Professional Documents
Culture Documents
winning of elections.
There are two major parties in American politics today: Democrats & Republicans Some argue this does not fit the American version the Democrats and Republicans are election oriented, not principle/issue oriented.
Some believe American politics would function better without political parties Others say political parties necessary for democratic government, but at the same time, do not trust them
Why are Political Parties important? The are the major mechanisms behind broad policies and leadership choices. They act as a the voice of the governed and some argue that parties are how the will of the people are best expressed. Political parties bring conflicting groups together to find common ground. The soften extremist views and seek compromise and unity.
An organization that sponsors candidates for political office under the organizations name Use a nomination process
Democracies must have at least two political parties that regularly compete against each other
1) Nominating Candidates:
Political leadership requires certain qualities
The major function is to nominate, or name, candidates for public office and then they help them win their elections.
Parties can perform quality control by choosing candidates Recruiting and choosing candidates and gathering support for them.
Work to reduce number of candidates on ballot to those with chance of winning Loyal party voters provide predictable base of votes Third-party candidate success difficult
Parties inform the people, spark their interest, inspire them, and get them to participate in public affairs. Voters are inspired to campaign for candidates, take stands on issues, and criticize opponents. Parties create campaign materials (buttons, posters, bumper stickers) and propaganda materials (pamphlets, TV, internet, newspaper and radio commercials, speeches, and rallies) to show their issues in the best light.
Parties set out general policies candidates will pursue if they gain office Candidates tend to support party positions, although exceptions occur Some party names advertise policies, such as the Green Party, Socialist Party, and Libertarian Party Americas two major parties have relatively neutral names
11
Acting as Watchdog: Parties act as watchdogs over the publics business. The party out of power usually takes this role by criticizing the party and behavior of the party in power (in the executive branch).
The party out of power tries to convince voters that they should throw the rascals out. The party out of power tried to become the voice of the people by expressing their concerns. They become the loyal opposition---- opposed to the party in power but loyal to the people!
Constitution does not mention political parties Only factions, not parties, existed when Constitution written
14
Elections vastly different from TODAY President and Vice President decided by electoral college Electors frequently met in private caucuses to propose candidates
Election of 1796 saw John Adams (a Federalist) elected president, with Thomas Jefferson(Dem.-Rep.) elected vice president In election of 1800, both parties nominated candidates for both president and vice president
16
Figure 8.1
17
Election of 1800 saw top two vote-getters from Democratic-Republican Party but tied in Electoral College! Eventually Jefferson elected president Ratification of 12th Amendment in 1804 split votes in Electoral College for president and vice president Democratic-Republicans won next four elections, then fell apart
18
Jacksons faction of Democratic Republicans represented common people Preferred to be called Democrats Jackson ran for president in 1828; birth of todays Democratic Party Increase in suffrage rights led to voters choosing presidential electors Greater numbers voting required changes from existing parties
19
Party Changes
Major parties began having national conventions to select candidates and adopt party platforms First, Anti-Masonic Party in 1831; Democrats and National Republicans followed in 1832 Coalition of those opposing Jackson formed Whig Party in 1834 Democrats and Whigs alternated presidency for next 30 years
20
Antislavery forces organized Republican Party in 1854 John Fremont presidential candidate in 1856; Abraham Lincoln in 1860 Election of 1860 first of four critical elections
Led to electoral realignment , with northern states voting Republican and southern states voting Democratic for decades
21
Democrats and Republicans major parties since 1860 election Two-party system Third parties rarely successful, except at state or local level Balance of power between two major parties different in various parts of country and at different times
22
A Rough Balance: 1860-1894 GOP (Grand Old Party, or Republicans) won eight of 10 presidential elections House and Senate wins balanced
A Republican Majority: 1896-1930 Democrats in trouble because of economic depression in 1896 Republican William McKinley won presidency; Republicans basically in power until Great Depression
23
24
Voters unhappy with economic crisis swarmed to support Democratic candidate Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932
Roosevelt won election; Democratic party won majorities in both House and Senate A major electoral realignment
25
Richard Nixons victory in 1968 a fourth critical election; Republican presidential candidates have done well since
Congressional elections in this period mixed: Democrats generally control House, Senate control split about evenly Party loyalty within regions has shifted; possible electoral dealignment
26
Figure 8.2
28
Third parties not very successful Rarely receive more than 10% of the vote Bolter parties have won more than 10% twice Republican Party originated as single-issue third party Third parties have better record as policy advocates, and serve as safety valves
29
2. Single-Issue Parties:
Concentrate on one public policy matter (usually short lived) Names indicate primary concern:
4. Splinter/BOLTER Parties:
Break away from major parties (usually short lived) Republican Splinters:
Republican Splinters:
government ownership of the railroads and electric utilities, cheap credit for farmers outlawing child labor stronger laws to help labor unions more protection of civil liberties
Democratic Splinters:
States Rights Dixiecrat Party: (1948) Led by Strom Thurmond advocated retention of Jim Crow laws racial segregation.
American Independent Party (1968) led by former Alabama Governor George Wallace who advocated A reversal of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 opposed to federal government welfare programs.
One Party that does not fit into any category is the
U.S. two-party system results from electoral process and political socialization Elections based on majority representation, not proportional representation Major parties make election laws Presidential politics and persistence drive survival of Democratic and Republican parties
39
Party identification important political concept Most people identify with one of the two major parties
Figure 8.4
41
Party Identification
Party identification predisposes but does not mandate voting behavior Factors affecting party identification:
42
Figure 8.5
43
1950s
Also true in many other democracies
Reasons given include more education and political sophistication
44
Significant differences in ideology between Republicans and Democrats Approaches to concepts of freedom, order, and equality affect spending priorities Differences drive party platforms Ideological differences more pronounced when looking at party activists
45
Figure 8.6
46
Some believe Republicans more organized as a party than Democrats Each party has four major organizational components: National convention National committee Congressional party conferences Congressional campaign committees
47
48
National parties not particularly powerful Do not direct or control presidential campaigns Beginning in 1970s, Democrats made procedural changes and Republicans made organizational reforms Both parties have made significant organizational changes in recent years
49
At one time, both parties had powerful state and local party machines Individual organizations vary in size and strength
National parties supply funding, candidate training, poll data and research, and campaigning instruction
50
Even though party identification dropping, political party organizations growing stronger Still, not clear how well parties link voters to government
51
Parties essential to making government responsive to public opinion in majoritarian model Parties should present clear and coherent programs to voters Voters should choose candidates based on party programs Winning party should carry out proposed programs Voters should hold governing party responsible for program execution at next election
52