Political Parties Political Parties What is a Political Party?What is a Political Party?

Political Party: A group of persons who seek to control gov’t through winning elections

Most Political Parties are made of people who are committed to a common set of public policies or programs

The Dem. & Rep. Parties are coalitions that are election rather than issue-oriented

What Do Political Parties What Do Political Parties Do? Do?

(5 Functions)(5 Functions)

1. The Nominating Function:– Parties recruit and choose candidates– Parties Provide nominees with a solid base of

support

2. 2. The Informer – Stimulator The Informer – Stimulator

FunctionFunction

Parties take stands on issues & criticize the stands taken by their opponents

Parties use the news media to perform this “Educational” function

3. 3. The “Seal of Approval” The “Seal of Approval” FunctionFunction

Parties try to ensure that the people they nominate are qualified & of good character

Parties work to ensure that elected officials perform their duties

4. 4. The Governmental The Governmental FunctionFunction

Both State & Federal public officials are regularly appointed on a partisan basis

Parties are the major agent for cooperation between the legislative & executive branches

5. The Watchdog Function5. The Watchdog Function

The party out of power scrutinizes & criticizes the actions of Gov’t officials

Their watchfulness forces public officials to be more responsive

The Two-Party SystemThe Two-Party System(4 Reasons for the Two-Party System)(4 Reasons for the Two-Party System)

1. The Historical Basis:– The Framers of the Const. Were opposed to

political parties.– During the ratification process, Federalists and

Anti-Federalists became the country’s first two political parties

2. The Force of Tradition2. The Force of Tradition

Most American’s support the two-party system because it has always existed

Minor parties have therefore made little headway

3. 3. The Electoral SystemThe Electoral System

Single – member districts preserve the two-party system. How?

State Election laws are deliberately written to discourage minor parties. How?

The American Ideological ConsensusThe American Ideological Consensus

Although the U.S. is a pluralistic society, Americans tend to agree on fundamental issues

America’s major political parties tend to make moderate stands in order to attract the largest possible number of voters. Basically, they will say and do anything to get your vote!

Multiparty SystemsMultiparty Systems

In a multi-party system, parties represent a wide variety of class, religious, sectional, & political interests, often making gov’t unstable

In America, institutional and ideological factors make a multiparty system unlikely

One Party SystemsOne Party Systems

Nearly all dictatorships have one – party systems

Traditionally, many areas of the U.S. were/are dominated by a single party

In recent years, two-party competition has spread

Membership of the PartiesMembership of the Parties

Party membership is voluntary and is generally composed of a cross-section of the population

There are some segments of the electorate that tend to support one party of the other

The Two-Party System in American HistoryThe Two-Party System in American History

The Nation’s First Parties:– The First American political parties;

Federalist Federalist led by Alexander Hamilton Democratic – RepublicansDemocratic – Republicans led by Thomas Jefferson

– The two parties differed in their views of economics, government’s proper role, & interpretation of the Constitution

The Eras of One-Party DominationThe Eras of One-Party Domination

Democrats 1800 – 1860: A coalition of farmers, planters, debtors, & pioneers backed the Dems., who dominated the gov’t after the election of 1800

The Eras of One-Party DominationThe Eras of One-Party DominationContinuedContinued

Republicans 1860 – 1932: Reps. Dominated the gov’t supported by Northern & western farmers, financial & business interests, & African Americans. Dems. During this period controlled the “Solid South” & rebuilt national support from the base.

The Eras of One-Party DominationThe Eras of One-Party DominationContinuedContinued

Return of the Dems., 1932 – 1968: During the Great Depression, Roosevelt built a new Dem. Coalition, based on the support of Southerners, small farmers, organized labor, minorities, & big-city political organizations.

The New Deal marked a fundamental shift in the public’s attitude toward big government

The Eras of One-Party DominationThe Eras of One-Party DominationContinuedContinued

The Start of a New Era:– Since 1968, Republicans have dominated the

White House, while Democrats controlled Congress.

– The situation reversed during the 90s– Currently, the White House is Democrat and the

Congress is Democrat– This era of divided gov’t is unprecedented in

American History.

The Minor PartiesThe Minor Parties Minor Parties in the U.S.

– I. Ideological parties:I. Ideological parties: Based on a particular set of beliefs, a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters.

Most of the these minor parties have been built on some shade of Marxist thought.

– Ex.: Socialists, Socialists Labor, Socialist Worker, & Communist parties.

Single Issues PartiesSingle Issues Parties II. Single Issue Parties:II. Single Issue Parties: Concentrate on a single public

policy matter. Their names have usually indicated their primary concern.

– Ex.: Free Soil Party: Opposed the spread of slavery– Right to Life Party: Opposed to Abortion

Economic Protest PartiesEconomic Protest Parties

Economic Protest Parties:Economic Protest Parties: Rooted in periods of economic discontent.– These parties have no clear-cut ideological base.– They are primarily disgusted with the political party in

power and demand better times. Ex.: Greenback Party 1876 - present

Splinter PartiesSplinter Parties

Splinter Parties:Splinter Parties: Parties that break away from one of the major parties.

– Ex.: “Bull Moose” party of 1912 – Theodore Roosevelt – broke from the Republican party

– “Dixiecrats” of 1948 – Strom Thurman – broke from the Democrat party.

– “Reform Party” 1992 – Ross Perot – broke from the Republican party.

Most splinter parties collapse when the leader steps aside. Most splinter parties collapse when the leader steps aside.

The Role of Minor Parties The Role of Minor Parties

1. Introduce useful innovations to American Politics.– Ex.: Anti-Masons Party 1831 – Introduced

national conventions

The Role of Minor PartiesThe Role of Minor Parties

A strong third-party candidacy can play a “spoiler role” in an election where the two major parties are evenly matched.– Ex.: Ross Perot – 1992 – Spoiled President Bush I.– Ralph Nader (Green Party) – 2000 – Spoiled Al Gore’s

campaign

Minor Parties have played important roles as critics & reformers in American political life.– Ex.: Women’s Suffrage Party

Success of parties became frustration for the parties.– When an issue gained popular support, one or both of the

major parties adopted the issue and made it their own.

The Role of Minor PartiesThe Role of Minor Parties

2004 Presidential Election2004 Presidential Election