Chapter 9Chapter 9

POLITICAL PARTIESPOLITICAL PARTIES

The Role of Political The Role of Political Parties in a DemocracyParties in a Democracy

What are political parties?What are political parties?– They recruit and run candidates for public office They recruit and run candidates for public office

under the party label.under the party label.– They try to organize and coordinate the activities of They try to organize and coordinate the activities of

government officials under the party name.government officials under the party name. Many political scientists believe that parties Many political scientists believe that parties

are essential to democracy.are essential to democracy.– The political party is seen by some as the main The political party is seen by some as the main

instrument of popular sovereignty and majority rule.instrument of popular sovereignty and majority rule.– When political parties are working properly, they can When political parties are working properly, they can

be essential tools of popular sovereignty.be essential tools of popular sovereignty.

How How PartiesParties and and Majority RuleMajority Rule Are Are

RelatedRelated Parties’ mobilizing activities can contribute to Parties’ mobilizing activities can contribute to

democracy by educating people about politics.democracy by educating people about politics. Elections create an incentive to include as many Elections create an incentive to include as many

voters as possible, with a majority being the optimal voters as possible, with a majority being the optimal goal.goal.

Parties try to broaden their appeal by running Parties try to broaden their appeal by running candidates from many ethnic, racial, and religious candidates from many ethnic, racial, and religious groups.groups.

Parties provide a way for the people to keep elected Parties provide a way for the people to keep elected officials responsive and responsible through officials responsive and responsible through competitive elections.competitive elections.

Parties can make majority preferences effective.Parties can make majority preferences effective.

The Two-party SystemThe Two-party System

Most nations have either Most nations have either one-party one-party systemssystems or or multiparty systemsmultiparty systems..

Most Western democracies have Most Western democracies have multiparty systems.multiparty systems.

Two partiesTwo parties have dominated the political have dominated the political scene in the United States since 1836.scene in the United States since 1836.

Democrats and Republicans have Democrats and Republicans have controlled the presidency and Congress controlled the presidency and Congress since 1860.since 1860.

History of the Two Party History of the Two Party SystemSystem

The first party system: The first party system: FederalistsFederalists versus versus Democratic RepublicansDemocratic Republicans

Parties were created almost immediately, even Parties were created almost immediately, even though the Founders were hostile to them in though the Founders were hostile to them in theory.theory.– Federalists became tainted by certain actions, Federalists became tainted by certain actions,

beginning with the beginning with the Alien and Sedition ActsAlien and Sedition Acts enacted enacted to repress dissent and opposition to Federalist to repress dissent and opposition to Federalist policies.policies.

– The two-party system evolved into a one-party or no-The two-party system evolved into a one-party or no-party system by 1816, generally known as the party system by 1816, generally known as the Era of Era of Good FeelingsGood Feelings..

The second party system: The second party system: DemocratsDemocrats versus versus WhigsWhigs– A strong two-party system developed in the 1830s A strong two-party system developed in the 1830s

between the Democrats (formerly the Democratic between the Democrats (formerly the Democratic Republicans) and the Whigs.Republicans) and the Whigs.

– The Democrats and Whigs were very different The Democrats and Whigs were very different parties from those in the first party system, brought parties from those in the first party system, brought about by a significant democratization of American about by a significant democratization of American life.life.

– The Civil War split the parties: the northern and The Civil War split the parties: the northern and southern wings of each party mirrored the split in southern wings of each party mirrored the split in the nation.the nation.

From the Civil War to 1896: From the Civil War to 1896: RepublicansRepublicans and and DemocratsDemocrats in in balancebalance– Following Following ReconstructionReconstruction, ,

Republicans and Democrats were Republicans and Democrats were somewhat balanced in national somewhat balanced in national politics.politics.

– Each party had a strong regional flavorEach party had a strong regional flavor

The party system of 1896: Republican party The party system of 1896: Republican party dominancedominance– The late nineteenth century was a time of rapid The late nineteenth century was a time of rapid

economic and social change; economic and social change; protest movementsprotest movements and and third partiesthird parties developed. developed.

– Republicans dominated American politics from the Republicans dominated American politics from the 1896 election until the election of 1932.1896 election until the election of 1932.

– After 1896, the rate of voter participation dropped After 1896, the rate of voter participation dropped sharply and never fully recovered.sharply and never fully recovered.

– The states of the deep South used intimidation and The states of the deep South used intimidation and laws to remove blacks from the electorate, laws to remove blacks from the electorate, eliminating the Republican party as a factor in eliminating the Republican party as a factor in southern politics.southern politics.

The New Deal system: Democratic The New Deal system: Democratic party dominanceparty dominance– The The New DealNew Deal party system grew out of party system grew out of

the crisis of the Great Depression and the crisis of the Great Depression and favorable public reactions to government favorable public reactions to government efforts to deal with the economic collapse.efforts to deal with the economic collapse.

