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American Political Parties

American Political Parties. What are Political Parties ?. A political party is a group of voters, activists, candidates, and office holders who identify with a party label. Parties recruit and run candidates for public office under the party label.

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American Political Parties

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  1. American Political Parties

  2. What are Political Parties? • A political party is a group of voters, activists, candidates, and office holders who identify with a party label. • Parties recruit and run candidates for public office under the party label. • Parties try to organize and coordinate the activities of government officials under the party name.

  3. The Role of Political Parties in a Democracy • Many political scientists believe that parties are essential to democracy. • The political party is seen by some as the main instrument of popular sovereignty and majority rule. • Parties provide a way for the people to keep elected officials responsive and responsible through competitive elections.

  4. Parties and Majority Rule • Parties’ mobilizing activities contribute to democracy by educating people about politics. • Elections create an incentive for parties to include as many voters as possible under their “umbrella”, with winning support from a majority being the goal of each party. • Parties try to broaden their appeal by running candidates from many ethnic, racial, and religious groups.

  5. The Two-Party System • Most nations have either one-party systems or multiparty systems. • Most Western democracies have multiparty systems. • But two parties have dominated the political scene in the United States since 1836.

  6. Why Only 2 American Parties? • Winner-take-all electoral system: • Legislative seats are awarded only to first place finishers in each “district”. • Institutional rules: • Congress and State legislatures provide no power base for minor parties.

  7. The Evolution of American Party Democracy • Hamilton and Jefferson, as heads of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist groups respectively, are often considered 'fathers' of the modern party system. • By 1800, this country had a party system with two major parties that has remained relatively stable ever since.

  8. Democrats and Republicans • From the presidential elections of 1860 to the present, the same two major parties have contested elections in the United States: • Democrats • Republicans.

  9. Republicans • 1854 Anti-slave activists met in Ripon, WI • 1854 “Republicans” first met in Jackson., MI. The name emphasizes a connection to the Democratic-Republican Party. • 1856 John Fremont was first presidential candidate of a national Republican Party. • 1860 Lincoln is the first Republican elected President as Republicans replace Whig Party as one of the 2 major national parties.

  10. The Elephant (11/7/1884)

  11. Democrats • 1792 Thomas Jefferson organized opposition to Federalists • 1798 Officially named the Democratic-Republican Party • 1824 4-way split among D-R • 1832 Reunification of Democrats under Andrew Jackson presidency. “Jacksonian Democrats” • 1844 Officially re-named the Democratic Party • 1848 Democratic National Committee established.

  12. The Tiger

  13. The Donkey Appears (1/19/1870)

  14. What the party symbols mean. • To A Republican • Elephant: dignified, strong, intelligent • Donkey: stubborn, silly, ridiculous • To A Democrat • Elephant: bungling, stupid, pompous • Donkey: humble, smart, courageous, lovable

  15. History of Party Competition • 1860 -1876 -- Republican Dominance • 1876 -1896 -- “Competitive” Republican • 1896 -1932 -- Republican “Dominance” • 1932 -1952 -- Democratic Dominance • 1952 -1968 -- “Competitive” Democrat • 1970 - 2000 -- Neither party dominant • 2004 - Start of Republican domination? • 2006 – Looking toward a competitive 2008?

  16. Realignments and Critical Elections • Each period begins with a “critical election”, a landslide by one party. • 1860, 1896, 1932, ??? • Each critical election leads to permanent “realignment” of voter preferences • Cycle of dominance - about 40 years • 1860 to 1896 • 1896 to 1932 • 1932 to 1968

  17. Modern Politics –Wither the Realignment? • We’ve actually been waiting for the realignment to follow 1932 for about 30 years. • We live in a “de-aligned” world. Party is not as important a cue to voting as it once was.

  18. The Roles of American Parties • The two party system has been used to resolve political and social conflicts. • Mobilizing Support and Gathering Power • A Force for Stability • Unity, Linkage, Accountability • The Electioneering Function • Party as a Voting and Issue Cue • Policy Formulation and Promotion

  19. 3 Views of the “Political Party” • Party as Organization • Party in Government • Party in the Electorate

  20. The Party in Government • The Congressional Party • The Presidential Party • The Parties and the Judiciary • The Parties in State & Local Government

  21. The Party-In-The-Electorate • The party-in-the-electorate is the mass of potential voters who identifywith specific party. • American voters often identify with a specific party, but rarely formally belong to it.

  22. Third Parties in America

  23. Historical Parties American Independence Progressives Bull Moose Free Soil Anti-Masons Socialist Contemporary Parties Libertarian Party Green Party Reform Party American Nazi Socialist Labor Socialist Worker American Constitutional

  24. Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics • Rarely win elections. Rarely last long. • But, they bring new groups and people into politics who often stay involved. • Two-party system discourages extreme views.

  25. Third Parties: Electoral Impact • Minor parties are not a threat to the two major parties today (although they may influence who wins). • Only eight third parties have won any electoral votes in a presidential contest. • The third parties that have had some “success” (aside from Ralph Nader in 2000) include…

  26. Impact of 3rd Parties on Issues • Prohibition (Prohibition Party) • Women’s Right to Vote (Prohibition & Socialist Parties) • Immigration Restrictions (Populist Party) • Child Labor (Socialist Party) • 40 Hour Work Week (Populist & Socialist Parties) • Progressive Income Tax (Populist & Socialist Parties) • Social Security (Socialist Party) • Crime Control (American Independence Party)

  27. The Republicans as a 3rd Party • Of course, despite modest electoral successes and policy impact via “adoption”, most third parties aspire to share or hold power. • Some make it. The Republicans did not start as a major party but became the beneficiary of the 1850’s battle over slavery between Whig and Democratic Parties.

  28. Q: How do our parties enhance democracy and government effectiveness? Four Answers: • The responsible party model • The retrospective voting model • The median voter model • Overcoming the separation of powers

  29. Proposals to improve the parties • Make the party elements stronger • Strengthen ties between elements of the parties • More power to the party centers; more hierarchical • Make better ties to the public; party sentiments strengthened in the public.

  30. Parties are already too strong; increases public discontent. Proposals to strengthen parties are by those who want big govt. Critics: Reactions to Party Reform

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