Pop Quiz 9
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Political Parties Political parties are groups with broad
common interests that seek to elect candidates to offices to influence the government.
Supply candidates labels to help the electorate identify.
Our political parties have become decentralized like our government.
Arenas of Politics for Parties Label
In the minds of voters—weakeningMore split –ticket voting
Organization Recruiting and campaigning for
candidates—parties have weakened Set of leaders
Organize and try to control the legislative and executive branches
US Parties v. Parties Abroad•Candidate names w/ labels
•Individuals choose to run
•Campaigns run by the candidate
•States & localities make decisions about elections
•Voters choose party’s nominees in primaries
•Exec. & Legis. Branches are separate
•People do not “join” parties
•Social & political lives rarely overlap
•Try to win to influence government
•Provide a label to assist voters
•Help recruit candidates to run
•Loyalty to parties has decreased everywhere
•Labels more important than candidates names
•Parties nominate their candidates for office-No primaries
•Campaigns run by the party
•Most election decisions made at the national level
•Legis. Controls who chief executive will be
•Join parties by paying dues & attending meetings
•Parties sponsor unions, clubs & social activities
Chart Summary European parties are disciplined
gatekeepers.Voters are very loyal, but is declining
US Federal system decentralizes power.Early on, government decisions were made
at state and local levels & held most jobsNational parties were coalitions of local
partiesAs political power became centralized,
parties decentralized & weakened
Chart Summary State and federal election laws
weakened parties. Candidates chosen today mainly
through primaries-not by parties. President elected separately from
Congress. Presidential appointees are drawn
from many sources.
American Political Culture Parties relatively unimportant in day-to-
day life. Most Americans do not “join” parties
like Europeans—simply vote.Dues, attend meetings, control unions, etc.
Americans separate political parties from other aspects of life.Most parts nonpartisan, growing number
of independents
The Rise & Decline of Political Parties
The Founding (to 1820’s) Founders disliked parties-factions For parties to be acceptable,
distinction between policy disputes and challenges to the legitimacy of government had to be made.
The Founding (to 1820’s) What’s in a name? Discuss letters and
Washington’s farewell addressJefferson’s Democratic RepublicansHamilton’s Federalists
What were the results of the rivalry?ElectionsSpeechesSuccessorsFew homogeneous interests,
heterogeneous coalitions
Jefferson versus Hamilton What are the major differences between the 2
visions? Whose vision for America was best during the
Washington administration & why? How do the views of each man line up with today’s
political parties? Which side’s view is best for our country today?
Why? How did GW feel about the rivalry?
The Jacksonians (to Civil War) Political participation became a
phenomenon. More voters to be reached.
More voters enfranchised By 1832, pres. Electors selected by popular vote
in most states. Party built from the bottom, up. Abandonment of party caucuses composed
of Congress members Beginning of party convention, allowing local
control
The Civil War & Sectionalism (1860-1930’s) Jacksonian system unable to
survive civil war Why did the new Republican
dominate?Began as 3rd partyRelied on Union pride during warWJ Bryan’s creation of sectionalism
North Republican, South Democrat
The Civil War & Sectionalism (1860-1930’s) Most states were dominated by
one partyFactions emerged in each party
Republicans “Old Guard” (party people) versus “mugwumps” (reformers, issues)
Progressives often shifted loyalty initially, but then attacked Republican partisanship
The Era of Reform Progressives pushed measures to curtail
party power and influence.Primaries over party conventionsMore nonpartisan elections locally & some
statewideNo party-business alliances due to corruptionStrict voter registration requirements to
reduce fraudCivil service to replace patronageAllow initiatives and referendums for voters
The Era of Reform Effects of the Progressives
Reduced the worst forms of political corruption
Weakened all political parties Office holders less accountable to
parties Less coordination across the branches
Reduced voter turnoutSucceeded in using media to
promote ideas
Party Realignments
Critical or realigning periods: Periods during which a sharp, lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties. Issues that separate the two parties change, and so the kinds of voters that support each party change.
Party Realignments There have been 6 distinct realignments
so far in US history:Early 1800s: Jeffersonian “Republicans” defeated
the Federalists1828 Antebellum: Rise of Jacksonian DemocratsCivil War/Reconstruction: The collapse of the
Whigs, Rise of the Republicans1896: The Republicans defeat of WJ Bryan1932: The Democrats under FDR1968: Social Movements & Southern Shift begins
What are the kinds of realignments?
Disappearance of a major partyExamples: 1800, 1860
Voters shift from one party to anotherExamples: 1896, 1932, 1968-present
The clearest cases of realignment are over social and economic issues…1860, 1896, 1932
Recent Trends
Why was 1980 not a realignment? 2 reasons…
How has the South shifted in Presidential elections? Why?
Why may dramatic realignments not occur again? (De-alignment)
Party DeclineWhat is the proof that parties
are declining?Party id declining-More independen
tsMore split ticket votingOffice Bloc BallotingNon-Partisan Elections: Exs?
Read pp. 212-225 in Chapter 9 For the sections on National, state & local
parties (pp.212-220), Take down vocabulary but focus on structure of the parties.
For the sections on 2-party system & minor parties (pp. 220-225) focus on the “workings” of each in our electoral system.
Complete the CT packet on alternative voting systems.