Political Political PartiesParties

AP GovernmentAP Government

What is a Political Party?What is a Political Party?

An organization that seeks to influence An organization that seeks to influence public policy by putting its members public policy by putting its members into positions of governmental authorityinto positions of governmental authority

Parties exist to win elections!Parties exist to win elections!

Allows parties to pursue their common interests by Allows parties to pursue their common interests by exercising power through the political process in exercising power through the political process in their positions of authoritytheir positions of authority

Who’s In Charge?Who’s In Charge? Majority Party – political party in control Majority Party – political party in control

of the government at any given time.of the government at any given time.– Can be DIVIDED GOV’T with different parties Can be DIVIDED GOV’T with different parties

in control of House, Senate and Presidency in control of House, Senate and Presidency Opposition Party – political party not in Opposition Party – political party not in

control of government, serves as a control of government, serves as a watchdog to the majority partywatchdog to the majority party

Most Americans are ambivalent on Most Americans are ambivalent on political issuespolitical issues

Whose idea was it?Whose idea was it? Political Parties are Extra-Constitutional Political Parties are Extra-Constitutional

(can’t find them in the Constitution)(can’t find them in the Constitution)

Federalist 10 warned that parties (factions) Federalist 10 warned that parties (factions) could be dangerous if there were not could be dangerous if there were not systems in place to check their powersystems in place to check their power

Between 1874 and 1912 was the “Golden Between 1874 and 1912 was the “Golden Age of parties”Age of parties”

The Origins of Political PartiesThe Origins of Political Parties Federalist #10 warned Federalist #10 warned

against factions, but against factions, but stressed the United stressed the United States was too big to be States was too big to be influenced by one influenced by one groupgroup

Battle began over a Battle began over a strong central strong central government vs. states’ government vs. states’ and individual rightsand individual rights

First U.S. political First U.S. political unions: Federalists and unions: Federalists and Anti-FederalistsAnti-Federalists

“Congressional Pugilists,” a 1798 political cartoon

Washington is the only president Washington is the only president to unanimously elected to office to unanimously elected to office (1788)(1788)

In his Farewell Address he In his Farewell Address he warned against political factionswarned against political factions

1796 – First election with parties:1796 – First election with parties:John Adams (71) – FederalistsJohn Adams (71) – Federalists

Thomas Jefferson (68) – Thomas Jefferson (68) – Democratic RepublicansDemocratic Republicans

Adams was presidentAdams was presidentJefferson was vice presidentJefferson was vice presidentabsolute disaster! absolute disaster!

The Origin of Political Parties: The Origin of Political Parties: Hamilton vs. JeffersonHamilton vs. Jefferson

Hamilton• Strong federal government

Jefferson• Limited national authority

• Rule by elite • Believed in ability of farmers and common people to rule themselves• Loose interpretation of

Constitution • Strict interpretation of Constitution• Favored national bank

• Favored payment of national debt, not state debts

• Favored paying state debts • Opposed national bank• Supported merchants,

landowners, investors, wealthy• Tended to support France in

foreign affairs• Tended to support Britain in

foreign affairs• Followers formed the

Democratic-Republican Party, which eventually became the Democratic Party

• Followers formed the Federalist Party, which eventually became the Republican Party

In 1832 the Democratic Party In 1832 the Democratic Party developed from the Democratic-developed from the Democratic-Republicans – nominated Andrew Republicans – nominated Andrew JacksonJackson

Whig Party arose to counter the Whig Party arose to counter the Democratic Party and JacksonDemocratic Party and Jackson

The Republican Party rose from the The Republican Party rose from the ashes of the Whig Party in 1854 ashes of the Whig Party in 1854

The Democratic Party lost influence The Democratic Party lost influence from its association with the Southern from its association with the Southern states during the Civil Warstates during the Civil War

The Republican Party became the The Republican Party became the dominant party in the second half of dominant party in the second half of the 19th centurythe 19th century

The Democratic Party regained The Democratic Party regained support via the reform movement of support via the reform movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuriesthe late 19th and early 20th centuries

An 1860 campaign poster for Abraham Lincoln

Direct primaries (party nominees determined by ballot not Direct primaries (party nominees determined by ballot not party conventions) gave the power to the voter during the party conventions) gave the power to the voter during the Progressive EraProgressive Era

During the Great Depression people began to see During the Great Depression people began to see government differently – social services were seen as a right government differently – social services were seen as a right of citizenshipof citizenship

Weakened parties gave rise to issue-orientated politicsWeakened parties gave rise to issue-orientated politics Interest groups and lobbyists became more influentialInterest groups and lobbyists became more influential Ticket-splitting (voting for different parties) became Ticket-splitting (voting for different parties) became

commoncommon Character-centered politics is now the ruleCharacter-centered politics is now the rule

