Political Parties

http://www.learner.org/courses/democracyinamerica/dia_12/

Kelly Walker

US Government

Assignment

1. Go to: http://www.learner.org/courses/democracyinamerica/dia_12/

2. Click on the readings tab

Read the Introduction—Political Parties: Mobilizing Agents and answer this question: What are mobilizing agents and how do they link citizens to government participation?

Objectives

• Understand the origins of political parties in the United States

• Identify and describe the three major periods of single-party domination and describe the current era of divided government.

• Understand the role of political parties in the US system of government

What is a Party?

• Political Party: a group of persons, joined together on the basis of common principles, who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of political office

• Democrats and Republicans

What Do Parties Do?

• Essential to democratic Government• Political Efficacy: Citizens faith and trust in

government and their own belief that they can understand and influence political affairs

• Behind the development of broad policy and leadership choices

• “Power Brokers”: Bring conflicting groups together- compromise

• Structure the Voting Choice

Functions

• Nominating Candidates• Informing and Activating Supporters (news

media/interest groups)• Bonding Agent: Ensure their candidates

are qualified/good character • Governing: Partisanship: government

action based on firm allegiance to a political party and its policies

• Acting as a Watchdog

Parties in American History

The history of political progress in the U.S. is largely the history of partisan change

A. The "mainsprings" of political development are realignments

B. Loosely defined as events that result in the emergence of a new majority party, or in the reshuffling of coalitions with-in parties to change the nature of the majority party

C. Realignments are “durable shifts in party support.”D. There have been at least five in American historyE. Each has been associated with major changes in policy

Party Realignments

Periods when a major, lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties

Two Major Types

1. Party actually dies

2. Voters shift support from one party to another (economics or issue driven)

1800- end of the Federalists

1828- Jackson Democrats came to power

1860- Whigs collapsed- Republicans came to power

1896- Republicans defeated Bryan

1932- Democrats under Roosevelt

The Nation’s First Parties- Started from the conflict over ratification of the Constitution: The

Pre-party PeriodA. Federalists- 1st political party.

1. Leader- Alexander Hamilton2. Most Federalists were “the rich and the well-

born.” 3. Beliefs a. A strong executive

b. Policies to correct the nation’s economic ills. c. Loose interpretation of the Constitution

4. Supportersa. financial interestsb. Manufacturingc. commercial interests

B. Democratic-Republicans

1. Leader- Thomas Jefferson2. More concerned with the “common man.”3. Beliefs

a. Congress should dominate the new government

b. Limited role of the new governmentc. Strict interpretation of the Constitution.4. Supportersa. small shopkeepersb. Laborersc. farmers

C. Election of 1796

http://www.270towin.com/

1. First election with a Federalist against a Democratic-Republican

2. John Adams (Federalist) defeated Thomas Jefferson (D-R) by 3 electoral votes.

First Party System: Realignment of 1800

A. Thomas Jefferson elected presidentB. Jeffersonian Democrats replace the Federalists as the

majority partyC. Policy change from preference for a strong national

government, centralized power, and government policies designed to benefit business to ...

D. Policies predicated on a rural country, small farmers, less government, more equality

E. Federalists retreated to Supreme Court– Ceased being a viable electoral party altogether

F. This "party system" ends in early 1820s with virtual one party rule --- the "era of good feelings"

II. The Era of the Democrats, 1800-1860

A. Era of Good Feeling- Democrat-Republicans face no opposition from 1816-1824

B. Factions develop after 1824

C. Whig party develops after 1828 election

D. Democrats 1828

1. Leader- Andrew Jackson

2. Supporters mostly from the south and west

a. small farmers

b. debtors

c. frontier pioneers

d. slave holders

Second Party System:Realignment of 1828

A. this major realignment of parties coalesces around Andrew Jackson --- general, war hero, populist

B. followers of Jackson become Democrats; majority partyC. his opponents = Whigs (heirs of the old Federalists) - minorityD. Jackson draws the majority of his support from the South and West

– 1. populist in spirit -- mass participation– 2. believes in limited government, led by president– 3. battles Congress and Court

E. Whigs believe in more active government centered around Congress– 1. leaders included Henry Clay and Daniel Webster

F. This party system breaks down over slavery issue– 1. issue is a valence issue = cuts across party lines– 2. northern and southern branches of both parties develop over

extension of slavery into the territories

3. Fundamental changes made under Democrats

a. voting rights for all males

b. spread of the spoils system

c. a huge increase in the number of elected offices around the country

E. Whig Party 1. Leaders: Henry Clay, Daniel Webster

2. Supporters

a. Eastern bankers

b. merchants and industrialists

c. large southern plantation owners

F. Era ends over the issue of slavery

1. Whigs collapse (Clay and Webster die)

2. Democrats split into 2 sharply divided groups, North and South.

G. Republican party develops

1. Whigs and antislavery Democrats.

2. Starts in 1854.

III. The Era of the Republicans, 1860-1932

A. The Civil War brings the beginning of the second era of one-party domination.

B. Republicans 1. Lincoln was the first Republican president.

2. Republican Supportersa. Business and financial interestsb. Farmersc. Laborersd. Newly freed African AmericansC. Democrats1. Crippled by the Civil War2. Maintain control in the “Solid South.”

