american political parties chapter 9 what is a political party? a group of political activists who...
TRANSCRIPT
American Political
Parties
Chapter 9
What Is a Political Party?
A group of political activists who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to determine public policy.
How are parties different from interest groups?
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Political PartiesRun governmentSelect candidatesMultiple issues
(party platform)
Interest GroupsInfluence governmentSupport candidatesOften a single issue
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Political Parties vs. Interest Groups
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The Three Components of Political Parties
Recruit candidates to run for elective offices at all levels of government
Mobilize citizens to vote and participate in electionsBear the responsibility of operating government at all
levels Provide organized opposition to the party in power
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Functions of Political Parties
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Where the Voters Are
The Formative Years: Federalists/Anti-Federalists (1789-1816)
The Era of Good Feelings (1816-1828)
National Two-Party Rule: Whigs and Democrats (1828-1860)
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History of Political Parties
The Civil War CrisisThe Post-Civil War Period (1865-1896)
“Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion”
The Triumph of the Republicans
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The Golden Age of Parties
Courtesy of Smithsonian Institute, neg #98-4290
The Progressive Interlude (1896-1932)The New Deal Era (1932-1968) An Era of Divided Government (modern period)
After 1968, the general pattern was often a Republican president and a Democratic Congress
2000 Presidential Election (Red vs. Blue States) Parties in relative balance
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History of Political Parties
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Election 1896
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Election 2004
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Election 2008
The parties’ core constituentsEconomic beliefs
Recent economic convergence?
Cultural politicsDemocrats have the
reputation of supporting the less-well-off, Republicans the prosperous
Regional factors
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The Two Major Parties Today
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning 14
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Income and Party Identification
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Republican and Democratic Issues
1. The people who identify with the party or who regularly vote for the candidates of the party in general elections
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The Three Faces of a Party
2. Party Organization National
Convention delegates National Committee National Chairperson State party organization Local (grassroots) organization
Patronage and city machines Local party organizations
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Three Faces of a Party (cont)
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2008 National Conventions
3. The Party in Government Divided Government The Limits of Party
Unity Party Polarization
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Three Faces of a Party (cont)
© Andy Levin/Photo Researchers, Inc.
This report discusses the importance of the Hispanic vote during the 2008 presidential election.Airdate: 7/13/2008
Ethnic Politics and the Campaign for the White House
Click the icon to open the movieVideo Supplied by Motion Gallery
1. What concerns might Hispanic voters have that other voting blocks do not share?
2. Why is there a historic rivalry between Hispanics and blacks in some states?
3. What was Bush’s appeal to Hispanic voters in the 2004 election?
4. Which party is most likely to appeal to Hispanic voters in the next election?
Video Questions
DualityPolitical socialization and practical considerationsThe Winner-Take-All Electoral System
Presidential VotingPopular Election of the Governors and PresidentProportional Representation
State and Federal Laws Favor the Two PartiesRuling parties work to remain in controlNo party organization to join as independents
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Why Has the Two Party System Endured?
Ideological Third Parties Green Party
Splinter PartiesThe Impact of Minor Parties
Influencing the Major Parties Affecting the Outcome of an Election
Spoiler in 2000 Elections?
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The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics
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Policies of Selected American
Third Parties Since 1864
Realignment (occurs about every 32-36 years) Civil War era 1890s Great Depression Nixon’s victory in 1972 seemed to be a realignment, but Watergate changed this
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Mechanisms of Political Change
Minor realignments 1980s conservative movement
Shift of white southerners to Republican party Northern blue-collar workers to Republican party Many professionals turn to Democratic party Religious cleavage
Makes Republican party more conservative, Democrats more liberal: but neither party dominates
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Mechanisms of Political Change (cont)
Dealignment: A major drop-off in support for the parties. Independent Voters Not-So-Independent Voters
Tipping (demographically-based change) Often due to immigration
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Mechanisms of Political Change (cont)
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Party Identification: 1937–Present
2008 Elections bring change Democrats regain political momentum
Control White House AND Congress Obama wins five key Republican states
Growing political divide between Democratic and Republican agendas Political Maneuvering = Less Responsive Government
2010 Elections indicate a new direction?
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A New Direction in 2008
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Questions for Critical Thinking
1. Do democratic governments need political parties? If a democratic government has political parties, will the structure always be a two-party system?
2. What factors impact how many political parties will exist? 3. Is party identification a major factor for voters in
presidential elections? 4. Do political parties make government more responsive?
