Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Seriously I still believe that Seriously I still believe that this isn’t working for no onethis isn’t working for no one

Minor PartiesMinor Parties They look forward to future change, when they think they will be They look forward to future change, when they think they will be

appreciated.appreciated. Not interested in immediate electoral success, which explains their Not interested in immediate electoral success, which explains their

persistence.persistence. Only minors parties to win electoral votes were the Populists, Only minors parties to win electoral votes were the Populists,

States’ Rights Democrats and the American Independent PartyStates’ Rights Democrats and the American Independent Party Factional parties may cause the defeat of the party they split fromFactional parties may cause the defeat of the party they split from

Ex. Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party, which split from the Republican Ex. Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party, which split from the Republican party, cause the party to split, leading to the election of Woodrow Wilson, a party, cause the party to split, leading to the election of Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat.Democrat.

Surprising that we have not had more minor parties, since several Surprising that we have not had more minor parties, since several major events, such as civil rights movements, might have major events, such as civil rights movements, might have propelled them upwards.propelled them upwards.

Minor parties develop ideas that major parties eventually adopt.Minor parties develop ideas that major parties eventually adopt.

The Rise and Decline of the Political PartyThe Rise and Decline of the Political Party

In between the early and the present In between the early and the present days, Parties arose & became powerful.days, Parties arose & became powerful.

The process is in four broad periodsThe process is in four broad periods When Political Party’s were createdWhen Political Party’s were created

Roughly from the Founding to the 1820’sRoughly from the Founding to the 1820’s The more or less stubble two way party system emergedThe more or less stubble two way party system emerged

From the time of president Jackson to the Civil WarFrom the time of president Jackson to the Civil War When parties developed a comprehensive organizational When parties developed a comprehensive organizational

form & appeal were establishedform & appeal were established Roughly from the Civil War to the 1930’sRoughly from the Civil War to the 1930’s

Finally, when party “ Reform” began to alter the party Finally, when party “ Reform” began to alter the party system.system.

It began in the early 1900’s but it affected the New DealIt began in the early 1900’s but it affected the New Deal

State and Local PartiesState and Local Parties

In every state there is a democratic and a In every state there is a democratic and a republican state party organized under state law.republican state party organized under state law.

They typically each consist of a state central They typically each consist of a state central committee, county committees and some times committee, county committees and some times city committees.city committees.

In a few places strong party bosses handpick the In a few places strong party bosses handpick the members of these committees; in other places members of these committees; in other places powerful elected officials control the committees. powerful elected officials control the committees. In many places where no one is in charge the In many places where no one is in charge the party structure is largely meaningless or it is made party structure is largely meaningless or it is made up of the representatives of various local factions.up of the representatives of various local factions.

Different incentives lead to different ways of Different incentives lead to different ways of organizing parties organizing parties

The MachineThe Machine A A Political MachinePolitical Machine is a party organization that recruits its is a party organization that recruits its

members by the use of tangible incentives – money, political jobs, an members by the use of tangible incentives – money, political jobs, an opportunity to get favors from government – and that is opportunity to get favors from government – and that is characterized by a high degree of leadership control over member characterized by a high degree of leadership control over member activity.activity.

During the 1870’s it was estimated that one out of every 8 voters in During the 1870’s it was estimated that one out of every 8 voters in New York City had a federal, state, or city job.New York City had a federal, state, or city job.

The abuses of the machine were well known and gradually curtailed.The abuses of the machine were well known and gradually curtailed. The Hatch Act (passed by congress in 1939) made it illegal for The Hatch Act (passed by congress in 1939) made it illegal for

federal civil service employees to take an active part in political federal civil service employees to take an active part in political management or political campaigns. These restrictions slowly took management or political campaigns. These restrictions slowly took federal employees out of machine politics.federal employees out of machine politics.

As voters grew in education, income, and sophistication, they As voters grew in education, income, and sophistication, they depended less and less on the advice and leadership of local party depended less and less on the advice and leadership of local party officials.officials.

