POLITICAL PARTIES

If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power.DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, speech, Mar. 6, 1956

POLITICAL PARTIESWhat are they?VO Key definitions:The party that mobilizes on election day- You, me your parents ( Party of the electorate)The people who do the work of the party, organizers, campaigners, fund raisers- local, state and national levels ( organizational party)The party that governs, democrats and republicans that make the laws ( Governmental party)

What do they do?Mobilize support, gather power, create an identityStability- pull extremes to the center to attract moderate massesUnify many interests ex. Exec/leg branches or regions, religions, races join forces fro common goalElectioneering- funnel people to system, candidates, voters, workersVoting and issue cues- create opinionPolicy formulation- party platform- What are we?What kinds of parties exist?POLITCAL MACHINE- Built to win- Democrats and Republicans- adaptable

IDEOLOGICAL PARTIES- Green, Libertarian etc.- they actually believe in something.

The GOP evolved? Well sort ofGOP platforms over time

What year is it anyway?What IS the point anyway?

SPONSORED PARTY- Party that is funded by an organization, typically local ex. Democratic party in Detroit is sponsored by the UAW.TWO PARTY SYSTEMWhy just two parties?Plurality system- most votes wins, many other nations require a majority, creating run off elections. They hope to get enough votes to advance, then make political deals with contenders. Not here.Winner take all- Europe is proportional, win 13% get 13% of seats. Single member districts- one district represented by one member of a larger legislative body. Because of plurality system, this also hinders 3rd parties

MORELaws slanted toward big 2 Why? They make the dang rules: 3rd parties need signatures to get on ballot. Lack of media attention- follow the leaders or create the leaders?? Ron Paul is invisible- including exclusion from debates!!Federal funding rules- Need 5% of vote to get fed funds

FINALLY- big two adapt!Winning is their ideology

Do we still like them?

3rd PARTIES- USELESS?Not quitePush the envelope, operate ahead of the curve1. Womens suffrage WomansParty2. Child Labor Laws- Socialist Party3. Immigration Act of 1924- Populist Party, from pre 19004. Social Security- Socialist party5. Tough on crime- Independent party of Geo Wallace 19686. Limited government- Libertarian party

Of course not ALL 3rd parties serve a noble purpose:

What the.........

And sometimes their candidates are dubious, but what the heck:Green candidate for NY governor (1998)

REALIGNING ELECTIONSSharp lasting alteration of party loyalties2 kinds- party dies or people shift allegiance

1860- Whigs disappear as Democrats and GOP fight slavery issue1896- economic issues create east vs west, urban vs rural, as opposed to slavery split of North vs South1932- New Deal/Great Depression blacks, Jews urban workers leave GOP for democrats