Political PartiesPolitical Parties

and

Interest GroupsInterest Groups

• Organize the CompetitionOrganize the Competition

• Unify the ElectorateUnify the Electorate

• Help Organize GovernmentHelp Organize Government

• Translate Preference into PolicyTranslate Preference into Policy

• Provide Loyal OppositionProvide Loyal Opposition

Party Functions

Recruit and Recruit and nominate nominate candidates candidates for officefor office

Organize the Competition

Register and Register and activate votersactivate voters

Raise moneyRaise money

Provide Provide candidates candidates with research with research and voter listsand voter lists Enlist volunteersEnlist volunteers

The ability of parties to influence the The ability of parties to influence the selection of candidates varies by the selection of candidates varies by the nominating system used in the state.nominating system used in the state.

Organize the Competition

The ability of parties to influence the The ability of parties to influence the selection of candidates varies by the selection of candidates varies by the nominating system used in the state.nominating system used in the state.

CaucusCaucusMeeting of party leaders and active members.

Organize the Competition

The ability of parties to influence the The ability of parties to influence the selection of candidates varies by the selection of candidates varies by the nominating system used in the state.nominating system used in the state.

CaucusCaucusMeeting of party leaders and active members.

Organize the Competition

Closed Primaries

Closed Primaries

Require voters to indicate their

party affiliation before Election

Day.

The ability of parties to influence the The ability of parties to influence the selection of candidates varies by the selection of candidates varies by the nominating system used in the state.nominating system used in the state.

CaucusCaucusMeeting of party leaders and active members.

Organize the Competition

Closed Primaries

Closed Primaries

Require voters to indicate their

party affiliation before Election

Day.

Open PrimariesOpen PrimariesVoters choose which party

primary in which to participate on Election Day.

The ability of parties to influence the The ability of parties to influence the selection of candidates varies by the selection of candidates varies by the nominating system used in the state.nominating system used in the state.

CaucusCaucusMeeting of party leaders and active members.

Organize the Competition

Closed Primaries

Closed Primaries

Require voters to indicate their

party affiliation before Election

Day.

Open PrimariesOpen PrimariesVoters choose which party

primary in which to participate on Election Day.

Blanket PrimariesBlanket PrimariesVoters cast ballots for candidates for any party on Election Day.

Types of BallotsTypes of BallotsParty Column Party Column

BallotBallotPresident

Sam Sludge (Democrat) Charley Chum (Republican)

Governor Jane Jungle (Democrat) Randy Rough (Republican)

U.S. Senator Walt Wilt (Democrat) Don Dandy (Republican)

Representative Lucy Luck (Democrat) Fred Fiddle (Republican)

Types of BallotsTypes of BallotsOffice Block BallotOffice Block Ballot

President Sam Sludge (Democrat) Charley Chum (Republican)

Governor Jane Jungle (Democrat) Randy Rough (Republican)

U.S. Senator Walt Wilt (Democrat) Don Dandy (Republican)

Representative Lucy Luck (Democrat) Fred Fiddle (Republican)

There is a strong incentive in both There is a strong incentive in both parties to fight out their differences parties to fight out their differences inside the party but then come inside the party but then come together to take on the opposition.together to take on the opposition.

In order to win elections, parties In order to win elections, parties need to reach out to voters outside need to reach out to voters outside their party and gain support.their party and gain support.

Unify the Electorate

Congress is organized along party Congress is organized along party lines. The political party with the lines. The political party with the most votes in each chamber elects most votes in each chamber elects the officers of that chamber, the officers of that chamber, select the chair of each select the chair of each committee, and has a majority on committee, and has a majority on all the committees.all the committees.

Help Organize Government

Help Organize Government

PatronagePatronageDispensing government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party.

Because of the Civil Service Act, patronage is limited to the top posts which number about 4,000 in the federal government.

Help Organize Government

PatronagePatronageDispensing government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party.

Because of the Civil Service Act, patronage is limited to the top posts which number about 4,000 in the federal government.

Plum Book

Plum Book

A list o

f the

patronage jobs in

the federal

government.

American parties have only limited American parties have only limited success in setting the course of success in setting the course of national policy.national policy.

Translate Preference into Policy

Because American parties do not Because American parties do not control nominations, they are unable control nominations, they are unable to discipline members who express to discipline members who express views contrary to those of the party.views contrary to those of the party.

