Texas Government 2306—Unit 4 lecture notes
Unit 4--POLITICAL PARTIES & CAMPAIGNS
Political parties are electoral organizations that seek to gain control of
government by getting their candidates elected to office. Like interest groups, political
parties play a vital role in a democracy. They recruit and nominate candidates,
mobilize voters, contest elections, coordinate policy across independent units of
government, and provide accountability. The United States does not have strong
national parties, but in reality fifty state party systems. The fifty state Republican and
fifty state Democratic parties generally act independently of their national party
organizations, even disagreeing on some of the key issues. Some state parties even
vary ideologically from their national party.
States can be classified according to the strength of party organization and level
of party competition within the state. Classifying the fifty states on an index of party
competitiveness from 1989 to 1994 indicates that there are 31 two-party competitive
states, six modified-one party states, and 13 modified-one party Democratic states.
Significantly, there are no longer any one-party Democratic states (there were eight as
recently as 1963) and no one-party Republican states. Although Texas was a strong
one-party Democratic state for most of its history, it currently is classified as a
competitive two-party state—and, perhaps—leaning Republican (Republicans won
all statewide races and control of the Texas House and Senate in the November
2002 elections. This is the first time Republicans have controlled both houses of
the Texas Legislature and the executive branch since Reconstruction!)
Texas's strong loyalty to the Democratic Party was due to several factors:
1. The Republican Party's early opposition to slavery
2. its role in defeating the Confederacy during the Civil War
3. the harsh policies it pursued during Reconstruction
These three factors all contributed to the unpopularity of the Republican Party in
Texas and much of the South. Party realignment in Texas began as a gradual process
in the 1960s, signaled by the election of Senator John Tower in 1961. The election of
Governor Bill Clements in 1978 and 1986, and Senator Phil Gramm's first victory in
1984 all indicated the gradual shift in party loyalty in Texas.
What caused the party realignment in Texas:
1. Northern immigrants bringing in their Republican Party loyalties
contributed to this shift
2. the growing liberalism of the national Democratic Party in the 1960s and
1970s
3. the popularity of Republican President Ronald Reagan during the 1980s
4. The weakening memories of Reconstruction and the Civil War
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Texas Government 2306—Unit 4 lecture notes
Who is shifting their party loyalties from the Democratic to the Republican Party?
Conservative Anglos who, in the past, were strong Democrats
Today, the profile of the typical Republican supporter in Texas is young, high
income, well-educated, Anglo, professional, living in the suburbs of a large metropolitan
area, and likely to be a newcomer to the state. In contrast, Democratic supporters tend
to be older, native Texans, lower income, less educated, and often nonwhite.
Texas has had a history of third parties. The first was the Greenback Party in the
1870s, followed by the Populists in the 1890s, George Wallace's American Independent
Party in 1968, the Raza Unida Party formed by Hispanics in the early 1970s, and the
Libertarian Party in the last two decades. Ross Perot, running as an independent, has
also been a strong presence. However, the difficulty third parties have gaining access
to the ballot has limited their impact in Texas.
Political party organizations can be discussed in terms of either the permanent or
temporary party organization. The permanent party organization is composed of
elected party officers, starting at the bottom with the precinct chair, then the county
chair, the county executive committee, the state executive committee, and the state
party chair and vice chair. The temporary party organization consists of a series of
caucuses and conventions held in even-numbered years. It starts with the precinct
caucus at the bottom, where delegates are selected to the county convention. The
county convention selects delegates to the state convention, which in turn selects
delegates to represent Texas at the national convention, which nominates the party's
presidential and vice-presidential candidates. The state conventions also choose their
party's electors who will serve in the electoral college if their party's candidate wins the
popular vote in Texas. Most of those participating in both the permanent and temporary
party organizations tend to be party regulars and activists. The average citizen has little
knowledge of party organization and thus, control of the two major parties, by default,
usually rests in the hands of the few active elite.
TEXAS AS A ONE-PARTY DEMOCRATIC STATE
1.
From the end of Reconstruction in 1874 until the 1980s, Texas was a oneparty Democratic state
2.
