Party Structure Party Structure TodayToday

Chapter 9, Theme BChapter 9, Theme B

Parties Similar on PaperParties Similar on Paper National Conventions nominate the National Conventions nominate the

presidential candidates every 4 yrs.presidential candidates every 4 yrs. National Committee is composed of National Committee is composed of

delegates from states to manage affairs delegates from states to manage affairs between conventions.between conventions.

Congressional campaign comm. Work to Congressional campaign comm. Work to get party members elected.get party members elected.

National Chairs manage day-to-day work.National Chairs manage day-to-day work.– DNC Debbie Wasserman Schultz DNC Debbie Wasserman Schultz

http://www.democrats.org/about/bio/rep_debbie_wasserman_schultzhttp://www.democrats.org/about/bio/rep_debbie_wasserman_schultz

– RNC Reince Priebus RNC Reince Priebus http://www.gop.com/our-party/leadership/reince-http://www.gop.com/our-party/leadership/reince-priebus/priebus/

Political Party StructurePolitical Party StructureNational Committee:

Works to get the President & Congressional members elected; all sts. represented; organize Convention

State Committee: Works to get the Governor, Legislators

& Judges elected; Choose national delegates

Local Committee: Works to get local leader elected;

choose state delegates

Precinct Organization: Choose precinct officials from local party members;

Choose local committee

RNC vs. DNCRNC vs. DNC RNC moved to bureaucratic structure and RNC moved to bureaucratic structure and

as a result was able to well-finance party as a result was able to well-finance party and elect congressional candidates, later and elect congressional candidates, later Presidential candidates, too. (Presidential candidates, too. (WAR CHESTWAR CHEST))

DNC factionalized structure and DNC factionalized structure and redistributed power.redistributed power.

RNC used computerized mailing listsRNC used computerized mailing lists– A national firm of political consultantsA national firm of political consultants

Both parties once sent money to state Both parties once sent money to state parties to side-step FEC…soft moneyparties to side-step FEC…soft money

Soft money is now bannedSoft money is now banned

National ConventionsNational Conventions

National Committee sets time & placeNational Committee sets time & place– Why are the locations important?Why are the locations important?

Issue a “call” setting the number of Issue a “call” setting the number of delegates for ea. State & rules of delegates for ea. State & rules of selection using complex formulas.selection using complex formulas.– Dem. Formula shift (To N & W)Dem. Formula shift (To N & W)– Rep. Formula shift (To S & SW)Rep. Formula shift (To S & SW)– Results? Dem. More left, Rep. more rightResults? Dem. More left, Rep. more right

National ConventionsNational Conventions DNC formula…reward large sts.DNC formula…reward large sts. RNC formula…reward loyal sts.RNC formula…reward loyal sts. REFORMS:REFORMS:

– DNC 1970s rules weakened local parties to give DNC 1970s rules weakened local parties to give strength to minorities at conventionstrength to minorities at convention

– Hunt Commission in 1981 gave more influence Hunt Commission in 1981 gave more influence to to superdelegatessuperdelegates http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUL5TgyUrC0

RESULTS:RESULTS:– Parties represent different sets of upper middle Parties represent different sets of upper middle

classes…Rep. traditional middle class is more classes…Rep. traditional middle class is more conservative, Dem. New middle class is more conservative, Dem. New middle class is more liberal & educatedliberal & educated

National ConventionsNational Conventions

In the 1980’s, Dem. Party In the 1980’s, Dem. Party feared not being competitive feared not being competitive with Rep. Partywith Rep. Party– Superdelegates’ numbers increasedSuperdelegates’ numbers increased– Sp. Interest Groups’ numbers Sp. Interest Groups’ numbers

decreaseddecreased– 1992 Rules:1992 Rules:

Winner-reward system bannedWinner-reward system banned Proportional representation implementedProportional representation implemented Sts. That violate rules lose delegatesSts. That violate rules lose delegates

National ConventionsNational Conventions

Why are national conventions Why are national conventions no longer as important to the no longer as important to the candidates?candidates?

Why has the primary & caucus Why has the primary & caucus replaced this tradition?replaced this tradition?

Besides nominating the party’s Besides nominating the party’s candidate, the party develops candidate, the party develops & writes the plans to the & writes the plans to the platform.platform.

http://www.democrats.org/http://www.democrats.org/

http://www.gop.com/

Political MachinesPolitical Machines What is a political machine? What is a political machine?

– Always use incentives.Always use incentives.– Thrived before the Civil Service Thrived before the Civil Service

System was created due to System was created due to patronage.patronage.

Historical Examples:Historical Examples:– Tammany Hall’s Boss TweedTammany Hall’s Boss Tweed

The Hatch Act, Voter education & The Hatch Act, Voter education & Progressive reforms helped to end Progressive reforms helped to end most of these machines.most of these machines.

