Chapter 8
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What is a political party?
What do political parties do?
Why does the U.S. have a 2-party system?
How did the U.S. get a 2-party system?
How do party organizations work at the local,
state, and national levels?
Politics
describes the
exercise of political
power.
 Democracy
 He
in America
described political
parties as a “necessary evil”
in a free government.
A
group that advances certain
political goals through organizing
to gain power by winning
elections.
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The Constitution never mentions political
parties.
George Washington warned against them in
his Farewell Address.
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“It [a spirit of party]serves always to distract the
public councils and enfeeble the public
administration. It agitates the community with
ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles
the animosity of one part against another,
foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It
opens the door to foreign influence and
corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the
government itself through the channels of party
passions. Thus the policy and the will of one
country are subjected to the policy and will of
another.”
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Nominate candidates for public office.
Govern through party networking to support
or oppose issues being considered.
Act as watchdogs over the other party and
inform the public about what the other party
is doing.
Influence government by keeping extreme
opinions out.
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Sometimes the two major parties look and act
so much alike because they are trying to
attract support from the same people in the
middle of the political spectrum. They are
appealing to the “moderate middle.”
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It started that way with the Federalists &
Anti-federalists, Whigs & Tories.
In the competition over getting into power,
individuals with similar goals tend to band
together. They work for their goals and
against those opposing them.
The electoral system has winner-take-all
single member districts, so minor parties are
cut out because voters may be afraid of
“wasting” their votes.
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The two major parties in the U.S. are the
◦ Democrat Party
◦ Republican Party
They often work together to eliminate
competition from 3rd or minor parties.
Since they hold the power, they make rules to
make it difficult for 3rd party candidates to
get listed on ballots.
 Parties
establish platforms – a
formal statement of the party’s
positions on current issues.
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See p. 165 for examples of Republican &
Democrat platform planks on abortion from
2000.
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Liberal – a person whose political view seeks
to change the political, economic, and social
status quo to encourage the development and
well-being of the individual. (Popular
meaning)
Conservative – one whose political view
defends the status quo against major
changes in the political, economic, and social
institutions of society.
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Liberals tend to interpret the Constitution
from a Broad Constructionist perspective.
Republicans tend to interpret the Constitution
from a Strict Constructionist view.
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A political ideology committed to the ideal of
limited government and liberty of individuals
including freedom of religion, speech, press,
assembly, and free markets.
Classical liberals also interpret the
Constitution strictly and do not like to be
labeled “liberal” by the more popular
definition.
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People do not “join” political parties.
They identify themselves according to party
and may vote for their party candidates or the
other party’s candidates.
They have no obligations to the party they
identify themselves with.
Most people choose their party based on their
family background.
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A two-party system makes a government
more stable by keeping the same kinds of
policies and people in power.
A one-party system usually provides a
dictator with little consent or accountability.
When might a multi-party system be
advantageous?
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Federalists vs. Anti-federalists struggled to
produce a government that fit their vision.
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At first just a few powerful individuals would
meet together in a caucus to select
candidates to run for election.
Then some 18th century men expanded
participation by holding nominating
conventions, in which delegates would be
elected to select the candidates.
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Organized political campaigns then
developed to attract voter support.
A candidate could now be “invented.” Such
was the case of William Henry Harrison, from
a wealthy plantation family and son of a
signer of the Declaration of Independence,
who was cast as a common man of the
frontier who had been born in a log cabin.
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Party Primaries later developed to select the
delegates to the conventions. These allowed
for more voter input.
◦ Nominating Primary – a state-run election to
choose the party nominees for local, state, and
national offices.
◦ Presidential Primary – election of state party’s
delegates to the party’s national convention which
would choose the party’s presidential candidate.
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Multi-Party Systems: It’s typically difficult for
one party to gain a majority, so the parties
must form a coalition to get elected. Then
they share powers. In many cases the
coalition breaks down.
One-Party Systems: Most countries with
dictators have one-party systems in which
there is little to no competition for power
because one person or group holds it all.
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Many third parties have existed and still exist
in the U.S.
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Issue Parties: spring up around one issue
(Free-soil Party, Right-to-Life Party)
Ideological Parties: arise from political and
social ideas (Socialist Labor Party, Libertarian
Party, Green Party, Constitution Party)
Depression Parties: develop in economic hard
times (Populist Party)
Splinter Parties: split from major parties over
policies or personalities (Progressive Party,
Dixiecrats)
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While third parties may not get much voter
support in elections, they do shape the issues
in a campaign and may force the major
parties to change their positions to consider
new issues.
Example: Progressive Party led to the 16th,
17th, 18th, and 19th amendments to the
Constitution.
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1. National Convention meets once every 4 years to
choose president & vice president candidates for the
party AND to approve the party’s platform.
2. National Committee oversees the party between
conventions, raises money, and may target
candidates. States party organizations choose at
least some of the national committee members.
3. National Chairman functions as the head of the
party, but if his party holds the presidency, the
president really determines the direction of the party.
4. Congressional Campaign Committees raise money
and support to try to get members of their party
elected or re-elected to Congress.
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Who is the head of the DNC U.S. Rep. Debbie
Wasserman Schultz of Florida.
Who is the head of the RNC? Reince Priebus,
former chairman of the Wisconsin Republican
Party.
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State Committee for each party, elected at a
state convention.
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Build an effective organization
Build party unity
Find candidates
Raise campaign funds
◦ State conventions in Texas are held every other
year. The next one is June 2012.
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Precinct organizations
County organizations
Congressional District organizations
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Precincts are the smallest units of election
districts and party administrations.
Parties hold precinct conventions after the
polls close on primary elections (for president
& governor (in Texas.)
The precinct conventions elect delegates to
the next level of convention and submit
planks for the party platform.
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Independent Voters – voters who are not loyal
to a particular party
Ticket-splitting – voting for candidates of
different parties for various offices (Example:
a Republican for governor and a Democrat for
congressman.)
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Elections have become very expensive
because of the expense of purchasing media
to get out one’s message. (TV)
Internet is changing the face of politics
because people without much money can
gain support, raise funds, and spread ideas.