Political Parties & Democracy
• In democracies, citizens organize their
political activity through political parties and
the election process. Parties develop out of
our differences about how to achieve
common goals. They are a natural product of
a democratic and free society.
• The founding fathers specifically did not
approve of having political parties.
Purpose of Parties
– “to put forward proposed leaders whom they
support for official positions in government.”
– Parties want to have an impact on public policy,
organize the opposition and offer alternatives.
– Parties create important links between the voter,
groups & government. To succeed, they must
build consensus.
Party Functions
– Mobilize ordinary citizens, either to vote or to
achieve some other political goal.
– Recruit and socialize leaders, even in one-party
states.
– Provide a long-lasting sense of party
identification.
– Provide a means for party leaders to control rank
and file members.
Party Functions
– Provide links between:
– Branches of government in a
separation of powers system.
–Levels of government in a federal
system.
– Citizens and government in all
systems.
Party Functions
– Parties in Non-democracies-Functions may
differ. They may mobilize support for the
regime.
–Recruit and train potential leaders.
– Oversee the bureaucracy.
–Spy on population (in totalitarian
systems). Not a link between the
bottom and top, but a means of social
control by the top over the bottom.
Types of Party Systems
• One-Party Authoritarian-Government & party
closely linked. No opposition parties
permitted. Example: Communist Party in
North Korea Kim Il Sung
Types of Party Systems
• Dominant Party System; one-party dominates
for long periods of time. No legal ban on
other parties, but only one party has chance
to win office, and there may be informal
harassment of opposition parties. Examples:
PRI in Mexico until the 1990s, Japan until the
1990s
Types of Party Systems
• Two Party System. Either party has genuine
chance to win office; elections truly
competitive. Additional parties not outlawed
but have serious difficulty winning because of
electoral system. Tend to be general parties;
tend to be stable. Disadvantage: Voters
limited to two choices. Examples: United
States, Canada, Britain, New Zealand
Types of Party Systems
• Multi-Party System. Competitive elections with
multiple parties ensure that no one party can
dominate for long. Parties tend to be more
doctrinaire and distinctive, giving voters more
choice. By far the most common. In Multi-party
states, it’s difficult for any one party to win a
majority. Coalition with similar parties become
necessary. But coalition partners may resign over
particular government policies, so this system is
less stable. Example of government instability:
Italy, from 1945 to 1995, had 44 different
coalition governments.
Parties in the US
• Any American citizen may
join a political party
regardless of age, but most
members are eighteen or
older.
• The United States has a
two-party system. The
Republicans emerged as a
major party in 1860 with
the election of Abraham
Lincoln. The Democratic
Party formed under
Andrew Jackson twenty
years earlier.
Hamilton vs. Jefferson
• Political parties first emerged when followers of
Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson disagreed
over major issues on the Constitution and government.
• Jefferson’s group took the name DemocraticRepublicans. Due to experience with Britain, they
feared a powerful central government. They wanted
the states to hold greater power. Anti-Federalist.
• Hamilton championed a strong national government
with a powerful chief executive. His followers called
themselves Federalists, after those who supported the
Constitution.
Jacksonian Democracy
Reigns
• In 1828, the farmers and small business owners who
made up Jefferson’s party, calling themselves the
Democratic Party, nominated Andrew Jackson. He
stood for the common citizen, but looked out for
southern and western interests.
• Those who did not support Jackson formed their
own party called Whigs, after a Scottish political
leader.
• Their real name was the National Republican Party.
• The Whigs and Democrats made up the two key
parties in American politics for two decades.
The Two Major Parties Emerge
• In 1854 Whigs, former Free Soil Party members,
and ex-Democrats formed the Republican Party
to oppose the spread of slavery in US territories.
• The Whigs faded from American politics leaving
the Democrats and Republicans in a two-party
system that has dominated American politics ever
since.
• However, at that time, Republicans were for a
strong national government, while Democrats
supported states’ rights.
Progressive Party
• In 1912, the Progressive Party was born out of
the Republicans. At this point the rest of the
Republicans moved to a more conservative,
small government position. Progressives
supported womens’ rights, minimum wage,
and a national health care program.
Progressive Party
• Progressive Republicans eventually split
the Republican Party and in the 1930’s
supported Franklin D. Roosevelt and his
New Deal. This was the birth of the
modern Democratic Party. Thus, the two
parties flipped in their support of a
strong national government.
The Rise and Decline of Parties
• The Results of Reform The worst forms of
political corruption were reduced. All political
parties were weakened; parties became less
able to hold officeholders accountable or to
coordinate across the branches of government
• Decline in Party Identification, 1952-2002
The Rise and Decline of Parties
• Party realignment
– Critical or realigning periods: periods when a sharp,
lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting
one or both parties
– Two kinds of realignments
– A major party is defeated so badly that it disappears and a new
party emerges
– Two existing parties continue but voters shift their loyalty from
one to another
– Realignments
– 1860: slavery issue
– 1896:Industrialization, city/farm split
– 1932: Great depression
The Rise and Decline of Parties
• 1980: Could not have been a traditional
realignment, because Congress was left in the
hands of the democrats Party DeclineEvidence that parties are declining, not
realigning: Proportion of people identifying
with a party declined between 1960 and 1980;
Proportion of those voting a split ticket
increased
Third Parties
• Any party other than the two major
parties can be called a “Third party.”
• No third party has ever gained
control of the White House.
