political parties ch. 8 - mr. antoon's government...
TRANSCRIPT
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Ch. 8 Political Parties
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
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8 Learning Objectives
Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy.
Determine the significance of party identification in America today.
8.1
8.2
Describe how political parties are organized in the United States.
8.3
Meaning of Party • Political Parties
–Team of men [and women] seeking to control governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election (Downs)
8.1
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5 Tasks of the Parties • From Public Opinion
to Public Policy
• Parties
1. pick candidates
2. run campaigns
3. give cues to voters (party images)
• liberal v conservative
4. articulate policies
5. coordinate policymaking
8.1
Parties, Voters, & Policy: The Downs Model
• Rational-choice theory
– Political scientist Anthony Downs’ model • Explains actions of voters /
politicians weighing costs and benefits of alternatives
• Most voters are moderate
– Center of political spectrum
• Parties seek voter loyalty
– Position themselves to left & right of center
8.1
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FIGURE 8.1 The Downs model: How rational
parties position themselves near (but not at) the
center of public opinion
8.1
8.1
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8.1 How do parties maximize their
appeal to voters?
1. Position themselves near political center
2. Lie about their opponents
3. Stake out clear positions to the left or right
4. Make party members sign loyalty oaths
8.1
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Party Organization “PO”
Party in
Electorate
“PiE”
Party in
Government
“PiG”
The Party in the Electorate • No formal membership
required
• Party membership is psychological
– Symbolic images and ideas
• Citizens think they know what parties stand for
• Choose parties based on affinity w/ personal preferences
• More Americans identify as independents
8.2
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FIGURE 8.2 Party identification in the
United States, 1952–2012
8.2
Ticket Splitting • Voting for one
party for one office AND another party for other offices
–Became the norm
–94 in LA county ~70% split ticket
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8.2 More Americans are identifying
as Independents, especially
1. People over 65
2. Minorities
3. Young people
4. Less-educated citizens
8.2
The Party Organization: From Grass Roots to Washington
• Local Parties
• 50 State Party Systems
• National Party Organizations
8.3
National
State
Local
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National Chair
National Committee
National Convention
State central committees & state
conventions
Congressional district committees
City and county committees
Precinct and ward committees
Activists and volunteers
Identifiers and voters
National (3)
State (2)
Local (4)
Local Parties Once main party
organization
Party machines
Rewarded voters
New York & Chicago
Patronage
Jobs for voters &
contributors
Progressive reforms ended
this system
Boss Tweed
8.3
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Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley 8.3
Walter Bennett/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
No two exactly alike
Some well-funded, some weak
Permanent headquarters
Provide technical services
Open primaries
voters are not required to declare
party affiliation to participate
Closed primaries
Registered voters
Straight-ticket voting
Single column or random list
of candidates
The 50 State Party Systems 8.3
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The National Party
Organizations National convention
Meets every four years
Writes party platform
Formal nomination of
candidates
National committee
Operates between
conventions
Led by national chairperson
8.3
8.3 What are the functions of the
party’s national convention?
1. Write party platform
2. Nominate candidate for president
3. Meet every four years to revise rules
4. All of the above
8.3
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8 Learning Objectives Evaluate how well political parties
generally do in carrying out their promises.
8.4
Differentiate the various party eras in American history.
8.5
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Elects party-in-gov't
Responds to policy views of electorate
Party Organization “PO”
Party in
Electorate
“PiE”
Party in
Government
“PiG”
The Party in Government:
Promises & Policy Party in power determines
policy
Coalitions support parties
Most presidents fail to
implement campaign
promises
But they do live up to
some of them
Party platforms are
blueprints
8.4
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Conservatives
NDP
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8.4 Which of the following is a
campaign promise kept by President
Reagan?
