Political Party - group of persons who seek to control gov’t by winning elections and holding office

US 2 MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES - Republican and Democrat

Each party is a COALITION = union of many persons of diverse interests who join together to get candidate elected to public office.Parties are mechanisms that:1. develop broad policy2. develop leadership choices3. present options to people

Link between people & their gov’tParties bring: conflicting groups together

modify and compromise contending viewsunify people

5 MAJOR FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY PARTIES

1. NOMINATING FUNCTIONName candidates for officegather support for candidate

2. INFORMER-STIMULATOR FUNCTIONParties educate people and get them excited in their interest and participation in public affairs

Other groups – Media and Interest Groups

They CAMPAIGNtake stand on issuescriticize candidates and position of opponentThey INFORM PEOPLE (to parties advantage)Ex. educating by: pamphlets, signs, buttons, stickers, ads,

radio, TV, speeches, rallies, conventions - INTERNET.

5 MAJOR FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY PARTIES

3. “SEAL OF APPROVAL” FUNCTIONParty approves candidateChoosing one that is qualified and of good character and perform duties well

4. GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONUS described as gov’t by party

(Those who govern are chosen by party)Parties also provide a basis for the conduct of gov’t

• Under separation of powers, party is major agent through which executive and legislative branches cooperate with each

other.

5. WATCH DOG FUNCTIONParties act as watchdogs over the conduct of the public’s business. This is the particular function of party OUT OF

OFFICE or powerCriticizes policies and behavior of party in power

Two Party System

Minor party - less supported in political system

US has a 2 party system = Republican/ Democrat

4 FACTORS EXPLAIN WHY US HAS AND CONTINUES TO HAVE A 2 PARTY SYSTEM

1. HISTORICAL BASIS - Framers opposed partiesBegan when nation started: Federalist/ Anti-FederalistsBecame country’s 1st 2 party in the debate over ratification

(Federalists papers)

2. FORCE OF TRADITIONMost Americans accept 2 party system b/c always has

been that way

Minor parties have a little headway.

Two Party System

3. ELECTORAL SYSTEMPromote 2 party systemSingle member district preserve 2 party systemState elections laws are deliberately written to discourage minor parties.

WINNER TAKES ALL ELECTIONPLURALITY = largest number of votes

Plurality need NOT be majority

4. AMERICAN IDEOLOGICAL CONSENSUSUS is a pluralistic society (several distinct cultures and

groups)Americans tend to agree on fundamental issues =

CONSENSUS

American’s major political parties tend to take MODERATE stand in order to attract the largest possible number of votes.

MULTIPARTY SYSTEM - exist mostly in EuropeParties represent a wide variety of : class, religion, and

political interestsEach parties representation in legislation depends on the number of votes received. ex. 15% of votes = 15% of legislative seats

Often making government unstableTo reduce number of parties, countries passed a law

requiring minimum % of votes before gaining representation ex. Germany& Greece 5%

In America, institutional and ideological factors make multiparty system unlikely.

ONE PARTY SYSTEM - DictatorshipTraditionally in US - many areas were dominated by 1 party. ex. Delaware, OH = Republicans

2 party competition is spreading.

Linkage Institution

□ Linkage institutions (elections, political parties, interest groups, media) translate inputs from the public into outputs from the policymakers.

□ Tasks performed by parties as linkage institutions□ 1. Parties pick policy makers - Nomination□ 2. Parties run campaign□ 3. Parties give direction to voters□ 4. Parties articulate policies□ 5. Parties coordinate policy making; office holder is a party

member looking for support to their partisians

The Downs Model provided a working model of the relationship among citizens, parties, and policy, employing rational-choice perspective.

□ Rational Choice Theory - assumes that parties and political actors have goals (winning elections) (self-interest) that are more important to party than ideology. US we are election-oriented not issue-oriented.

□ Downs argument:□ A. If both parties and voters are rational, both try to select the

best way to achieve their goals□ B. To win office, the party pursues policies that have broad public

appeal.□ C. The majority of American electorate are in the middle, and

parties rarely stray from the midpoint of public opinion.□ D. Criticism that there is not much difference between both

parties.□ E. From a rational-choice perspective, one expects the parties to

differentiate themselves to some extent. Both parties are forced to show different identities in order to build voter loyalty.

Party Identification – citizens’ self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other

□ Over the years we have a decline of both parties and increase in Independents

□ Party identification remains linked to voter’s choice but SPLIT TICKET VOTING has increased

□ Divided government has frequently been the result (Republican control of White House, Democrat control of Congress)

□ Party Players□ 1. Party members in Organization = (Leaders, Activists)

has a national office, full-time staff, rules/bylaws, budget□ 2. Party In Government = Elected Officials who call

themselves members of the party□ 3. Party in the Electorate = voters = Individuals who

perceive themselves as party members

Political Socialization

MEMBERSHIP OF THE PARTIES - Membership is voluntary and is composed of cross-section of population

Some Segments of electorate that tend to support 1 party or the otherTraditionally, minority groups are Democrats and white males, Protestant, and business community are Republicans (GOP)

Major events that influence party choice1. Family - allegiance, tradition 2. Economic status

Higher income usually Republican3. Major Events4. Age5. Residence6. Education level7. Work Environment

Party History

ERAS OF ONE-PARTY DOMINATION1.1796 - 1824 - First party system Alexander Hamilton established the first party system. Policies he favored the national bank and the foundation of the Federalist party came from his politicking and coalition building Federalist Party shortest lived party - poorly organized, faded after John Adams defeated in 1800.