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Questions for Critical Thinking
5. Why is it difficult for independent candidates or minor party candidates to get elected to Congress?
6. What inferences can be made about the voting population through the closely divided elections of 2000 and 2004?
7. Between 2008 and 2010, how did the interests and mood of voters change?
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The White HouseGOP.comThe Democratic Party National Republican Senatorial CommitteeDemocratic Senatorial Campaign Committee The National Republican Congressional Committee
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Web Links
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee GOP.govTownhall.comNational Political IndexThe Greens/Green Party USA
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Web Links
Political Party:– A “team of men [and women] seeking to control the
governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.”
Parties can be thought of in three parts:– Party in the electorate– Party as an organization– Party in government
The Meaning of Party
Tasks of the Parties– Linkage Institution: The channels through which people’s
concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda.
– Parties Pick Candidates– Parties Run Campaigns– Parties Give Cues to Voters– Parties Articulate Policies– Parties Coordinate Policymaking
The Meaning of Party
The Meaning of Party
Parties, Voters, and Policy: The Downs Model– Rational-choice theory: Assumes that individuals act in their own best
interest, weighing the costs & benefits.
Figure 8.1
The Party in the Electorate
Party identification is a citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other.
Ticket-splitting:– Voting with one party for one office
and with another party for other offices.
– Ticket-splitting has become the norm in American voting behavior.
The Party in the Electorate
These are the people that work for the party. Local Parties
– Party Machines: A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements to win votes and to govern.
– Patronage: A job, promotion or contract given for political reasons rather than merit. Used by party machines.
– Now urban party organizations are generally weak.– County organizations have partially filled the void.
The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington
The 50 State Party Systems– Closed primaries: voters must be registered with their
party in advance and can only vote for that party– Open primaries: voters decide on election day which party
to participate in, and then only that party– Blanket primaries: voters get a list of all candidates and
can vote for one name for each office, regardless of party label
– State party organizations are on an upswing in terms of headquarters and budgets.
The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington
The National Party Organizations– National Convention: The meeting of party delegates every
four years to choose a presidential ticket and the party’s platform.
– National Committee: One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions.
– National Chairperson: Responsible for day-to-day activities of the party.
The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington
These are the party members actually elected to government.
Candidates are less dependent on parties to get elected, but they still need help.
Coalition:– A group of individuals with a common interest upon which
every political party depends. Parties & politicians generally do what they say they will
do.
The Party in Government: Promises and Policy
The Party in Government: Promises and Policy
Party Eras– Historical periods in which a majority of votes cling to the
party in power.
Critical Election– An electoral “earthquake” where new issues and new
coalitions emerge.
Party Realignment– The displacement of the majority party by the minority
party, usually during a critical election.
Party Eras inAmerican History
YouTube: The Evolution of
America's Major Political Parties
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1796-1824: The First Party System– Madison warned of “factions”– First party were the Federalists
1828-1856: Jackson and the Democrats Versus the Whigs
– Modern party founded by Jackson– Whigs formed mainly in opposition to Democrats
Party Eras inAmerican History
1860-1928: The Two Republican Eras– Republicans rose as the antislavery party– 1896 election revolved around the gold standard
1932-1964: The New Deal Coalition– Forged by the Democrats - relied upon urban working
class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners
Party Eras inAmerican History
Party Eras in American History
Party Coalitions Today (Figure 8.2)
1968-Present: The Era of Divided Party Government– Party dealignment - disengagement of people from parties– Party neutrality - people are indifferent towards the two
parties
Party Eras in American History
Party Eras in American History
Partisan Control of State Governments: 2005 (Figure 8.3)
Political parties other than Democrat or Republican Rarely win elections Third parties bring new groups and ideas into politics Two-party system discourages extreme views
Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics
Winner-take-all system:– Legislative seats awarded only to first place finishers.
Proportional Representation:– Legislative seats awarded based on votes received by the
party - more votes, more seats Coalition Government:
– Two or more parties join to run government
Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics
Democracy and Responsible Party Government1. Parties have distinct comprehensive programs.2. Candidates are committed to the program.3. Majority party must carry out its program.4. Majority party must accept responsibility.
Understanding Political Parties
American Political Parties and the Scope of Government– Lack of uniformity keeps government small– But, it also makes cutting government programs harder to
do
Understanding Political Parties
Is the Party Over?– Political parties are no longer the chief source of
information for voters– State and national party organizations are getting stronger– Majority of people still identify with a party, but still split
their tickets– Parties will continue to be around
Understanding Political Parties