Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Lecture 6: Political Parties Dynamics of Democracy, Ch. 9.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Lecture 6: Political Parties

Dynamics of Democracy, Ch. 9


9-1 What Is a Political Party?

• A political party is a coalition of people seeking to control the government by contesting elections and winning office.

• The core of a political party's purpose, and the basis on which most scholars define parties, is their role as electoral organizations.

• In the US, parties are usually NOT ideological

• Since 1980, Republicans have become more conservative and Democrats more liberal.


Parties link people and governments by providing:

Political Parties

• Organization

• Information

• Party ID as heuristic: guide to policy preferences of candidates even if voters lack detailed information


Functions of Parties

• Recruit candidates

• Nominate candidates

• Mobilize voters

• Contest elections

• Form governments

• Coordinate policy across independent units of government

• Provide accountability

• Build legislative majorities


Three Levels of Parties in US

• Party in the electorate: party identifiers (not members)

• Party organization: national and state chairs, convention delegates, precinct captains

• Party in the legislature: Speaker, Majority and Minority Leaders, whips, campaign committees

• The three levels may NOT be coordinated or consistent in policy views. Convention delegates are much more ideological than voters.


Direct Primary

ClosedPrimary

OpenPrimary

BlanketPrimary

Methods of Nominating Candidates: Varies by State


An election in which voters and not party leaders

directly choose a party's nominees for political

office.

Direct Primary


A direct primary in which voters may choose which

party primary they will vote in on Election Day

OpenPrimary


A direct primary in which voters must register their party affiliations before

Election Day. Preferred by parties to prevent strategic

voting.

ClosedPrimary


Strategic Voting

• Vote to influence election outcome

• May vote AGAINST personal preference or ideology

• Examples:

1. Republicans vote in Democratic primary to select the weaker candidate, so that the Republican candidate will have a better chance in the regular election.

2. Member of Congress votes FOR a bill s/he opposes, to be eligible to serve on the Conference Committee and change the bill there.


A direct primary in which voters may cast ballots for

candidates of any party, but may only vote once for each office. Gives parties minimal

control over candidates.

BlanketPrimary


Spatial Model of Elections


Ethics vs. Strategic Voting Dilemmas

• 1. Candidates should run on their deeply-held personal beliefs and values regardless of what voters think.

• 2. Candidates should change their policy positions in order to attract votes.

• 3. Once elected, should officials follow their campaign promises, or their true values?


Third-Party Challenge


Single Member Plurality Electoral System

A system in which each district elects a single member as its representative;

the winner in each district is the candidate who receives a plurality of

the vote.


Proportional Representation System

A system in which legislators are elected at large and each party wins legislative seats in proportion to the

number of votes it receives.


Voting in the Electoral College

• In most states, the plurality winner gets ALL the electoral votes: Winner-Take All rule. Maximizes state influence in the campaign and Electoral College.

• In Maine and Nebraska, electoral votes are awarded in proportion to the popular vote. Better representation of voter preferences.


9-3a First Party System

1796–1824

Federalists

• Led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams

• Sought a strong central government

Democrat-Republicans

• Led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

• Sought a weak federal government


9-3b Second Party System

1828–1856

Democrats

• Led by Andrew Jackson

• Used party organization to mobilize voters

• Used new convention system

Whigs

• Built a coalition of Northern Industrialists and rich Southerners

• Led by Daniel Webster and Henry Clay at times


• Most Democrats were from the South

• Fought many close elections with the Republicans

Republicans

• Sought to give a clear anti-slavery choice

• Abraham Lincoln won the White House in 1860

9-3c Third Party System

1860–1892

Democrats


• Cleveland in office during 1893 depression

• William Jennings Bryan, running on populist platform was nominee

• Blamed Democrats for economic problems

• Nominated McKinley

• Roosevelt ran as a progressive Republican

• Dominated the White House during this time

9-3d Fourth Party System

1896–1928

Democrats Republicans


• Roosevelt launches New Deal

• Southerners remained loyal

• Upper and middle class moved towards Republicans

• Made election inroads during the 1960s

Democrats Republicans

9-3e Fifth Party System 1932–1980s


Republican Realignment?

• Growing strength of Republicans in the South

• Strong majority for Ronald Reagan in 1980

• More younger voters identify as Republicans

• Republican take-over of both houses of Congress in 1994

• Republican president elected in 2000 (?) and 2004

• Strong party voting by Republicans in Congress


Signs of Party Dealignment?


Party Organization Hierarchy


Why are third parties so weak in the US?

1. Electoral College and winner-take-all rules

2. No proportional representation

3. Major parties make it difficult for 3rd parties to qualify for state ballots

4. Can still influence election outcomes:

Votes for Ralph Nader in 2000 gave Florida to Bush

Major parties may adopt popular 3rd party ideas

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Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Lecture 6: Political Parties Dynamics of Democracy, Ch. 9.

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