political parties ap government. what is a political party? an organization that seeks to influence...
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Political Political PartiesParties
AP GovernmentAP Government
What is a Political Party?What is a Political Party?
An organization that seeks to influence An organization that seeks to influence public policy by putting its members public policy by putting its members into positions of governmental authorityinto positions of governmental authority
Parties exist to win elections!Parties exist to win elections!
Allows parties to pursue their common interests by Allows parties to pursue their common interests by exercising power through the political process in exercising power through the political process in their positions of authoritytheir positions of authority
Who’s In Charge?Who’s In Charge? Majority Party – political party in control Majority Party – political party in control
of the government at any given time.of the government at any given time.– Can be DIVIDED GOV’T with different parties Can be DIVIDED GOV’T with different parties
in control of House, Senate and Presidency in control of House, Senate and Presidency Opposition Party – political party not in Opposition Party – political party not in
control of government, serves as a control of government, serves as a watchdog to the majority partywatchdog to the majority party
Most Americans are ambivalent on Most Americans are ambivalent on political issuespolitical issues
Whose idea was it?Whose idea was it? Political Parties are Extra-Constitutional Political Parties are Extra-Constitutional
(can’t find them in the Constitution)(can’t find them in the Constitution)
Federalist 10 warned that parties (factions) Federalist 10 warned that parties (factions) could be dangerous if there were not could be dangerous if there were not systems in place to check their powersystems in place to check their power
Between 1874 and 1912 was the “Golden Between 1874 and 1912 was the “Golden Age of parties”Age of parties”
The Origins of Political PartiesThe Origins of Political Parties Federalist #10 warned Federalist #10 warned
against factions, but against factions, but stressed the United stressed the United States was too big to be States was too big to be influenced by one influenced by one groupgroup
Battle began over a Battle began over a strong central strong central government vs. states’ government vs. states’ and individual rightsand individual rights
First U.S. political First U.S. political unions: Federalists and unions: Federalists and Anti-FederalistsAnti-Federalists
“Congressional Pugilists,” a 1798 political cartoon
Washington is the only president Washington is the only president to unanimously elected to office to unanimously elected to office (1788)(1788)
In his Farewell Address he In his Farewell Address he warned against political factionswarned against political factions
1796 – First election with parties:1796 – First election with parties:John Adams (71) – FederalistsJohn Adams (71) – Federalists
Thomas Jefferson (68) – Thomas Jefferson (68) – Democratic RepublicansDemocratic Republicans
Adams was presidentAdams was presidentJefferson was vice presidentJefferson was vice presidentabsolute disaster! absolute disaster!
The Origin of Political Parties: The Origin of Political Parties: Hamilton vs. JeffersonHamilton vs. Jefferson
Hamilton• Strong federal government
Jefferson• Limited national authority
• Rule by elite • Believed in ability of farmers and common people to rule themselves• Loose interpretation of
Constitution • Strict interpretation of Constitution• Favored national bank
• Favored payment of national debt, not state debts
• Favored paying state debts • Opposed national bank• Supported merchants,
landowners, investors, wealthy• Tended to support France in
foreign affairs• Tended to support Britain in
foreign affairs• Followers formed the
Democratic-Republican Party, which eventually became the Democratic Party
• Followers formed the Federalist Party, which eventually became the Republican Party
In 1832 the Democratic Party In 1832 the Democratic Party developed from the Democratic-developed from the Democratic-Republicans – nominated Andrew Republicans – nominated Andrew JacksonJackson
Whig Party arose to counter the Whig Party arose to counter the Democratic Party and JacksonDemocratic Party and Jackson
The Republican Party rose from the The Republican Party rose from the ashes of the Whig Party in 1854 ashes of the Whig Party in 1854
The Democratic Party lost influence The Democratic Party lost influence from its association with the Southern from its association with the Southern states during the Civil Warstates during the Civil War
The Republican Party became the The Republican Party became the dominant party in the second half of dominant party in the second half of the 19th centurythe 19th century
The Democratic Party regained The Democratic Party regained support via the reform movement of support via the reform movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuriesthe late 19th and early 20th centuries
An 1860 campaign poster for Abraham Lincoln
Direct primaries (party nominees determined by ballot not Direct primaries (party nominees determined by ballot not party conventions) gave the power to the voter during the party conventions) gave the power to the voter during the Progressive EraProgressive Era
During the Great Depression people began to see During the Great Depression people began to see government differently – social services were seen as a right government differently – social services were seen as a right of citizenshipof citizenship