Ideological PartiesIdeological Parties Extreme opposite of machinesExtreme opposite of machines Principles are more important than winning Principles are more important than winning

elections-often parties are contentious & elections-often parties are contentious & factionalizedfactionalized

Usually outside Dems. & Reps. As a “Third Usually outside Dems. & Reps. As a “Third Party”Party”

Reform Movement of 1950-1960’s had Reform Movement of 1950-1960’s had success success

Clubs replaced by focused social movements Clubs replaced by focused social movements in 1960-1970.in 1960-1970.

These are today’s “Farm Clubs”These are today’s “Farm Clubs”– Factionalism is more intenseFactionalism is more intense– Party leaders have less freedom and powerParty leaders have less freedom and power

Solidary GroupsSolidary GroupsMembers are motivated Members are motivated

by solidary incentives…by solidary incentives…enjoy politicsenjoy politics

Advantage: Neither Advantage: Neither corrupt nor inflexiblecorrupt nor inflexible

Disadvantage: Not very Disadvantage: Not very hard workinghard working

Sponsored PartiesSponsored PartiesCreated or sustained by Created or sustained by

another organizationanother organizationNot very common in the Not very common in the

USUSEX. Detroit Democrats EX. Detroit Democrats

were developed and led were developed and led by the UAWby the UAW

Personal FollowingsPersonal FollowingsRequires an appealing Requires an appealing

personality, an extensive personality, an extensive network, name recognition network, name recognition and moneyand money

EX. Kennedys (MA), EX. Kennedys (MA), Talmadges (GA), Longs (LA), Talmadges (GA), Longs (LA), Byrds (VA), Bush Family (TX, Byrds (VA), Bush Family (TX, FL)FL)

The Two-Party SystemThe Two-Party System Rarity among nations today Rarity among nations today Evenly balanced nationally, not Evenly balanced nationally, not

locallylocally Why such a permanent feature?Why such a permanent feature?

– Electoral system-winner-take-all and Electoral system-winner-take-all and plurality system plurality system

– Opinions of voters-two broad coalitions Opinions of voters-two broad coalitions work, although times of bitter dissentwork, although times of bitter dissent

– State laws have made it very difficult State laws have made it very difficult for third parties to get on the ballotfor third parties to get on the ballot

– Single member districtsSingle member districts

Types of Third or Minor Types of Third or Minor PartiesParties

Ideological PartiesIdeological Parties– Comprehensive, radical view; most Comprehensive, radical view; most

enduring enduring – Examples: Socialist, Communist, Examples: Socialist, Communist,

LibertarianLibertarian

One-Issue PartiesOne-Issue Parties– Address one concern, avoid othersAddress one concern, avoid others– Examples: Free Soil, Know-Nothing, Examples: Free Soil, Know-Nothing,

ProhibitionProhibition– Usually absorbed by a major partyUsually absorbed by a major party

Types of Third or Minor Types of Third or Minor PartiesParties

Economic Protest PartiesEconomic Protest Parties– Regional, protest economic Regional, protest economic

conditionsconditions– Examples: Greenback, Populist Examples: Greenback, Populist

Factional or Splinter PartiesFactional or Splinter Parties

– From split in a major partyFrom split in a major party– Examples: Bull Moose, Henry Examples: Bull Moose, Henry

Wallace, American IndependentWallace, American Independent

Write FRQWrite FRQ

Study cartoon then answer Study cartoon then answer the question.the question.

Should be done Should be done independently.independently.

Use complete sentences and Use complete sentences and label question as prompt in label question as prompt in labeled.labeled.

Discuss & score.Discuss & score.

Part A: Cartoonist’s Point of Part A: Cartoonist’s Point of ViewView

Voting for a third party is Voting for a third party is like throwing away a votelike throwing away a vote

Voting for a third party is Voting for a third party is wasting a votewasting a vote

Part B: Obstacles to 3rd Part B: Obstacles to 3rd PartiesParties

Getting on the ballotGetting on the ballot– Need % of voters on petition to get Need % of voters on petition to get

on ballot…Must do in nearly all on ballot…Must do in nearly all statesstates

Federal Campaign Finance LawsFederal Campaign Finance Laws– 5% of vote to get Federal Funds5% of vote to get Federal Funds– Limits on donations & spendingLimits on donations & spending

Electoral CollegeElectoral College– Winner Take All systemWinner Take All system

Single Member DistrictsSingle Member Districts Excluded From National debatesExcluded From National debates

Part C: Impacts of Third Part C: Impacts of Third PartiesParties

Bring new ideas & issues to forefrontBring new ideas & issues to forefront Allows a voice for the fringe and Allows a voice for the fringe and

discontentdiscontent Enhances participationEnhances participation Makes two main parties broaden Makes two main parties broaden

appealappeal Makes two main parties address Makes two main parties address

issues and take positionsissues and take positions