Political
Parties
Chapter 9
Washington’s Farewell Address
1796
“I have already intimated to you the danger of
parties in the State, with particular reference to
the founding of them on geographical
discriminations. Let me now take a more
comprehensive view, and warn you in the most
solemn manner against the baneful effects of
the spirit of party generally.”
What is a political party?
An organization that sponsors a
candidate for public office under
the organization’s name.
The Five Functions of a Political Party
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Nominate- (Obama) name or recruit candidates,
present candidate to the voters
Inform- inform and stimulate the voters about a
candidate, pick and choose issues
Approve- keep the party bonded by approving
actions of candidate
Government- many voters decide winner by
party, Congress works on a partisan basis, and
appointments are made according to party
Watchdog- party watches the conduct of those in
power, attempts to convince voters to oust those
in charge
Living Room Candidate
1. HISTORY
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Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
2. SYSTEM
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Winner take all
Single member district
Voters do not want to “waste” vote on minor party.
3. ELECTION LAWS

Minor parties often find it difficult to flourish because election laws
have been written by officials who are members of the major parties.
Reasons for a Two-Party System
History of U.S. Party Politics
1. Pre-party Period
a. Constitution makes no reference to
parties
b. Factions
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Groups pursuing a common political
interest
Considered both inevitable and
dangerous (Federalist No. 10)
Factions were not yet parties, they did
not nominate candidates
c. Grew under Washington’s
administration
2. Federalists and Democratic Republicans
a. Election of 1796
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Federalists (John Adams)
Democratic Republicans (Thomas Jefferson).
Adams won, Jefferson became vice president.
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More systematic nomination.
Federalists (John Adams)
Democratic Republicans (Thomas Jefferson and
Aaron Burr)
Jefferson and Burr tie and it goes to the House.
b. Election of 1800
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c. Twelfth Amendment (1804)- Separate electoral
college for the president and vice- president
d. By 1820, the Federalists had ceased to exist;
Democratic Republicans had no opposition in the
presidential election.
e. Election of 1824 – Democratic Republicans split
into two different factions
3.
Democrats and Whigs
a. The Election of 1828
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Democrats formed from the Jacksonian
Democratic Republicans
Represented Southerners and Westerners
First mass election, over 1 million voters
b. National Conventions and Party Platforms
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National Convention- Gathering of delegates of
a single political party to choose presidential
and vice presidential candidates and to
determine the party platform.
Party Platform- The statement of policies of a
national party.
c. Whigs formed in 1834 to fight “King” Jackson.
Lasted until 1856
4. Democrats and Republicans
a. The Republican party formed in 1854 in
opposition to slavery.
◦ Ran Abraham Lincoln in 1860
◦ Won largely because of splits in the
Democratic party
b. Critical elections
◦ Def.- An election that produces a sharp
change in the existing pattern of party
loyalty among groups of voters; changed
pattern is called electoral realignment.
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1860-1894: Rough Balance
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1896-1930: Republican Control
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1932-1964: Democratic Control
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1968-Present: Rough Balance
Republicans won 8 out of 10 presidential elections, but
there was balance in Congress.
Second critical election- 1896: Republicans became more
closely aligned with industrial interests in the East and
Midwest
Republicans controlled the entire federal government
continually until the Crash of 1929
Third critical election- 1932: Democrats aligned with
unions, middle class, immigrants and southerners
Democrats held control of both Houses of Congress in
most sessions throughout this period.
Republicans began to run well in the South
Control of Senate almost even, Democrats controlled
House 13/19 sessions
May be a period of electorate dealignment.
Era of Dominance (Post Civil War)
Third Parties
in the
United States
Populist principles
The Omaha Platform:
1. Opposed monopolies
2. Opposed big business
3. Feared political corruption
4. Bigger government role in society
5. Supported farmers
6. Improve labor conditions
In the election of 1892 they won 22 electoral votes!
The Progressive Party
Developed as a reform movement in the early
1900’s. Differed from the populists in that they
were more educated, wealthy and urban.
Progressive Platform
Suffrage
Prohibition
Direct Election of Senators
Election Reform
Worker’s Rights
Child Labor Laws
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Independents
Ticket-splitting
Divided government
Cynicism & political apathy
Decentralized party structure
Mass media
Interest groups
Why are parties
getting weaker?
