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Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

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Page 1: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Political Parties

Collins – GOVT 2301Revised Fall 2010

Page 2: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Definition

Group of persons who seek to control govt through the winning of elections and the holding of public office

Page 3: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Difference between Political Parties and Interest Groups (IG)

Key difference? Pol parties RUN CANDIDATES under their own label; IG only seek to influence

Pol parties have broad range of concerns, (platform); most IGs have a narrow, or single, range of topics

Pol parties are subject to fed, state and local laws and regs; IG are purely private and free of govt regs

Page 4: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Party Organization

3 parts– Party-in-the-electorate– Party as organization– Party in government

Page 5: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Party-in-the-electorate

People who perceive themselves as members of a party

How join? Just claim it! “I’m a _____.” Party ID and split-ticket voting = inverse

relationship

Page 6: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Party as an Organization

Keeps the party running in-between elections Makes party rules

– Old days of party machines and patronage Unifies various states’ groups into national

cohesive unit Formalizes the platform every 4 years at

convention– www.presidency.ucsb.edu/platforms.php

Page 7: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Party in Government

Consists of elected officials Attempts to coordinate party policies into

legislation Spokespersons for party in the electorate Enacts party functions

Page 8: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Party = Linkage institution

A tool to connect a person with its government

Does not include constitutionally established institutions of govt such as Congress, courts, etc

Page 9: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Party functions

1. Nominating candidates and winning office– Recruit qualified candidates (screen and filter)– Operate machinery for elections– Manage smooth transition of power– Coordinate and assist, but no longer run,

candidates’ campaigns

Page 10: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Party functions –

2. Informing and activating supporters– Inform public of issues

Technical data Cost-benefits Propaganda

– Stimulate public participation– Channel public support/opposition– Give cues to voters– Build coalitions to win and later pass party agenda

Page 11: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Party functions –

3. Ensure good performance – “seal of approval” or bonding agent

– Ensure elected officials follow party platform as they represent the party (party reputation)

– Turn party platform into legislation – easier for majority party Unified party control = one party controls all parts of govt Divided party control = when each party controls at least one branch

of the govt

– Ensure party reputation for next election– Accountability to the voters

Page 12: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Party functions –

4. Party in government – Provide basis for how govt works– Defend status quo– Staff government

Page 13: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Party functions –

5. Watchdog– Conducted mostly by party out of office (minority)– Makes sure majority party does not abuse power

or rules– Guards the system

Page 14: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Party functions –

6. Policy making– Articulate and coordinate policy– Support party legislation

Page 15: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Downs model = rational-choice theory

Wise party moves toward center-- where majority of voters located

-- with broad public appeal

Goal of winning elections more important than party ideology

Parties differentiate slightly in order to create different IDs to create voter loyalty

Page 16: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Vs. Responsible Party govt –

Voters should have a clear choice among parties advocating distinct and different positions

Elected members vote for their party’s position

Majority party enacts its position into law

Page 17: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Responsible party govt – (cont)

Party accepts responsibility for performance of govt (collective responsibility)

Results in increased popular control of govt as votes correlate to clear policy directives; “you get what you vote for”

Page 18: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Obstacles to responsible party govt

1) Parties too decentralized to take a single natl position

2) Anyone can run for office, therefore party has no control over those who do run

3) No method for party to discipline wayward officeholders and ensure cohesion in policymaking

Page 19: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Weakening of Party power –

Influence of media; party no longer main sources of pol. info

Technology of campaigning; easy to bypass party in candidate-centered campaigns

Increased power of interest groups

Voters no longer need party to find out what candidate is like, issues, etc [TV, Internet]

Page 20: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Third parties ………

do EXIST!!!!!!!!

Page 21: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Functions of 3rd Parties

1) Vent for those upset with the system

2) Bring new groups into the electorate

3) Bring new issues to the political agenda

4) Critic of system

5) “Spoiler”; may effect electoral college votes (ex Perot ‘92, Nader 2000)

Page 22: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Types of 3rd Parties

Single issue party [ex. Prohibition Party, Free Soil Party]

Splinter parties – offshoots of a major party [ex. Bull Moose Party; Thurmond’s States’ Righters or Dixiecrats (’48)

Ideological party – broad pol beliefs radically dif from mainstream ex. Communist

Extension of an individual [ex. John Anderson (’80) and Ross Perot (’92, ’96)

Page 23: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Obstacles to 3rd Parties

1] Voters don’t want to waste their votes – assume only major 2 parties have chance of winning

2] State and federal laws favor the 2 parties – each state dif criteria for getting on ballot; fewer requirements, if any, for major partiesIn Congress, indep must choose to side with

Dem/Rep in order to make com’tee assignments

Page 24: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Obstacles [cont]

Winner-take-all sys win by one vote, cand gets all that state’s EC votes

US plurality sys of voting =df a type of electoral sys in which to win a seat in the rep body, a cand need only receive the most votes in the election, not a majority

US single member districts plurality election vs. multiple member district in other nations

Page 25: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

Is the party over?

Party realignment?Usually requires critical election/crisis as voters shift

in large numbers to one party; also covers major party absorbing 3rd party

Party dealignment?Voters moving away from both parties to

independents

Page 26: Political Parties Collins – GOVT 2301 Revised Fall 2010

What part did I skip?

History of pol parties – from Federalists and Antifederalists to the present Republicans and Democrats, aka party eras

Why? Seldom asked on AP test

AP more emphasis on Fed-Anti debate, early dislike of factions (Madison and Washington), reasons for growth and decline in power during last 3 decades