Development of American Political Parties

The Two-Party System AP Government Chapter 7

What Is a Political Party?

• A political party is a group of citizens who agree on major issues facing the nation. These groups work to create public policies that reflect their views.

• Parties choose, or nominate, people they want to elect to public office. These candidates campaign to get elected.

Parties in the US• Any American citizen may

join a political party regardless of age, but most members are eighteen or older.

• The United States has a two-party system. The Republicans emerged as a major party in 1860 with the election of Abraham Lincoln. The Democratic Party formed under Andrew Jackson twenty years earlier.

Characteristics of Political Parties• Parties:

– Serve as intermediaries between people and government

– Are made up of grassroots members, activist members, and leadership

– Are organized to raise money, present positions on policy, and get their candidates elected to office

– Were created outside the Constitution-they are not even mentioned in the document

• Power of parties has been in decline– Mainly due to primary process

Subdivisions of Parties

• Party Among the Electorate (LABEL)

– Voters enroll in and identify with parties

– Getting weaker

• Party in Government (LEADERS)

– Officials belong to parties. They act together to pursue common goals.

– Remaining strong

• Party Organization (ORGANIZATIONS)

– Group of people who are neither elected officials nor average voters. Usually political professionals who recruit voters and candidates, organize campaign events, and raise money

– Dramatically weaker

Reasons why parties weaker here

• Federal system here decentralizes political authority– Most important

decisions made at state/local level

– Nat’l party leaders have less power than local ones

Reasons why parties weaker here

• Political power more centralized– More decisions

made by federal government

– See more decentralization of political parties

Reasons why parties weaker here

• Parties closely regulated by rules– Caused weakening

of parties

Reasons why parties weaker here

• Parties don’t select executive– Independently

elected, doesn’t choose subordinates from Congress

Functions of Parties• Recruit and nominate candidates

– Seek candidates to run in primaries

– Create rules by which candidates seek nominations

• Educate and Mobilize Voters

– Fund propaganda campaigns to persuade voters to choose candidates

• Provide Campaign Funds and Support– Usually done by state and national party committees

• Organize Governmental Activity– House and Senate organize leadership and committees along party

lines

Functions (Cont.)

• Provide Balance Through Opposition – Parties serve as checks on the other– Minority party-loyal opposition

• Critiques party in power

• Reduce Conflict and Tension in Society– Promotes compromise and negotiation by

encouraging parties to accommodate voters and voters to accept compromise positions

Throughout history, third parties have experienced great success in American

politics.

0%

0% 1. True

2. False

Two-Party System

• A rarity in the world

• Reason(s): – Election rules– Public opinion

Election Rules

• Based on plurality– One with most

votes wins– Causes most voters

to cast votes for two major parties

– Ex. Electoral College

Public Opinion

• Americans favor different parties for different issues

• Rules of elections also make it difficult for third parties to even get on ballot

Third Parties• Any party other than the two major

parties can be called a “Third party.” • No third party has ever gained control

of the White House. Sometimes, third parties win seats in Congress or gain office in lower levels of government.

• When these smaller groups challenge the two major parties, they can change the outcome of elections.– Can take votes from two major parties

• Their most important role is to influence policy on one or more issues.

Ralph Nader, Green Party Candidate,

2000

Ideological Third Parties• An ideology is a body of ideas put forth by a

person or group.• Minor third parties are often formed to support a

specific issue. These rise and fall over time.• Ideological parties want to change society in

major ways. • The Socialist and Communist Parties want to

nationalize major industries. The Green Party calls for companies to respect the environment.

Cult of Personality• Some third parties form from

the efforts of famous people.• If they cannot gain support

from one of the major parties, they form their own.

• H. Ross Perot’s Reform Party was a force in the 1992 and 1996 elections. This party also placed pro wrestler Jesse Ventura in the governor’s mansion in Minnesota.

• These parties usually fade after their candidate is defeated.

The Odds Are Against Them

• It is difficult for third parties candidates to raise enough money to compete with the major parties.

• Only one candidate can win in a given district. Usually the winner is either Democratic or Republican.

• Third-party candidates must show they have support by getting voter signatures to even be placed on the ballot for national office.

American Politics Today• Democrats usually feel that the federal

government has a responsibility to help the poor through government intervention.

• Democrats are generally seen as liberal.

• Republicans hold the view that leaving the economy alone will allow for growth, giving people greater ability to help themselves. They believe in less regulation.

• Republicans are viewed as being conservative.

Parties Move Towards The Center• A platform is a

statement that puts forth the party's positions on issues. Each individual issue is called a plank.

• Both parties want votes. As a result, parties become more moderate in their platforms, moving away fromextreme positions.

• The American people generally agree about many issues. This unity forces the two parties toward the center of the political spectrum.

Today, I will be able to…

• Identify some of the functions of third parties

• Identify why third parties fail

• Describe the activities of modern political parties

Most people join third parties because they feel disenfranchised from the two major parties.

