The Role of Political Parties
Build stable legislative and electoral
alliances
 Mobilize voters
 Choose candidates and get them elected
 Inform and stimulate the public

Party Differences

Democrats
–
–
–
–
Pro-choice
Gun control
Liberal
Government
involvement
Party Differences

Republicans
–
–
–
–
Pro-life
Anti-gun control
Conservative
Limited government
involvement
U.S. Parties vs. European Parties

United States
– Primaries, party has
less of a role
– Candidate runs the
campaign
– Elected officials often
vote against party line
– Citizens vote more
based on issues and
the candidate’s
personality

Europe
– Party selects candidate
– Party runs campaign
– Elected officials vote
party line
– Citizens vote based on
party labels
Development and Evolution of the
U.S. Party System
First Party System: The Founding
1789-1824
Founders believed that factions were
motivated by self-interest
 The first parties were small coalitions
based more on geography and class than
on common economic interests
 First two parties

– Federalists (Hamilton)- New England
– Republicans (Jefferson)- South
Second Party System: Jacksonians
1828-1854

Two Parties
– Democrats (Jackson)
– Whigs (opponents of Jackson)
Political participation became a mass
phenomenon
 Replaced the caucus system with the
party convention
 Organized the parties at local levels

Third Party System: Civil War & Sectionalism
1856-1896

Rise of the Republican Party
– Party was made up of old Whigs and
Democrats who opposed slavery

Party Machinery
– Gave favors in exchange for votes
Two factions developed within each party
 Republican Party

– Stalwarts or Old Guard
– Mugwumps or Progressives
Fourth Party System: Era of Reform
1896-1932

Progressive Era Reforms
– Civil Service Exam
– Australian Ballot- secret ballot
– Primary Elections
– Ended Patronage
Fifth Party System: 1932 to Present
Party line voting declined, and ticket
splitting increased
 Voters become more indifferent to parties
 Increase in Third Parties
 Rise in Divided Government

Party Realignments
Party Realignments





1800- the Jeffersonian Republicans defeated the
Federalists
1828- the Jacksonian Democrats came to power
1860- the Whig Party collapses and the
Republicans under Lincoln come to power
1896- the Republicans defeat William Jennings
Bryan
1932- the Democrats under Roosevelt come to
power
The National Party Structure
The National Party Structure

National Convention
– Every 4 years
– Purpose
 Select presidential nominee
 Write party platform

National Committee
– Purpose
 Run the general operations of the party
 Raise money
 Help candidates
National Party Structure

National Chairperson
– Purpose
 Run day-to-day operations
Republican: Reince Priebus
Democratic: Tim Kaine
Local Level Organization

The Machine
– Party Machine

Ideological Parties
– Parties based around values

Solidarity Groups
– People participate in politics for the social elements

Sponsored Parties
– A group sponsors a party
 Example: United Auto Workers (UAW)
Campaigns and Elections
Function of the Election
• Elections have 2 crucial phases
– Getting nominated
– Getting elected
Congressional Elections
vs. Presidential Elections
Presidential Campaigns
• Produce the largest voter
turnout
• Presidential candidate
must work harder and
spend more $
• More competitive
• Rely more on mass
media
• Responsible for the
“mess in D.C.”
Congressional Campaigns
• The incumbent often wins
• These candidates only
need to be appealing to
the more motivated voter
• Congress does things for
their constituents that a
president cannot
• Congress can pass the
blame for the “mess in
D.C.”
Presidential Election
Process
1. Each state holds a primary or caucus
between January and June to determine
candidates for parties
•
The Iowa Caucus (Feb. 12) is the first real test of
a candidate trying for president
2. Candidates then enter into general
elections against the other political
parties
Congressional Elections
• If you are running against an incumbent in
Congress then the odds are against you
• Districting in the House is always an issue
– Malapportionment
– Gerrymandering
• The Constitution requires reapportionment
every 10 years
Congressional
Qualifications
House of Representatives
Senate
• 25 years of age
• 30 years of age
• Citizen of the U.S. for 7
years
• Citizen of the U.S. for 9
years
• Must be an inhabitant of
the state elected
• Must be an inhabitant of
the state elected
Campaign Issues
• There are two kinds of campaign issues
– Position Issues
– Valence Issues
T.V., Debates & Direct
Mail
Television
• The role of T.V. ads in determining the
outcome of an election is minimal
Debates
• The drawback to candidates of T.V. visuals
and debates are verbal slips
Mail
• Direct mail is the best way to reach all the
supporters of a certain issue in a certain area
Campaign Financing
• Study Pages 200-206
Running for President
• Money
• Organization
– Fund-raisers, lawyers, accountants, media
consultants, advisors, pollsters, etc. Staff of
hundreds
• Strategy and Themes
– Tone, theme, timing, target
Running for Congress
• Incumbents have huge advantage
– Franking privileges
• Cater to distrust by public of federal gov
– “Run against Congress, not for it.”
• Sophomore surge
– Newly elected members become strong in
their districts very quickly
What Decides the
Election?
• Political Party
– Republicans tend to be more loyal than
Democrats
– Republicans do better with Independent
voters
• Issues
– Prospective v. Retrospective Voting
• Campaign
– Campaigns allow voter to see a candidate
under pressure