Dems said “poverty” 31 to 2

This shows what is important to each party’s platform

44

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

45See page 270-271

National Party Organization

National parties not particularly powerful Do not direct or control presidential

campaigns. Candidates hire own staff.

RNC usually raised more $ than DNC

See pg. 273-27446

State and Local Party Organizations

At one time, both parties had powerful state and local party machines

National parties supply funding, candidate training, poll data and research, and campaigning instruction

47

Decentralized but Growing Stronger

American parties one of most decentralized in the world: decision making governance closer to people.

Even though party identification dropping, political party organizations growing stronger

Still, not clear how well parties link voters to government

48

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 49

WSU Essay #5 – Political Parties

Exceeds expectations Student addresses 5 or 6 of these pointsMeet expectations student addresses 3 or 4 of these pointsDoes NOT meet expectation

student addresses fewer than 3 of these points

50

Explain the main functions of American parties. Also indicate those instances where significant changes have occurred in the American party system.

WSU Essay – Main Functions of P.P.

Nominating candidates Change: Candidates set out on own/don’t let

party screen them out Funding candidates

Change: Candidates raising more of own money

Structure voting choice reduce number of candidates on ballot

to those with chance of winning51

WSU Essay Continued Intermediary between unorganized voters

and government Change: Media/interest groups taking over this

role Provide platform for issues to be discussed Policies candidates pursue if elected

Mavericks may vote against party lines Other

52