Chapter 9Chapter 9

POLITICAL PARTIESPOLITICAL PARTIES

The Rise of the The Rise of the Campaign Party MachineCampaign Party Machine

The Republican and Democratic national The Republican and Democratic national committees have steadily increased their committees have steadily increased their employees and activities, especially in finance, employees and activities, especially in finance, advertising, information technology, and advertising, information technology, and campaign planning.campaign planning.

Yet public attachment to the parties is weaker Yet public attachment to the parties is weaker than ever, leading some to talk about than ever, leading some to talk about “baseless parties.”“baseless parties.”

It appears that parties have changed from It appears that parties have changed from community-based organizations to campaign community-based organizations to campaign service organizations.service organizations.

The Role of Political The Role of Political Parties in a DemocracyParties in a Democracy

What are political parties?What are political parties?– They recruit and run candidates for public They recruit and run candidates for public

office under the party label.office under the party label.– They try to organize and coordinate the They try to organize and coordinate the

activities of government officials under the activities of government officials under the party name.party name.

Many political scientists believe that Many political scientists believe that parties are essential to democracy, parties are essential to democracy, serving as the main instrument of serving as the main instrument of popular sovereignty and majority rule.popular sovereignty and majority rule.– Keeping elected officials responsiveKeeping elected officials responsive– Including a broad range of groupsIncluding a broad range of groups– Stimulating political interestStimulating political interest– Ensuring accountabilityEnsuring accountability– Making government workMaking government work

History of the History of the Two-party SystemTwo-party System

Most nations have either Most nations have either one-party one-party systemssystems or or multiparty systemsmultiparty systems..

Most Western democracies have multiparty Most Western democracies have multiparty systems.systems.

Yet in the United States, two partiestwo parties have have dominated the political scene since 1836.dominated the political scene since 1836.

Democrats and Republicans have controlled Democrats and Republicans have controlled the Presidency and Congress since 1860.the Presidency and Congress since 1860.

The First Party System: The First Party System: FederalistsFederalists versus versus Democratic RepublicansDemocratic Republicans

Parties were created almost immediately after the country’s Parties were created almost immediately after the country’s founding, even though the Founders were hostile to them in founding, even though the Founders were hostile to them in theory.theory.

The Federalist Party formed in the 1790’s, under the The Federalist Party formed in the 1790’s, under the leadership of Alexander Hamilton.leadership of Alexander Hamilton.

The Democratic Republicans soon formed as an opposition The Democratic Republicans soon formed as an opposition party, under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson and James party, under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson and James MadisonMadison– Federalists became tainted by actions such as the Federalists became tainted by actions such as the Alien and Sedition Alien and Sedition

Acts, Acts, enacted to repress dissent and opposition to Federalist policies.enacted to repress dissent and opposition to Federalist policies.– By 1816, the two-party system evolved into a one-party or no-party By 1816, the two-party system evolved into a one-party or no-party

system, known as the system, known as the Era of Good FeelingsEra of Good Feelings..

The Second Party System: The Second Party System: DemocratsDemocrats versus versus WhigsWhigs

– In the 1830’s, a strong two-party system In the 1830’s, a strong two-party system developed between the Democrats (formerly the developed between the Democrats (formerly the Democratic Republicans) and the Whigs.Democratic Republicans) and the Whigs.

– The Democrats and Whigs were very different The Democrats and Whigs were very different parties from those in the first party system, parties from those in the first party system, resulting from a significant democratization of resulting from a significant democratization of American life.American life.

– The Civil War split the parties: the northern and The Civil War split the parties: the northern and southern wings of each party mirrored the split southern wings of each party mirrored the split in the nation.in the nation.

From the Civil War to 1896: From the Civil War to 1896: RepublicansRepublicans and and DemocratsDemocrats

in balancein balance– Following Following ReconstructionReconstruction, ,

Republicans and Democrats Republicans and Democrats were somewhat balanced in were somewhat balanced in national politics.national politics.

– Each party had a strong regional Each party had a strong regional flavor.flavor.

The Party System of 1896: The Party System of 1896: Republican party dominanceRepublican party dominance

The late nineteenth century was a time of The late nineteenth century was a time of rapid economic and social change; rapid economic and social change; protest protest movementsmovements and and third partiesthird parties developed. developed.

Republicans dominated American politics from Republicans dominated American politics from the 1896 election until the election of 1932.the 1896 election until the election of 1932.