Third Party System:Realingment of 1860

A. A new party emerges out of the slavery issue = RepublicansB. GOP becomes the dominant party for 60 years; Democrats are the

minorityC. GOP is the party of the Union and of abolition

– 1. they are also the party of business, national expansion– 2. draw most support from northeast/midwest (tariff) and west (land

policies); some support in South from freed slavesD. Democrats are the minority party

– 1. base of power in South– 2. northern Democrats were more progressive

• -opposed to high tariffs• -favored womens suffrage, income tax, free silver

– 3. only presidential victories between 1860 and 1932 =• -Grover Cleveland (1885-1889, 1893-1897), and• -Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)• -occured during splits in GOP

E. From 1860 until 1896, Democrats and GOP roughly even

D. Election of 1896

1. William McKinley- Republican

a. Favored the Gold Standard

b. Supported big business, monopolies and the railroads.

2. William Jennings Bryan

a. Favored free silver

b. Supported by farmers and newly emerging unions

Fourth Party System:Realignment of 1896

A. Solidified Republican majority, but also contributed to splits within the party

B. Democrats move to the left, following the populist policies of William Jennings Bryant, a charismatic, fundamentalist, populist

C. Alienates many Democrats in the north and eastD. GOP becomes much larger, but also less homogenous

– 1. regulars (Old Guard) vs. mugwumps (Progressives)– 2. split in party in 1912 gives election to Wilson

E. Experience of 1912 loss, resolidifies party (TR passes from the scene) and during 1920s, GOP becomes strongly associated with conservative, pro-business policies

Return of the Democrats1932-1968

A. Depression brings about a shift in the perception of the role of government in society and return Democrats to power

B. Franklin D. Roosevelt- Strong Social Welfare programs

C. Democrat Supporters a. Southerners b. Small Farmers c. Organized labor d. Big-City political organizations

Fifth Party System:Realignment of 1932

A. Brought on by the Great DepressionB. GOP President Herbert Hoover very unpopular

– 1. conservative– 2. considered aloof– 3. believes in riding out the storm

C. Democrats rally around FDR– 1. promises at first to do something -- compassionate– 2. later adopts a liberal, activist agenda

D. Democrats sweep into power nationally in 1932 elections, filters down to state elections over next several decades

Coalition Crackup

Question --- is New Deal realignment still operative?

A. Coalition undermined by defection of Solid South over racial matters– beginning in 1948, white southerners began to vote for

Republicans (or Independents) at presidential level

B. Labor and many northern poor have defected to GOP on occasion over economic and crime issues– -RMN, Reagan Democrats

C. Some Catholics have defected over abortionD. Obviously, coalition is not as strong as it once was

Divided Government

• Nixon (R) won in 1968 (left in 1972 over Watergate)• Ford (R) could not beat Jimmy Carter (D) in 1976• Carter hindered by Iranian hostage crisis and loses to

Ronald Reagan (R)• Reagan retires and George H. Bush (R) becomes

president• Clinton (D) defeats Bush in 1992• Clinton retires and George W. Bush (R) becomes

president in very close elections with Gore and Kerry • Democrats take back the White House and Congress in

the 2008, election – Democrats hold the White House and the Senate in 2012.

Realignment w/o Critical Election?

• Initially Republicans were unable to capitalize on the New Deal crackup– GOP victories largely personal -- RMN, RR– Democrats were the institutional party in Congress (except for

Senate 1980-1986; House post-1994)– Democrats controlled majority of state legislatures (30 both

houses, 14 one house) and governors' mansions (28) as of 1988.

• However, the Republicans have alternately gained control of both Houses of Congress as well as a majority of state governors & legislatures (although still fairly evenly split).

• This occurred over a long period: 1980 - 1994

Sixth Party System?• Was there a realigning “critical” election in 1980? 1994?• Did we experience a Republican Realignment in the 80’s & 90’s?• Was the 2008 election a realignment?• Or, have realignments ended?

– 1. are we now in an era of dealignment --- less commitment to parties, less discipline, more split ticket voting

– the increase in split-ticket voting, the marked decline in levels of public confidence in the federal government, and the weakening of partisan identification in the electorate may be a ‘dealignment’ of the party system

– 2. fates of different offices have been decoupled : “The fact that Ronald Reagan could win both contests [1980 & 84] by such decisive margins while the Democratic party retained control of such an important policy making body as the House of Representatives may tell us more about dealignment than any number of independents in the electorate.”