After a polite interval following an After a polite interval following an election - the honeymoon - the election - the honeymoon - the opposition party begins to criticize the opposition party begins to criticize the party that controls the White House.party that controls the White House.

The length of the honeymoon depends The length of the honeymoon depends in part on how contentious the agenda in part on how contentious the agenda of the new administration is and on the of the new administration is and on the leadership skills of the new president.leadership skills of the new president.

Provide Loyal Opposition

Roles of Political Parties

PARTIES

eople Participation

rgue for Balance

aise Funds

o Lead

ssue Identification

ducate the Voter

elects Candidates

Spacial Theory of Spacial Theory of ElectionsElectionsThis theory assumes that all This theory assumes that all

political issues can be political issues can be represented by a single left-represented by a single left-right scale, and that all parties, right scale, and that all parties, politicians, and voters can be politicians, and voters can be placed on this scale.placed on this scale.

Voters know exactly where they Voters know exactly where they and the candidates stand on the and the candidates stand on the issue scale.issue scale.

All people vote choosing the All people vote choosing the candidate whose views are candidate whose views are closest to theirs.closest to theirs.

Ass

um

pti

ons

Ass

um

pti

ons

I beg your pardon, but which one of you is the Democrat?

Spacial Theory of Spacial Theory of ElectionsElectionsMedian Voter HypothesisMedian Voter Hypothesis

The best possible position for a The best possible position for a politician who cares only about politician who cares only about winning elections is the center -- winning elections is the center -- that is, in the position of the that is, in the position of the median voter.median voter.

Campaign to the Campaign to the right in primary right in primary elections then move elections then move to the center in the to the center in the national national election.election.

United StatesUnited StatesTwo-Party SystemTwo-Party System

Congress and State Legislatures Congress and State Legislatures are divided into districts. Each are divided into districts. Each district elects a single member district elects a single member by plurality as its by plurality as its representative. representative.

Third party Third party candidates almost candidates almost always lose in this always lose in this type of system.type of system.

Great BritainGreat BritainMultiparty SystemMultiparty System

Districts are not designated with Districts are not designated with the Multiparty system. Candidates the Multiparty system. Candidates run at large and the legislatures are run at large and the legislatures are divided by the proportional vote a divided by the proportional vote a party received in the election. party received in the election. Such a system benefits third party Such a system benefits third party candidates in an election. candidates in an election.

(Proportional Representation)

The supreme authority in both major political parties is the …

NATIONAL PARTY CONVENTION

… which meets every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president, ratify the party platform, and adopt party rules.

National CommitteeRank-and-file operating committee of a political party

Committee ChairThe top official who leads the National Committee

Campaign CommitteeCongressional and Senate committees who recruit candidates, train them, and assist members with campaign funds.

State Committee

County Committee

Young Democrats

Federation of Republican

Women

Party Auxiliaries

Log Cabin Republicans

State Committee

County Committee

Young Democrats

Federation of Republican

Women

Party Auxiliaries

Log Cabin Republicans

In recent elections the campaign efforts of state and county organizations have been aided by financial assistance from the party’s national committee, which has distributed millions of dollars in soft money.

Legislative Branch1. Chairs come from the

majority party2. Leaders of Congress

come from the majority party.

3. Congressional staffs are partisan

4. Patronage jobs awarded (Doormen, elevator operator, chaplain, police)

Executive Branch1. Senior White House

staff and cabinet members usually come from the president’s party.

2. Cabinet-level appointments, ambassadorships, advisers all come from the president’s party.

Judicial Branch1. Lifetime appointments provide judges with a

nonpartisan position.2. Judges do not sit on the bench by political party.3. Party identification remains an important

consideration in the naming of federal judges.

State & Local Levels1. Parties are unimportant in the

government of city councils or school boards.

2. In most states, parties are important to the operation of the legislatures and executive branches.

3. Nebraska’s legislature is nonpartisan.

Party RegistrationThe purpose of party registration is to limit the participants in primary elections to members of that party and to make it easier to contact people who might vote for their party

Party Activists

Party Regulars1. Place the part

first2. Value winning

elections3. Willing to

compromise to reach their objectives.

Candidate Activists

1. Followers of a particular candidate.

2. Usually not interested in other party activities

Issue ActivistsThey wish to push the party in a particular direction based on issues: abortion; taxes; school prayer; environment; civil rights.

An informal and subjective affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood, a standing preference for one party over another.