– The party system underwent a The party system underwent a realignment (1932-1936) from Republican realignment (1932-1936) from Republican to Democratic dominance.to Democratic dominance.

The sixth party system: dealignment The sixth party system: dealignment and divided party governmentand divided party government– The electoral coalition that formed the The electoral coalition that formed the

basis of the New Deal party system basis of the New Deal party system began to seriously deteriorate in 1968 began to seriously deteriorate in 1968 and finally collapsed in 1994.and finally collapsed in 1994.

– Other changes starting in 1968 suggest Other changes starting in 1968 suggest the formation of a sixth party system the formation of a sixth party system stretching from 1968 to at least 1994.stretching from 1968 to at least 1994.

RealignmentRealignment

Realignment Realignment means that a new party means that a new party system has taken the place of the old system has taken the place of the old because of a fundamental shift in the types because of a fundamental shift in the types of groups that support the parties.of groups that support the parties.

Realignments seem to be triggered by the Realignments seem to be triggered by the transformation of structural factors.transformation of structural factors.

Realignments occur when the old party Realignments occur when the old party system is unable to accommodate or solve system is unable to accommodate or solve problems that develop during rapid social, problems that develop during rapid social, economic, and cultural changes.economic, and cultural changes.

DealignmentDealignment

Some prefer the term Some prefer the term dealignmentdealignment to to describe the increasing tendency of describe the increasing tendency of Americans not to claim any party Americans not to claim any party identification at all.identification at all.

Dealignment may be thought of as a Dealignment may be thought of as a transformation in the party system in transformation in the party system in which a previously dominant party loses which a previously dominant party loses preeminence but no new party takes its preeminence but no new party takes its place.place.

Why a Two-party System?Why a Two-party System?

Why does the United States have a Why does the United States have a two-party system when most two-party system when most Western democracies have Western democracies have multiparty systems?multiparty systems?– Electoral rulesElectoral rules– Restrictions on minor partiesRestrictions on minor parties– Attitudes of the American publicAttitudes of the American public– The absence of a strong labor movementThe absence of a strong labor movement

The Place of Minor Parties The Place of Minor Parties in the Two-party Systemin the Two-party System

Minor parties have played a less-Minor parties have played a less-important role in the United States important role in the United States than in virtually any other than in virtually any other democratic nation.democratic nation.

In our entire history, only the In our entire history, only the Republican party has managed to Republican party has managed to replace one of the major parties.replace one of the major parties.

Types of minor partiesTypes of minor parties– Protest partiesProtest parties– Ideological partiesIdeological parties– Single-issue partiesSingle-issue parties– Splinter partiesSplinter parties

The role of minor partiesThe role of minor parties– Minor parties may articulate and popularize Minor parties may articulate and popularize

new ideas that are eventually taken over by new ideas that are eventually taken over by one or both major parties.one or both major parties.

– Minor parties may allow people with Minor parties may allow people with grievances to express themselves in a way grievances to express themselves in a way that is not possible within the major parties.that is not possible within the major parties.

– Because minor parties are not likely to win Because minor parties are not likely to win national elections, they are usually not as national elections, they are usually not as cautious as the major parties.cautious as the major parties.

The Parties as The Parties as OrganizationsOrganizations

In most democratic countries, parties are In most democratic countries, parties are fairly well-structured organizations.fairly well-structured organizations.– Led by party professionalsLed by party professionals– Committed to a set of policies and principles.Committed to a set of policies and principles.

They tend to have clearly defined They tend to have clearly defined membership requirements, centralized membership requirements, centralized control over nominations and financing, control over nominations and financing, and discipline over party members who and discipline over party members who hold political office.hold political office.

The ambiguous nature of American The ambiguous nature of American partiesparties– American parties are composed of many American parties are composed of many

diverse and independent groups and diverse and independent groups and individuals.individuals.

– Presidents cannot automatically count on Presidents cannot automatically count on the support of their own party.the support of their own party.

– Vagueness of party membershipVagueness of party membership– Decentralized organization of the two major Decentralized organization of the two major

partiesparties

The Primacy of CandidatesThe Primacy of Candidates

American politics is candidate centeredAmerican politics is candidate centered– Candidates have independent sources of campaign Candidates have independent sources of campaign

financing, their own campaign organizations, and financing, their own campaign organizations, and their own campaign themes and priorities.their own campaign themes and priorities.

– The party can do very little about nominees who The party can do very little about nominees who oppose party leaders and reject national party oppose party leaders and reject national party platforms and policies.platforms and policies.

– Candidates are now almost exclusively nominated Candidates are now almost exclusively nominated in primaries or grass roots caucuses, where the in primaries or grass roots caucuses, where the party organizations have little influence.party organizations have little influence.

