Understanding the Two-Party System in American Politics

1. Chapter 5 Political Parties

2. The Two-Party System • “A party of order or stability, and a party of progress or reform, are both necessary elements of a healthy state of political life.” ~ John Stuart Mill

3. Two-Party System • (Major) Party- a group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office(s). • Republicans • Democrats • (Minor) Party- one of the many political parties without wide voter support. • Green Party • Prohibition Party

4. Two-Party System • Where in a typical political election, two major parties dominate American politics. • A number of factors explain why America has had and continues to have a two-party system.

5. The Historical Basis • Framers of the Constitution were opposed to political parties. • Federalist No. 10: One can either destroy the factions, or somehow, control its outcomes. • Bi-partisan system still follows Madison’s “multiple” faction government. • Federalist No. 14: “Big Tent” involves inviting multiple factions/spheres of thought into the Big Tent • A means of controlling the “mob mentality”

6. The Force of Tradition • Started with the Federalists and Anti-Federalist • More Americans except the idea of a two-party system because there has always been one • James Madison said that a larger Republic is better, as to increase the number of factions, and to distribute power • No one party can overpower the system… or can they?

7. The Electoral System • Single-member districts: Electoral process in which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office • Plurality: The winning candidate who receives a the largest number of votes cast for an office • The plurality does NOT have to be the majority • Bipartisan: The two major political parties find common ground and work Together

8. The American Ideological Consensus • The American people over time have shared many of the same ideals, same basic principles, and same patterns of belief • Pluralistic Society: One consisting of several distinct cultures and groups • The United States is the “melting pot” of the world • Federalist Paper No. 55 • Argues that a smaller assembly is better for the country. More likely to get things RATIFIED • However, this is contradictory to the People’s Voice

9. American Ideological Consensus • Consensus: A general agreement • Not always so in American society • American Civil War • Great Depression • Vietnam Era • Persian Gulf War II (Afghanistan and Iraq) • Party Polarity (Republicans v. Democrats)

10. Third Party?

11. Multiparty Systems • A system in which several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for, and actually win public office(s). • Based around particular interests, including: • Economic class • Religious beliefs • Sectional attachment • Political ideology • Creates a broader and more diverse representation of electorates.

12. One-party Systems • A political system in which only one party exists. • Falls under a dictatorship in many nations. • Within the United States, a modified one-party system is prevalent in certain regions of the country. • Post Civil War Elections: • Republican party = New England & Midwest • Democrats = South

13. The Two-Party System in America • Federalist No. 10 & 51 • Both majority and minority factions are brought up, and Madison believes that the majority factions are the most dangerous. • Using the liberties of citizens can bring down a Democracy. • Factions- conflicting groups

14. First Political Parties • Election of 1800 • “The Great Revolution” signified the transfer of political powers from one political party to another • The incumbent Federalist president, John Adams, was defeated by Republican Thomas Jefferson • Incumbent- current office holder • Since then, there have been 4 major periods of political party dominance.

15. American Parties • Era of the Democrats (1800-1860) • Although called Republicans, the Democratic-Republicans can be compared to the Democratic Party of today. • Ran unopposed in national politics up to 1830. • Split up into factions with the introduction of the Andrew Jackson administration • National Republicans (Whigs) vs. Democrats

16. American Parties • Era of the Republicans (1860-1932) • Republican dominance started in 1860 with the election of President Lincoln. • Only political party to jump from 3rd party to major party status • Electorate- the people eligible to vote. • Sectionalism- the devotion toward interests of one section of the country or population

17. American Parties • The New Democratic Era (1932-1968) • The Great Depression brought the election of a new American leader, FDR • Democrats held the national government up to the Vietnam War • Richard Nixon’s second attempt for the presidency proved successful for a short-term Republican reign

18. American Parties • Era of Division (1968-current) • New points of interest have created a rift between the public’s concern and that of the political parties’ agendas

19. The Minor Parties Ron Paul Ralph Nader

20. Minority Parties in the U.S. • There are MANY neglected third parties that field a presidential candidate • Constitution Party • Green Party of the U.S. • Communist Party • Libertarian Party • America First Party • Freedom Socialist Party • Reform Party • Prohibition Party • American Nazi Party • And Many More…

21. 4 Types of Minor Parties • Ideological Parties • Parties based on a particular set of beliefs-a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters. • Have seldom been able to win many votes • Libertarian Party- focuses on the individual • Communist Party- focuses on the well-being of the society

22. 4 Types of Minor Parties • Single-Issue Parties • Parties that focus on only one public-policy matter • Most of these parties fade into history, with the issue they stood for. • The two major parties may address their key issue, as one of their own. • Usually found in the minor party name. • Prohibition Party (Founded 1869) • U.S. Marijuana Party (Founded 2002)

23. 4 Types of Minor Parties • Economic Protest Parties • Parties rooted in periods of economic discontent. • There is no clear-cut ideological base • A disgust toward the two major parties • Occupy Wall Street • Most often, they have been sectional parties • Drawing strength from the South & West • Greenback Party (1876-1884) • Populist Party (1890s)

24. 4 Types of Minor Parties • Splinter Parties • Parties that have split away from one of the major political parties • Most of the more important 3rd parties have been splinter parties • Form around a strong personality-an individual • These parties usually collapse when the individual steps down • Bull Moose Progressive Party Progressive Party (1912) • Green Party with Ralph Nader

25. Why Minority Parties are Important • Third-party candidacy can act as a “spoiler role” in a close election. • Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party took away votes from the Republican candidate in the 1912 election • Minor parties act as the critics (bring attention to wrong doing)and innovators(new ideas are co-opted by major parties) for political issues

26. Effects of Third Party http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dd2-OAgn8Q&feature=related

27. Party Organization

28. The Decentralized Nature of the Political Parties • State party organizations are loosely tied to the party’s national structure • Both major political parties are highly decentralized, fragmented, disjointed, and often beset by factions

29. National Party Machinery • Each major American political party builds its structure from four basic elements: • The National Convention • The National Committee • The National Chairperson • The Congressional Campaign

30. State & Local Party Machinery • State party foundations are set by State law: • State Organization- chairperson and the State Central Committee • Local Organization- follow the electoral map of a State • Ward: a unit into which cities are often divided for the election of city council members • Precinct: the smallest unit of election administration

31. The Three Components of the Party • The party organization • Party’s leaders, activists, and all those who contribute [time, money, and skills] • The party in the electorate • Appealing to the party’s loyalists • They call themselves party members • The party in government • Party’s officeholders

32. Future of the Major Parties • Americans (for the most part) have excepted the necessity for political parties in our country • However, these same people believe that political parties need to be controlled and regulated • Limited Government

33. The Decline of Political Party Influence • The current weakness of political parties can be traced back to several factors. • Political Parties have been in a period of decline ever since the late 1960s • The unpopular Vietnam War

34. Reasons for Party Decline • Sharp drop in number of voters who classify themselves as Republican or Democrat • Rise in Independents/Minor Parties • Split-Ticket Voting: voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election • A true system with bipartisan behaviors

35. Reasons for Party Decline • Making parties more “open” to internal conflict • Changes in technology • Changes in media and campaigning • Growth of single-issue organizations in our politics • Putting previous concerns and focusing on one issue • Currently the (world) economy

36. I highly suggest you review the following vocabulary. • Split-ticket Voting • Incumbent • Major Party • Electorate • Splinter Parties • Sectionalism • Coalition • One-Party System • Plurality • Factions • Partisanship • Two-Party System • Multiparty • Bipartisan