Political Parties--Characteristics--Historical Development--Reasons for 2-Party System--Party Dynamics 1

Parties—Characteristics• I. Definition:• A. any group organized under a common label for the purpose of

nominating and electing people to governmental office• II. Characteristics of the American Party System• A. DECENTRALIZED Authority—NOT disciplined, NOT constant.

Three facets of parties (ways to think of “party”):• 1. party as electorate: voters—why no real discipline?• a. voters self-select, so party has no real control over them.

• 2. party as organization: people who work for the parties—why no real discipline?• a. most elections occur at state and local level, no real national input

• 3. party as government: people who serve in government—why no real discipline?• a. constituents control nominations, so MCs are more responsive their

constituents, than to the party

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Parties—Historical Development• I. The Two-Party System—Founders distrusted parties• A. Historical Pattern—Party Eras with Realignments (when a new

“party system” forms). Signs of political realignment:• 1. New party forms, OR• 2. Shift in traditional patterns of support (“New Deal coalition”)• a. “Critical election” = when a political realignment occurs

• B. Party Systems in U.S. history:• 1. 1796 – 1820: Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans• Issues: power of national government, business vs. agricultural interests

• 2. 1828 – 1856: Whigs vs. Democrats• Issues: slavery, class-based issues

• 3. 1860 – 1892: Republicans vs. Democrats• Issues: national power (marked by close electoral contests)

• 4. 1896 – 1932: Republicans vs. Democrats• Issues: populism (The Wizard of Oz), debtors vs. lenders

• 5. 1932 - ?: Republicans vs. Democrats• Issues: social welfare, national supremacy

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Parties—Why 2 Parties?• I. Reasons for Two-Party System• A. Single-member plurality districts (SMPD) system

• 1. Votes for 3rd parties are wasted (not so in PR systems)• B. Barriers to 3rd Parties

• 1. Signature requirements• 2. Media pays little attention

• C. Benefits given to major parties• 1. Automatic funding for presidential candidates• a. 5% - 25% threshold for “minor” party candidates to get funding

• D. Socialization of the electorate• E. 3rd-party co-optation by major parties

• 1. Ross Perot• F. U.S. lacks a strong labor movement

• II. Historical Effects of 3rd parties:• A. Raise issues (Perot)• B. Affect outcomes (TR in 1912, Buchanon in 2000)

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Party—Dynamics • I. Party Composition—Diverse, Non-ideological, Moderate• A. Why?

• 1. Characteristics of the electorate (though more polarized over time?)• a. median voter hypothesis

• 2. Priority of election function

• II. Functions of Parties in U.S. Political System• A. Contest Elections

• 1. recruit candidates• 2. nominate candidates• 3. mobilize voters• 4. run campaigns

• B. Promote an Ideology (“namebrand”)• 1. offer and promote a vision of goals

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Party—Dynamics • II. Functions of Parties in U.S. Political System (cont.)• C. Form and Run Governments

• 1. Organize government’s structures (parties in the House of Reps)• 2. Coordinate across government’s structures• a. Compensate for effects of checks and balances

• D. Promote Accountability• 1. Use Party ID as a voting cue• 2. Organized opposition encourages voting choice

• E. Limit the Intensity of Conflict• 1. two-party system forces parties to compete for moderate voters

• III. Recent Trends in the U.S. Party System—Trends in:• A. Party as electorate• B. Party as organization• C. Party as government

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Party—Dynamics • A. Recent Trends in Party as Electorate: Dealignment• 1. Party identification and loyalty in decline

• a. rise of independents (but LEANERS act like party members??)• b. split-ticket voting: significant level

• B. Recent Trends in Party as Organization• 1. State/Local Parties: Trend has been long-term weakening• Example: Election Day 1875—when elections were FUN!

• Jobs (“patronage”/ “spoils system”)• Welfare rolls• Voting (“vote early, vote often!”)• Ballots (party ballots)• Drinking! (when parties were PAR-TAYS!!)

• Progressive Reforms• a. “civil service”• b. Government, instead of parties, take over welfare• c. voter registration• d. Australian (non-partisan) ballot

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Party—Dynamics • B. Recent Trends in Party as Organization (cont.)• 2. National & State Parties—lose control of nominations

• a. caucuses replaced by primaries• Types of primaries

• i. Closed• ii. Open (Nebraska option? YES!)• iii. blanket (ruled unconstitutional)• Who votes in primaries? EFFECTS on politics?

• 3. National Parties: recent revival• a. “soft money”• Magnitude of soft money

• b. McCain-Feingold (BCRA)—stopping soft money• c. Citizens United—big money renewed (though not necessarily

through the parties)

• C. Recent Trends in Party as Government: Recently stronger• 1. More voting cohesion: Polarization

• a. Congressional party leaders strengthened

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Party—Dynamics • D. Recent Trends in the Party Environment• 1. TV/Media Importance: Weakens parties

• a. TV/Media shifts control over access to voters from party to candidate

• 2. Increase of Interest Groups: Weakens parties• a. Interest groups more focused on an individual message• b. undermines parties’ ability to build coalitions

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