Chapter 5Chapter 5Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Chapter 5Chapter 5Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Section 1—Parties and What They Do

• What is a political party?– Some are “issue” or “principle” oriented– Some are oriented toward winning elections.

• What Do Parties Do?– They are the medium for presenting

opinions to the people.– They are a link between the governed and

those who govern.– They work to blunt conflicts—Power Brokers

Section 1—Parties and What They Do

• What Do Parties Do? (cont.)– Nominating Candidates (recruiting

and choosing)– Informing and Activating Supporters– The Bonding Agent Function

(screening)– Governing—”partisanship”– Acting as Watchdog

• “ins and “outs”• Loyal Opposition

Section 2—The Two-Section 2—The Two-Party SystemParty System

Section 2—The Two-Section 2—The Two-Party SystemParty System

Section 2—The Two-Party System

• Earl Dodge: six time presidential candidate

• Why a Two-Party System?– Regional one-party presence at times– The Historical Basis

• Federalists and anti-federalists• Hamilton vs. Jefferson• Washington: warned against “the

baneful effects of the spirit of party.”

Section 2—The Two-Party System

• Why a Two-Party System? (cont.)– The Force of Tradition

• Long acceptance “that is just the way it is.”

– The Electoral System• Single-member districts• Plurality—largest number of votes cast• Bipartisan nature discourages minor

parties– Non-major party candidates in only 7 elections

Section 2—The Two-Party System

• Why a Two-Party System (cont.)– The American Ideological Consensus

• Pluralistic Society—many cultures and groups

• Consensus—on most fundamental matters

• Middle-of-the-road tendency

Section 2—The Two-Party System

• Multiparty Systems– Many European nations– Must build coalitions

• One-Party Systems– Really no-party – 1/3 of the States are mostly one-

party

Section 2—The Two-Party System

• Party Membership Patterns– Cross section– Democrats—African Americans,

Catholics, Jews, Union members, etc.– Republicans—white males, Protestants,

business community, etc.– Disrupting events can change patterns:

• Civil War• Great Depression

Section 3—The Two-Party System in American

History• The Nation’s First Parties

– Federalist—Alexander Hamilton– Anti-Federalists under Thomas

Jefferson. Became Jeffersonian Republicans; later Democratic Republicans; and then Democrats.

– Jefferson defeated the incumbent Adams in 1800.

Section 3—The Two-Party System in American

History• American Parties: Four Major Eras

– The Era of the Democrats, 1800-1860• Federalists disappear by 1816• Era of Good Feelings• Split into factions• National Republican party (Whigs) emerges• Whigs fall apart• Democrats split into North and South• 1856 the Republicans emerge from previous

Whigs and some Democrats.

Section 3—The Two-Party System in American

History• American Parties: Four Major Eras

– The Era of the Republicans, 1860-1932• Democrats held the “Solid South.”• McKinley’s victory in 1896 solidified

party• Only interruptions were Cleveland and

Wilson

Section 3—The Two-Party System in American

History• American Parties: Four Major Eras

– The Return of the Democrats, 1932-1968• Great Depression/Roosevelt• Social Welfare programs/New Deal

– The Start of a New Era, 1968-2005• Divided government

Section 4—The Minor Parties

• Minor Parties in the United States– Ideological Parties

• Socialist, Socialist Labor, Socialist Worker, and Communist.

• Libertarian

– Single Issue Parties• Free Soil—opposed slavery• American or Know Nothing Party—opposed Irish

immigration.• Right to Life Party—opposes abortion

Section 4—The Minor Parties

• Minor Parties in the United States– Economic Protest Parties

• Greenback Party• Populist Party of the 1890s

– Splinter Parties• Bull Moose Party of 1912• LaFollette’s Progressive Party• States’ Rights (Dixiecrats)• American Independent Party of George Wallace• Green Party with Ralph Nader

Section 4—The Minor Parties

• Why Minor Parties Are Important– Anti Masonic Party had first

convention in 1831.– Spoiler role of Teddy Roosevelt,

Ralph Nader and Ross Perot– They highlight important issues

• Income tax, women’s rights, voting

Section 5—Party Organization

• The Decentralized Nature of the Parties.– The Role of the Presidency– The Impact of Federalism

• Over 500,000 elective offices in America

– The Role of the Nominating Process

Section 5—Party Organization

• National Party Machinery– The National Convention– The National Committee– The National Chairperson– The Congressional Campaign

Committees

Section 5—Party Organization

• State and Local Party Machinery– The State Organization– Local Organization

• Wards• Precinct

Section 5—Party Organization

• The Three Components of the Party– The party organization-leaders,

activists, contributors, hanger’s on– The party in the electorate-loyal voters– The party in government-officeholders

Section 5—Party Organization

• The Future of the Major Parties– Decline in party “identification.”– Increase in split-ticket voting– Open reforms have led to internal

conflict and disorganization.– Changes in technology– Growth of single-issue organizations