Public Policy
Cycle
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Political Parties
• Main Goal
– To get people elected to office so can
influence public policy
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Party Membership Patterns
Factors that can influence party
membership:
Family
Major Events
Economic Status
Religion
Occupation
Age
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Political Spectrum
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Party Ideology and Identification
• How are political ideology and political
affiliation related?
• What are the major differences in
viewpoints between the Republican Party
and the Democratic Party?
• What are the demographic differences
between voters who identify as
Republicans and voters who identify as
Democrats?
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How are political ideology and
political affiliation related?
• Left – Liberals
– Proper role of gov’t is to promote health,
education, & justice
– Willing to curtail economic freedom to
increase equality
– Government should not restrict individual
freedoms
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How are political ideology and
political affiliation related?
• Right – Conservatives
– Limiting government’s role because citizens
can better solve problems without gov’t
intervention
– Support traditional family values
– Support a gov’t role in protecting a moral
lifestyle
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How are political ideology and
political affiliation related?
• Middle – Moderates
– Most people fall here
• Liberal on some issues
• Conservative on some issues
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How are political ideology and
political affiliation related?
• Liberals = Democratic Party
• Conservatives = Republican Party
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What are the major differences in
viewpoints between the Republican
Party and the Democratic Party?
• Republican Party
– GOP
– Red
– Elephant
• Democratic Party
– Blue
– donkey
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Both Parties Agree
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Mixed Capitalist Economy
Support Constitution & Bill of Rights
Believe in value of private property
Emphasize individual achievement
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Republicans
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Oppose too much gov’t intervention in economy
Oppose large and intrusive gov’t
Oppose excessive regulation
Prefer lower taxes
Support restricitons on public employee unions
Support traditional marriage
Oppose abortion
Support significant role in world affairs
Support increased military spending
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Democrats
• Gov’t should have bigger role in providing social services
and security to Americans
• Increase taxes on wealthy and decrease taxes on poor
• Gov’t regulation to protect consumers in financial,
housing, healthcare, and energy industries
• Increased minimum wage
• Support for unions
• Support same-sex marriage
• Protection of reproductive rights
• Climate change significant threat
• Reduce military spending and nuclear weapon stockpiles
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What are the demographic differences
between voters who identify as Republicans
and voters who identify as Democrats?
• 2012
– 32% identified as Democrats
– 24% identified as Republican
– 38% identified with no particular party Independent
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Young People
Working Class & Middle/Upper
Northeast
urban
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Religious
More Middle/Upper than Working
South & Mountain West
Rural
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Political Parties
• What is a political party?
• What are the major functions of political
parties?
• How does the two-party system in the Us
compare to other party systems?
• How has the American two-party system
evolved?
• What role do third parties play in the US
government?
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What Is a Party?
• 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.
• Parties can be principle-oriented, issueoriented, or election-oriented. The
American parties are election-oriented.
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What Do Parties Do?
1. Elect Candidates—Recruit, choose, and present
candidates for public office.
2. Educate the Public—Campaign, define issues, and
criticize other candidates.
3. Involve People in Political Process— Numerous
opportunities to be involved without running for office
4. Operating the Government— party plays a key role in
the running and staffing the legislative and executive
branches. Congress is organized and carries out work
based on political parties.
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What Do Parties Do?
5. Dispensing Patronage - jobs, contracts, and appointments
given to loyal party members.
6. Developing and Implementing Policy – after election
work to implement policies that align with beliefs and
priorities.
7. 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.
8. Providing Stability – change in power is a smooth
transition because the party will still exist while out of
power.
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Assessment
1. A political party can be
(a) principle-oriented.
(b) issue-oriented.
(c) election-oriented.
(d) all of the above.
2. Political parties fulfill all of the following functions EXCEPT
(a) acting as watchdog.
(b) informing and activating supporters.
(c) supplying all campaign funding.
(d) governing by partisanship.
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Assessment
1. A political party can be
(a) principle-oriented.
(b) issue-oriented.
(c) election-oriented.
(d) all of the above.