1. Party identification is the single best predictor of how people will vote.

2. Strong Republicans or Democrats participate more actively in politics than any other group.

3. Pure independents vote at the lowest rates and have the lowest levels of interest and awareness.

Critical Elections Critical Elections &&

Part y Realignment TheoryPart y Realignment TheoryCritical Elections

Elections that disrupt party Elections that disrupt party coalitions and create new ones in coalitions and create new ones in party realignment.party realignment.

Party RealignmentA long-term shift in the electoral A long-term shift in the electoral balance between the major balance between the major parties.parties.

Party DealignmentParty Dealignment

Party DealignmentA trend in which voter A trend in which voter loyalties to the two major loyalties to the two major parties weakens.parties weakens.

His

tory

of

Polit

ical Part

ies

His

tory

of

Polit

ical Part

ies

First Party System (1796-1824)First Party System (1796-1824)

Federalists• Strong central government• Conservative• Capitalist interests• Broad interpretation of the Constitution

Democratic-Republicans• States Rights• Liberal• Agricultural interests• Strict interpretation of the Constitution

Jefferson

Adams

Van BurenPolk

PierceBuchanan

His

tory

of

Polit

ical Part

ies

His

tory

of

Polit

ical Part

ies

Second Party System (1828-1826)Second Party System (1828-1826)

Whigs• Anti-Jackson Party• Abolitionists• Anti-Expansion

Democrat• “Common Man”• Strong Central

Government• Western interests

Harrison

Taylor

Jackson

His

tory

of

Polit

ical Part

ies

His

tory

of

Polit

ical Part

ies

Third Party System (1860-1892)Third Party System (1860-1892)

Democrat• States Rights• Conservative• Broad interpretation of the Constitution

Republican• Strong Central Government• Liberal• Abolitionists

Lincoln

His

tory

of

Polit

ical Part

ies

His

tory

of

Polit

ical Part

ies

Fourth Party System (1896-1928)Fourth Party System (1896-1928)

Republican• Defended business• Supported the gold standard• Opposed the

Progressive Movement

Democrat• Expansion of the money

supply - silver• Represented farmers & workers• Supported the

Progressive MovementCleveland

McKinley

His

tory

of

Polit

ical Part

ies

His

tory

of

Polit

ical Part

ies

Fifth Party System (1932-Fifth Party System (1932-PresentPresent))

Republican• Endorse “laissez-faire”• Support a flat tax• Endorse the interests of the

upper-middle class and the wealthy.

Democrat• Support New Deal Programs• Opposed “laissez-faire”• Progressive Tax Program

Reagan

F.D.R.

Third PartiesThird PartiesDoctrinal PartiesDoctrinal Parties

Professes a particular doctrine

EnvironmenEnvironmentt

Consumer Consumer ProtectionProtection

Third PartiesThird PartiesTransient PartiesTransient Parties

Short-lived which emerge our of economic protests and secessionist movements

PartyParty

ReformReformss

Australian BallotDirect

PrimaryMerit Civil Service System

Federal Election Federal Election CommissionCommission

A bipartisan commission that has responsibility to enforce campaign finance laws and to administer public funding of presidential elections.

The six-member commission is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Campaign RulesCampaign Rules

Contribution LimitsContribution Limits•• Individuals can give no more Individuals can give no more than than $5,000 a year to a PAC or $5,000 a year to a PAC or political party.political party.

• • Contributions to any candidate Contributions to any candidate is is limited to $2,000 per election.limited to $2,000 per election.

• • The total contribution is limited The total contribution is limited to to $95,000 per year.$95,000 per year.

Campaign RulesCampaign RulesPublic FinancingPublic Financing

• • Matching funds for Matching funds for candidates in candidates in primary elections up to $5 primary elections up to $5 million.million.

• • Public funding is available Public funding is available to to presidential nominating presidential nominating conventions.conventions.

• • Public funding is provided Public funding is provided for for general election general election campaigningcampaigning.

Campaign RulesCampaign Rules

Spending LimitsSpending Limits• • Presidential candidates may Presidential candidates may spend spend no more than $50,000 of no more than $50,000 of their own their own money if they accept public money if they accept public funding.funding.

• • Candidates are limited to Candidates are limited to the the amount they spend in each amount they spend in each state. state. (16¢ per voting-age resident (16¢ per voting-age resident and and adjusted for inflation)adjusted for inflation)