CHAPTER 5
Political Parties
© 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc.
» What is a political party?
» What are the major functions of political
parties?
Chapter 5, Section 1
˃ A political party is a group of persons who seek to
control government by winning elections and
holding office.
˃ The two major parties in American politics are the
Republican and Democratic parties—both of
these parties are election oriented.
˃ Parties can be principle-oriented, issue-oriented,
or election-oriented. The American parties are
election-oriented.
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Chapter 5, Section 1
» The Party Organization—this includes the parties
leaders, activists and those that run the party at the
national, state and local levels
» The Party in Government—this includes the party’s
candidates and officeholders—this can include any
official that holds and elected or appointed position
in all the branches of government
» The Party in the Electorate—these are the people
that call themselves “democrats” or “republicans”
who support the party and its candidates
Political parties are a vital link between the people and
the government. This is the way that the will of the people is
known to the government. Parties act as a way to minimize the
impact of the extremist views of people on the opposite sides of
the political spectrum—range of political views.
» Nominate Candidates—Recruit, choose, and present
candidates for public office.
» Inform and Activate Supporters—Campaign, take sides,
inform, define issues, and criticize other candidates. They do
this through the media and political gatherings.
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Chapter 5, Section 1
» Act as a Bonding Agent—Guarantee that their
candidate is worthy of the office, good character,
supports the parties views.
» Govern—Members of government act according to
their partisanship, or firm allegiance to a party.
» Act as a Watchdog—Parties that are out of power
keep a close eye on the actions of the party in
power for a blunder to use against them in the
next election.
The Historical Basis—The nation started out with two-parties: the Federalists and
the Anti-Federalists.
The Force of Tradition—America has a two-party system because it always has
had one. Minor parties, lacking wide political support, have never made a
successful showing, so people are reluctant to support them.
The Electoral System—Certain features of government, such as single-member
districts, are designed to favor two major parties. The winning candidate is who
receives a plurality, largest number of votes for office. Much of the American
election law is written to discourage non-major party candidates, the two major
parties work together, bipartisan, to create laws that limit independent success.
Ideological Consensus—Ideological—relating to or concerned with ideas.
Consensus—general agreement among various groups. Most Americans have a
general agreement on fundamental matters. Conditions that would spark several
strong rival parties do not exist in the United States.
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Chapter 5, Section 2
Advantages
Disadvantages
» Provides broader
representation of the
people.
» More responsive to
the will of the people.
» Give voters more
choices at the polls.
» Cause parties to form
coalitions, which can
dissolve easily.
» Failure of coalitions
can cause instability
in government.
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Chapter 5, Section 2
Types of One-Party
Systems
One Party
Systems where
only one party is
allowed.
Modified One-Party
Systems where one
party regularly wins
most elections
Example:
Example:
Dictatorships such as
Stalinist Russia
Republican North and
Democratic South until the
1950s.
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Chapter 5, Section 2
» Why does the United States have a two-party
system?
» How do multiparty and one-party systems
function and what are their influences on
government?
» What membership characteristics do American
parties have?
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Chapter 5, Section 2
Federalists
» Led by Alexander
Hamilton
» Represented wealthy
and upper-class
interests
» Favored strong
executive leadership
and liberal
interpretation of the
Constitution
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Anti-Federalists
» Led by Thomas
Jefferson
» Represented the
“common man”
» Favored Congress as
the strongest arm of
government and a strict
interpretation of the
Constitution
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Chapter 5, Section 3
The Three Historical Eras
The Era of the Democrats, 1800—1860
– Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections.
– The Whig Party emerges in 1834, but declines by the 1850s, electing only two
Presidents.
– The Republican Party is founded in 1854.
The Era of the Republicans, 1860—1932
– Republicans dominate all but four presidential elections.
– The Civil War disables the Democratic Party for the remainder of the 1800s.
The Return of the Democrats, 1932—1968
– Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections.
– Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected President four times.
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Chapter 5, Section 3
The Start of a New Era: The Era of Divided Government
Since 1968, neither Republicans nor Democrats have dominated the presidency
and Congress has often been controlled by the opposing party.
1968–1976
Republicans hold the presidency
Congress is controlled by Democrats
1976–1980
Democrats hold the presidency
Congress is controlled by Democrats
1980–1992
Republicans hold the presidency
Senate controlled by Republicans 1980-1986,
controlled by Democrats from 1986 to 1994
1992 – 2000
Democrats hold the presidency
Congress controlled by
Republicans, 1994-2000
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Chapter 5, Section 3
2000-2007
˃ Republicans hold the presidency
˃ Congress is controlled by Republicans
2008-2011
˃ Democrats hold the presidency (2009-2015)
˃ Congress is controlled by Democrats
2012-2015
˃ Democrats hold the presidency
˃ Congress is split—House is controlled by Republicans & Senate is
controlled by Democrats
Factors that can influence party membership:
Family
Major events
Economic Status
Religion
Occupation
Age
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Chapter 5, Section 2
Stop at 5 min
» What types of minor parties have been active in
American politics?
