Lecture #19
Parties: Why So Weak? Why So Few?
I. Introduction: Two Questions
A. Causes
1. Why does the U.S. have a two-party,
weak party system?
B. Consequences
1. What effect does a two-party, weak-party
system have on how Americans participate
in politics (how “people rule” happens?
II. Characteristics of Strong versus Weak
Party Systems (McDonalds versus
Mexican Restaurants)
Strong
Responsible Party Model (Plebiscitary)
Common Platform
Candidates from party run as a team
Party discipline in legislatures
Party voting
Unified national party
Weak
Parties as loose coalitions of groups
(Pluralist)
Diversity of views
Candidates run separately
Low level of discipline
Split-ticketing
Regional diversity
III. Pros and Cons of Strong and Weak
(Consequences)
Advantages of strong:
1. Makes it easy for voters to choose—
parties take clear stands (plebiscitary)
2. Voters know what they're getting—all
party members stand together
3. More effectively mobilizes voters
4. Easier to hold government accountable
5. Coherent government program
B. Advantages of weak:
1. Voters get more choice by splitting tickets
2. Regional diversity is expressed (not like
McDonalds)
3. Decentralizes power; party leaders aren't
dominant
IV. Why So Weak? (Causes)
A. Separation of Powers
B. Federalism
C. Institutions>Incentives>Outcomes!
V. Getting Weaker? Not necessarily
A. PIE (Parties in the electorate)
--to what extent does the party label
affect the decisions of voters? (Are
voters loyal to their parties?)
B. PO (Parties as Organizations)
--how much influence do parties have
over elections (through selecting
candidates, fundraising, canvassing)?
C. PIG (Parties in government)
--to what extent do elected officials
vote as a bloc with other members of
their party? Is there party
“discipline”?
VI. Why Only Two? (Causes)
A. Duverger's law
B. Other causes (Smith)
1. Narrow political spectrum
2. Lack of regionalism
3. Separation of Powers
VII. Pros and Cons of Two Party System
(Consequences)
A. Advantages:
1. Brings large nation together under one
banner (big parties for big countries!)
2. More coherent government because
elaborate multi-party coalitions
unnecessary
3. Hinders political extremists
B. Disadvantages
1. Choice is sharply restricted
2. May reduce participation
3. Can't easily handle multiple issue
dimensions
4. In theory, pushes parties toward fuzzy
center
a. In practice, parties currently appear to
be less centrist than Americans—
apparently contradicting “median voter
theory”
VIII. Conclusion
Two-Party, weak party system makes
American politics distinctive, more
candidate-centered, decentralized
But: recent trends are marking our two
parties much more programmatic, more
coherent—and more polarized