America’s Political PartiesAn Overview and Their

History

America’s Political Party

Founding Era (1790s-1812) Birth of political parties Federalists v. Democratic-Republicans

Era of Good Feeling (1820s to 1850s) Growth of parties on state level Democrats and Whigs

Golden Age (1860-1932) Republicans (emerge from Whig Party) rule from Lincoln

to FDR (Wilson)Democratic Age (1932-1968)

Democrats in control of Congress and PresidencyModern Era (1968-Today)

Divided government (one party presidency; other Congress)

What are political parties?

Team of people seeking to control government through being elected Unlike interest groups

who want to influence government

Collective set of similar political ideologies

Support many issues Unlike interest groups

who support fewPolitical parties are

like a circus tent… many can gather underneath

What viewpoints are supportedby America’s parties?

How do they differ on…– Taxes?– Foreign policy?– Social issues (abortion gay marriage, etc.)?– Environment?– Law and order?

What Are Political Parties For?

Political parties collectivize public opinion by: Picking candidates Running campaigns Making voting simpler

Less choices, clearer symbols, presenting information Creating policy positions (making it clear) Coordinate policymaking at different levels

Why the Fuss?

People are dissatisfied with party systemTheory of Responsible Party Government1. Parties should present clear and coherent programs to voters2. Voters should choose candidates on basis of party’s ability to execute programs3. Winning party is obliged to carryout program4. Voters should hold governing/majority party responsible at election time

Competing for Policy

Two basic generalizations:1. As voters, we want the best chance our policy choices will be adopted2. Parties want to win office

To win elections, parties must select favorable policies

BIG QUESTION

To what extent do the Republicans and Democrats meet the Theory of Responsible Party Government?

Do they provide voters’ favorable policy choices?

Political Ideologies

WHAT ARE THEY?

An Introduction

What is an ideology? A set of ideas (values, expectations, myths) about how society should operate

Political ideologies studied in comparison on a political spectrumLiberal Conservative Moderate

A Different View on the Political Spectrum

Government Involvementin the Economy

Maintaining Traditional Values

OrderFreedom

LiberalCommunitarian / Populist

Conservative

Libertarian

Order

What is a Conservative?

Basic values: Personal responsibilityLimited governmentTraditional valuesFree markets (laissez-faire)Strong national defenseDuty of government to provide freedom

necessary for people to pursue their own goals

Idea of government as a “strict father”

Liberal View of the Conservative

What is a Liberal?

Basic values: Equal opportunityEquality for allDuty of state to protect civil liberties,

alleviate social ills, and promote human rights

People are innately good

Can also be called “progressives”Idea of state as “nurturing mother”

Conservative View of the

Liberal

Other Ideologies

Libertarian: maximization of individual liberty in thought and action and the minimization of the state

Communitarian/Populism: need to balance individual rights and interests with that of the community as a whole

Socialism/CommunismExtreme Conservatism: nationalism, authoritarianism,

racism Very diverse thoughts-from Nazism to McCarthyism Reactionary in nature

Neo-conservatism: support using American economic and military power to bring democracy and human rights to other countries; usually supportive of “big government”

Others include: feminism, environmentalism, Islamism, anarchism

Conclusion: Ideologies are Not Perfect

Some thinking points…Conservatives oppose abortion saying they want to

save the lives of unborn fetuses but also oppose government programs like prenatal care and have voted to eliminate similar programs resulting in a higher infant mortality rate

Liberals support federal funding for AIDS research and treatment, while promoting the spread of AIDS by sanctioning sexual behavior that leads to AIDS (supporting gay marriage, distribution 0f condoms)

Contradictions in Both Camps

America’s Two-Party Systemand Third Parties

AN OVERVIEW

Types of Party Systems

Single-party system: laws or practices prevent opposition from taking power Typically undemocratic and totalitarian Examples: China (Communist Party of China), Eritrea (People’s Front for Democracy and Justice), Syria (Baath Party)

Two-party system: use a plurality voting system to prevent votes from being split between many candidates Typically left-wing and right-wing nature of parties Examples: Japan (Liberal Democrats and Democrats), Jamaica (Labour Party and People’s National Party) , and the United States

Multi-party system: two or more parties have ability to gain control separately or in coalition Needs proportional representation to exist Examples: India, Germany, Israel

Types of Third Parties in America

Single-issue: seeking a singly policy (usually revealed in name) Examples: Prohibition Party, Marijuana Party

Splinter: breaks away from a major party due to ideological disagreement Examples: Constitution Party, America First Party

Economic protest: usually based in a region, protest against depressed economic conditions Examples: U.S. Labor Party, Working Families Party

Ideological: profess a comprehensive view of society and government, which is radically different from the major parties Examples: Libertarian Party, Green Party

Historic Third Parties in America

Bull-Moose Party/Progressive Party 1912: Theodore Roosevelt keeps Taft from winning 2nd

termPopulist Party (late 1800s)Dixiecrats (later 1940s)

Boycott Democrats who were supporting civil rights

Other major independents George Wallace (1968)-46 Electoral College votes Ross Perot (1992)-19% of popular vote; allowed Bill Clinton

to win with less than 50% of vote Ralph Nader (2000)-possibly prevented Gore from winning

in Florida

How are 3rd Parties Formally Limited?

Plurality representationDebate rules

15% rule Ballot access laws

Registration fees Signatures needed