Weakened parties gave rise to issue-orientated politicsWeakened parties gave rise to issue-orientated politics Interest groups and lobbyists became more influentialInterest groups and lobbyists became more influential Ticket-splitting (voting for different parties) became Ticket-splitting (voting for different parties) became
commoncommon Character-centered politics is now the ruleCharacter-centered politics is now the rule
The Modern Era
Electoral Functions of Electoral Functions of PartiesParties
Pull together like minded groups of votersPull together like minded groups of voters
Simplifies the choices for votersSimplifies the choices for voters
Recruit and train political leadersRecruit and train political leaders
Provide informationProvide information
Encourage participation – HOWEVER, Encourage participation – HOWEVER,
Republican and Democrats have similar Republican and Democrats have similar
opinions on many issues opinions on many issues
Government Functions of Government Functions of PartiesParties
Set agenda and make policy Set agenda and make policy
preferencespreferences
Make the government responsible to Make the government responsible to
the people the people
Link people to governmentLink people to government
Party SystemsParty Systems
One partyOne party - authoritarian governments - authoritarian governments or when one party consistently winsor when one party consistently wins
Multi partyMulti party - several parties in power - several parties in power
Two party -Two party - two dominant parties; two dominant parties; others may exist but rarely get elected others may exist but rarely get elected to high profile seats (U.S. has strongest to high profile seats (U.S. has strongest one)one)
The System v. Minor PartiesThe System v. Minor Parties
Proportional representationProportional representation– A voting system that apportions A voting system that apportions
legislative seats according to the legislative seats according to the percentage of the vote won by a particular percentage of the vote won by a particular political partypolitical party
Single-Member, Plurality aka Winner-Single-Member, Plurality aka Winner-take-all systemtake-all system– An electoral system in which the party An electoral system in which the party
receives at least one more vote than any receives at least one more vote than any other party wins the electionother party wins the election
Minor Parties (aka 3Minor Parties (aka 3rdrd Parties)Parties)
Usually are formed to:Usually are formed to: Promote certain causes/ideology/issuesPromote certain causes/ideology/issues
Splinter an existing party Splinter an existing party
Support popular individuals with Support popular individuals with presidential aspirationspresidential aspirations
Independent voters have not increasedIndependent voters have not increased
Minor Parties in a Minor Parties in a Two Party SystemTwo Party System
Serve as a threat to the electoral vote b/c it increases Serve as a threat to the electoral vote b/c it increases potential of election being decided by Congresspotential of election being decided by Congress
Difficult to get on the ballot-states set requirementsDifficult to get on the ballot-states set requirements– petitions with voter signatures petitions with voter signatures – PLUS a share of the votes in last election most common PLUS a share of the votes in last election most common
requirementsrequirements
Federal Funding if they secure 5% of the vote-must Federal Funding if they secure 5% of the vote-must follow guidelinesfollow guidelines
Rarely win – instead they bring new voters and issuesRarely win – instead they bring new voters and issues
Types of Minor PartiesTypes of Minor Parties Ideological partiesIdeological parties
– comprehensive, radical views; most enduring minor comprehensive, radical views; most enduring minor partiesparties
– Socialist, Communist, LibertarianSocialist, Communist, Libertarian Single-Issue partiesSingle-Issue parties
– address one concern, avoid othersaddress one concern, avoid others– Free Soil, Know-Nothing, ProhibitionFree Soil, Know-Nothing, Prohibition
Economic Protest partiesEconomic Protest parties– Tend to be regional, protest economic conditionsTend to be regional, protest economic conditions– Greenback (1874-89) , Populist (1892)Greenback (1874-89) , Populist (1892)
Factional partiesFactional parties– split from a major partysplit from a major party– Bull Moose (1912), American Independents (1968)Bull Moose (1912), American Independents (1968)
Major 3Major 3rdrd Party Campaigns Party Campaigns
1992 – Ross Perot (Independent) 19% 1992 – Ross Perot (Independent) 19% (most every by a Third Party) no (most every by a Third Party) no electoral seatselectoral seatsClinton 43%Clinton 43%Bush 37%Bush 37%
2000 – Ralph Nader (Green Party) 2.7%2000 – Ralph Nader (Green Party) 2.7%Gore 48% (266)Gore 48% (266)Bush 47% (271)Bush 47% (271)
Party Structure in the U.S.Party Structure in the U.S. National Committee National Committee
LeadershipLeadership– one committeeman and one one committeeman and one
committeewoman from each committeewoman from each state and territorystate and territory
Meets every four yearsMeets every four years– choose presidential choose presidential
candidatecandidate– writes the platformwrites the platform– designates the national designates the national
committeecommittee– sets place and times of sets place and times of
conventions conventions – sets the number of sets the number of
delegates that can attend delegates that can attend conventionconvention
