political parties. learning objectives 6. identify the functions that political parties perform in...
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Political Parties
Learning Objectives
6. Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy / Describe how political parties are organized in the U.S.
7. Differentiate the party eras in American history.8. Compare America’s two party system to the
alternatives.9. Assess the impact and limitations of third
parties on American politics10. Determine the significance of party
identification in the U.S. today.
Q1. What is the purpose of political parties?
Controlling the government
Parties: “three-headed giants”
Q2. What are the “three-heads” of parties? (3 roles)
1. As a label, in voters’ minds Party in the electorate
2. As an organization, recruiting and campaigning for candidates
Party as an organization
3. As a set of leaders, organizing and trying to control legislative and executive branches
Party in government The influence of #1 and #2 has declined The influence of #3 has strengthened
Especially in Congress
Q3. What do parties do? (functions)
Pick candidates Run campaigns Give cues to voters Articulate policies Coordinate policymaking
Parties, Voters, and Policy
Rational choice theory Political scientist Anthony Downs’ model
Most voters are moderate Center of political spectrum
Parties seek voter loyalty Position themselves to left and right of center
8.1
How do parties maximize their appeal to voters?
a. Position themselves near political center
b. Lie about their opponents
c. Stake out clear positions to the left or
right
d. Make party members sign loyalty oaths
8.1
How do parties maximize their appeal to voters?
a. Position themselves near political center
b. Lie about their opponents
c. Stake out clear positions to the left or
right
d. Make party members sign loyalty oaths
8.1
Party as an Organization
Local Parties 50 State Party Systems National Party Organizations
Local Parties
Used to be the main party organization
Party machines Rewarded voters New York / Chicago
Patronage Jobs for voters and contributors Progressive reforms ended this system
50 State Party Systems
No two exactly alike Some well-funded, some weak
Get to decide voting rules Open or closed primaries Straight-ticket voting Single column or random list of
candidates
National Party Organizations
National convention Every four years Writes party platform Formal nomination of candidates
National committee Operates between conventions Led by national chairperson
Party Platforms:Individual Task
Everyone gets one of six different party platforms: Identify the parts of the platform (“planks”)
that you agree with and highlight or underline them
Be prepared to explain your rationale for selecting these particular planks
Party Platforms: Group Task
Adopt a new party platform for your group.
What will be challenging about this task? Creating the platform:
Combine your selected planks into a platform Include 15-20 planks + identify their origin Avoid contradictory planks Planks do not need to be balanced You must reach a consensus Name your party!
Party Platforms: Reflection
Were you able to identify your platform? Overall, what did you think of your platform? Was it a major party or minor party platform? How accurate were your predictions about the
challenges of forming a platform? How does this exercise help us understand the
role of parties?
Historical Party Eras
1796-1824: First Party System
Madison warned against factions Hamilton – Federalist Party
Capitalist support, Northeast Short-lived
Jefferson – Democratic-Republicans Agrarian support, South Torn by factions
1828-1856: Jacksonian Democrats vs. Whigs
Andrew Jackson Democratic-Republicans Democratic
Party New coalition
Westerners, Southerners, poorer whites Broaden suffrage
Whig Party United by opposition to Jackson
1860-1928: Two Republican Eras
1850s: Slavery Split both parties Republicans rose as anti-slavery party
Second party realignment Lasted 60 years Democrats controlled the South
1896: Second Republican era
1932-1964: New Deal Coalition
FDR defeats Hoover Promises “New Deal” New coalition formed
New Deal coalition Urban Labor Catholics and Jews Poor Southerners African Americans
Party coalitions today
Realignment in the South
1968-Present: The Era of Divided Party Government
Began with Nixon’s “Southern strategy” States’ rights, law and order, strong military
posture Different parties control executive &
legislative branches Party dealignment – people gradually
moving away from both parties Party neutrality – many Americans
indifferent towards two major parties
Which events sparked party realignments?
a. Civil War
b. Great Depression
c. Nixon’s Southern strategy
d. A and B only
Which events sparked party realignments?
a. Civil War
b. Great Depression
c. Nixon’s Southern strategy
d. A and B only
Party identification in the U.S.1925-2012
More Americans are identifying as Independents, especially:
a. People over 65
b. Minorities
c. Young people
d. Less-educated citizens
More Americans are identifying as Independents, especially:
a. People over 65
b. Minorities
c. Young people
d. Less-educated citizens
Two-Party System
Very few other countries have two-party system
Evenly balanced nationally, not locally Why has two-party system endured?
Winner-take-all and plurality systems Compare to proportional representation /
coalition government State laws make it difficult for minor
parties to get on ballot
Multiparty Systems
Proportional representation – legislative seats awarded in proportion to votes in election Used in most European countries
Coalition government – when 2+ parties join to form majority in national legislature
Third Parties: What role do they play in American politics?
Third Parties: What role do they play in American politics?
Ross Perot: 1992, 1996 Ralph Nader: 2000, 2004
What do Shooting Stars and Third Parties have in Common?
