Political Science 1 - American Government and Politics
Chapter 7 – Political Party
Political Party
- Group of political activists who organize to:
- Win elections
- Operate the government
- Determine public policy
- Factions: subgroups trying to obtain power or benefits
- No permanent organization
- Political Parties
- Run government
- Select candidates
- Multiple issues (party platform)
- Tends to blur issues
- Interest Groups
- Influence government
- Support candidates
- Often a single issue
- Tends to sharpen issues
- Functions
- Recruit candidates
- Organize and run elections
- Present alternatives to electorate
- Responsibility for operating government
- Provide organized opposition
A History of Political Parties in the United States
- Two-party system since 1800
- Shaped by unique historical forces
- Emergence linked to form of government created by Constitution
- Major periods:
- Creation of parties (1789 to 1816)
- Personal politics, one-party rule (1816 to 1828)
- Jacksonian to pre-Civil War (1828 to 1860)
- Civil War and post Civil War (1860 to 1896)
- Progressive era (1896 to 1932)
- New Deal era (1932 to 1968)
- Modern period (1968 to the present)
- The Formative Years: Federalists/Anti-Federalists
- Partisan politics
- Two parties emerge
- Era of Good Feelings
- James Monroe administration (1817-1825)
- Competition between Republican candidates
- Era of personal politics
- Democrats and Whigs
- Two-party politics returns
- Jackson/Democratic party (1828): common man
- Whigs (Republican faction): active federal government
- Civil War crisis and post-Civil War period
- Divided by slavery issue
- Northern Whigs unite with antislavery Democrats to form modern Republican Party
- After war, Democrats dominate the South
- “Rum, Romanism and rebellion”
- Populism
- Triumph of the Republicans
- Progressive Interlude (1896-1932)
- Political reform due to economic pressures
- Republican Party temporarily splits
- Democratic progressive Wilson elected
- Democratic Party changes
- No longer party of limited government
- New Deal Era
- Major Democratic intervention in economy
- Democrats gain African American support
- FDR forms broad political coalition
- Era of Divided Government
- Social issues gain in importance
- Civil rights/Vietnam change alliances
- Neither party dominates
- Era of shifting majorities
- Red States vs. Blue States
Two Major Political Parties Today
- The parties’ core constituents
- Economic beliefs
- Recent economic convergence?
- Cultural politics
- Democrats: social programs and increased government intervention in economy
- Republicans: private marketplace, limited government and self-reliance
- Regional factors
The Three Faces of a Party
- 1.Party-in-the-electorate
- All individuals claiming attachment
- Do not need to formally participate
2.Party organization (structural framework)
- National
- Convention delegates
- National Committee
- National Chairperson
- State party organization
- Local (grassroots) organization
- Patronage and city machines
- Local party organizations
3.Party-in-government
- Elected officials and appointed officials
- Role of partisanship
- Divided government increasing
- Party unity limited
- Party polarization
National Party Conventions
- Democratic Convention
- Republican Convention
Three Faces of a Party
- The state party organization
- More than 100 state party organizations
- State central committee and chairperson
- Local party machinery: the grassroots
- District leaders, precinct/ward captains, party workers
- Patronage and city machines
- Local party organizations still powerful
- Factions
Why Has the Two Party System Endured
- Historical foundations
- Political socialization and practical considerations
- Winner-take-all electoral system
- Presidential voting (electoral college)
- Proportional representation
- State and federal laws favor the two-party system
- Ruling parties work to remain in control
- Party organization limited for independents
The Role of Minor Parties in US Politics
- Third parties
- Formed from scratch by those committed to issue or ideology
- Major party split
- Form around charismatic leader
- Often barometers of change
- Ideological third parties
- Members regard themselves as outsiders
- Do look for immediate electoral success
- Splinter parties/factions
- Split from major parties
- Bull Moose Progressive Party
- Reform Party
- Split from major parties
- Impact of minor parties
- Influencing the major parties
- Affecting the outcome of an election
- Spoiler in 2000 elections?
- But should voters ignore third parties?
Mechanisms of Political Change
- Realignment (voters switch party allegiance)
- Myth of dominance
- Myth of predictability
- Realignment still possible?
- Dealignment (decline in party loyalties)
- Independent voters
- Decline in straight ticket voting
- Not-so-independent voters
- Independent voters
- Tipping
- Often due to immigration
- On to the future
- Both parties striving for dominance
- Republicans hope to gain votes on basis of cultural and economic conservatism
- Democrats looking to attract youth, female and Latino voters
- Impact of moderates and independents