Political Parties in the United States. What is a Political Party? n A political party is a group of people who share a political ideology, and seek to

Political Parties in the United States

What is a Political Party?

A political party is a group of people who share a political ideology, and seek to control government policy through peaceful means such as identifying candidates for public office, and supporting their election campaigns.

What do Parties do for American politics?

They recruit candidates, especially when there is no incumbent

They support candidates financially and with manpower

They educate the electorate to the virtues of their candidate

When they win, they organize the government

Common Party systems in today’s world

Some countries have a One-Party System (e.g., the former Soviet Union under Communism)

Some have a Two-Party System (e.g., USA. There are about 26 registered parties in the US, but the traditional two -- Democrat and Republican – have dominated for over a century)

Some countries have Multi-Party Systems (e.g., most European countries)

Why are there Political Parties in the US?

Political parties are not mentioned in the US Constitution.

Washington and Madison warned against “the divisiveness of faction”

Yet factions first appeared during the state battles over ratification of the Constitution 1787-1789

Early Parties

Federalists: favored the new Constitution, wanted a powerful central government to which state governments were subservient

Republicans (anti-federalists): skeptical of the new Constitution, wanted safeguards for individual liberties and feared relinquishing the accustomed powers of state governments

Values of the Two-Party System

The two-party system provides a voice for differing opinions

It forces compromise to achieve consensus. No group with a large-enough membership will see its opinions totally disregarded

It prevents ideological dictatorship It reinforces the value of “loyal opposition” to the

government

Why didn’t the US develop a multi-party system?

British heritage: Britain has a 2-party system Reflects original Federalist/Anti Federalist

arguments “Winner-take-all” electoral college system (in most

states) favors candidates with broad support. A multi-party system would fragment

State election laws vary widely. Small parties often find it difficult to compete

HISTORY OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE UNITED

STATES

Political Parties in History

The Washington Administration (1789-1796) contained both Federalists and Republicans (Republicans were the former Anti-Federalists.)

Leaders included Alexander Hamilton (Federalist) and Thomas Jefferson (Republican)


Sentiment against government tyranny under the Federalists led to Republican sweep of offices in 1800

Jefferson’s presidency thus began with the “Revolution of 1800.”


Jeffersonian Republicanism dominated until 1824

It was helped by the demise of the Federalists after the War of 1812

But the Republican Party itself split into factions.


The “National Republicans” were similar to the old Federalists

They wanted federally-financed improvements that would help the country grow

They were suspicious of states’ rights They tended to be Westerners and

Northeasterners.


The Democrat-Republicans were closer in belief to the old Jeffersonians

They were suspicious of a strong central government and favored states’ rights

They tended to be Southerners Eventually the Democrat-Republican Party

(or “Democrats”) were associated with slavery.


Andrew Jackson was the dominant Democrat figure of the era

His view of states’ rights differed strongly from Jefferson’s

His battle with South Carolina over nullification is one example


The Democrats dominated from 1800 until 1860

Their most serious opposition came from the Whigs, formed in the late 1830s in opposition to Jackson

When Jackson left office, the Whigs lost their issue and faded away


In 1856, a new “Republican” party formed out of the remnants of the Whigs and a new young group of anti-slavery men.

By 1860 it was the second major party in the country

In 1860, it elected President Abraham Lincoln


By the end of the Civil War, Democrats were seen as secessionists and traitors

Republicans were seen as defenders of the Union and of the rights of black citizens.

Republicans dominated in national elections generally from 1860-1932, with only a few exceptions.


Democrats adopted some “common man” Populist causes in the 1896 election and achieved some limited success

They returned to national prominence and power with the “New Deal” of Franklin Roosevelt in 1932.


This solidified the image of Democrats that the party claims today:

The Democratic party is seen as the party of the working man, of using tax dollars to create an equitable society, of using a strong central government as a tool for social change.


The “New Deal coalition” put together by FDR gathered blue collar workers, Black voters, women, Catholics, Jews, and city-dwellers.

Elections such as 1896 and 1932, which bring new kinds of members and new beliefs to a party, are called REALIGNING elections


During this time, Republicans characterized Democrats as the party of radicalism and socialism.

