Political Parties

“Linkage Institution”

Unit #3 comprises the

following:

• In this unit, students will research the strongest influences on public opinion and how

Americans organize to express their opinions. Historical and current opinions of political

parties, interest groups, and the media will be analyzed. Focus will be placed on the structure

and history of these groups. Group activities will be used to emphasize the need for

compromise amongst groups.

Chp 7: Political Parties

• In this chapter we will cover…• What is a Political Party?• The Evolution of American Party Democracy• The Roles of American Parties• One-Partyism and Third-Partyism• The Basic Structure of American Political

Parties• The Party in Government• The Party-In-The-Electorate

Take Five

• Who warned against political

parties in his Farewell Address?

What was the warning?

What is a political party?

• A political party is a group of

• voters, activists, candidates, and

• office holders who identify with

• a party label and seek to elect

• individuals to public office.

Take Five

• What were the first two political

parties and why did they emerge?

The Evolution of AmericanParty Democracy

• Hamilton and Jefferson, as heads of the

Federalist and Anti-Federalist groups

respectively, are often considered

'fathers' of the modern party system.

• By 1800, this country had a party

system with two major parties that has

remained relatively stable ever since.

Goal of a Political Party?

• WIN ELECTIONS

Party Structure

• National Convention – meets every 4 years, nominates President

• National Committee – manages party affairs on daily basis

• Congressional campaign committee – supports party’s candidates

• National chair – manages daily work

Function of Parties

1. Connecting citizens to government (linkage institution)

-Political Efficacy – citizen participation level and awareness of government decisions

2. Run candidates for political office

3. Inform the public – help voters decide who to vote for in elections

4. Organizing government – coordinate government policy-making

Why 2 parties?

• Winner-take-all system

• Winner receives a seat while loser receives nothing

• 3rd party usually joins one of other parties

• Opposite – Proportional Representation – % of votes is directly applied as the % of representatives

Take Five

• From your brochure assignment

and textbook readings…who

first invented the mascots for

each major political party?

Historically, what were they supposed to mean?

Democrats and Republicans:The Golden Age

• From the presidential elections of 1860 to thepresent, the same two major parties havecontested elections in the United States:• Democrats and Republicans.• – Reconstruction -- Republican dominance• Republican party formed 1854 by anti-slavery activists• – 1876-1896 -- closely competitive• – 1896-1929 -- Republican dominance• – 1930s and 1940s -- Democratic dominance• – 1950s and 1960s -- closely competitive• – 1970-2000 -- neither party dominant• Election of 2008—Democratic dominance• Currently—Democrats losing ground in Congressional

elections

“Grass Roots”

• “Grass Roots” – parties can also reach the voters personally and “get-out-the-vote” on a local level

One-Partyism

• A significant trend of recent times is the demise

of one-partyism (one party dominance of

elections in a given region).• The formerly "Solid South" is no longer only

Democratic.

* Many individuals split their vote between the

parties, and sometimes vote for third parties.

Ave. margin of victory for the

past 5 Presidential elections

Results of the past 4 Presidential elections

Red=The Republican candidate carried the state in all four most recent presidential elections (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008).Pink=The Republican candidate carried the state in three of the four most recent elections.Purple=The Republican candidate and the Democratic candidate each carried the state in two of the four most recent elections.Light blue=The Democratic candidate carried the state in three of the four most recent elections.Dark blue=The Democratic candidate carried the state in all four most recent elections

Minor Parties: Third-Partyism

• Minor parties are not a threat to the two majorparties.• Only eight third parties have won any electoralvotes in a presidential contest.• The third parties that have had some success

are:• – 1996 and 1992: Ross Perot’s Reform Party• – 1968: George Wallace’s American Independent

Party• – 1924: Robert LaFollette’s Progressive Party• – 1912: Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party• – 1856: Millard Fillmore's American Party

Minor Parties

Third Parties have played a role in politics

Types

1. Individual personality – those dominated by one figure head (Ex. – 1912 Theodore Roosevelt – Bull-Moose, 1968 George Wallace – American Independent Party)

2. Long-lasting goal or ideology – (Ex. – Abolitionists, Prohibitionists, Socialists)

The Golden Age of Political Parties 1874-1912

• Party stability-rare• Big city and big party organization-political“machines” Chicago• Party was viewed as government-partyprovided social services directly=patronageand allegiance• Intense devotion=high voter turnout 76% orbetter in elections form 1876-1900

Take Five

• Who is this guy???? And what

does he represent?

Boss Tweed…the ultimate political machine and example

of corruption in politics

Modern Era

• 1930s-social services began to be providedby national gov. not parties• Direct primaries meant power of partydiminished• Loose ties between candidate and party• Post WWII-issue oriented politics• – Individual candidate became focus• – Interest groups rather than party stepped intovoid• – More ticket splitting-voters vote for candidateas much as the party

Party Identification

• Dealignment – weak membership, more “independents” or moderates – popular trend in the last 50 years

• Strait ticket voting – strong party membership, support all candidates for one party

• Ticket splitting – voting for candidates from multiple parties

Loyalty Trends - Republican

• Chambers of Commerce tend to vote Republican• The Mid-West tends to be more Republican• Men tend to split fairly evenly between the two parties• Cuban Americans are generally Republicans (anti-

Castro)• Professionals, executives, and white collar workers• tend to be Republican• High status Protestants tend to be Republican• Married couples tend to be Republican• Conservatives tend to be Republican

Loyalty Trends - Democratic

• Labor union members tend to vote Democratic• Democrats have a lead in garnering the women'svotes• Over 80% of African Americans• Hispanics vote 3 to 1 Democratic• Young people (18-24) are more Democratic• Most blue collar workers and unemployed areDemocrats• Catholics and Jews are mostly Democrats• The widowed are mostly Democrats

Declining Party Loyalty?

• Dealignment-general decline in partisan id• The number of independents in the U.S. rosefrom 19% in 1958 to 37% twenty years later.• Identification with the two major parties today isin the mid 80% range.• Pollsters often find that many self declaredindependents often 'lean' quite strongly to eitherthe Democrat or Republican party.• “Leaners” do feel party affiliations, but choosenot to self-identify with a party.

Realignment

• A shifting of party coalition groupings inthe electorate that remains in place forseveral elections• – Jefferson formed Dem-Rep party• – Whig dissolved, Republican emerged won

pres. 1860• – Great Depression-many voters realigned toDem

More on Realignment?

• “Gridlock” – Congress and Presidency controlled by different parties

• 2004 - Republican sweep of Congress and Presidency - party loyalty stronger?

• 2006 - split the Presidency and Congress again• 2008 - brought a Democratic sweep• Mid elections 2010—backlash from economy

and BP oil spill + Tea Party MAY see a shift back towards Republican party