Third PartyThird Party
Any political Any political partyparty
organized in atorganized in at
least a few least a few states,states,
other than the twoother than the two
current leadingcurrent leading
partiesparties
Any political Any political partyparty
organized in atorganized in at
least a few least a few states,states,
other than the twoother than the two
current leadingcurrent leading
partiesparties
Jesse Ventura, Independent Governor of Minnesota, 1999-2003
History of American Third Parties
History of American Third Parties
Third Parties in the U.S. receive great attention, but in fact “have not assumed the importance that all the academic attention on them suggests.”
Third Parties in the U.S. receive great attention, but in fact “have not assumed the importance that all the academic attention on them suggests.”
History of American Third Parties
History of American Third Parties
No minor third party as ever come close to winning the presidency
Only eight third party candidates have won any electoral votes
Only five, including Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 and Ross Perot in 1992 have won more than 10% of the popular vote
No minor third party as ever come close to winning the presidency
Only eight third party candidates have won any electoral votes
Only five, including Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 and Ross Perot in 1992 have won more than 10% of the popular vote
Types of Third Parties
Sectional Parties
Example: Strom Thurmond and the Dixiecrat Party ran on a segregationist platform in 1948
Economic Protest Parties
Example: James Weaver and the Populist Party won over 1 million popular votes and 22 electoral votes in 1892
Ideology Parties
Examples: Socialist, Communist, and Libertarian Parties
Libertarian Party 2000 campaign ad
Charismatic Personality Parties
Example: Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Bull Moose Party in 1912
Specific Issue Parties
Example: Prohibition Party in 1892
Combination Parties
Example: George Wallace in 1968 (American Independent Party)o Dynamic leader with a Southern base
o Anti-civil rightso Won 13% popular vote & 46 electoral votes
Purpose of Third Parties
Purpose of Third Parties
“The electoral progress of third parties is in
direct proportion to the failure of the two
major parties to incorporate new ideas.”
“The electoral progress of third parties is in
direct proportion to the failure of the two
major parties to incorporate new ideas.”
Ralph Nader and the Green Party in 2000
Purpose of Third Parties
Purpose of Third Parties
Though very rare, a third party may replace one of the major parties 1856, the Republican Party replaces the Whig Party
Though very rare, a third party may replace one of the major parties 1856, the Republican Party replaces the Whig Party
Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858
Purpose of Third Parties
Purpose of Third Parties
Third Parties have influenceMajor parties often take on the ideas of third parties
In 1992, both the Republican and Democratic Parties took on Perot’s reform government ideas about reducing the deficit
Third Parties have influenceMajor parties often take on the ideas of third parties
In 1992, both the Republican and Democratic Parties took on Perot’s reform government ideas about reducing the deficit
George Bush (Republican), Ross Perot (Reform), & Bill Clinton
(Democrat) during 1992 Presidential debate
Purpose of Third Parties:
Purpose of Third Parties:
William Jennings Bryan, Democratic candidate for
President, 1896
Once the major Once the major parties parties incorporate their incorporate their ideas, third ideas, third parties burn outparties burn out
Populist Party Populist Party platform was platform was assimilated into assimilated into the Democratic the Democratic Party in 1896Party in 1896
Ralph Nader Math Problem2004 Presidential Election
Do Now:
• Describe a scenario in which you would vote for a third party candidate for president.
Obstacles to Third Parties
• Homework: look over the four documents in the packet and highlight any important information
• Meet with your group to answer the questions on the handout.
1. Caitlin, Cristina, Dan, PJ2. Cariani, Haley, Max, Noelle3. Jack, Kyle, Lauren, Pinar4. Marybeth, Matt, Sam,
Sarah5. Chelsi, James, Luke,
Phoebe6. Celfo, Eliza, Ellen, Paul
Reflecting on Obstacles to Third Parties
• Brainstorm a list of obstacles faced by third party and independent candidates (write on side board)
• Should these barriers exist? Are these barriers fair to third parties?
• How would reducing the barriers to third parties affect voters in the next presidential election?
• What reforms, if any, would you suggest to the current presidential election process?
The Tea Party
True Third Party or Political Movement?
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20002529-503544.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20002529-503544.html
The Tea Set http://politicalhumor.about.com
The Tea Set http://politicalhumor.about.com
• Sometimes third party issues can be difficult to stomach.
Don’t Compromise on Me!http://politicalhumor.about.com
Don’t Compromise on Me!http://politicalhumor.about.com
• Getting the message across is more important than cutting a deal with the other parties.
Marriage Proposalhttp://politicalhumor.about.com
Marriage Proposalhttp://politicalhumor.about.com
• The two major parties are not necessarily looking to absorb the third parties. Sometimes they can hurt more than help.
Tea Party Throws GOP Overboard
http://politicalhumor.about.com
Tea Party Throws GOP Overboard
http://politicalhumor.about.com
• The reverse is true: not every third party is looking to be picked up by one of the majors.
Tea Totaledhttp://politicalhumor.about.com
Tea Totaledhttp://politicalhumor.about.com
• The two major parties need to be careful they do not try to please everyone. It is impossible and can cause the party to lose control of the message.
Hat in the Ringhttp://politicalhumor.about.com
Hat in the Ringhttp://politicalhumor.about.com
• It can take time for a third party to be taken seriously. It may never happen.
Closure Questions
1. Is the Tea Party a third party or a political movement?
2. Would a Tea Party candidate be an appealing alternative to the two major party candidates in the next presidential election? Why or why not?
3. How do third parties enhance the role of political parties as linkage institutions?