a. Increase social welfare spending
b. Increase defense spending
c. Increase the federal deficit
d. Increase funding for education
8.4
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Party Eras in American History 1796–1824: The First Party System
1828–1856: Jackson & Democrats
Versus the Whigs
1860–1928: The Two Republican Eras
1932–1964: The New Deal Coalition
1968–Present: Southern Realignment &
the Era of Divided Party Government
8.5
Table 8.1 Party platforms, 2012 8.5
continued on next slide
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Table 8.1 Party platforms, 2012 8.5
1796-1824: The First Party
System Madison warned against
factions
Hamilton & the Federalist
Party
Capitalist support, Northeast
Short-lived
Ideas of loyal opposition &
rotation of power new
Jefferson & the Democratic-
Republicans
Agrarian support, South
Torn by factions
8.5
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1828-1856: Jackson &
Democrats Versus the Whigs
General Andrew Jackson as leader
Democratic-Republicans v. Democratic Party
New coalition in election of 1828 Westerners, Southerners, poor whites
Broaden suffrage
Martin Van Buren
Theory of loyal opposition
Whig Party
8.5
1860-1928: The Two
Republican Eras 1850s: Slavery dominated politics
Split both parties
Republicans rose as anti-slavery party
Abraham Lincoln & the Civil War
Second party realignment
Lasted 60 years
Democrats controlled the South
1896: Second Republican era
Democrats & “free silver”
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1932-1964: The New Deal
Coalition Hoover loses to FDR
FDR promises New Deal
New coalition formed
Elements of New Deal coalition
Urban dwellers
Labor unions
Catholics & Jews
The poor
Southerners
African Americans
8.5
8.5 The Roosevelt realignment
The Granger Collection, NYC
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FIGURE 8.3 Party coalitions today 8.5
1968-Present: Southern
Realignment & the Era of
Divided Party Government
Nixon’s Southern strategy Support for states’ rights, law & order, strong military
posture
Win Southern Democrats
8.5
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FIGURE 8.4 Realignment in the South 8.5
1968-Present: Southern
Realignment & the Era of Divided
Party Government
Republicans did not have Congress New pattern
Divided government now normal
Dealignment
8.5
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8.5 Which events sparked
party realignments?
1.Civil War
2.Great Depression
3.Nixon’s Southern strategy
4.A & B only
8.5
8 Learning Objectives Assess both the impact of third
parties on American politics & their limitations.
8.6
Evaluate the advantages & disadvantages of responsible party government.
8.7
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Third Parties: Their Impact
on American Politics
Three types of third parties Cause parties
Offshoots of major parties
Vehicles for individual candidacies
Rarely win office but can affect elections
Why only two parties?
8.6
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8.6 A successful third party candidate
Neno Images/PhotoEdit, Inc.
8.6 Why are there only two major
parties in the U.S.?
a. Only two parties are constitutionally allowed
b. Two parties fulfill preferences of all voters
c. No interest in additional parties
d. Winner-take-all elections
8.6
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8.6 Why are there only two major
parties in the U.S.?
a. Only two parties are constitutionally allowed
b. Two parties fulfill preferences of all voters
c. No interest in additional parties
d. Winner-take-all elections
8.6
Understanding Political
Parties
Democracy & Responsible Party
Government: How Should We Govern?
American Political Parties & the Scope of
Government
8.7
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Democracy & Responsible
Party Government: How Should
We Govern? Responsible party model
Distinct governing programs
Internal cohesion & commitment
Major party must implement program
Major party must accept responsibility
Party leadership weak in U.S. “Blue Dog Democrats”
Is this good or bad?
8.7
TABLE 8.2 Partisan divisions on key roll
call votes during the Bush presidency
8.7
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American Politics & the Scope
of Government
Not as broad as in Europe
Health care example
Parties not disciplined
Hard to cut spending
Not disciplined enough to say “no”
Get more for own constituents
8.7
Discussion Questions
How did the modern two-party system develop in the United States? What are party realignments & when have they occurred? What role do parties play in American democracy?
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