• Note, if so: – makes responsible party government harder– weakens the "mainspring" of policy change is it possible to have major changes

without realignment?

Why a Two Party System?

1. Historical: Founding Fathers, “agents of divisiveness and disunity”

2. Force of Tradition: Began with a two-party system, has always been a two-party system

3. The Electoral System: Single Member District- winner take all; only one can win or plurality- the largest number of votes wins. Both parties Shape election laws to protect the two-party system

4. American Ideological Consensus (general agreement): All Americans share the same ideals, principles and patterns of belief

Both Parties…

• Are moderate (“Big Tent” Ideology)

• Try to attract as many voters as possible

• Are built on compromise and try to occupy the middle of the road

• Take policy positions that do not differ a great deal from those of the other major party

Party Decay?

• Proportion of people who identify with a party on the decline since 1960.

• Split ticket voting increase

• Electoral Dealignment? A lessening of party loyalties in voting decisions

Post-New Deal Realignment

• Kevin Philips’ “Sunbelt Politics” or the “Southern Strategy”

• Changing American Voter: Rise of the independents and the “alienated” voter

• Religious v. Secular?

Party Ideology

• Liberal: advocates change, new philosophies, new ideas (Left, Democrats)

• Conservative: Avoids change, status quo or return to earlier times (Right, Republicans)

• http://www.balancedpolitics.org/ideology.htm

LIBERALS

• Usually embrace freedom of choice in personal matters

• Support significant government control of the economy and advocate regulation of business

• Favor environmental regulations• Defend civil liberties and free expression• Support government action to promote

equality, and tolerate diverse lifestyles.

Conservatives

• Tend to favor economic freedom and a free-market economy

• Frequently support laws to restrict personal behavior that violates traditional values

• Oppose excessive government control of business

• Endorses government action to defend morality and the traditional family structure

• Support a strong military• Oppose bureaucracy and high taxes, • Endorse strong law enforcement

Multiparty Systems

• Several major and many minor parties control government

• Based on economic class, interest, religious belief, or political ideology

• Broader representation of the electorate• Greater choice• Coalitions: temporary alliance of several groups

who come together to form a working majority and control the government

• Europe, other mature democracies

One Party Systems

• Dictatorships (China, Cuba)

• Party of the ruling group/person

• Many states always vote either for Democrats or Republicans

Party Membership Patterns

Democrats:http://www.democrats.org/African AmericansCatholicsJewsUnion MembersLatinosOther minoritiesProfessionalsFarmersEducated Women

Republicans:http://www.rnc.org/White Males

Protestants

Business Community

Party Membership Patterns

People identify with a party:• Family• Events (War, Depression)• Economic Status (Higher: Republican, lower:

Democrats)• Age• Place of Residence• Level of Education• Work Environment

Minor Parties

• Difficult to describe and classify

• Usually based on one idea or issue

• Short-Lived

• Have no shot of electing a president to office

Minor Parties

Four Types:

1. Ideological Parties: Based on a particular set of beliefs (Marxist’s and Libertarian)

2. Single-Issue Party: Focus on one public-policy matter (Right to Life Party)

3. Economic Protest Parties: Rooted in periods of economic turmoil (Greenback’s)

4. Splinter Parties: Split away from the major parties (Bull Moose)

Why Minor Parties are Important

• First used a national convention to recruit presidential candidates (1831)

• Spoiler Role • Critic and innovator of major parties- take

stands on controversial issues (progressive income tax: Larger % from higher income, lower % from lower

income. Gun control, women’s suffrage, old-age pensions)

Minor Parties

• Reform Party: Ross Perot • Libertarian Party• Natural Law• Constitution• Socialist• Prohibition• Green• http://www.americafirstparty.org/• http://www.gp.org/index.php

Social Movements

• What is a social movement?

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_movement

• The Tea Party

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_movement

• Occupy Wall Street

• http://occupywallst.org/

Party Organization

• Decentralized, Fragmented, Disjointed• Full of factions• Internal squabbling • No chain of command from National to State to Local level• Local units independent of State units• http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/

VideoDetail.aspx?video_id=423

Party Organization

• The Role of the Presidency: Party more cohesive and organized. President is party leader- minor party leaderless/powerless

• Impact of Federalism: Government is decentralized, so are parties

• Nominating Process: candidate selection is an intraparty process and the process is divisive. Members within each party fight for nomination, fragments the party.

• http://c-spanclassroom.org/VideoDetail.aspx?Video_ID=426

Political Parties 3 components:1. Party Organization: Decides

leaders2. Party in the electorate: Those

who vote the straight party ticket3. Party in Government: Office

holdersWeakened state of the party:1. Sharp drop in loyal party voters2. Increase in split-ticket voting3. Reform: Parties more open,

more fragmented4. Use of the Media5. Growth of single-issue

organizations

Any Final Questions?