This loyalty to the Democratic Party was due to several factors
• First, the Republican Party's strong opposition to slavery since its
founding in 1854
• Second, the role of the Republican Party during the Civil War-Republican President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation
freeing the slaves in the Confederacy and led the Union to victory over
the Confederacy
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Texas Government 2306—Unit 4 lecture notes
• Third, the role of the Republican Party during Reconstruction--the
harsh Reconstruction laws passed by the Republican Congress and
the perceived abuses of Texas's first Republican governor, E.J. Davis,
and the state's only Republican Legislature
3.
The Democratic Party was so dominant in the state that many races on
the ballot were uncontested, with no Republicans running for many of the
positions
4.
One indication of the Democratic Party's domination in Texas: from
1928 until 1952, not one Republican was ever elected to the Texas
Legislature--the 31 Senate seats and the 150 House seats
5.
From 1874 until 1961 no Republican was elected to statewide office,
and only a few others were elected to other offices
6.
The Great Depression, blamed on Republican President Herbert Hoover
and the Republican Congress, reinforced the Democratic Party
loyalties in Texas throughout the 1930s and 1940
7.
Conservative Republican voters, having no serious competitive races in
the Republican primary, would often cross over and vote for conservative
Democratic candidates in the Democratic primary, further strengthening
the dominance of the conservative faction in the Democratic Party
8.
Republicans were often viewed with disrespect and the subject of jokes
and insults
9.
Depicting the Republicans as the "party of Yankee aggression" was still an
effective way to keep voters loyal to the Democratic Party as recently as
the 1950s
10.
Because of the one-party system in Texas, politics revolved almost
exclusively around personality and economic issues
11.
The competition between the liberal and conservative factions of the
Democratic Party revolved around economics, with the liberal faction
advocating equal rights for blacks, increased governmental regulation of
business, policies supporting labor unions, and expansion of the national
government's role in our political system
11.
The conservative Democratic faction, representing business, the oil
industry, wealthy farmers and cattle ranchers, advocated a laissez faire
philosophy and were able to win most primary races
12.
Most Texans still followed the old saying "I would vote for a yellow dog
before I'd vote for a Republican"
INDICATIONS OF PARTY REALIGNMENT IN TEXAS
1.
The first indication of political change was the fact Texans voted for
Republican presidential candidate Dwight Eisenhower in the elections of
1952 and 1956
2.
In a special election in 1961 to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by
Lyndon Johnson upon his election to the Vice Presidency, Republican
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Texas Government 2306—Unit 4 lecture notes
candidate John Tower won 41 percent of the vote in the first election and
won the runoff election by a small margin
3.
Senator Tower's election, the first statewide Republican officeholder
since the 1870s, was heralded as the beginning of a new era of two-party
politics in Texas
4.
Tower won reelection in 1966, 1972, and 1978, but it would be seventeen
years before another Republican (Bill Clements in 1978) won a statewide
office
5.
Prior to Clement's election as governor in 1978, Republicans had some
success electing candidates to the Legislature and to local offices
6.
Governor Clements was able to use his power of appointments to boards,
commissions, and judgeships to recruit people to the Republican Party
and get "closet Republicans" to go public with their party affiliation
7.
Clements' appointments helped to build the Republican Party in Texas
8.
Although Clements was defeated by Mark White for the governorship in
1982, he defeated White in a rematch in 1986
9.
Phil Gramm, a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, resigned
his House seat, switched to the Republican Party in 1983 after losing his
seat on the Budget Committee (due to his consistent support of
Republican President Reagan's policies), and won reelection as a
Republican
14.
Gramm won election to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by John Tower
in 1984, easily won reelection in 1990, and was reelected again in 1996
15.
In 1988, Republicans made significant gains in Texas, helped by
Republican Clements in the governorship and Texan George Bush's
election to the presidency; they won four statewide races: three seats on
the Texas Supreme Court and one on the Texas Railroad Commission
16.
In 1990, despite losing the governorship, Republicans made further gains,
winning the state treasurer and agricultural commissioner races and
another seat on the Texas Supreme Court
17.
