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Political Parties
What is a Political Party?

Definition: a group of political activists who
organize to win elections, operate the
government, and to determine public policy.

Parties versus interest groups
 Interest groups seek to influence public policy,
Political parties attempt to create and enforce
public policy.
 Interest groups exist to pursue out issue
outcomes, while political parties are have
traditionally existed to win elections
Functions of Political Parties

Recruit candidates to run for elective offices at all
levels of government


Makes it more difficult for incumbent offices to go
uncontested
Mobilize citizens to vote and participate in elections

Voter interest, volunteers, registration
Bear the responsibility of operating government at all
levels
 Providing organized opposition to the party in power is
an essential role for a party that does not control one
or another branch of the government.

History of Political Parties

The Formative Years: Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Washington’s Farewell Address
 Beware of Parties and alliances
 Paves way to the Federalists-strong government, and Republicans-artisans and farmers
(different from today's republicans”

The Era of Good Feelings (1817-1825)
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
National Two-Party Rule: Whigs and Democrats

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Federalists essentially die out eliminating the two party system for a period.
Monroe’s presidency saw little debate because of the lack of other parties
Whigs-John Quincy Adams wanted national spending for internal improvements
Democrats-personal liberty for the “common man.”
The Civil War Crisis
 Creation of the modern Republican party(1854 marks the beginning of the Reps.)

The Post-Civil War Period
 Democrats dominate southern states


“Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion”
The Triumph of the Republicans
 Republicans had to focus on North because of the addition of African Americans. This hurt
the part until the democrats began to focus on the expanding west
History of Political Parties

The Progressive Interlude
 T. Roosevelt as the spoiler of the election of 1912
bull moose party (progressives)
 Ross Perot, Ralph Nadar

The New Deal Era

FDR first Democrat elected since Wilson
 Led to mistrust of Republicans to handle the economy

An Era of Divided Government
 In the years after 1968, the general pattern was
often a Republican president and a Democratic
Congress.
 2000 Presidential Election (Red state-blue state)
Election 1896
Election 2004
The Two Major Parties Today

The parties’ core constituents


People, regions, groups, SES
Economic beliefs
 Labor movement, ethnic/racial minorities (Dem)
 Private marketplace, limited government, self reliance (Rep)

Recent economic convergence?
 Rep and Dem are switching on some traditional views
such as the role of big government.

Republican and Democratic Budgets
 Democrats have the reputation of supporting the
less-well-off, and Republicans the prosperous.
The Three Faces of a Party
1-The people who identify with the party or who regularly vote for the candidates of
the party in general elections


Party in the electorate-Members of the general public id’ing with a party
Party in Government-all elected officials id’ing with a party
2-Party organization-formal structure of the party
 National
 National conventions are held during an election year to nominate a president and
vice president as well as adopt a platform (stance of the party on certain issues)
(Planks are individual issues on platform)
 Convention delegates
 Generally more rigid in their affiliation-primary elections pull
delegates and members away from the center to support a
candidate
 Help develop party platform that is acceptable to others
 Voted by others in party
 National Committee
 Delegates that run party affairs between conventions
 Each state is represented, ratify the national chairperson
 National Chairperson
 Heads the committee in establishing campaign donations,
headquarters and helps maintain the party between state and
federal level
Three Faces of a Party (cont.)


State party organization
Local (grass roots) organization
 Patronage and City Machines
 Boss Tweed
 Local Party Organizations Today
 From patronage to primary (new deal incorporates
social services as a right, not an incentive)

3-The Party in Government

Divided Government
 Opposite party for executive and legislative branch

The Limits of Party Unity
 Ranging views between people within the party

Party Polarization
 Periods of time in which the party’s are along rigid lines
Why Has the Two Party
System Endured?



Often, on major issues confronting the country there have been
two clear sides. This duality helped to initiate a two-party
system and has maintained this system through the present.
Political socialization and practical considerations
The Winner-Take-All Electoral System
 Plurality (not a majority, just the most votes)

Presidential Voting
 Electoral college-538 electoral votes
 National Bonus Plan??? +120 extra votes

Popular Election of the Governors and President


No chance for a coalition of parties because people elect
the president
Proportional Representation

30% of the votes, 30% of the
The Role of Minor Parties in U.S.
Politics

Ideological Third Parties


Typically at odds with the major party’s policies
Splinter Parties

A new party formed by breaking off from a major party
 Bull-Moose

The Impact of Minor Parties
 Influencing the Major Parties
 Affecting the Outcome of an Election
Most Successful Third Party
Campaigns
Mechanisms of Political Change

Realignment: a process in which a substantial group of
voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term
change in the political landscape.
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Dealignment: a major drop-off in support for the parties.
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The Myth of Dominance
The Myth of Predictability
Is Realignment Still Possible?
Independent Voters
Not-So-Independent Voters
Tipping
Party Identification: 1937-Present
Questions for Critical Thinking
Do democratic governments need political
parties? If a democratic government has
political parties, will the structure always
be a two-party system? What factors
impact how many political parties will
exist?
 Is party identification a major factor for
voters in presidential elections?

Questions for Critical Thinking
Why is it difficult for independent
candidates or minor party candidates to
get elected to Congress?
 What inferences can be made about the
voting population through the closely
divided elections of 2000 and 2004?