□Democratic -Republican (Jeffersonians) replaced the Federalists;

based on agrarian interests; popular in the south; party torn apart by Factionalism

Party History

3.1828-1856 - Jackson and the Democrats versus Whigs

Jackson originally Democratic-Republican; partybecame known as Democratic party

Whigs - Martin Van Buren; party only able to win the presidency when it nominated popular military heroes: William Harrison, Zachary Taylor (party consisted of : northern industrialists and southern planters)

□1860 - 1928 - Republican EraSlavery dominated American politics split both the

Whig and Democrats in 1850Republican party rose as the anti-slavery partyElected Abe Lincoln in 1860Civil War brought party realignment

Party History

5. 1896 - party coalition shifted and Republicans were dominant until Great Depression1932-1964 - New Deal CoalitionHoover’s handling of Depression was disastrousFDR promised a New Deal during his first 100 daysDemocrats - union members, southerners, intellectuals, liberals, poor, African Americans, small farmers, big city political org.

6. 1968 - PresentDivided Government when executive and congress controlled by different partiesParty dealignment - people are gradually moving away from both political parties

Third Parties

Ideological party - based on certain social, economic, or political ideas; differ from majority of population

ex. Socialist - favored gov’t takeover of industry Communist Libertarian - promotes individual rights, less gov’t

in private lives and opposes taxes and US invasion abroad

Single-issue parties - based on ONE ISSUE. Fade away after issue has been resolved or people lose interest. Sometimes able to get one of the major parties to take on their issue.ex. Free soil - opposed slavery

Know Nothings - opposed Irish-Catholic immigration

Right to Life - opposed abortionProhibition party - prohibition of mfg, sales,

and distribution of alcohol

Third Parties

Economic protest parties - appear during difficult financial times. Appeal to people who are angry with economy. People want better prices and wages and lower taxes.

Ex. Greenback - appealed to farmers; fee coinage of silver, fed reg of the railroads, income tax, labor legislationEx. Populist party - demanded public ownership of RR, telephone, and telegraph companies, lower tariffs, and adoption of initiative and referendumInitiative - people introduce a bill in Congress and State by petitionReferendum - allow people to vote on bills after passed by legislature

Splinter parties - split from major parties; when the leader steps aside the party fadesEx. Bull Moose Party - Progressive party - Theodore RooseveltEx. DixiecratEx. American Independent Party - George Wallace

Major Characteristics of a MINOR PARTY in American Politics:

1.Short-lived

2.Based on a single issue

3.Formed around a strong personality

3rd Parties1912 - Progressives - Roosevelt - didn’t win election but took votes away from Rep - Taft and Dem - Wilson1992 - Ross Perot - Independent, won 19% of vote; contributed to Bush losing b/c most REP voted for Perot. He spent $60 mill of his own money1996 - Perot ran with the REFORM Party = balancing federal budget, reforming political campaign funding, established term limits for members of Congress, new tax system, restrictions on lobbying gov’t officialsPerot was able to receive federal funds = $29 mill; The REP/DEM received $62 mill

Major American political parties have DECENTRALIZED STRUCTURE

Question: How does decentralization affect relationships among different levels of government?

Main Reasons:

1.FEDERALISM - divided 3 levels of government; more than ½ million elected officials

2. NOMINATING PROCESS - intraparty process - within party; process divisive one, same members of party disagree and fight over nomination

3. PRESIDENT - no leader; party not in power is more decentralized

President acts as PARTY LEADER. He unites the party through:

PopularityAccess to MediaPeople appoints for gov’t jobs

2 LEVEL PARTY STRUCTURE1. National 2. State

MAJOR PARTY HAS 4 POINTS OF ORGANIZATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL1. NATIONAL CONVENTION

meets every 4 yearsnominates President/Vice Presidentadopts party’s rules and writes platform

2. NATIONAL COMMITTEEconsists of party leaders from every StatePlans National Conventions

MAJOR PARTY HAS 4 POINTS OF ORGANIZATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL

3. NATIONAL CHAIRPERSONappointed by party’s nominee for PresidentHeads National Committee

4. CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEES - Pg. 139• Each party has a campaign committee in EACH HOUSE

committees work to REELECT INCUMBENTS and save seats of those retiring

• members of committee are chosen by their colleagues

STATE LEVEL - State Party Chairman leads STATE central committee and runs party’s activities

within State and further the party’s interest in stateLOCAL LEVEL - Varies because of STATE ELECTION LAWSex. City council member

Party is divides city into small units = WARDSWARDS are divided further into = PRECINCTS

Voters of precinct go to same voting place

LOCAL PARTIESPOLITICAL MACHINE - organized group of individuals who dominate a political party within a geographic area (big city)

Uses party’s resources to further own power and control over political system

Ex. Tammany Hall – NYC; Gain support by Political Machine assigned small armies of workers to become familiar with residents in neighborhoods.

On election day - workers urged supporters to go to poll - promised them gov’t jobs if party won = PATRONAGE

ACT = SPOILS SYSTEMS

States regulate party elections: CLOSED, OPEN, BLANKET Primaries

Local Party Corruption Local party would print ballots with list of only their candidatesVoters forced to cast STRAIGHT TICKETPolitical machine engaged in illegal voting practices

No voter registration“Vote early and vote often”

Elected official support and loyaltyLocal party organization in charge of nominating candidates

How things became legal:*1. New Ballot System - printed by government*2. Voter Registration started*3. Pendleton ACT - 1883 – MERIT SYSTEM = gov’t job is given by qualification and examination ; Spoils system - ILLEGAL

REASONS WHY PARTIES HAVE FEWER MEMBERS1. More people say they are INDEPENDENTS vs. Rep/Dem

2. Voters report more SPLIT-TICKET votingvote for candidates of different parties in same election

3. Structural changes and reforms i.e. Reform of campaign finance and direct primary

elections have caused members to disagree.

4. Candidates don’t rely on party as much b/c of technology changes such as media and internet

5. More voters have stronger ties to single-issue groups