POLITICAL PARTIES Ch. 5

5. 1 in a nutshell: POLITICAL PARTIES

A Political Party is a group of people who try to control government by winning elections and holding public offices.

Functions:1. Nominate Candidates2. Inform and inspire voters3. Ensure candidate quality4. Help govern

Partisanship: allegiance to a political party.

5. Act as watchdogs Keep an eye on the party in power.

5.2 TWO PARTY SYSTEM

Why a two-party system? Historically - Framers were opposed to

political parties and did not add any provisions regarding parties. First two parties: Federalists and Anti-Federalists, before the constitution was even ratified.

Force of Tradition - We keep a two-party system because it always has been one.

Is the two-party system best?

“Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.”  ~Richard Armour

“Politicians are like diapers.  They both need changing regularly and for the same reason.”  ~Author Unknown

“Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.”  ~Plato

Basic structure of election process supports two party system.

Only one candidate can fill a position. This is called single member districts.

Plurality- who ever gets the most votes takes office when only one person can win.

Legislators work together (bipartisan) to discourage minor party candidates.Getting name on ballot –regulations,

procedures

MULTIPARTY SYSTEMSSystem in which several major parties and many minor ones compete for, and win, public office. Ex. European democracies, other emerging democracies.

Multiparty System Strengths:Broader representationMore responsive to the will of the people.Voters would have more choice for

issues and candidates

Multiparty WeaknessesMay lead to instabilityOne party is unable to win majority

Officials often come from variety of parties and share power in a coalition, a working alliance of several groups to control government.

Frequent changes in party control.

ONE-PARTY SYSTEM

AKA: The “No party system”Party is usually party of the ruling group (as in dictators).

U.S. has had states in which a practical one-party system occurred. South during Civil War –Democrat North during Civil War –Republican Others?

One of the majority parties regularly wins most political offices in the state.

REPUBLICAN vs. DEMOCRATWork independently to write down 5 generalizations about each party. What are the 2 – 3 characteristics of

party voters? What are 2 – 3 issues important to

them?

Lets discuss/brainstorm differences between our two major parties. Please remember that this can be a

loaded topic and emotions can run high, so keep your comments mature and civil.

REPUBLICAN Founded in 1854, often called the GOP (Grand Old Party) Generalizations::

Emphasize liberty; free markets and individual achievement

Supply Side Economics: Decreased taxes increases jobs

Oppose New Deal Strong on Defense, cut taxes. Skeptical of Global Warming Pro-life, pro-traditional family, anti-same sex marriage,

pro-gun, anti-public education (school choice), anti-immigration.

Pro-War (defense) Voters tend to be: male, traditional families, judeo-

Christian, high-income, in military.

DEMOCRATS Emphasize equality; sharing the wealth. Economics – Tax the rich, more social services, minimum

wage. Support New Deal. Pro-choice, gay rights, pro-welfare, pro-universal

healthcare, pro-education, pro-immigration. Lower defense spending. Environmentalist: Renewable energy. Voters tend to be academic (full-time faculty members),

youth, labor (unionized), women, LGBT, African-American, Hispanic American, Jewish American, and Arab American.

HISTORY OF POLITICAL PARTIES5.3

FIRST POLITICAL PARTIES

Federalists vs. Anti-FederalistsFederalists wanted to ratify constitutionAnti-federalists did notGeorge Washington and John Adams

controlled Whitehouse. Both were Federalists.

Election of 1800Thomas Jefferson beat incumbent John

AdamsAnti-federalists became Democratic-

Republicans, and later Democrats.

FOUR ERAS OF POLITICAL PARTIES1. 1800-1860: Democrats

Small farmers, debtors, frontier pioneers, and slaveholders.

Anti-FederalistsJeffersonian RepublicansJacksonian Democrats

2. 1860-1932: Republican Party Businesses, financial interests,

farmers, laborers, and newly freed African-Americans.

Sectionalism: North was Republican, South was Democrat

FOUR ERAS CONTINUED

1. 1932-1968: Democrats Southerners, small farmers, labor

union members, and city dwellers.2. 1969-2010: ???

Has not been a dominant party, and has executive is usually different party than legislative.

MINOR PARTIES5.4

5.4 – THE MINOR PARTIES Four Types:

1. Ideological Parties: based on certain social, economic, or political ideas

Ex: Constitutionalists, Libertarians

2. Single-issue parties: Focus on one public policy matter. Try to get

Ex: Green Party, Pro-Life

3. Economic protest parties: Appear in tough economic times.

Ex: Tea Party, Greenback Party

4. Splinter parties: Break away from one of the major parties

Ex: Progressive Party

Assignment Focus: THE MINOR PARTIES

1. What type of minor party is yours? Ideological Party, Single Issue Party, Economic Protest Party, or Splinter Party? (Note: it may be two)

2. What political conditions inspired the creation of this party?

3. What is/was the platform (i.e. what issues) that this minor party brings to the table?

4. How does/did your party influence the Republican and Democratic parties? How did the Republican and Democrat parties respond?

