chapter eight political parties. copyright © houghton mifflin company. all rights reserved. 8-2...

Chapter Eight

Political Parties

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 8-2

Political Parties and Their Functions

• Although many people regard political parties with suspicion, parties are an essential component of democratic government.


Political Parties and Their Functions (Cont’d)

• A political party is an organization that sponsors candidates for political office under the organization’s name. The candidate of a party is officially designated through a nomination process.


Political Parties and Their Functions (Cont’d)

• Citizens’ main avenue of participation in government is through voting in competitive elections.

• Parties perform four important functions for the political system


Four Important Functions

1. Nominating candidates

2. Structuring voting choice

3. Proposing alternative government programs

4. Coordinating the action of government officials.


History of U.S. Party Politics

• American political parties have a long and complex history.

• Parties were not mentioned in the Constitution and did not exist in any recognizable form in the pre-party period, which lasted through Washington’s first term of office.


History of U.S. Party Politics (Cont’d)

• The first party system pitted the Federalists, led by Hamilton, against the Democratic Republicans, led by Jefferson.

• The second party system involved what became the Democratic party and the Whig party.


The Party System Today

• The present party system, featuring the Democratic and Republican parties, developed in the late 1850s.

• Three critical elections—elections that produced a sharp change in patterns of party loyalty among voters and lasting electoral realignment—have marked the present party system.


Three Critical Elections (Cont’d)

• The election of 1860




Figure 8.1: Two-Party System in American History


Why Does the United States Have a Two-Party System?

• There have been many minor parties in American history.

• For several reasons, only two parties have alternated in power in the United States for more than 125 years.


Figure 8.2: Party Candidates for the U.S. House in the 2002 Election


Why Does the United States Have a Two-Party System? (Cont’d)

• The parties retain their strength nationally in large part because of the presidency, but party politics on the state and local levels often functions quite differently.

• Most Americans readily identify with one of the two major parties.


Figure 8.4: Distribution of Party Identification, 1952-2004


Figure 8.5: Party Identification by Social Groups


Party Ideology and Organization

• Contrary to what many people believe, the Democrats and Republicans differ considerably in political ideology.

• The difference can be seen in the way voters classify themselves on a liberal-conservative continuum.

• Another way to see ideological differences is

to analyze party platforms.


Party Ideology and Organization (Cont’d)

• Despite their ideological differences on issues of freedom, order, and equality, the parties are similar in that they are both capitalist parties that reject government ownership of the means of production.


Party Ideology and Organization (Cont’d)

• American parties parallel our federal system, having separate national and state organizations.

• The national organization is not hierarchical and has little control over state party organizations.


National Organizations

• At the national level, each major party has four main organizational components. • A national convention • A national committee • Congressional party conferences • Congressional campaign organizations


The Model of Responsible Party Government

• Four principles of responsible party government. • Parties should present clear and coherent programs

to voters. • Voters should choose candidates on the basis of

party programs. • The winning party should carry out its program once

in office. • Voters should hold the governing party responsible at

the next election for executing its program.

chapter eight political parties. copyright © houghton mifflin company. all rights reserved. 8-2...

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