Political Parties
Learning Objectives
 Describe the main characteristics of American parties
as:
 Organizations
 In government
 In the electorate
 Explain the functions that parties perform in the political
system
Introduction
 What is the Tea Party and how does it fit into the
modern party system 161-162 ?
Parties and Party Systems
(163-169)
 What does it mean that American political parties are
decentralized 163-164?
 Example from 2015 Headline: Republican Governors
Buck Party Line on Raising Taxes
Parties and Party Systems
(163-169)
 What is the difference between the three parts of the
party system 164 ?
 Party Organization
 Party in government
 Party in the electorate
Parties and Party Systems
(163-169)
 What are the essential details of each of the five party
systems? 164-168
First Party System:
 two factions
 Hamilton and the Federalists
 strong national government
 Implied powers in the constitution
 Jefferson and the Democratic-Republican Party.
 limited government
 Strict Interpretation of constitution
Second Party System:
 Andrew Jackson introduces “mass democracy”
 Democrats V. Whigs Collapsed over slavery
Third Party System:
 Around the start of the Civil War
 a time of extreme industrial and economic expansion
 Party Machines
 Party coalitions dominated by geography.
 The South = Democrats who opposed the ending of
slavery,
 North = Republicans, who supported ending slavery.
Fourth Party System:
 Defined by Progressivism, race and immigration.
 Northeastern business = Republicans
 South and West = Democrats.
 Immigrant groups were courted by both parties.
Fifth Party System:
 New Deal Coalition created by FDR in response to
the Great Depression.
 supported new social welfare
 Made up of under-privileged and minority groups
including
 unions,
 Catholics, and Jews.
 Some African-Americans,
Sixth Party System:
 Starts with Civil Rights Act of 1964
 Democrats lose their dominance of the South in the late
1960s
 Republican resurgence with Nixon’s Silent Majority
Reading Guide Questions
 What causes realignment of party systems 168-169 ?
 What issues (or potential issues) today do you think
could drive a realignment?
Modern American Political
Parties (169-175)
 What are the important parts and roles of the “Party
Organization 169-170 ?
 What groups outside of the official parties can drive
policy
Roles of Party in Organization
 Run day to day operations
 Recruit candidates and supporters
 Raise money
 Work to build consensus
Outside Groups
 Political Action Committees (PACs) or 527 groups
 Labor unions
 Interest group
Party Brand Names
 What do you think of when you think Democrats?
 Positive connotations
 Negative connotations
 What do you think of when you think Republicans?
 Positive connotations
 Negative connotations
Modern American Political
Parties (169-175)
 How does the “Party in Government” work? How is this
organized? 171-172
Congressional organization
 Caucus (congressional) - The organization of
Democrats within the House and Senate that meets to
discuss and debate the party's positions on various
issues in order to reach a consensus and to assign
leadership positions
 Conference- Same thing for Republicans
Ideology of Parties in
Government (172)
 Look at the chart on page 172. How does this explain
modern partisan conflict?
Party in Electorate
 Look at the graph on page 174.
 Which party has an advantage in party identification?
Party Coalition
 Look at the charts on page 176 and 177
 Who are the Major constituency groups for the
democrats?
 Who are the Major constituency groups for the
democrats?
Role of Political Parties in
American Politics
 Contesting Elections
 Cooperation in Government
Contesting Elections
 Recruiting/nominating candidates (through primaries)
 Campaign assistance
 Party Platforms
Types of Primary's
 What are the five types of party primaries and what are
the differences? Tables on page 178
Presidential Nominations
 How do parties nominate candidates for president?
Party Platforms
 What are Party platforms?
 Democrats
 Republican
Cooperation in government
 Agenda Setting
 Coordination
 Coordination Accountability
 Government can be unified or divided
Should Parties Choose Their
Candidates?
 You Decide Page 184
Reading Guide Question
 What is the role(s) of minor parties in the U.S. political
system (183-186)