1.Splinter
Parties
(Bull Moose)
2.Single-Issue Parties
(Green)
3.Ideological Parties
(Socialists)
4.Economic Protest
Parties (Greenback)
Other Third Parties
“Concededly, each interest group is biased;
but their role…..is not unlike the advocacy
of lawyers in court which has proven so
successful in resolving judicial
controversies”
- John F. Kennedy
Interest Groups
“Suppose you go to Washington and try to get at your
government. You will always find that while you
are politely listened to, the men really consulted
are the men with the biggest stake – the big bankers, the big
manufacturers, the big masters of commerce”
– Woodrow Wilson
Interest Groups
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Definition: Any organization that seeks to
influence public policy through lobbying.
Two types – institutional and membership
◦ Institutional - deals with individuals or organizations
representing other organizations such as: business
firms and unions
◦ Membership – deals with social, business, veteran,
charitable, religious issues
Differences among Americans has led the
proliferation of interest groups
Huge variety of issues including abolition,
prohibition, gun rights, farm issues, religious
associations, environmental groups, political
reform, balanced budget, businesses, unions,
even older Americans
See table on page 267 and 268
Reasons for Interest Groups
1. Cleavages
2. Constitutional System
3. Non-Profit Perks
◦ Section 501 (c) (3)- Tax-exempt, no
lobbying or campaign contributions
◦ Section 501 (c) (4)- Not tax-exempt, but
can lobby and give campaign contributions
4. Weakness of Political Parties
See table on page 261
Why join an interest group?
 Feel a part of the political process,
pleasure, and/or companionship
 Material incentives - money, things,
services
 Common goals – passion about an issue,
common ideology, public interest,
protection
Funding of Interest Groups
Interest groups have long been involved in a
variety of social movements such as:
abolition, the environment, feminism, and
unions
Funding for interest groups comes from three
main sources:
1. Foundation grants
2. Federal grants and contracts
3. Direct mail
What makes interest groups
powerful?
Size
Power of AARP – 25% of the population 50
and over
Intensity
Drive or effort put forth (single issue
groups fall into this category)
Money
Form a PAC (Political Action Committee) –
donate money to campaigns and
advertising
1. Electioneering
2. Lobbying
3. Publicity
4. Organizing grassroots activities
5. Use of the courts
Methods of Interest Groups
In 1953, The Supreme Court upheld the Federal
Regulation of Lobbying Act (1946), but narrowed its
scope significantly.
 The Court determined that it applied only to paid
lobbyists who directly communicated with members
of Congress on pending legislation. This created a
number of loopholes including:
- It does not regulate people who give money to
influence legislation, only those who solicit or collect
money.
- It does not define "principally." A lobbyist can
argue that his principal goal is not influencing
legislation.
U.S.
v. Harriss
(1954) with
- It does
not include
those who communicate

Here’s an interesting phenomenon??
Many people leave public office, get
hired by a PAC and then return to
Washington to lobby. It can happen
over and over again (Donald Rumsfeld
for example). This can lead to a
conflict of interest and an unfair
manipulation of government agencies.
The “Revolving Door”
Imagine you are a member of the President’s cabinet.
The Treasury secretary advises that the President makes
cuts in federal spending to save the economy.
He/she must make some tough choices and you must
advise him. The spending areas under review are:
1. Social Security
2. Environmental Protection Agency
3. Women’s health clinics
4. Education
5. Medicare
You must get rid of one, cut spending in two, maintain
spending in one, and raise spending in one.
Discuss what interest groups you feel would lobby your
administration before you make your decision. Consider
their arguments.
Explain the reasons for your choices and the potential
political consequences for your decisions.
Critical Thinking
Role play
• The scenario: The drug companies are
lobbying for legislation that would give
them control over any prescription
drug program for senior citizens.
• Interest groups: plan your arguments.
How will you convince the President to
take your side?
• Presidential advisors: what factors will
influence your decision?
The Lobbying Process
Break into groups:
• Group 1: Advisors to the president
• Group 2: AARP
• Group 3: The Pharmaceutical
Research
and Manufacturers of America
• Group 4: AFL-CIO
The Lobbying Process