Unit 2: Political Behavior

Unit 2: Political Behavior

Chapter 5- Political Parties

Chapter 5- Political Parties

Nolan ChartNolan Chart

Emphasis on personal and economic freedom

Emphasis on personal and economic freedom

Pournelle ModelPournelle Model

Emphasis on reason and power of the state

Emphasis on reason and power of the state

Friesian Institute ModelFriesian Institute Model

Stacks political rights on top of economic and

Personal rights

Stacks political rights on top of economic and

Personal rights

GeneralizationsGeneralizations

Lower SESLower Ed & IntellectualsMinoritiesBlue Collar/UnionUrbanCoastalWomenNon-ChristianNon-Church Goer

Higher SESAbove avg. Ed (BA &MA)WASPsWhite CollarRural/SuburbanMiddle AmericaMenChristianRegular Church Goer

I. Parties and What They Do

I. Parties and What They Do

A. What is a Party? 1. Political party- a. Not issue-oriented-

they are ELECTION ORIENTED!

A. What is a Party? 1. Political party- a. Not issue-oriented-

they are ELECTION ORIENTED!

B. What Do Parties Do? 1. Nominating Candidates- 2. Inform and Activate Support- a. news media and Interest groups

B. What Do Parties Do? 1. Nominating Candidates- 2. Inform and Activate Support- a. news media and Interest groups

3. Bonding Agent Function: 4. Government Function:

3. Bonding Agent Function: 4. Government Function:

5. Watchdog Function: a. “throw the rascals out”

b. the “loyal opposition”

5. Watchdog Function: a. “throw the rascals out”

b. the “loyal opposition”

II.Why 2 Parties?II.Why 2 Parties?

1. British Tradition (Tories v. Whigs)

2.American 2-sided issues a. Federalists v. Anti-

Federalists b. North v. South c. Rich v. Poor 3. Electoral System:

1. British Tradition (Tories v. Whigs)

2.American 2-sided issues a. Federalists v. Anti-

Federalists b. North v. South c. Rich v. Poor 3. Electoral System:

a. single member districts

b. plurality-````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

a. single member districts

b. plurality-````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

c. The result is? 4. Commonality of views a. effect on major parties?

5. Laws against 3rd parties a. 5% b. 700,000 signatures

c. The result is? 4. Commonality of views a. effect on major parties?

5. Laws against 3rd parties a. 5% b. 700,000 signatures

The Big Tent PartiesThe Big Tent Parties

B. Multiparty systems 1. European democracies 2. ParliamentaryC. One Party System- No Party

B. Multiparty systems 1. European democracies 2. ParliamentaryC. One Party System- No Party

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D. Party Membership Patterns: 1. Family 2. Major events 3. Economic status 4. Age, education, residence, etc.

a. Most important of these?

D. Party Membership Patterns: 1. Family 2. Major events 3. Economic status 4. Age, education, residence, etc.

a. Most important of these?

Minor PartyMinor Party

Minor Parties Minor Parties

A. Minor Parties in the United States:

1. Four types a. ideological parties-

A. Minor Parties in the United States:

1. Four types a. ideological parties-

1. www.lp.org 2. www.slp.org b. Single-issue parties:

1. www.lp.org 2. www.slp.org b. Single-issue parties:

1. Hope for adoption of their issues by major parties.

c. Economic Protest parties:

1. www.constitutionparty.com

1. Hope for adoption of their issues by major parties.

c. Economic Protest parties:

1. www.constitutionparty.com

d. Splinter parties: 1. Most important minor parties.

2. Bull Moose Party, Dixiecrat Party, American Independent Party

d. Splinter parties: 1. Most important minor parties.

2. Bull Moose Party, Dixiecrat Party, American Independent Party

2. Importance of Minor Parties: a. Spoiler Role- b. critic and innovator- clear-cut stance on controversial issues.

1. Most important of roles

2. Importance of Minor Parties: a. Spoiler Role- b. critic and innovator- clear-cut stance on controversial issues.

1. Most important of roles

Future of Major Parties 1. Been in decline since 1960s: a. increase in # of independents b. split-ticket voting c. use of television and internet

d. increase in # of single-issue organizations

Future of Major Parties 1. Been in decline since 1960s: a. increase in # of independents b. split-ticket voting c. use of television and internet

d. increase in # of single-issue organizations

V. Party OrganizationV. Party Organization

A. Decentralized Nature of Parties

1. Fragmented, disjointed, and squabbling

2. No chain of command from National-local.

A. Decentralized Nature of Parties

1. Fragmented, disjointed, and squabbling

2. No chain of command from National-local.

3. Role of Presidency- a. party leader b. opposition party- no real leader

4. Impact of Federalism- # of elective offices

3. Role of Presidency- a. party leader b. opposition party- no real leader

4. Impact of Federalism- # of elective offices

B. National Party Machinery 1. 4 Basic elements: a. National Convention- platform, rules, etc.

B. National Party Machinery 1. 4 Basic elements: a. National Convention- platform, rules, etc.

b. National Committee- large organization; little power

1. Focuses on National Convention

c. National Chairperson- leads Nat.

committee 1. Elected to 4-year term 2. Directs work of party headquarters

b. National Committee- large organization; little power

1. Focuses on National Convention

c. National Chairperson- leads Nat.

committee 1. Elected to 4-year term 2. Directs work of party headquarters

d. Congressional Campaign Committee

1. Work to reelect incumbents and hold onto vacant seats

d. Congressional Campaign Committee

1. Work to reelect incumbents and hold onto vacant seats

D. 3 Components of the Party 1. Party organization- leaders, activists, and hangers-on

2. Party in the electorate- loyalists, straight ticket voters, etc.

3. Party in government- hold elective office

D. 3 Components of the Party 1. Party organization- leaders, activists, and hangers-on

2. Party in the electorate- loyalists, straight ticket voters, etc.

3. Party in government- hold elective office