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Linkage
• Political parties “link” government and its power to us, the people
• They provide a bridge to government
• Did you know political parties are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution?
The Framers
• The Founding Fathers actually viewed “factions” as dangers which needed to be controlled. They distrusted them!
• Yet those same guys became the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists (the first political “parties”)
• This was the main debate transitioning from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution of 1787.
The Framers cont.
• Here are the basics…..
• Anti-Federalists– Opposed a strong federal government– Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams
• Federalists– For a strong federal government– Alexander Hamilton, John Adams
Why Parties?
• The competition for power in a democracy needs to be organized
• Otherwise the democracy would be chaotic and unworkable
• Even though we inherently distrust their partisanship
Party Structure
• National Convention – meets every 4 years, nominates President
• National Committee – manages party affairs on daily basis
• Congressional campaign committee – supports party’s candidates
• National chair – manages daily work
Function of Parties
1. Connecting citizens to government (linkage institution)
-Political Efficacy – citizen participation level and awareness of government decisions
2. Run candidates for political office
3. Inform the public – help voters decide who to vote for in elections
4. Organizing government – coordinate government policy-making
5. Act as a watchdog
Parties are unifying
• Too many parties might splinter society• A few, well organized parties:
– Encourage compromise– Blunt tensions– Marginalize extremism
• This is why political parties formed in every democracy– Despite a lack of definition in Constitution
Why 2 parties?
• Winner-take-all system • Winner receives a seat while loser
receives nothing• 3rd party usually joins one of other parties • Opposite – Proportional Representation –
% of votes is directly applied as the % of representatives
Left or Right?
Left• Federalists• Whigs• Republicans• Progressives• Democrats
Liberal
Right• Anti-Federalists• Democratic-Republicans• Democrats• Republicans
Conservative
“Grass Roots”
• “Grass Roots” – parties can also reach the voters personally and “get-out-the-vote” on a local level
Minor Parties
Third Parties have played a role in politics
Types
1. Individual personality – those dominated by one figure head (Ex. – 1912 Theodore Roosevelt – Bull-Moose, 1968 George Wallace – American Independent Party)
2. Long-lasting goal or ideology – (Ex. – Abolitionists, Prohibitionists, Socialists)
Major Third Parties
• Ideological– Socialist Party, Communist Party, Green Party,
Libertarian Party
• One-issue (or single-issue)– Free-soil, “Know-Nothing”, Prohibition, Woman’s
Party
• Economic protest– Populists
• Factional– Progressives, Dixiecrats, Reform
Party Identification
• Dealignment – weak membership, more “independents” or moderates – popular trend in the last 50 years. – “I’m not Republican or Democrat”
• Strait ticket voting – strong party membership, support all candidates for one party
• Ticket splitting – voting for candidates from multiple parties
Eras in American History
• Founding (1789 – 1824)– Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists/Dem-Rep– Controversy: Federalism
• Jacksonian Period (1824 – 1840)– Democrat vs. Whig– Controversy: Jackson himself
Eras in American History
• Sectionalism (1840 – 1876)– Democrats vs. Whigs (and Republicans)– Controversy: Slavery and Reconstruction
• Era of Reform (1876 – present)– Democrats vs. Republicans– Controversy: Government in economy
Realignments
• 1800– First peaceful transition of power
• 1828– First “heated” election
• 1860– Lead to Civil War based around civil rights
• 1896– Decided social roles of the parties re: business
• 1932– Decided social roles of the parties re: the people
Realignment?
• “Gridlock” – Congress and Presidency controlled by different parties
• 2004 - Republican sweep of Congress and Presidency - party loyalty stronger?
• 2006 - split the Presidency and Congress again• 2008 - brought a Democratic sweep• 2010 – Republican sweep, but Senate still
barely Democrat• 2012?
Divided government
• When one branch is one party, the other branch is the other party– President Obama, Democrat– House of Reps, Republican– Senate, Democrat
• How might this affect the dynamic process of government?
• Does it constrain or enhance change?• Is this good for government?
Review
• Political parties “link” government and its power to us, the people
• They provide a bridge to government
• Political parties are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution.
Why Parties?
• The competition for power in a democracy needs to be organized
• Otherwise the democracy would be chaotic and unworkable
• Even though we inherently distrust their partisanship