After 1896, the rate of voter participation After 1896, the rate of voter participation dropped sharply and never fully recovered.dropped sharply and never fully recovered.

The states of the deep South used intimidation The states of the deep South used intimidation and laws to remove blacks from the electorate, and laws to remove blacks from the electorate, eliminating the Republican party as a factor in eliminating the Republican party as a factor in southern politics.southern politics.

The New Deal System: The New Deal System: Democratic party dominanceDemocratic party dominance

The The New DealNew Deal party system grew out party system grew out of the crisis of the Great Depression and of the crisis of the Great Depression and favorable public reactions to favorable public reactions to government efforts to deal with the government efforts to deal with the economic collapse.economic collapse.

The party system underwent a The party system underwent a realignment (1932-1936) from realignment (1932-1936) from Republican to Democratic dominance.Republican to Democratic dominance.

The Sixth Party System: The Sixth Party System: dealignment and divided party governmentdealignment and divided party government The electoral coalition that formed the basis of the The electoral coalition that formed the basis of the

New Deal party system began to seriously deteriorate New Deal party system began to seriously deteriorate in 1968 and finally collapsed in 1994.in 1968 and finally collapsed in 1994.

Other changes starting in 1968 suggest the formation Other changes starting in 1968 suggest the formation of a sixth party system stretching from 1968 to at least of a sixth party system stretching from 1968 to at least 1994.1994.

Many call the process of transition to the sixth party Many call the process of transition to the sixth party system system dealignmentdealignment – dealignment may be thought of as a transformation in dealignment may be thought of as a transformation in

the party system in which a previously dominant party the party system in which a previously dominant party loses preeminence but no new party takes its place.loses preeminence but no new party takes its place.

– it is used to describe the increasing tendency of it is used to describe the increasing tendency of Americans not to claim any party identification at all.Americans not to claim any party identification at all.

Why a Two-party System?Why a Two-party System?

Why does the United States have a two-Why does the United States have a two-party system when most Western party system when most Western democracies have multiparty systems?democracies have multiparty systems?– Electoral rulesElectoral rules

» Proportional representation v. winner-take-Proportional representation v. winner-take-all, plurality election, single-member districtsall, plurality election, single-member districts

– Restrictions on minor partiesRestrictions on minor parties– The absence of a strong labor movementThe absence of a strong labor movement

The Place of Minor Parties in the The Place of Minor Parties in the Two-party SystemTwo-party System

Minor parties have played a less-Minor parties have played a less-important role in the United States important role in the United States than in virtually any other democratic than in virtually any other democratic nation.nation.

In our entire history, only the In our entire history, only the Republican party has managed to Republican party has managed to replace one of the major parties.replace one of the major parties.

Types of minor partiesTypes of minor parties– Protest partiesProtest parties– Ideological partiesIdeological parties– Single-issue partiesSingle-issue parties– Splinter partiesSplinter parties

The role of minor partiesThe role of minor parties– may articulate and popularize new may articulate and popularize new

ideas that are eventually taken over ideas that are eventually taken over by one or both major partiesby one or both major parties

– may allow people with grievances to may allow people with grievances to express themselves in a way that is express themselves in a way that is not possible within the major partiesnot possible within the major parties

– typically are not as cautious as the typically are not as cautious as the major parties major parties

The Parties as The Parties as OrganizationsOrganizations

In most democratic countries, parties are In most democratic countries, parties are fairly well-structured organizations.fairly well-structured organizations.– Led by party professionalsLed by party professionals– Committed to a set of policies and principlesCommitted to a set of policies and principles

They tend to have clearly defined They tend to have clearly defined membership requirements, centralized membership requirements, centralized control over nominations and financing, and control over nominations and financing, and discipline over party members who hold discipline over party members who hold political office.political office.

The Ambiguous Nature of The Ambiguous Nature of American PartiesAmerican Parties

American parties are composed of many diverse and American parties are composed of many diverse and independent groups and individuals.independent groups and individuals.

Presidents cannot automatically count on the support Presidents cannot automatically count on the support of their own party.of their own party.

Vagueness of party membershipVagueness of party membership Decentralized organization Decentralized organization

– party conventionsparty conventions– national party committeesnational party committees– Congressional campaign committeesCongressional campaign committees– state party organizationsstate party organizations– associated interest groupsassociated interest groups

The Primacy of CandidatesThe Primacy of Candidates American politics is candidate-centeredAmerican politics is candidate-centered

– Candidates have independent sources of campaign Candidates have independent sources of campaign financing, their own campaign organizations, and financing, their own campaign organizations, and their own campaign themes and priorities.their own campaign themes and priorities.