Sometimes, third parties win seats in
Congress or gain office in lower
levels of government.
• When these smaller groups
challenge the two major parties,
they can change the outcome of
elections.
• Their most important role is to
influence policy on one or more
issues.
Ralph Nader, Green
Party Candidate,
2000
Third Parties at the Turn of the Century
• In the late 1800s, the
People’s Party, or
“Populists” became
popular.
• They had the support of farmers and workers
who called for better working conditions.
• They never succeeded in getting a national
candidate into office, many of their ideas on
workers’ rights became laws in the 20th Century.
Impact of Minor Parties
– Types of Third Parties
–Sectional or “Splinter” Parties-Divisions
within major parties
–Economic Protest Parties
–IdeologyParties
–Cult of Personality Parties
–Specific Issue Parties
–Combination Parties
Ideological Third Parties
• An ideology is a body of ideas put forth by a
person or group.
• Minor third parties are often formed to support a
specific issue. These rise and fall over time.
• Ideological parties want to change society in
major ways.
• The Socialist and Communist Parties want to
nationalize major industries. The Green Party
calls for companies to respect the environment.
Cult of Personality
• Some third parties form from
the efforts of famous people.
• If they cannot gain support
from one of the major parties,
they form their own.
• H. Ross Perot’s Reform Party
was a force in the 1992 and
1996 elections. This party also
placed pro wrestler Jesse
Ventura in the governor’s
mansion in Minnesota.
• These parties usually fade
after their candidate is
defeated.
Splinter Parties
• Splinter parties are groups within one of the
major parties which splits with the majority in
the group usually because of ideological
differences. Example: The Tea Party faction in
the Republican Party
• Sometimes these groups divide the major
party and form their own party.
The Odds Are Against Them
• It is difficult for third parties candidates to raise
enough money to compete with the major parties.
• Only one candidate can win in a given district.
Usually the winner is either Democratic or
Republican.
• Third-party candidates must show they have support
by getting voter signatures to even be placed on the
ballot for national office.
Impact of Minor Parties
• Conventional wisdom holds that minor parties
develop ideas that the major parties adopt
• Factional parties have had probably the
greatest influence on public policy
• Any political party organized in at least a few
states, other than the 2 current leading parties
– History of American Third Parties-No minor third
party as ever come close to winning the
presidency
Impact of Minor Parties
– Purpose of Third Parties-“The electoral progress of
third parties is in direct proportion to the failure
of the two major parties to incorporate new
ideas.”
– Though very rare, a third party may replace one of the major
parties
– Third Parties have influence
Parties Move Towards The Center
• A platform is a
statement that puts
forth the party's positions
on issues. Each individual
issue is called a plank.
• Both parties want votes.
As a result, parties become
more moderate in their
platforms, moving away from
extreme positions.
• The American people generally
agree about many issues.
This unity forces the two
parties toward the center of
the political spectrum.
Major U.S. Political Parties
• Chance of winning statewide or national
office low: Electoral College; Presidential
candidates must win
• 270 electors (out of 538) to win office;
Example: Ross Perot & Reform Party in 1992
won 19% of the popular vote but not one
elector.
American Politics Today
• Democrats usually feel that the federal
government has a responsibility to help the
poor through government intervention.
• Democrats are generally seen as liberal.
• Republicans hold the view that leaving the
economy alone will allow for growth, giving
people greater ability to help themselves.
They believe in less regulation.
• Republicans are viewed as being
conservative.
Major U.S. Political Parties
• Republican National Party-http://www.rnc.org/
• Democratic National Party http://www.democrats.org/
• Minor U.S. Political Parties:
• Green Party http://www.gp.org/
• Democratic Socialist of America
http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html
• Libertarian Party http://www.lp.org/
• Constitution Party http://www.constitutionparty.com/
• Independent
Democratic Party (liberal)
• The Democratic Vision
• The Democratic Party is committed to keeping
our nation safe and expanding opportunity for
every American. That commitment is reflected
in an agenda that emphasizes the security of
our nation, strong economic growth,
affordable health care for all Americans,
retirement security, honest government, and
civil rights. (www.democrats.org)
Democratic Points of Interest
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1792 Founding of the party by Thomas Jefferson
1798 “Party of the Common Man” Democratic Republicans
1800 Thomas Jefferson 1st Democratic President
1840 Officially named, Democratic party
1984 Geraldine Ferraro 1st woman VP candidate
1996 Bill Clinton, 1st Democrat to win re-election since Franklin Roosevelt
Democratic Symbol-donkey
Democratic Platform
–
–
–
–
–
–
Honest Leadership & Open Government
Real Security
Energy Independence
Economic prosperity & Educational Excellence
A Healthcare System that Works for everyone
Retirement Security
•
•
•
•
Republican Party
(conservative)“GOP””Grand Old
Party”
Points of Interest
1850’s founded by anti-slavery activists
1854 1st meeting, Michigan
“Republican” was chosen to honor the memory of
Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic Republican party
• 1856 Became National party
• 1860 Abraham Lincoln 1st Republican to become
President
• 1917 1st woman elected to Congress, Jeanette Renkin,
Michigan
Republican Party
(conservative)“GOP””Grand Old Party”
• Republican Symbol-elephant
• Republican Platform
– Winning the War on terror
– Ushering in an ownership era
– Building an Innovative Economy to Compete in the
World
– Strengthening Our communities
– Protecting Our families
Political Parties Organization