The Party Structure and System

Linkage Institutions #2

Political Parties

A group that seeks to elect candidates to public office by supplying them

with a label by which they are known by the electorate.PRIMARY GOAL

Arenas of Politics Parties Exist In

LabelPolitical parties exist as a label (or

brand) in the eyes of the voters. That label allows voters who might

not be familiar with individual candidates to have a general idea of

their values

Arenas of Politics Parties Exist In

OrganizationParties seek to recruit potential

candidates and to help campaign on their behalf for

political office

Arenas of Politics Parties Exist In

Set of LeadersOnce elected party members work

together to organize and control the branches of government they

are in so they can achieve their policy goals.

Weakening of Parties

In all three areas Political Parties are weaker…… As a label • More independent voters and more split-ticket voting

(Voting for candidates of different parties)… As organizations• Been less effective in recruitment and mobilization of

voters since the 1960s (more individual elections)… As a set of leaders• Weakened the least, but not as disciplined as once due

to rule changes (Although changing)

European vs. U.S. Parties

Europe• Disciplined Gatekeepers• Loyal Voters• Unitary System• Unregulated by

Government• Party leaders choose

candidates• Parliamentary System

United States• Not as disciplined• Voters shift alliances

(Pluralism)• Federal System• Regulated by Government• Primary Elections• President elected separately

from Congress

Evolution of Political Parties

Central Theme: DecentralizationOver time Parties have become less powerful

Founding PeriodOriginally a loose caucuses of political notables. Aligned along Hamilton (Federalist) and Jefferson (Democratic-Republicans).

Jefferson’s Party eventually dominates.Jacksonian Period

Political participation became a mass phenomenon and reacted to the support of leaders to Adams over Jackson. Party during

this period was built from bottom up rather than top down.

Evolution of Political PartiesCivil War and Sectionalism

Party system was unable to survive and sectionalism. The Republican Party emerges as an Anti-Slave Party and becomes

dominant. Democrats became sectionalized. Led to states being dominated by one party and factions

Era of ReformBegan in 1900 but picked up steam since the New Deal• Primary Elections replace nominating conventions

• Nonpartisan elections at city levels • Stricter voter registration requirements to reduce fraud

• Civil service reform to eliminate patronage• Initiative and Referendum process in states.

Party Realignment

Critical or Realignment Periods/ElectionsPeriods when a sharp, LASTING shift occurs in the

popular coalition supporting one or both parties.1800: Democratic-Republicans defeat Federalists1828: Jacksonian Democrats come into power1860: Whig party collapses, Republicans emerge1896: Republicans defeat William Jennings Bryant1932: Democrats come into office under FDR

Types of Realignments

1) A major party is defeated so badly that it disappears, and a new party emerges.

1828, 18602) Two existing parties continues, but

voters shift their loyalty from one to another.

1800, 1896, 1932

Historical Trends

Previously there have been realignments every 30-40 years in the United States. Which means

we should have had one around 1962-1972. Have we?

Proposed “Re-alignments”1968: Southern Re-Alignment1980: Republican Dominance?

1970s: “De-Alignment”

Nominating the President (Primary Elections)

Primary elections are elections held within the political party to select who will be that parties official candidate.

Types of Primaries• Primary Elections• Closed primaries: Voters must be registered with their party

in advance and can only vote for that party• Open primaries: Voters decide on election day which party to

participate in, and then only that party• Blanket primaries: Voters get a list of all candidates and can

vote for one name for each office, regardless of party label• Nominating Caucuses

• Meeting of party followers at which delegates are picked. Takes up much more time so only the most dedicated party members show up. Produces the most ideological candidate in each party.

Primary Elections

• Primary elections were adopted to give the individual members of the party a greater say in their candidate.

• The nature of primary elections changes the strategy of the candidates.• Voters are different (More activist and ideological)• Media attention is less

• Must mobilize activists to give money and volunteer

Primary Elections

Radical Liberal Moderate Conservative Reactionary

The Delegates

• Selected on basis on Primary Elections (Candidates pick them based on loyalty and other factors)

• Delegates Today tend to be issue-oriented activists (high education and income, not the same as typical voter)

• Advantages• Increased Opportunity for Activists to participate• Decreased Probability they flee the party

• Disadvantage• These delegates may nominate a candidate unacceptable to

majority of voters, or even rank and file members of the party.

Party Make-Up

Democrats• African-Americans,

Immigrants, Jews, Catholics, Union Members (1932)

• Women (Late 1970s)• Recent Changes

– Catholics are less reliable Democratic voters due to social issues becoming large deciding factors

– Union members are less reliable due to decrease in number of them.

Republicans• Upper-Income “Business

Men” (1896)• Protestant Fundamentalist• Social Conservatives (1980s)

– Previously a non-existent group that was organized by the Christian Coalition in the 1980s. Strong supporters of the Republican Party

The Two Party System

• Although we have multiple parties, we still are a two party system because only the two major parties have realistic chances of winning elections on a national level

• Parties are balanced nationally but not locally

WHY????

Why a Two Party System? (Legislative)

Proportional Representation• Used in Europe• Ballots list party, not

candidate.• Parties votes are tallied• Party gets to name the

representatives based on the percentage they get.

• Example: 100 Seats in Parliament, party wins 45% of the vote, therefore they name 45 people to Parliament

Plurality System• Used in the United States• Ballots list individual

candidates• Each seat is run for

separately• The person who gets the

most votes gets the seat• Encourages candidates to

try to appeal to the “most” people possible

Why a Two Party System? (Presidential)

•In the electoral college (more on that later) each state is worth a certain amount of votes•In all but 2 states (Maine and Nebraska) the winner of the state gets ALL of the electoral votes•Encourages candidates to appeal to broadest group possible

Role of Minor Parties

• Most Minor Parties are ideological parties that are not interested in immediate electoral success.

• Third Party Successes (Carrying States)– Economic Protest– Factional Parties

• Tea Party? At this point a social movement who holds influence in the Republican Party.

Impact of Minor Parties

• Contribute New Ideas to System• Voice for the Fringe• Enhanced Participation• Protest Vote• Pushes Major Parties to go after

underrepresented voters