The Modern Era

Electoral Functions of Electoral Functions of PartiesParties

Pull together like minded groups of votersPull together like minded groups of voters

Simplifies the choices for votersSimplifies the choices for voters

Recruit and train political leadersRecruit and train political leaders

Provide informationProvide information

Encourage participation – HOWEVER, Encourage participation – HOWEVER,

Republican and Democrats have similar Republican and Democrats have similar

opinions on many issues opinions on many issues

Government Functions of Government Functions of PartiesParties

Set agenda and make policy Set agenda and make policy

preferencespreferences

Make the government responsible to Make the government responsible to

the people the people

Link people to governmentLink people to government

Party SystemsParty Systems

One partyOne party - authoritarian governments - authoritarian governments or when one party consistently winsor when one party consistently wins

Multi partyMulti party - several parties in power - several parties in power

Two party -Two party - two dominant parties; two dominant parties; others may exist but rarely get elected others may exist but rarely get elected to high profile seats (U.S. has strongest to high profile seats (U.S. has strongest one)one)

The System v. Minor PartiesThe System v. Minor Parties

Proportional representationProportional representation– A voting system that apportions A voting system that apportions

legislative seats according to the legislative seats according to the percentage of the vote won by a particular percentage of the vote won by a particular political partypolitical party

Single-Member, Plurality aka Winner-Single-Member, Plurality aka Winner-take-all systemtake-all system– An electoral system in which the party An electoral system in which the party

receives at least one more vote than any receives at least one more vote than any other party wins the electionother party wins the election

Minor Parties (aka 3Minor Parties (aka 3rdrd Parties)Parties)

Usually are formed to:Usually are formed to: Promote certain causes/ideology/issuesPromote certain causes/ideology/issues

Splinter an existing party Splinter an existing party

Support popular individuals with Support popular individuals with presidential aspirationspresidential aspirations

Independent voters have not increasedIndependent voters have not increased

Minor Parties in a Minor Parties in a Two Party SystemTwo Party System

Serve as a threat to the electoral vote b/c it increases Serve as a threat to the electoral vote b/c it increases potential of election being decided by Congresspotential of election being decided by Congress

Difficult to get on the ballot-states set requirementsDifficult to get on the ballot-states set requirements– petitions with voter signatures petitions with voter signatures – PLUS a share of the votes in last election most common PLUS a share of the votes in last election most common

requirementsrequirements

Federal Funding if they secure 5% of the vote-must Federal Funding if they secure 5% of the vote-must follow guidelinesfollow guidelines

Rarely win – instead they bring new voters and issuesRarely win – instead they bring new voters and issues

Types of Minor PartiesTypes of Minor Parties Ideological partiesIdeological parties

– comprehensive, radical views; most enduring minor comprehensive, radical views; most enduring minor partiesparties

– Socialist, Communist, LibertarianSocialist, Communist, Libertarian Single-Issue partiesSingle-Issue parties

– address one concern, avoid othersaddress one concern, avoid others– Free Soil, Know-Nothing, ProhibitionFree Soil, Know-Nothing, Prohibition

Economic Protest partiesEconomic Protest parties– Tend to be regional, protest economic conditionsTend to be regional, protest economic conditions– Greenback (1874-89) , Populist (1892)Greenback (1874-89) , Populist (1892)

Factional partiesFactional parties– split from a major partysplit from a major party– Bull Moose (1912), American Independents (1968)Bull Moose (1912), American Independents (1968)

Major 3Major 3rdrd Party Campaigns Party Campaigns

1992 – Ross Perot (Independent) 19% 1992 – Ross Perot (Independent) 19% (most every by a Third Party) no (most every by a Third Party) no electoral seatselectoral seatsClinton 43%Clinton 43%Bush 37%Bush 37%

2000 – Ralph Nader (Green Party) 2.7%2000 – Ralph Nader (Green Party) 2.7%Gore 48% (266)Gore 48% (266)Bush 47% (271)Bush 47% (271)

Party Structure in the U.S.Party Structure in the U.S. National Committee National Committee

LeadershipLeadership– one committeeman and one one committeeman and one

committeewoman from each committeewoman from each state and territorystate and territory

Meets every four yearsMeets every four years– choose presidential choose presidential

candidatecandidate– writes the platformwrites the platform– designates the national designates the national

committeecommittee– sets place and times of sets place and times of

conventions conventions – sets the number of sets the number of

delegates that can attend delegates that can attend conventionconvention

National ConventionNational Convention– Held in presidential Held in presidential

election yearelection year– Nominate Pres & VP ticketNominate Pres & VP ticket– Adopt platformAdopt platform