5. Compare your party to the others!

MINOR PARTIES Independent Party?

How much of the vote? What kind of impact? Platform?

Green Party What is main issue? Platform? Other issues? Liberal or conservative?

Libertarians Platform? How do they do in elections?

Tea Party Difference from Libertarians? Actual party?

COMPARING THE PARTIESISSUE IDEOLOGIES PARTIES Pro-Gun

Republican Libertarian, Tea Party, Independent

Pro-Laissez Faire Republican

Libertarian, Tea Party, Independent

Pro- same-sex marriage Democrat

Libertarian, Green Party

Pro-Choice Democrat

Green Party, Independent, Libertarians?

Feminist Movement Democrat

Progressives (Women’s suffrage), Green Party, Libertarian

IMPACT OF PROGRESSIVE PARTY ON DEMOCRATS

A National Health Service to include all existing government medical agencies.

Social insurance, to provide for the elderly, the unemployed, and the disabled.

Farm relief. Workers' compensation for work-related injuries. An inheritance tax. A Constitutional amendment to allow a Federal

income tax. Women's suffrage. Direct election of Senators. Primary elections for state and federal nominations. The initiative (citizens may propose a law by petition

and enact it by popular vote).

Which of the following do we have today?

Newest Influential Minor Party: The TEA Party What have you heard about them?

Platform: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_movement#.22Contract_from_America.22

Winners/Losers: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Election-2010/2010/

1103/Tea-Party-Top-10-biggest-winners-and-losers/Marco-Rubio-Florida

Will they affect the Republican party as much as the Progressive Party affected the Democrats?

What is different about the Tea Party from other parties?

PARTY ORGANIZATION5.5

5.5: PARTY ORGANIZATION Decentralization of Political Parties

Major parties are decentralized (power is spread), fragmented, disjointed. By nature political parties have various factions and internal squabbling within. ex. Tea Party

City and state parties are loosely tied with the national party structure.

NATIONAL PARTY MACHINERYaka: Answers to 5.5

There are four basic elements fundamental to party structure at the national level.

 1. The National Convention “national voice”

When: Occurs the summer before a presidential election

Role: nominate the presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Also adopts party rules and writes it’s platform.

 2. The National Committee

When: Between conventions. Role: Plans next convention Committee: made up of a committeeman and

woman from each state and various territories.  

3. The National ChairpersonWhen: Chosen to a 4-year term.Role: leader of the National Committee.

Directs party headquarters, strengthens party.

In election years they are focused on convention and campaigning.

In between years are spent raising money, recruiting new voters, etc.

 4. The Congressional Campaign Committees

When: two years, during term of congressRole: Work to re-elect incumbents and

unseat other parties incumbents.Each party also has a campaign committee

in each house of congress. Members are chosen by colleagues as with

other congressional committees.

9. 2 FACTORS THAT LEAD TO DECENTRALIZATION OF PARTIES:

What does decentralization mean?Pronounced: [dee sentrali zayshun] to reorganize something such as a political unit so that power is

shifted from a central or upper location to another less central place. FEDERAL -> STATES.

1. FederalismFederalism in itself decentralizes political

power between National, State and Local levels. It is natural that the parties striving to gain control of politics by being elected would also be spread among local and state levels.

 2. The Nominating Process

When making a presidential nomination, parties must debate amongst themselves as to who will win. This primary function of parties also causes it to have inner-conflict.

10. ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT IN POLITICAL PARTIESThe Presidents Party is usually more

united than the opposing party. President is the party leader, with

access to media, power to make appointments and dispense favors.

The Poster Child! The other party doesn’t have

anyone in a comparable position of leadership.

STATE & LOCAL PARTY MACHINERYThe State Organization – set by state law.

Built around State central committee headed by state chairperson. Work to organize and unite the party around the state,

although it is still decentralized. Find candidates Fundraise

Local Organization Local parties can be very different, but they usually have

a party unit for each district with elected offices to fill such as congressional seats, counties, cities, towns, wards, and precincts.

Wards – divide cities for the election of city council members

Precincts – smallest unit of election administration, where voters report on election day!

SOCIAL COMPONENTS OF THE PARTY

The party organization – leaders, activists and “hangers-on: - those who give $, time, skills.

The loyalists who regularly vote the straight party ticket, and others who consider themselves “members” of the party.

The party’s officeholders – elected officials, and appointed offices in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state and local governments.

  

SPLIT-TICKET VOTING

Many suspect two-party system is in trouble.No party has held power for a long period

of time.Split-ticket voting: voting for candidates

from different parties at different elections. Sharp rise in independent (or minor

party) voters.