They characterized themselves as the party of restraint, of self-reliance, and of free enterprise with no government interference.


Democrats dominated in American government from 1932 to 1968

The Democrats held either the majority in Congress or the White House (if not both) for those 40 years.


In 1946, Republicans gained control of Congress. With Democrat Harry Truman in the White House, the country experienced divided government

DIVIDED GOVERNMENT: One party controls the presidency, and the opposing party controls one or both Houses of Congress


In the 1948 mid-term elections, Democrats regained control of Congress

In 1952, Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected President and the Republicans again gained control of Congress

In the 1954 mid-term elections, Democrats regained control of Congress

In 1960,John F. Kennedy was elected President, and the Democrats retained control of Congress


Republican Richard Nixon was elected President in 1968, and re-elected in 1972. The Democrats retained their majority in Congress

In 1980, Republican Ronald Reagan was elected President. The Republicans gained control of the Senate

Although Reagan was re-elected in 1984, the Republicans lost control of the Senate and the Democrats again controlled both houses of Congress


In 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton was elected President. The Democrats also controlled both houses of Congress.

In the 1994 mid-term elections, the Republicans gained control of both houses of Congress.

After the 2000 elections, Republican George W. Bush became President and the Republicans continued to control Congress. However, the Senate was equally divided (50-50) and Republican Vice President Richard Cheney held the tie-breaking vote


But in 2001, Senator Jim Jeffords (R-VT) left the Republican party. Although officially an independent, he caucused with the Democrats. Thus they regained effective control of the Senate

After the 2002 elections, the Republicans held the Presidency and control of both houses of Congress

In the 2006 mid-term elections, Democrats regained control of both houses of Congress


In 2008, Democrat Barack Obama was elected President and the Democrats retained control over Congress

In 2010, the Democrats maintained control over Congress, but in 2012, the Republicans gained control of the House.

During some of these periods, one party or the other has held a “veto-proof” majority (60 votes) in the Senate


At best, frequent change of control and division can result in sharp and honest political debate that results in true consensus government.


At worst, it can result in stalemate and total lack of progress that politicians call “gridlock.”


Democrat President Bill Clinton experienced this two years after his first election in 1992

Congressional mid-term elections brought Republican majorities to both Houses of Congress in the so-called “Conservative Revolution.”


The new House Speaker, Newton Gingrich (R, Georgia) presented a conservative agenda called “The Contract with America”

It called for strong defense, lower taxes, tightening entitlement programs like “welfare,” limitations on powers of committee chairs, and 3/5 majority required to pass ANY tax increase

Republican popularity soared


Sometimes, one party or the other displays a significant shift to either the right or the left

In 2002, both Republican and Democrat parties shifted views to the right

Democrats shifted many of their positions to avoid losing voters

Political Parties in history

Often, de-aligned voters refuse to join the other party.

They may classify themselves as independent, or drop out of the political process altogether.


On the other hand, in cases where de-aligned voters form new coalitions and gather new supporters, the process called re-alignment occurs.

It may result in an all-new political party (as occurred with the Republicans in 1854) or it may bring about a new belief system for an old party (as happened with the Democrats in 1932)

“THIRD” PARTIES


Parties that do not affiliate with either of the two major groups in the United States are called “third parties,” regardless of how many of them there are.


A few of these third parties have elected members to Congress; no third party candidate has ever been elected to the presidency.


Ironically, a strong and successful third party is more likely to bring change to one of the two major parties, than to establish itself as a new and independent party.

KINDS OF THIRD PARTIES

IDEOLOGICAL THIRD PARTIES: are based on a particular system of beliefs

Examples are the Socialist Party, the American Communist Party, the Libertarian Party, the Constitution Party


SPLINTER OR “PERSONALITY” PARTIES: break off from one of the majors, usually under the influence of a strong leader

They often die out when the leader steps aside or ceases to be relevant

Examples are the Bull Moose Party, The Whig Party, the Reform Party, the American Independent Party, many others


SINGLE ISSUE PARTIES: form around one public policy matter

Examples are the Free Soil Party, The Right-to-Life Party, The Prohibition Party


PROTEST PARTIES: form around a group of dissenters on an important public policy issue, and usually arise during times of economic hardship

Examples are The Anti War Party, The Greenback Party, The Populist Party.