Contrast with politics in European Contrast with politics in European countriescountries– People in most European countries vote for People in most European countries vote for

parties rather than for individual candidates.parties rather than for individual candidates.– Independent candidates cannot force Independent candidates cannot force

themselves on the party through primaries or themselves on the party through primaries or caucuses.caucuses.

– In countries like Germany, the campaign is In countries like Germany, the campaign is waged between parties and their alternative waged between parties and their alternative programs, not between individual candidates.programs, not between individual candidates.

Party Goals Party Goals

Parties want to win elections, but each Parties want to win elections, but each component of the highly decentralized component of the highly decentralized and fragmented party organizations and fragmented party organizations tends to have its own goals.tends to have its own goals.

Party activists — the people who do Party activists — the people who do the most important organizational work the most important organizational work of the parties, such as fund-raising and of the parties, such as fund-raising and serving as delegates to party serving as delegates to party conventionsconventions

Party officeholders — above all, Party officeholders — above all, they want to retain their positions they want to retain their positions or attain higher officeor attain higher office

Party voters — reflect a diversity of Party voters — reflect a diversity of views and goalsviews and goals

Party financial contributors — Party financial contributors — diverse in their goalsdiverse in their goals

Ideology and ProgramIdeology and Program

An An ideologyideology is an organized set of beliefs about is an organized set of beliefs about the fundamental nature of the good society and the fundamental nature of the good society and the role government ought to play in achieving the role government ought to play in achieving it.it.

The Republican and Democratic parties are both The Republican and Democratic parties are both broad coalitions, seeking to attract as many broad coalitions, seeking to attract as many individuals and groups as possible.individuals and groups as possible.

There are strong pressures on the parties to be There are strong pressures on the parties to be ideologically ambiguous in order to win in ideologically ambiguous in order to win in winner-take-allwinner-take-all, , single-member-districtsingle-member-district elections.elections.

Each party has a core of supporters who are Each party has a core of supporters who are more ideologically oriented than the general more ideologically oriented than the general public.public.

The party system is less ideologically focused The party system is less ideologically focused compared to parties in other democratic compared to parties in other democratic countries, but still with significant differences countries, but still with significant differences between thembetween them

The evidence indicates that the differences The evidence indicates that the differences between Democrats and Republicans are real, between Democrats and Republicans are real, important, and enduring, and that the important, and enduring, and that the differences are becoming more distinctive.differences are becoming more distinctive.

How Are the Parties How Are the Parties Different?Different?

In the perceptions of the electorateIn the perceptions of the electorate In terms of who supports themIn terms of who supports them In their political platformsIn their political platforms In the positions taken by party In the positions taken by party

activistsactivists In the policy decisions of their In the policy decisions of their

elected representativeselected representatives

Are the parties becoming Are the parties becoming more ideological?more ideological?

The Republican party became The Republican party became more consistently conservative more consistently conservative after the mid-1970s.after the mid-1970s.

The Democratic party is less The Democratic party is less ideologically coherent than the ideologically coherent than the Republican party.Republican party.

The Parties in GovernmentThe Parties in Government

The The parties in governmentparties in government refers to refers to government officials who have been government officials who have been elected under the party’s label.elected under the party’s label.– To avoid tyrannical government, the Founders To avoid tyrannical government, the Founders

designed a system of government in which designed a system of government in which power is so fragmented and competitive that power is so fragmented and competitive that effectiveness is unlikely.effectiveness is unlikely.

– One of the roles that political parties play is to One of the roles that political parties play is to persuade officials in the different branches to persuade officials in the different branches to cooperate with one another on the basis of cooperate with one another on the basis of party loyalty.party loyalty.

Divided Party GovernmentDivided Party Government

Divided party governmentDivided party government occurs when the occurs when the executive and legislative branches are held by executive and legislative branches are held by opposing political parties.opposing political parties.

Long-term party division between the presidency Long-term party division between the presidency and Congress exaggerates the problems caused and Congress exaggerates the problems caused by the constitutional by the constitutional separation of powersseparation of powers..– Divided government adds to the Divided government adds to the gridlockgridlock and and

paralysis that are built into the constitutional design of paralysis that are built into the constitutional design of our system of government.our system of government.

– Divided party control can give rise to a state of Divided party control can give rise to a state of perpetual conflict between the two branches.perpetual conflict between the two branches.

Parties in the ElectorateParties in the Electorate

Parties in the electorateParties in the electorate refers refers to individuals who are supporters to individuals who are supporters of the party.of the party.

PartisanshipPartisanship is declining among is declining among the American electorate.the American electorate.

Americans are less inclined to Americans are less inclined to identify with either of the parties identify with either of the parties than they were in the past.than they were in the past.