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Ch. 8 Political Parties

Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

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8 Learning Objectives

Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy.

Determine the significance of party identification in America today.

8.1

8.2

Describe how political parties are organized in the United States.

8.3

Meaning of Party • Political Parties

–Team of men [and women] seeking to control governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election (Downs)

8.1

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5 Tasks of the Parties • From Public Opinion

to Public Policy

• Parties

1. pick candidates

2. run campaigns

3. give cues to voters (party images)

• liberal v conservative

4. articulate policies

5. coordinate policymaking

8.1

Parties, Voters, & Policy: The Downs Model

• Rational-choice theory

– Political scientist Anthony Downs’ model • Explains actions of voters /

politicians weighing costs and benefits of alternatives

• Most voters are moderate

– Center of political spectrum

• Parties seek voter loyalty

– Position themselves to left & right of center

8.1

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FIGURE 8.1 The Downs model: How rational

parties position themselves near (but not at) the

center of public opinion

8.1

8.1

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8.1 How do parties maximize their

appeal to voters?

1. Position themselves near political center

2. Lie about their opponents

3. Stake out clear positions to the left or right

4. Make party members sign loyalty oaths

8.1

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Party Organization “PO”

Party in

Electorate

“PiE”

Party in

Government

“PiG”

The Party in the Electorate • No formal membership

required

• Party membership is psychological

– Symbolic images and ideas

• Citizens think they know what parties stand for

• Choose parties based on affinity w/ personal preferences

• More Americans identify as independents

8.2

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FIGURE 8.2 Party identification in the

United States, 1952–2012

8.2

Ticket Splitting • Voting for one

party for one office AND another party for other offices

–Became the norm

–94 in LA county ~70% split ticket

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8.2 More Americans are identifying

as Independents, especially

1. People over 65

2. Minorities

3. Young people

4. Less-educated citizens

8.2

The Party Organization: From Grass Roots to Washington

• Local Parties

• 50 State Party Systems

• National Party Organizations

8.3

National

State

Local

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National Chair

National Committee

National Convention

State central committees & state

conventions

Congressional district committees

City and county committees

Precinct and ward committees

Activists and volunteers

Identifiers and voters

National (3)

State (2)

Local (4)

Local Parties Once main party

organization

Party machines

Rewarded voters

New York & Chicago

Patronage

Jobs for voters &

contributors

Progressive reforms ended

this system

Boss Tweed

8.3

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Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley 8.3

Walter Bennett/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

No two exactly alike

Some well-funded, some weak

Permanent headquarters

Provide technical services

Open primaries

voters are not required to declare

party affiliation to participate

Closed primaries

Registered voters

Straight-ticket voting

Single column or random list

of candidates

The 50 State Party Systems 8.3

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The National Party

Organizations National convention

Meets every four years

Writes party platform

Formal nomination of

candidates

National committee

Operates between

conventions

Led by national chairperson

8.3

8.3 What are the functions of the

party’s national convention?

1. Write party platform

2. Nominate candidate for president

3. Meet every four years to revise rules

4. All of the above

8.3

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8 Learning Objectives Evaluate how well political parties

generally do in carrying out their promises.

8.4

Differentiate the various party eras in American history.

8.5

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Elects party-in-gov't

Responds to policy views of electorate

Party Organization “PO”

Party in

Electorate

“PiE”

Party in

Government

“PiG”

The Party in Government:

Promises & Policy Party in power determines

policy

Coalitions support parties

Most presidents fail to

implement campaign

promises

But they do live up to

some of them

Party platforms are

blueprints

8.4

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Conservatives

NDP

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8.4 Which of the following is a

campaign promise kept by President

Reagan?

a. Increase social welfare spending

b. Increase defense spending

c. Increase the federal deficit

d. Increase funding for education

8.4

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Party Eras in American History 1796–1824: The First Party System

1828–1856: Jackson & Democrats

Versus the Whigs

1860–1928: The Two Republican Eras

1932–1964: The New Deal Coalition

1968–Present: Southern Realignment &

the Era of Divided Party Government

8.5

Table 8.1 Party platforms, 2012 8.5

continued on next slide

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Table 8.1 Party platforms, 2012 8.5

1796-1824: The First Party

System Madison warned against

factions

Hamilton & the Federalist

Party

Capitalist support, Northeast

Short-lived

Ideas of loyal opposition &

rotation of power new

Jefferson & the Democratic-

Republicans

Agrarian support, South

Torn by factions

8.5

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1828-1856: Jackson &

Democrats Versus the Whigs

General Andrew Jackson as leader

Democratic-Republicans v. Democratic Party

New coalition in election of 1828 Westerners, Southerners, poor whites

Broaden suffrage

Martin Van Buren

Theory of loyal opposition

Whig Party

8.5

1860-1928: The Two

Republican Eras 1850s: Slavery dominated politics

Split both parties

Republicans rose as anti-slavery party

Abraham Lincoln & the Civil War

Second party realignment

Lasted 60 years

Democrats controlled the South

1896: Second Republican era

Democrats & “free silver”

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1932-1964: The New Deal

Coalition Hoover loses to FDR

FDR promises New Deal

New coalition formed

Elements of New Deal coalition

Urban dwellers

Labor unions

Catholics & Jews

The poor

Southerners

African Americans

8.5

8.5 The Roosevelt realignment

The Granger Collection, NYC

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FIGURE 8.3 Party coalitions today 8.5

1968-Present: Southern

Realignment & the Era of

Divided Party Government

Nixon’s Southern strategy Support for states’ rights, law & order, strong military

posture

Win Southern Democrats

8.5

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FIGURE 8.4 Realignment in the South 8.5

1968-Present: Southern

Realignment & the Era of Divided

Party Government

Republicans did not have Congress New pattern

Divided government now normal

Dealignment

8.5

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8.5 Which events sparked

party realignments?

1.Civil War

2.Great Depression

3.Nixon’s Southern strategy

4.A & B only

8.5

8 Learning Objectives Assess both the impact of third

parties on American politics & their limitations.

8.6

Evaluate the advantages & disadvantages of responsible party government.

8.7

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Third Parties: Their Impact

on American Politics

Three types of third parties Cause parties

Offshoots of major parties

Vehicles for individual candidacies

Rarely win office but can affect elections

Why only two parties?

8.6

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8.6 A successful third party candidate

Neno Images/PhotoEdit, Inc.

8.6 Why are there only two major

parties in the U.S.?

a. Only two parties are constitutionally allowed

b. Two parties fulfill preferences of all voters

c. No interest in additional parties

d. Winner-take-all elections

8.6

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8.6 Why are there only two major

parties in the U.S.?

a. Only two parties are constitutionally allowed

b. Two parties fulfill preferences of all voters

c. No interest in additional parties

d. Winner-take-all elections

8.6

Understanding Political

Parties

Democracy & Responsible Party

Government: How Should We Govern?

American Political Parties & the Scope of

Government

8.7

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Democracy & Responsible

Party Government: How Should

We Govern? Responsible party model

Distinct governing programs

Internal cohesion & commitment

Major party must implement program

Major party must accept responsibility

Party leadership weak in U.S. “Blue Dog Democrats”

Is this good or bad?

8.7

TABLE 8.2 Partisan divisions on key roll

call votes during the Bush presidency

8.7

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American Politics & the Scope

of Government

Not as broad as in Europe

Health care example

Parties not disciplined

Hard to cut spending

Not disciplined enough to say “no”

Get more for own constituents

8.7

Discussion Questions

How did the modern two-party system develop in the United States? What are party realignments & when have they occurred? What role do parties play in American democracy?

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