» Why are minor parties important even though they
seldom elect national candidates?
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Chapter 5, Section 3
Types of Minor Parties:
•Ideological Parties—based on a particular set of beliefs, generally social, economic and
political matters. Many of these parties are built on some Marxists beliefs—Socialists,
Social Labor, Communists, etc…A non-Marxists example that focuses on individualism
and limiting government; Libertarian Party. These parties generally are not able to win
many votes but are long lived.
•Single-issue Parties—focus on one public policy matter, Example: Free Soil Party (antislavery), Right to Life (anti-abortion)—these parties generally fade away when the events
are not as pressing.
•Economic Protest Parties—these parties do not have a clear-cut ideological base,
instead they focus on frustration with the major parties, and demand better times. As the
country comes out of economic lows these parties fade away. Example: The Greenback
Party
•Splinter Party—happens when a faction breaks away from a major party. Most form
around a strong personality and disappear when that person steps aside.
Example: “Bull Moose” Progressive Party
Minor Parties in the United States
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Chapter 5, Section 4
“Spoiler Role”
˃ Minor party candidates can pull decisive votes away from one of the major
parties’ candidates, especially if the minor party candidate is from a splinter
party.
Critic
˃ Minor parties, especially single-issue parties, often take stands on and draw
attention to controversial issues that the major parties would prefer to
ignore.
Innovator
˃ Often, minor parties will draw attention to important issues and propose
innovative solutions to problems. If these proposals gain popular support,
they are often integrated into the platforms of the two major parties.
» Why do the major parties have a decentralized structure?
» How does the national party machinery and the State and
local party machinery operate?
» What are the three components of the parties?
» What are the future possibilities for the major parties?
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Chapter 5, Section 4
Both of the major parties are highly
decentralized and fragmented, there is no chain
of command running from the federal level to
the local level. Why?
» The party out of power lacks a strong leader.
The president’s party tends to be more unified
behind the party and the President is
automatically the party’s leader.
» The federal system distributes powers widely,
there are over 500, 000 elected officials in the
U.S., in turn causing the parties to be
decentralized.
» The nominating process pits party members
against one another because only one person
can choose to be the party’s presidential
candidate. Before there is a defined party
representative, people are vying against party
opponents for the party position.
» The National Convention—this is the party’s
national voice, but the convention has little
authority. It has no control over the party’s selection
of candidates for any other office. Generally at the
national convention the party representatives come
back together united under the parties ideals.
» The National Committee—between conventions the
party’s affairs are handled by the committee.
» The National Chairperson—Serves a four year term,
they direct the work of the party’s headquarters and
its professional staff in Washington D.C., The
Republican National Committee (RNC) is headed by
Reince Priebus; the Democratic National Committee
(DNC) is headed Amy Dacey.
» The Congressional Campaign Committees—each
party has a committee in each house of Congress,
these committees are open to work to reelect
incumbents to the open seats. The committee
members serve two year terms.
•All four elements of both major parties work
together loosely to achieve the party’s
goals.
•The national party is mostly a product of
custom and rules that have been adopted
over time, the state levels are usually
dictated by state laws.
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Chapter 5, Section 5
State and local party organizations varies from State to
State, but usually follow the general principles below.
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Chapter 5, Section 5
» Local Organization—ward is a unit that cities are usually divided,
a precinct is the smallest unit. Voters polling places are located
at a polling station with in their precinct.
» Dewitt County has 23 precincts most are based on townships.
35% for Obama (Democrat)
Party
Components
The Party
Organization:
The Party in the
Electorate
The Party in
Government
Those who run and
control the party
machinery.
Those who always or
almost always vote
for party candidates.
Those who hold
office in the
government.
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Chapter 5, Section 5
Weakened connections to political parties:
For voters :
For candidates:
» More people are unwilling to » Structural changes have increased
conflict and disorganization within
label themselves as
parties
“Democrats” or
» Changes in the technology of
“Republicans”
campaigning, especially the use of
television and the Internet, have made
» Split-ticket voting—voting for
candidates more independent of the
candidates of different
party organization
parties for different offices at » The growth of single-issue
organizations provides candidates with
the same election
another source of financial support
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Chapter 5, Section 5