HOW POLITICAL PARTIES ARE

STRUCTURED AND ORGANIZED

STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION

Effective organization is key to a political party’s success

Political parties are very large organizations, with diverse membership

It takes a flexible, de-centralized structure to make room for variations in ideology.


The party of the current president at any given time tends to be more tightly organized than the other party

The President of the United States is automatically the leader of his party, guaranteeing high visibility and a strong rallying point.


The opposition party has a tougher organizational task

Usually -- but not always -- a high-profile senior member of Congress emerges as their philosophical leader

Often there seems to be no leader.


THE NATIONAL CONVENTION serves as the public voice of the party

Delegates from all over the country meet every four years to rally support behind the front runner.


The Convention formally nominates the presidential and vice presidential candidates (the “ticket”)

And writes the party’s belief statements for the upcoming election season (“the platform”)


Until primary elections became widespread during the 1970s, the Party insiders did all choosing of candidates at the convention

In recent times, the convention formally introduces the candidate to the Party.


The Conventions are partially televised, though not to the extent nowadays that they were in the early days of television.


Televised Convention speeches provide an opportunity for national exposure for the up-and-coming younger members the Party thinks might be acceptable for national office

Little-known Arkansas governor Bill Clinton gave the opening address (criticized for its length) at the 1988 Democratic National Convention

Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. was the keynote speaker at the 2000 Democratic National Convention


Outside of a presidential election year, the party’s business is handled by its National Committee.


The National Committee is headed by the National Chairman


The National Committee and National Chair are responsible for fund raising, encouraging new membership, and strategizing to help the party’s candidates win elections.


Each National Committee also has a committee organized in each House of Congress

These committees work to re-elect incumbents from their party, and target opposition representatives who might be apt to lose their seats to a strong challenger.


State laws determine how each party organizes at the state level

As a rule, they are more tightly organized at the state level than at the national level.


Since the 1971 Federal Election Campaign Act, party National Committees have been allowed to distribute national party funds to the states

This has resulted in more cash being available to state party organizations.


These funds, nicknamed “soft money,” did not have to be identified on a candidate’s financial disclosure reports to the Federal Election Commission

The candidate merely listed “RNC” or “DNC” as the donor, rather than the individual(s) who originally gave the national party these funds.


Soft money was a boon to national committees, making sure that state organizations didn’t become too independent of the national organization.


Soft money was also controversial, because it could allow a candidate to disguise the nature of his/her supporters by channeling their donations first through the national committee.


The McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act in 2002 outlawed almost all “soft money” contributions if channeled to individual candidates

Soft money was restricted to being used by the party only, for voter registration, generic ads urging voters to “Vote Republican!”, etc.


Campaign finance reform had its loopholes, however.

One big one was allowing donors to purchase “issue ads” without listing the endorsement of a particular candidate.

STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATIONS

Supporters of this exception called it a free speech issue

Congress couldn’t legitimately stop an interested party from buying advertising time to promote anti-smoking laws, for example, or anti-gun control laws, without restricting that individual’s freedom of expression.


This loophole was most effectively used in the 2004 election by an issue-advocacy group called “Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth.”

This group purchased TV ads questioning the legitimacy of John Kerry’s Viet Nam war medals

The ads never mentioned George Bush’s name, and thus did not violate McCain-Feingold.

ARE POLITICAL PARTIES DYING OUT?

ARE POLITICAL PARTIES DYING?

Recent trends suggest they might be; third party challenges since the early 1990s have taken votes from both major parties.


More and more Americans are describing themselves as independent, and say they vote for the person, not for the party.


More and more voters are “splitting their ticket” when voting, that is, they vote Democrat candidates for some offices, Republican candidates for others.


Many Americans indicate in polls that they see little difference between the positions of the two major parties


As each of the major parties scrambles to include more and more interest groups under their party umbrellas, they find this diversity weakens the strength created by uniformity, and increases internal conflict.


New campaigning technology, particularly widespread use of the Internet, has given wider exposure to third party candidates.

Documents

Political Parties in the United States. What is a Political Party? n A political party is a group of people who share a political ideology, and seek to