Major Goals: Major Goals: – serve as a link to peopleserve as a link to people– choose policymakerschoose policymakers– run campaignsrun campaigns– cue voterscue voters– tell policytell policy– coordinate policymakingcoordinate policymaking

Shared ResponsibilitesShared Responsibilites

National National Responsibility Responsibility – manage party manage party

between between nominating nominating conventionsconventions

– raise moneyraise money– direct mail direct mail

campaignscampaigns– recruit candidatesrecruit candidates

State State ResponsibilityResponsibility– hold caucuses hold caucuses – select convention select convention

delegatesdelegates– maintain partymaintain party– promote imagepromote image– support campaigns support campaigns

Political Parties in CongressPolitical Parties in Congress

Majority Party selects party leaders Majority Party selects party leaders and make committee appointmentsand make committee appointments

Majority Party organizes and operates Majority Party organizes and operates CongressCongress– Web of deputy and assistant whipsWeb of deputy and assistant whips– Majority party generally holds more powerMajority party generally holds more power– Party disciplineParty discipline

Hurt by individualistic nature of U.S. politicsHurt by individualistic nature of U.S. politics But party voting has increased since the But party voting has increased since the

1970s1970s

Party RealignmentParty Realignment

A shifting of party coalition groupings in A shifting of party coalition groupings in the electorate that remains in place for the electorate that remains in place for several elections – 1860 (slavery)several elections – 1860 (slavery)– Critical ElectionCritical Election

An election that signals a party realignment An election that signals a party realignment through voter polarization around new issuesthrough voter polarization around new issues

– Secular RealignmentSecular Realignment The gradual rearrangement of party coalitions, The gradual rearrangement of party coalitions,

based more on demographic shifts than on based more on demographic shifts than on shocks to the political systemshocks to the political system

Party IdentificationParty Identification A citizen’s personal affinity for a political A citizen’s personal affinity for a political

party (even if not an actual member)party (even if not an actual member)– Usually expressed by his or her tendency to vote Usually expressed by his or her tendency to vote

for the candidates of that partyfor the candidates of that party– SourcesSources

ParentsParents Marriage and other aspects of adult life can Marriage and other aspects of adult life can

change one’s party loyaltychange one’s party loyalty Charismatic political personalities, cataclysmic Charismatic political personalities, cataclysmic

events, and maybe intense social issuesevents, and maybe intense social issues Social class remains a powerful indicator of likely Social class remains a powerful indicator of likely

partisan choice.partisan choice.

Group AffiliationsGroup Affiliations Geographic RegionGeographic Region

– South still has Democratic South still has Democratic Party affinity at local Party affinity at local election level, but election level, but Republican in Presidential Republican in Presidential electionselections

GenderGender– Gender gapGender gap

women favor Democratswomen favor Democrats Race and EthnicityRace and Ethnicity

– African Americans, African Americans, Hispanics and other Hispanics and other minority groups are minority groups are predominantly Democraticpredominantly Democratic

AgeAge– Very young and very old Very young and very old

more Democraticmore Democratic

Social and Economic Social and Economic FactorsFactors– Republicans have higher SES Republicans have higher SES

(occupation, income, and (occupation, income, and education) supporters.education) supporters.

ReligionReligion– Protestants favor Protestants favor

Republicans; Catholics and Republicans; Catholics and Jews are predominantly Jews are predominantly Democratic.Democratic.

Marital StatusMarital Status– Married people lean more Married people lean more

towards Republicans.towards Republicans. IdeologyIdeology

– Few surprisesFew surprisesLiberals – DemocratsLiberals – DemocratsConservatives - RepublicansConservatives - Republicans

Changing Power of Political Changing Power of Political PartiesParties

Use of Primary ElectionsUse of Primary Elections Rise of PACsRise of PACs Powerful people – George Soros and the Koch Powerful people – George Soros and the Koch

brothersbrothers Rise of the media makes role of party less Rise of the media makes role of party less

importantimportant Split ticket voting - causes divided governmentSplit ticket voting - causes divided government Lack of structure, efficiency, priorities, Lack of structure, efficiency, priorities,

strategies and responsibilitystrategies and responsibility

Utilization of free-rider concept of Utilization of free-rider concept of representationrepresentation– Benefits go to all in an industry, not just group Benefits go to all in an industry, not just group

membersmembers Benefits that go to members only (better Benefits that go to members only (better

health care, etc.)health care, etc.) Reliability of funding sources and Reliability of funding sources and

sponsorshipsponsorship Could be double influence (corporations, Could be double influence (corporations,

foundations, etc.)foundations, etc.)