In 1993, Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison won the the other U.S. Senate
from Texas when Lloyd Bentsen resigned to become secretary of the
treasury under President Clinton
18.
In 1994, Republicans made significant gains by
• Capturing all three seats on the Railroad Commission
• Winning a majority of seats of the Texas Supreme Court
• Retaining control of the agriculture commissioner's office
• Capturing three additional seats on the state board of education (for a
total of eight seats)
• Winning several additional seats in the Texas House and Senate (for
14 of 31 in the Senate and 61 of 150 seats in the House)
• Winning the governorship (by George W. Bush)
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Texas Government 2306—Unit 4 lecture notes
19.
George W. Bush was re-elected Governor in 1998 and Republicans
captured control of the Texas Senate (for the first time since
Reconstruction.)
20.
When George W. Bush was elected to the presidency in 2000, Lt.
Governor Rick Perry became governor
21.
Republicans won all statewide races and control of the Texas House
and Senate in the November 2002 elections. This is the first time
Republicans have controlled both houses of the Texas Legislature
and the executive branch since Reconstruction!) Republicans
currently have 19 of the 31 seats in the Texas Senate and 88 of the
150 seats in the Texas House. For the first time since
Reconstruction, the Speaker is Republican, Tom Craddick (of
Midland) and the Lieutenant Governor (who runs the Senate) is
Republican, David Dewhurst.
22.
Today Texas is truly a two-party state, perhaps even leaning slightly
Republican
CAUSES OF PARTY REALIGNMENT IN TEXAS
1.
The growing liberalism of the Democratic Party in the 1960s and
1970s led many conservative Texas Democrats to seriously consider
voting Republican
2.
Republican President Ronald Reagan's popularity in Texas helped
attract additional supporters to the party
3.
Northerners moving into the state during the oil boom years of the
1970s and early 1980s, brought their Republican Party loyalties with
them, further adding to the Republican base in Texas
4.
The weakening memories of Reconstruction and the Civil War
removed the emotional stigma that had hurt Republicans for many years
5.
This party realignment toward the Republican Party is part of both regional
and national trends of increasing support for the Republicans
6.
This party realignment has not significantly altered the state's
traditionalistic/individualistic political culture and is not likely to change it
any time soon
7.
Thus, party realignment has occurred in Texas while maintaining the
continuity of the conservative, laissez faire political ideology
Compare and contrast the Texas Republican and Democratic parties in terms of
ideology, issue orientation, and group and regional support.
A.
IDEOLOGICAL COMPARISONS
1.
Texas Republicans tend to be overwhelmingly conservative to ultraconservative
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Texas Government 2306—Unit 4 lecture notes
2.
Texas Democrats still include liberals, conservatives, and moderates, but
conservatives are slowly gravitating to the Republican Party, leaving the
Texas Democratic Party increasingly dominated by moderates and liberals
3.
Most Republican candidates are conservative to ultra-conservative
4.
In contrast to the past, when most Democratic candidate winning their
party's nomination were conservative, a growing number of Democratic
candidates nominated today are moderate-to-liberal
B.
ISSUE ORIENTATION COMPARISONS
1.
Texas Republicans generally advocate:
• A laissez faire philosophy--a smaller role for government--especially
the federal government, believing that it is part of the problem, not the
solution
• A strong national defense
• A pro-life position on abortion
• Limiting government regulations because the private sector is
important for economic growth
• An anti-union position
• A smaller government role in civil rights because it is not the serious
problem liberals make it out to be
• An end to affirmative action
• Traditional family values, including the return of prayer to public
schools
2.
Texas Democrats generally advocate:
• A more activist government, especially the federal government,
because often only the government can solve problems society faces
• Social programs to help the needy and disadvantaged
• A pro-choice position on abortion
• Some government regulations--to protect the worker, the consumer,
the environment, and to prevent business abuses
• Strong support for unions
• An active government role in protecting the civil rights of all minority
groups
• Support for affirmative action
• Keeping prayer out of the public schools to protect the rights of
religious minorities and maintain the separation of church and state
GROUP SUPPORT COMPARISONS
1.