2. Political parties fulfill all of the following functions EXCEPT
(a) acting as watchdog.
(b) informing and activating supporters.
(c) supplying all campaign funding.
(d) governing by partisanship.
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One-Party Systems
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: Dictatorships such
as Stalinist Russia
Example: Republican TEXAS
and Democratic South until the
1950s.
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Why a Two-Party System?
• The Historical Basis. The nation started out with twoparties: 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.
• Ideological Consensus. Most Americans have a
general agreement on fundamental matters.
Conditions that would spark several strong rival
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parties do not exist in the United States.
Multiparty Systems
Advantages
Disadvantages
• Provides broader
• Cause parties to
representation of
form coalitions,
the people.
which can dissolve
easily.
• More responsive to
the will of the
• Failure of coalitions
people.
can cause
instability in
• Give voters more
government.
choices at the
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polls.
The Nation’s First Parties
Federalists
• Led by Alexander
Hamilton
• Represented wealthy
and upper-class
interests
• Favored strong
executive leadership
and loose
interpretation of the
Constitution
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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American Parties: Four Major
Eras
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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American Parties: Parties Today
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
Senate controlled by Democrats 1896-1994
1992-2000
Democrats hold the presidency
Congress controlled by Republicans 1994-2000
2001-2008
Republicans hold the presidency
Congress first controlled by Republicans
Senate controlled by Democrats 2001-2014
2009-present
Democrats hold the presidency
Republicans control the House entire time
Republicans gained control of Senate 2015
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Assessment
1. The nation’s first two parties were
(a) the Democrats and the Republicans.
(b) the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.
(c) the Democratic-Republicans and the Republican-Democrats.
(d) the Federalists and the Republicans.
2. The Republican Party dominated the presidency from
(a) 1932–1968.
(b) 1860–1932.
(c) 1800–1860.
(d) 1783–1800.
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Assessment
1. The nation’s first two parties were
(a) the Democrats and the Republicans.
(b) the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.
(c) the Democratic-Republicans and the Republican-Democrats.
(d) the Federalists and the Republicans.
2. The Republican Party dominated the presidency from
(a) 1932–1968.
(b) 1860–1932.
(c) 1800–1860.
(d) 1783–1800.
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Minor Parties in the United
States
Types of Minor
Parties:
Ideological Parties
Example: Libertarian Party
Single-issue Parties
Example: Free Soil Party
Economic Protest Parties
Example: The Greenback Party
Splinter Party
Example: “Bull Moose” Progressive Party
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Minor Parties in the United States
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Green Party
• More liberal than the Democratic party
• Support
– Nonviolence
– Environmental sustainability
– Alternative energy
– Universal healthcare
– Electoral reform
Libertarian Party
• Personal responsibility
• Minimal government interference
– In free market
– In individual freedoms
• Oppose
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Regulation of wages
Regulation of prices
Regulation of marriage
Regulation of guns
Regulation of abortion
Criminalization of drugs
• Only role of military is to respond to attacks on the US
Constitution Party
• More conservative than Republicans
• Oppose
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Federal taxes
Many government agencies
Abortion
Same-sex marriage
Social programs like welfare
• Limit immigration
• Make English the official language of the US
Types of Third Parties
• Single-Issue Parties
– Focus on one issue
– Short-lived – disappear after the issue has been
resolved or lost importance
• Ideological Parties
– Have a particular idea about how to change
society
• Splinter Party
– Separates one of the major parties because of a
disagreement
– Usually short lived
Current National Political Parties
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Democratic (1828*)
Republican (1854)
Libertarian (1971)
Green Party (1991)
Constitution Party (1992)
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America First Party (2002)
American Conservative Party (2008)
American Freedom Party (2010)
American Nazi Party (1959)
American Populist Party (2009)
America’s Party (2008)
Christian Liberty Party (1996)
Citizens party of the United States (2004)
Communist Party USA (1919)
Freedom Socialist Party (1966)
Independent American Party (1998)
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Justice Party (2011)
Modern Whig Party (2008)
National Socialist Movement (1974)
Objectivist Party (2008)
Party for Socialism and liberation (2004)
Peace and Freedom Party (1967)
Prohibition Party (1869)
Reform Party (1995)
Socialist Action (1983)
Socialist Alternative (1986)
Socialist Equality Party (1966)
Socialist Party USA (1973)
Socialist Workers Party (1938)
Transhumanist Party (2014)
United States Marijuana Party(2002)
United States Pacifist Party (1983)
United States Pirate Party (2006)
Unity Party of America (2004)
Veterans Party of America (2013)
Workers World Party (1959)
Impact of Third Parties
• Influence politics by suggesting new ideas.
