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Political Parties

This comprehensive overview explores the dynamics of political parties in the United States, comparing them to European systems. It outlines the development of the two-party system through four significant realignment periods, examines the structure and differences between the major parties, and investigates the role of minor parties. Key functions such as candidate nomination, voter mobilization, and the watchdog role of parties are discussed. Additionally, it highlights trends in party affiliation and organizational structure, delving into the implications for American democracy.

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Political Parties

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  1. Political Parties AP Ch 9

  2. Objectives • 1. Define and compare to Europe • 2. Trace development of 2 party system through 4 major periods • 3. Describe the structure and differences of the 2 major parties • 4. Investigate 3rd or minor political parties

  3. Definition (2) • A. Group of people who seek to control govt by holding public office • B. Group of people, joined together by common principles, in order to affect certain policies • Difference? • Where do the US parties fit?

  4. Election Oriented v. Issue Oriented • US parties are motivated by elections • Europeans have much “stronger” parties • Much more “centralized” than US and better at mobilizing voters

  5. Notes/ History Take Notes to use on history quiz • 4 major periods of party domination and Realignments pg. 201-206

  6. 5 Major Functions • 1. Nominating Candidates • Makes them different than other political groups • 2. Informing and Activating Supporters • “Spin and Spark” • 3. Bonding Agent Function • Screening candidates

  7. Functions (cont.) • 4. Governing • In many ways US is govt by party • Partisanship (strong support of the party and its issues) links branches, organizes elections • 5. Watchdog Function • Party out of power criticizes party in power plays the role of “loyal opposition”

  8. Party Realignments • AKA critical periods • A sharp, lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties • Issues change, and so do the people who vote

  9. There have been 5 Realignments • 1. 1800 • 2. 1828 • 3. 1860 • 4. 1896 • 5. 1932

  10. 2 types of Realignments • 1. When one major party is badly defeated and a new party emerges • (1800, 1860) • 2. When major parties stay, but the voters switch to the other party (1896, 1932)

  11. Minor Political Parties 4 Types

  12. 1. Ideological • Comprehensive view of American political system • Long lasting • Not concerned with election • Marxist • Libertarian

  13. 2. Splinter • Bull Moose • Dixiecrats

  14. 3. Single Issue • Free Soil • Know Nothings • Right to Life

  15. 4. Economic Protest • Usually find a real or imagined enemy • Greenbacks, Populists

  16. Major Party Decline • The # of People who strongly id w/ party is declining • Split ticket voting is increased (unheard of in 1800’s) • “Office bloc” ballot replaced the party-column ballot

  17. National Party Structure Today • 2 Party system is still strong • NOT arranged like a big corporation • Both Parties have a national convention that meets every 4 years • Both have a national committee

  18. Congressional Campaign Committee • Help candidates win election (in congress) $$ • National Chairman handles day to day activities

  19. Republicans Organize • Recruiting in the 70’s • Elaborate fundraising • Structured • Bureaucratized

  20. Democrats Disorganized • Fragmented their power and influence to allow for more diversity • Factionalized

  21. Republicans use technology • Computerized mailing lists of donors • RNC used the $ to run a national consulting firm • Democrats copied • Increased the importance of “soft money”- $ given to the party, not direct to candidates

  22. Internet Funds • 2004 Primaries, Howard Dean raised $30 million, by donations of under $100 • (and screamed about it) • Obama? Billion?

  23. Geographical support • Dems have moved support from the south to the North and West • Repubs have moved support from the East to the South and Southwest • Result: Dems move left and Repubs move right

  24. National Conventions • National Committee selects time and place • Sets the number of delegates and how they are to be chosen • Can influence what candidate is selected

  25. Apportioning Delegates (News article) • Extremely complex • Dems give extra votes to large states • Repubs give extra votes to loyal states

  26. Reforms add to the Middle Class split • Repubs traditional conservative MC • Dems- new liberal MC

  27. 2 Party System- Why? • Scholars disagree • 2 Possible Explanations: • 1. Election system/ laws • 2. Public Opinion

  28. Review organization of parties • Late 60’s early 70’s

  29. Stucture of Parties • Dems- more factional • Repubs- more bureaucratic

  30. 2 Party System Pretty Rare • Only about 15 countries have it

  31. How to gauge strength of parties • How many ID • Organization • Recruiting • Election of leaders of all branches

  32. Party as LABEL • Most of the time, it comes down to the label function- (key to understanding party’s function)

  33. Differences between US parties and others • Federalism effect- more decentralized • US has primaries (most states)- not party leaders who nominate • Culture- US parties have less influence in our lives limited to voting • Pres appointment power is limited • Pres and congress do not run together

  34. Political Labels and Categories • How people view policy regarding the economy • How people view policy on civil rights and race relations • How people view public and political conduct

  35. 1. Pure Liberals • Liberal on both econ and personal conduct • Want govt to reduce inequality • Regulate business, tax rich • Cure economic causes of crime • Pro- choice, rights of the accused • Broad First Amendment Rights

  36. Traits of Pure LiberalsMore likely to be: • Younger • College educated • Non- religious

  37. Pure Conservative • Conservative on both econ and personal conduct • Want to cut welfare • Allow free markets to regulate itself • Keep taxes low • ‘lock up” criminals • Stop anti- social conduct

  38. Traits: More likely to be: • Older • Higher incomes • White • Midwestern

  39. Libertarians • Conservative on economic issues • Liberal on social issues • Want small weak govt that has little or no control over any aspect of our lives

  40. Traits: More likely to be.. • Young • College educated • White • Higher incomes • No religion • Live in west

  41. Populists • Liberal on econ matters • Conservative on social issues • Want govt to reduce econ inequality and control big business • Regulate personal conduct • Lock up criminals • Permit school prayer

  42. Traits: More likely to be.. • Older • Poorly educated • Low income • Religious • Live in South or Midwest

  43. Ch 9 Test • Read all ch 9 except 201-204

  44. 70’ Dem reforms • Weaken party leaders influence • Increase rank and file power • Republicans out perform Dems in everything but diversity

  45. Delegate selection • Changing rules has made the Dems more liberal and Repubs more conservative

  46. Review 1980’s (Hunt Commission) • goal was to increase the influence of party leaders in the pres. Selection process • Increased Superdelegates (elected officials and party leaders who are not required to pledge themselves in advance)

  47. Grassroots • Local levels of parties have been dying out • Political machines no longer exist (strong around turn of century) • Pol machines characterized by patronage, trading votes for favors, corruption, not ideology

  48. State and Local parties • The Machine • -high degree of leadership • - • Personal Following • Solidary Group (social) • Sponsored Party (Detroit)

  49. Finance • Remember- Repubs have been more successful, but Dems are catching up • Both parties re-doubled their soft money fundraising

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