The Texas Republican Party draws support from
• Upper and upper middle class voters
• The business community
• White collar professionals
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Texas Government 2306—Unit 4 lecture notes
• Evangelical, conservative Protestants
• Newcomers to Texas
• Primarily Anglos
• Primarily conservatives and ultra-conservatives
• Younger voters
• Those with more education, particularly a college education
• More men than women
2.
The profile of the average Republican supporter in Texas is: young,
high-income, well-educated, Anglo, professional, living in the suburbs of a
large metropolitan area, and a newcomer to the state
3.
The Texas Democratic Party has a much more diverse base, drawing
support from:
• All classes, but especially the middle class, the lower middle class and
the poor
• All workers, but especially blue collar workers
• Unions
• All religious groups, but especially Catholics
• Native Texans
• Minorities and liberal Anglos
• Primarily liberals and moderates
• Older voters
• Those with less education, particularly high school and below
• More women than men
9. The profile of the average Texas Democrat is: older resident, native
Texan, lower-income, less-educated, and non-white
D.
REGIONAL SUPPORT COMPARISONS
1.
Republicans have a much smaller geographical base than do Democrats,
with 80% of their vote from the fifteen most populous counties. However,
this is slowly changing as Republicans expand their base.
2.
Geographically, Republicans draw most of their votes from the
Panhandle, the Midland-Odessa area, Lubbock, Abilene, and the
suburban areas, especially in the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth area
3.
Democrats have support from all geographical areas in Texas, but have
been particularly strong in Hispanic South Texas, conservative East
Texas, and in inner city areas where blue-collar workers, minorities, and
the poor are concentrated
The effects of two-partyism in Texas are several:
o The voters have more choices and more contested races on the ballot
o Government is more responsive to public demands
o Both parties work harder to attract voter support and no longer take your vote for
granted
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Texas Government 2306—Unit 4 lecture notes
The Five Past Effects of Low Level Party Competition in Texas (Being a one-party
Democratic State)
o Lower voter turnout
o Public apathy
o Less government responsiveness
o More corruption in government
o More powerful interest groups
All of these are not good for a democracy and are gradually fading away today as a
result of two-party competition in Texas.
CAMPAIGNS
CAMPAIGN TACTICS
•
Building an Image
o Candidates today hire public relation firms and media consultants to build
a positive image for them and a negative image for the opponent.
•
Where and How to Campaign
o In a state as large as Texas candidates must pick and choose which areas
of the state they will concentrate on—this means use of the mass media—
tv—and concentrating on the areas with larger population
•
Choosing the Issues
o The candidate must decide whether to take a position based on issues
(the “high road”), a negative stance based on attacking the opponent (the
“low road”), or a combination of both.
o It is best to raise only a few issues, so that the voters do not get confused.
•
Timing
o The campaign must “peak” and achieve maximum support from the
electorate as close to election-day as possible. Candidates will often
reserve resources (time and money and advertising) for a last-minute
media “blitz.”
o Changes in absentee voting in Texas will most likely limit the effectiveness
of the last minute media blitz that was so effective in the past.
•
Money in Political Campaigns
o In Texas, campaigns for statewide offices are often multi-million dollar
efforts. In 1982 and 1986 Bill Clements spent $13 million to win the
governorship.
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Texas Government 2306—Unit 4 lecture notes
o Candidates often raise money from these major sources:
ƒ Loans from wealthy friends
ƒ Political action committee (PAC) contributions
•
Where Does the Money Go?