Eventually those ideas are picked up by
the major parties
• Influence the outcome of national elections
Minor Party Impact on Electoral College
Minor Party Impact on Electoral College
Why is it hard for 3rd parties to be
successful?
• Difficult to get on the ballot in all 50 states
• Nearly all elected officials come from
single-member districts
• Problems paying for campaigns
• Get less media attention
• Voters like to vote for winners
Assessment
1. Types of minor parties in the United States include all of the
following EXCEPT
(a) ideological parties.
(b) single-issue parties.
(c) regulatory parties.
(d) splinter parties.
2. Ross Perot, who ran as a third-party candidate in 1992 and 1996,
falls into which minor party category?
(a) single-issue party
(b) splinter party
(c) economic protest party
(d) none of the above
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Assessment
1. Types of minor parties in the United States include all of the
following EXCEPT
(a) ideological parties.
(b) single-issue parties.
(c) regulatory parties.
(d) splinter parties.
2. Ross Perot, who ran as a third-party candidate in 1992 and 1996,
falls into which minor party category?
(a) single-issue party
(b) splinter party
(c) economic protest party
(d) none of the above
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Party Organization &Nominating
Candidates
• How are political parties organized and
how can citizens participate in political
parties?
• What role do political parties play in the
electoral process at the national, state,
and local levels?
• How do political parties nominate
presidential candidates?
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Party Organization
• Three levels (local, state, & federal) that
cooperate but have their own authority –
decentralized.
• Local – choose candidates to run,
distribute information, and attract voters.
• State – help elect party’s candidates to
state gov’t offices.
• National – help party candidate get elected
to federal offices, raise money, organize
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national convention held every 4 years
Party Membership
• Do not have to belong to a party
• Declare party membership when register
to vote
• Can volunteer to work for candidates or
the party
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Selecting Candidates
• Varies by state
• To get on ballot
1. Pay fee to get name on ballot
2. Petitions – candidate collects signatures (usually
about 3% registered voters) to get on ballot
• To become party nominee
1. Caucuses – attended by party members. Process
includes a series of meetings to select candidate.
Iowa is 1st in presidential election years
2. Primary Elections – most commonly used today.
Select candidates to run for office by submitting a
ballot.
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Primaries
• Closed Primary
can only vote in the primary of the
political party you are registered
for
• Open Primary
 Can vote in one primary. Decide that
day which political party primary you
want to vote in
• Blanket Primary
 Can vote in all primaries.
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Delegates to National Convention
• Each party frequently changes rules for delegate
selection so difficult to explain
• Types of Delegates
– Binding – delegates must vote at convention
according to results of primary or caucus.
– Non-Binding – delegates show preference of state but
can vote the way they want to
• How delegates are divided
– Winner Take All – winner of primary gets all delegates
from state (used by Republicans)
– Proportional – delegates are divided up proportional
to results in state (used by both parties)
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Criticism of Presidential
Caucus/Primary System
• Primaries/Caucuses take too long
(January – June)
• Relatively few people vote
• Early winners capture media spotlight and
make it hard for others to raise money and
win in later caucuses/primaries
• States with later caucuses/primaries have
less say in who the candidate will be.
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National Convention
• Each political party has their own
• Held every four years
• Reasons for National Convention
– Delegates select the President and Vice
President candidate for their party
– Unite political party
– Announce party platform (statement of beliefs,
principles, and positions on vital issues)
– Introduce the President and VP candidates
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