Chapter 12
Political Parties
Part I
Linkage Institutions
Link between both the branches of
government and more importantly
between the government and the people
(the electorate).
linkage institution - connects the people
to the government
Examples are political parties, interest
groups, and the media
What Is A Political Party?
Definition - An organized group of office
holders, candidates, activists, and voters
who to pursue their common interests by
gaining and exercising power through the
political process
Not ONE mention in
the Constitution!
Evolution of American Party
Democracy
Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Origins of political parties - Hamilton and
Jefferson arguing how to guide the nation
– Jefferson’s group (later the Republicans) preferred a
federal system with more powerful states.
– Hamilton’s group preferred strong central
government.
No broad-based party organizations existed on
either side to mobilize popular support.
The Early Parties Fade
Federalists faded
Expansion of democracy
– States moved to choose electors through
popular elections
– Party membership broadened
– National conventions
– Emergence of Jacksonian Democrats
and opposition party of the Whigs (related
to Federalists)
The Early Parties Fade
Slavery split the Whig support across
sectional lines.
Replaced by the Republican Party
Republicans dominate from 1860 with the
election of Lincoln until FDR in 1932.
– Lincoln won in 1860; fragmented vote
– South went solidly for Democrats
– North went for Republicans
Not a single southern state voted for a Republican
president until 1920.
Democrats and Republicans:
The Golden Age
From 1860 to present, the same two major
parties have dominated elections in the
U.S. – Dem. and Rep.
Golden Age of political parties
– Party stability
– Dominance of party organizations
– Impact on daily lives of millions of voters
– Era spanned 1874-1912
– Party machines
Party Machines
Party machines used to be a potent force
Political boss used patronage to influence
voters
Boston, Chicago, NYC, all had them
Created party loyalists by providing jobs
and favors
Often corrupt
Civil Service reform biggest effect
The Modern Era
Parties in decline since 1920s
Democrats become party of strong central
Government during FDR.
– Government assumed functions of party
Printing ballots, conducting elections,
providing social welfare services
1930s social services seen as right not
privilege extended in exchange for support
Political and Social Changes
Direct primary – voters choose, not party bosses
Civil service laws – stopped party machines
Issue-oriented politics
– Post-WWII era: rise in education associated
with rise to focus on politics in context of
specific issues
– Issue politics leads to more ticket-splitting
Candidate-centered politics
– Television: emphasizes personalities rather than
abstracts like party label
Urban to suburban population shift
Conclusions
Long periods where one party dominated
followed by the other
Both Dem. and Rep. emerge during the 18th
century.
The last 40 years – divided government –
where one party controls presidency and one
party controls Congress.
Two party system rare in the world – only about
15 countries.
Third party challenges have appeared but we go
back to two party.
Realignment
Party Realignment
– A shifting of voter patterns and the formation
of new coalitions of party supporters that
remains in place for several elections
– Critical election
An election that signals a party realignment
through voter polarization around new issues
Realigning Elections
1800 – From Federalists to Jefferson’s
Democratic-Republican Party
1828 – Jackson – Democratic Republican
split into Democratic and Whigs
1860 – Lincoln – Whigs collapse – marks
beginning of Republican party
**1932 – FDR – “New Deal Coalition”
emerges – White South, intellectuals,
Jews, Catholics, Westerners
The Purposes of American Parties
Mobilizing voters – get people to the polls
serve as a linkage institution between people
and their government
To help choose policy-makers (candidates)
and run campaigns and WIN ELECTIONS
Inform the public - a voting and issue cue
Organize diverse groups of people.
Articulate Policy - National party platform
Coordinate government policy-making which
would be much more fragmented.
Crashing the Party: Minor Parties
Proportional representation – (Europe)
– A voting system that apportions legislative
seats according to the percentage of the vote
won by a particular political party
Winner-take-all system (U.S.)
– The candidate who receives at least one more
vote than any other wins the election
Minor parties have had an important
impact at times.
Third Parties
Historically, we have seen competition
from a wide variety of third parties
Minor parties have had an important
impact at times – mainly getting issues on
the agenda – forcing parties to change.
Progressives had a significant impact on
policy, but never won a presidential
election.
Many obstacles
Winner take all system
Single member Districts/winner take all – biggest
reason we have 2 parties
Other countries have multiple representatives
from one district
Lack of funding from interest groups
Lack of ballot access
Inability to participate in debates
Little interest in them from the media
Electoral College!
Most prominent
Libertarian Party – wants little government
as possible – 143 hold office nationwide
Green Party – environment issues,
grassroots democracy, diversity
Both have won on the local level, and a
few at the state level
2006 – Greens won 66 races nationwide