– The party can do very little about nominees who The party can do very little about nominees who oppose party leaders and reject national party oppose party leaders and reject national party platforms and policies.platforms and policies.

– Candidates are now almost exclusively nominated Candidates are now almost exclusively nominated in primaries or grass roots caucuses, where the in primaries or grass roots caucuses, where the party organizations have little influence.party organizations have little influence.

Contrast with politics in European Contrast with politics in European countriescountries– People in most European countries vote for People in most European countries vote for

parties rather than for individual candidates.parties rather than for individual candidates.– Independent candidates cannot force Independent candidates cannot force

themselves on the party through primaries or themselves on the party through primaries or caucuses.caucuses.

– In countries like Germany, the campaign is In countries like Germany, the campaign is waged between parties and their alternative waged between parties and their alternative programs, not between individual candidates.programs, not between individual candidates.

Ideology and ProgramIdeology and Program

An An ideologyideology is an organized set of beliefs is an organized set of beliefs about the fundamental nature of the good about the fundamental nature of the good society and the role government ought to play society and the role government ought to play in achieving it.in achieving it.

Each party’s core supporters are more Each party’s core supporters are more ideologically oriented than the general public.ideologically oriented than the general public.

Yet both parties are broad coalitions, and face Yet both parties are broad coalitions, and face strong pressures to be ideologically ambiguous strong pressures to be ideologically ambiguous in order to win in in order to win in winner-take-allwinner-take-all, , single-single-member-districtmember-district elections. elections.

How Are the How Are the Parties Different?Parties Different?

Still, the differences between Democrats Still, the differences between Democrats and Republicans are real, important, and and Republicans are real, important, and enduring, and appear to be becoming enduring, and appear to be becoming more distinctive. more distinctive. – in the perceptions of the electoratein the perceptions of the electorate– in terms of who supports themin terms of who supports them– in their political platformsin their political platforms– in the positions taken by party activistsin the positions taken by party activists– in the policy decisions of their elected in the policy decisions of their elected

representativesrepresentatives

Are the Parties Becoming Are the Parties Becoming More Ideological?More Ideological?

The Republican party became more The Republican party became more consistently conservative after the consistently conservative after the mid-1970s.mid-1970s.

The Democratic party is split between The Democratic party is split between a very liberal Congressional wing and a very liberal Congressional wing and a more “centrist” wing, represented a more “centrist” wing, represented by the Democratic Leadership Council by the Democratic Leadership Council (including Clinton and Gore).(including Clinton and Gore).

The Parties in GovernmentThe Parties in Government

The The parties in governmentparties in government refers to refers to government officials who have been government officials who have been elected under the party’s label.elected under the party’s label.– To avoid tyrannical government, the Founders To avoid tyrannical government, the Founders

designed a system of government in which designed a system of government in which power is so fragmented and competitive that power is so fragmented and competitive that effectiveness is unlikely.effectiveness is unlikely.

– One of the roles that political parties play is to One of the roles that political parties play is to persuade officials in the different branches to persuade officials in the different branches to cooperate with one another on the basis of cooperate with one another on the basis of party loyalty.party loyalty.

Divided Party GovernmentDivided Party Government

Divided party governmentDivided party government occurs when the occurs when the executive and legislative branches are held by executive and legislative branches are held by opposing political parties.opposing political parties.

Long-term party division between the Presidency Long-term party division between the Presidency and Congress exaggerates the problems caused and Congress exaggerates the problems caused by the constitutional by the constitutional separation of powersseparation of powers..– Divided government adds to the Divided government adds to the gridlockgridlock and and

paralysis that are built into the constitutional paralysis that are built into the constitutional design of our system of government.design of our system of government.

– Divided party control can give rise to a state of Divided party control can give rise to a state of perpetual conflict between the two branches.perpetual conflict between the two branches.

Parties in the ElectorateParties in the Electorate

Parties in the electorateParties in the electorate refers refers to individuals who are supporters to individuals who are supporters of the party.of the party.

Americans are less inclined to Americans are less inclined to identify with either of the parties identify with either of the parties than they were in the past.than they were in the past.