o For consulting firms to manage the campaign
o Advertising—especially on television (this often accounts for up to 60% of
the typical campaign budget)
o Other advertising is on radio, billboards, newspapers, and magazines
•
Control Over Money in Campaigns
o Both federal and state legislation attempted to place limits on spending—
the U.S. Supreme Court ruled (in 1976) that this was unconstitutional
o The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1985 that PAC’s could spend unlimited
amounts to promote a candidate independently (independent
expenditures)
o In 1975, the Texas legislature passed the Political Funds Reporting &
Disclosure Act
ƒ Candidates may not spend or raise money until an official
campaign treasurer is appointed
ƒ Candidates and PACs may not accept cash contributions larger
than $100
ƒ Direct contributions from corporations and labor unions are
forbidden
ƒ Candidates and their treasurers must file sworn statements listing
all contributions and expenditures with the Texas secretary of
state’s office
ƒ Both criminal and civil penalties can be imposed on violators of the
laws provisions
ƒ Primary enforcement is the responsibility of the Texas Ethics
Commission
o In spite of this law, raising and spending money in Texas campaigns is
pretty unlimited and unregulated
CONSERVATIVE-LIBERAL COMPARISON
ISSUE
LIBERAL
CONSERVATIVE
DEFINITION
1. favor activist govt.
1. favor passive govt.
2. Pro-change–things can always be
improved
2. Anti-change–if it works, don’t fix it
3. top priority–increase equality &
3. top priority–indiv. Liberty, freedom, & order
& stability
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Texas Government 2306—Unit 4 lecture notes
make it available for more Americans
TAXATION
EXPENDITURE
S
Progressive–fairer to pay according to
ability to pay redistributes wealth by
wealthy paying more, can cut tax rate
on m. class & poor
Favor social programs to help poor,
disadvantaged, elderly Govt. has
responsibility to help underdog
regressive–fairer for all to pay same rate;
don’t penalize wealthy by taxing at higher rate
doesn’t weaken work incentive
Favor defense, business incentives, and infrastructural spending: roads, bridges, ports, etc.
Stress balanced budget
ECONOMIC
REGULATION
`
LAW &ORDER
More willing to engage in deficit
spending
Favor govt. regulation of business to
prevent business abuses & protect
worker & consumer
Necessary to protect worker from
business abuses–workplace now a
safer place; right to strike, join a
union, bargain collectively
Rehabilitation; solve root social
causes: poverty, racism,
discrimination, unemployment; favor
handgun control (too easy to conceal)
& anti-death penalty-unfairly used
ENVIRONMENT Govt. regulations necessary because
business won’t police itself; major
polluters (industry) should pay cost of
cleanup
Favor fewer govt. regulations of the economy–
too costly, cuts profits, red tape
Have become too powerful & may have outlived
usefulness; lead to strikes & are inflationary
corrupt; need to be regulated
Favor strong law & order: tougher penalties;
pro-death penalty; anti-gun control– only criminals
will have guns
More police, prisons
We have over-regulated the environment; hurts
business; leads to loss of jobs & makes Am.
businesses less competitive
Everyone should pay for cleanup
CIVIL RIGHTS
A top govt. priority; pro ERA, proaffirmative action; tougher laws &
penalties needed
Not as important a problem; Anti-ERA &
affirmative action; Affirm. Action = reverse
discrimination
CIVIL
LIBERTIES
Fewer restrictions
More restrictions if needed
Anti-; separation of church/state
Pro–right of maj. to practice
exclusionary
rule
Pro–prevents illegal searches
Anti–allows guilty to go free
Miranda rights
Pro–protects uneducated
Anti–your responsibility
school prayer
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Texas Government 2306—Unit 4 lecture notes
Fewer restrictions–indiv. choice
MORAL
Adults-freedom of choice, privacy
ISSUES
More restrictions–pub. morality
Not protected by const.
pornography
Pro; Freedom of choice, privacy
gay rights
Pro-choice; privacy rights
Anti–protect public morality
abortion
DEFENSE &
FOREIGN
AFFAIRS
ROLE OF
GOVERNMENT
Pro-life; = murder
Peace thru arms control &
negotiations; econ. aid & social
reforms best way to fight communism
in third world
Activist government, esp. nat’l. if
government doesn’t step in to solve
problems; it’s a tool to be used to
improve society
Peace thru strength;
don’t be too trusting of communists; mili. aid best
way to fight communism in world
more passive govt.; state or local govt. if any govt.
makes problems worse govt. a danger to our liberties
lack confidence in govt. & its ability to solve problems
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