Political Parties

1. Political Parties U2, C8

2. Political Party Political party: organization that sponsors candidates for political office under the organization’s name Differ from interest groups because nominate candidates Party Functions • Nominating candidates • Structuring the voting choice • Proposing alternative government programs • Coordinating the actions of government officials

3. History of us party politics • First: Federalists and Democratic Republicans • Election of 1800 • 12th Amendment • “Era of Good Feelings” • Second: Democrats and Whigs • National conventions and party platforms • “King Andrew” • Current: Democrats and Republicans • Critical election • Electoral Realignment • Rough balance (1860-1894) • Republican Majority (1896-1930) • Democratic Majority (1932-1964) • Rough balance (1968-Present) • Electoral dealignment Party Systems Eras of Party Dominance Since the Civil War

4. Minor Parties in America Bolter parties: formed by factions that have split off from one of the major parties Farmer-labor parties: farmers and urban workers; believed working class not getting fair share of society’s wealth Parties of ideological protest: reject prevailing doctrines and propose radically different principles, favoring more government activism Single-issue parties: promote one principle Existence: promote some voters’ discontent with choices offered by major parties; better record as policy advocates than as candidates

5. Why a Two-Party System? • Electoral System • Majority representation: system by which one office, contested by two or more candidates, is won by the single candidate who collects the most votes • Proportional representation: legislative seats are awarded to a party in proportion to the vote that party wins in an election • Political socialization • Two parties have the power to make laws that make it hard for minor parties to get on the ballot

6. 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.

7. The Political Spectrum

8. Party Identification • Voter’s sense of psychological attachment to a party • Figure 8.4 (Distribution of party identification 1952-2008) • Number of Republicans and Democrats combined has far exceeded independents each year • Number of Democrats has consistently exceeded that of Republicans • Number of Democrats has shrunk over time, to benefit of both Republicans and Independents, three groups almost equal in size • Figure 8.5 (Party identification by social groups)

9. National Party Organization • Mirror federal system: separate national and state organizations (local) – more functions performed at state (local) level • Four main organizational components: • National convention • National committee • Congressional party conference • Congressional campaign committees • Presidential primaries – campaigns run by individual candidates • Organizational and procedural differences • State and local party machines • Decentralized (but growing stronger)