0%

0%1. True

2. False

More About Third Parties

• Usually represent constituencies that feel disenfranchised from both major parties– Called bolter parties

• I.E. Reform Party of 1992

• Ideological third parties also called doctrinal parties– Reject prevailing attitude and policies of

political system• I.E. Socialist Party, Libertarian Party

More About Third Parties (cont.)

• Also can have single-issue parties– Usually promote one principle

• I.E. American Independent Party– Sponsored segregationist

policies of George Wallace in 1968

• Major impact of third parties-steal votes from larger parties– I.E. Ralph Nader in 2000

• Stole votes from Gore• Green Party

More About Third Parties (cont.)

• Don’t get third parties confused with independents– Ind. have no party

affiliation

Why Third Parties Fail

• Direct result of U.S. political system– Designed to support only two parties

• Elections in U.S. emphasize plurality, winner take all systems– Requires a lot of money and organization

• Winner take all system of electoral college also does not reflect popular vote– Perot in 1992: 19% of popular vote, 0 electoral votes– Wallace in 1968: 14% of popular, 46 electoral votes

Modern Political Parties

• Functions:– Among electorate:

• Allows voters to enroll in and identify with

– In government:• Pursue common goals

– Organization:• Recruit candidates and voters

• Raise money to promote party

Modern Political Parties (cont.)

• Functions:– Recruiting candidates

• Seek candidates to run in primaries

• Create rules by which one is nominated– Nomination usually a prerequisite to victory

– Educate, mobilize voters• Fund propaganda campaigns

• Target region in which support is strong– Encourage to vote on elections day

Modern Political Parties (cont.)

– Provide campaign funds and support– Organize governmental activity

• Legislatures organize committees on party lines

– Provide balance through opposition of two parties

• Minority party-usually provides role of loyal opposition-critique performance of party in power

– Reduce conflict, tension in society• Promotes compromise

Today I will be able to…

• Discuss whether or not parties are in decline

• Explain the concept of party realignment and dealignment

Are Parties in Decline?

• Since 1968, only 9 years of one party control in executive and legislative branch– Because more Americans likely to vote a split

ticket• Vote for pres. candidate of one party, legislatures of

another party– Mostly due to fact that people vote on positions of

candidates, not just strictly on candidate’s party

Are Parties in Decline? (cont.)

• Because of split tickets, no one party can dominate– Leads to gridlock

because parties at odds with each other

• Results

Party Realignment

• Occurs with a dramatic shift in party coalitions– Signaled by a critical election

• New party comes to dominate politics

• Main feature is that part preference changes, and stays that way

• Two types:– Major party defeated so badly it disappears

– Two major parties continue, but voters shift support from one to the other

Party Realignment (cont.)

• Last major shift: 1932 election– Issue: Economic depression

• Result: Republicans being replaced by Democrats in every branch of government

• Illustrated a clear ascendency of one party over another

Party Realignment (cont.)

• Realignment or not?– 1980: Republicans trounce Jimmy Carter

• Reagan-489-49, gain 12 seats in Senate

• Historically, not considered realignment– Lack of critical issue

– Republicans win because they are not Democrats

– Also, Congress still in hands of Dems.

Party Realignment (cont.)

• 2008: Realignment?

• Trend now more towards dealignment– Usually members become disaffected by party

policies, become independent• Democrats-losing members while Independents

increase– Classic case of dealignment

The key term in political party is

20%

20%

20%

20%

20% 1. Organization, with the purpose of giving the party clout

2. Ideology, to provide clear choices for the party

3. Label, to give a candidate party identification

4. Nationalism, to create a strong national party

5. Allegiance, to show party strength

Political parties around the world are more

effective at mobilizing voters than the US.

50%

50% 1. True

2. False

Political parties exist at three levels: labels,

leaders, and organizations.

50%

50%1. True

2. False

Political parties have grown stronger in recent decades.

50%

50% 1. True

2. False

Federalism is a reason parties are strong today.

True

False

50%50%1. True

2. False

Political parties play a huge role in the lives of Americans.

50%

50% 1. True

2. False

Split ticketting is evidence of weak parties

50%

50% 1. True

2. False

The Republican party emerged after the Civil War

100% 1. True

2. False

It can’t be considered realignment if you don’t have

this

0%0%0%0%0%

Dynamic ca... Two party ... Critical i... Low voter ... High voter...

1. Dynamic candidates

2. Two party control

3. Critical issue

4. Low voter turnout

5. High voter turnout

Recent results of elections have shown that political parties are strong because the legislative branch and executive branch have been controlled by the same

party

True

False

0%0%

1. True

2. False

The two main issues that have led to realignment have been

0%

0%

0%

0%

0% 1. Crime and punishment

2. Slavery and economics

3. Economics and morals

4. Foreign affairs and slavery

5. Domestic concerns and economics

The last major realignment occurred in

0%0%0%0%0%

1800 1896 1980 1932 2008

1. 1800

2. 1896

3. 1980

4. 1932

5. 2008