National ConventionNational Convention– Held in presidential Held in presidential
election yearelection year– Nominate Pres & VP ticketNominate Pres & VP ticket– Adopt platformAdopt platform
Major Goals: Major Goals: – serve as a link to peopleserve as a link to people– choose policymakerschoose policymakers– run campaignsrun campaigns– cue voterscue voters– tell policytell policy– coordinate policymakingcoordinate policymaking
Shared ResponsibilitesShared Responsibilites
National National Responsibility Responsibility – manage party manage party
between between nominating nominating conventionsconventions
– raise moneyraise money– direct mail direct mail
campaignscampaigns– recruit candidatesrecruit candidates
State State ResponsibilityResponsibility– hold caucuses hold caucuses – select convention select convention
delegatesdelegates– maintain partymaintain party– promote imagepromote image– support campaigns support campaigns
Political Parties in CongressPolitical Parties in Congress
Majority Party selects party leaders Majority Party selects party leaders and make committee appointmentsand make committee appointments
Majority Party organizes and operates Majority Party organizes and operates CongressCongress– Web of deputy and assistant whipsWeb of deputy and assistant whips– Majority party generally holds more powerMajority party generally holds more power– Party disciplineParty discipline
Hurt by individualistic nature of U.S. politicsHurt by individualistic nature of U.S. politics But party voting has increased since the But party voting has increased since the
1970s1970s
Party RealignmentParty Realignment
A shifting of party coalition groupings in A shifting of party coalition groupings in the electorate that remains in place for the electorate that remains in place for several elections – 1860 (slavery)several elections – 1860 (slavery)– Critical ElectionCritical Election
An election that signals a party realignment An election that signals a party realignment through voter polarization around new issuesthrough voter polarization around new issues
– Secular RealignmentSecular Realignment The gradual rearrangement of party coalitions, The gradual rearrangement of party coalitions,
based more on demographic shifts than on based more on demographic shifts than on shocks to the political systemshocks to the political system
Party IdentificationParty Identification A citizen’s personal affinity for a political A citizen’s personal affinity for a political
party (even if not an actual member)party (even if not an actual member)– Usually expressed by his or her tendency to vote Usually expressed by his or her tendency to vote
for the candidates of that partyfor the candidates of that party– SourcesSources
ParentsParents Marriage and other aspects of adult life can Marriage and other aspects of adult life can
change one’s party loyaltychange one’s party loyalty Charismatic political personalities, cataclysmic Charismatic political personalities, cataclysmic
events, and maybe intense social issuesevents, and maybe intense social issues Social class remains a powerful indicator of likely Social class remains a powerful indicator of likely
partisan choice.partisan choice.
Group AffiliationsGroup Affiliations Geographic RegionGeographic Region
– South still has Democratic South still has Democratic Party affinity at local Party affinity at local election level, but election level, but Republican in Presidential Republican in Presidential electionselections
GenderGender– Gender gapGender gap
women favor Democratswomen favor Democrats Race and EthnicityRace and Ethnicity
– African Americans, African Americans, Hispanics and other Hispanics and other minority groups are minority groups are predominantly Democraticpredominantly Democratic
AgeAge– Very young and very old Very young and very old
more Democraticmore Democratic
Social and Economic Social and Economic FactorsFactors– Republicans have higher SES Republicans have higher SES
(occupation, income, and (occupation, income, and education) supporters.education) supporters.
ReligionReligion– Protestants favor Protestants favor
Republicans; Catholics and Republicans; Catholics and Jews are predominantly Jews are predominantly Democratic.Democratic.
Marital StatusMarital Status– Married people lean more Married people lean more
towards Republicans.towards Republicans. IdeologyIdeology
– Few surprisesFew surprisesLiberals – DemocratsLiberals – DemocratsConservatives - RepublicansConservatives - Republicans
Changing Power of Political Changing Power of Political PartiesParties
Use of Primary ElectionsUse of Primary Elections Rise of PACsRise of PACs Powerful people – George Soros and the Koch Powerful people – George Soros and the Koch
brothersbrothers Rise of the media makes role of party less Rise of the media makes role of party less
importantimportant Split ticket voting - causes divided governmentSplit ticket voting - causes divided government Lack of structure, efficiency, priorities, Lack of structure, efficiency, priorities,
strategies and responsibilitystrategies and responsibility
Utilization of free-rider concept of Utilization of free-rider concept of representationrepresentation– Benefits go to all in an industry, not just group Benefits go to all in an industry, not just group
membersmembers Benefits that go to members only (better Benefits that go to members only (better
health care, etc.)health care, etc.) Reliability of funding sources and Reliability of funding sources and
sponsorshipsponsorship Could be double influence (corporations, Could be double influence (corporations,
foundations, etc.)foundations, etc.)