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Political PartiesBlessing or Curse?
The Videos
Chris Christie’s keynote speech in Tampa for 2012 RNC
Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at 2008 DNC
Political Parties Defined
Definition: Organization of people whose purpose is to win elections and control both government positions and policy
NO Mention in the Constitution!
Warning!
The Federalists papers and good ol’ GW (George Washington) warned the young nation about the dangers of political parties
There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.
Federalists vs Anti-Federalists debates during the ratification of the new Constitution
First political parties:
Jefferson’s Democratic Republicans
Hamilton’s Federalists
The Beginning
Function of Political Parties
Organize:
People with similar agendas
Campaigns / elections
Disparate groups into one
Find candidates for office
Coordinate different branches of gov’t
Hold those in office accountable
Why only two?
Tradition
Obstacles to two parties
State laws give control over ballot access to successful parties from prior elections
Federal financing laws give matching grants to successful parties
Why Third Parties Develop
Failure of major parties to represent an emerging constituency
Promotion of an ideology or specific issue
Libertarian: limit gov’t interference
Free Soil: no extension of slavery (1848)
Populist Party: reform in politics and economics (1892)
Frustration with the major parties
non-responsiveness of the two major parties