Although fraudulent, voter turnout was huge; more people Although fraudulent, voter turnout was huge; more people participated in politics when mobilized by a party machine than participated in politics when mobilized by a party machine than when appealed to by television or good government associations. when appealed to by television or good government associations.

The old style machine is almost extinct but a new-style machine is The old style machine is almost extinct but a new-style machine is emerged in a few places.emerged in a few places.

Ideological PartiesIdeological Parties

At the opposite extreme from the machine is the At the opposite extreme from the machine is the ideological partyideological party- A party that values principle - A party that values principle stands on issues above all else.stands on issues above all else.

For a candidate to win the party’s support he or For a candidate to win the party’s support he or she has to satisfy the “litmus test” demands of she has to satisfy the “litmus test” demands of the ideological activists in the party.the ideological activists in the party.

With social movements as their farm clubs, the With social movements as their farm clubs, the democrats and republicans behave very democrats and republicans behave very differently than they did when political machines differently than they did when political machines were the farm clubs.were the farm clubs.

Internal factionalism is more intense, and the Internal factionalism is more intense, and the freedom of action of the party leader has been freedom of action of the party leader has been greatly reduced.greatly reduced.

Solidary GroupsSolidary Groups Solidary incentivesSolidary incentives- The social rewards (sense of - The social rewards (sense of

pleasure, status, or companionship) that lead people to join pleasure, status, or companionship) that lead people to join political organizations. political organizations.

Some of these associations were once machines.Some of these associations were once machines. One study of political activists in Detroit found that most of One study of political activists in Detroit found that most of

them mentioned friendships and a liking for politics, rather them mentioned friendships and a liking for politics, rather than an interest in issues, as their reasons for joining the than an interest in issues, as their reasons for joining the party organization.party organization.

Since patronage has declined in value and since the Since patronage has declined in value and since the appeals of ideology are limited to a minority of citizens, the appeals of ideology are limited to a minority of citizens, the motivations for participating in politics have become very motivations for participating in politics have become very much like those for joining a bowling league or a bridge much like those for joining a bowling league or a bridge club.club.

The advantage of these groups is that they are neither The advantage of these groups is that they are neither corrupt nor inflexible; the disadvantage is that they often corrupt nor inflexible; the disadvantage is that they often do not work very hard. do not work very hard.

Sponsored PartiesSponsored Parties Sponsored Party- A local or state political party that is Sponsored Party- A local or state political party that is

largely supported by another organization in the largely supported by another organization in the community. It occurs when another organization exists in community. It occurs when another organization exists in the community that can create, or at least sponsor, a local the community that can create, or at least sponsor, a local party structure.party structure.

An example of this is the Democratic Party in and around An example of this is the Democratic Party in and around Detroit, which has been developed, led, and to a degree Detroit, which has been developed, led, and to a degree financed by the political-action arm of the United Auto financed by the political-action arm of the United Auto Workers union. Workers union.

By the mid 1950s union members and leaders made up By the mid 1950s union members and leaders made up over ¾ of all the Democratic Party district leaders within over ¾ of all the Democratic Party district leaders within the city.the city.

Not many areas have organizations as effective or as Not many areas have organizations as effective or as dominant as the UAW that can bolster, sponsor, or even dominant as the UAW that can bolster, sponsor, or even take over the weak formal party structure. Thus sponsored take over the weak formal party structure. Thus sponsored local parties are not common in the United States. local parties are not common in the United States.

Personal FollowingPersonal Following Personal followingPersonal following- The political support - The political support

provided to a candidate on the basis of provided to a candidate on the basis of personal popularity and networks.personal popularity and networks.

Candidates often form a personal following Candidates often form a personal following because they can no longer count on the because they can no longer count on the backing of a machine, sponsored parties are backing of a machine, sponsored parties are limited to a few unionized areas, and because limited to a few unionized areas, and because solidary groups are not always productivesolidary groups are not always productive. .

To form a personal following, the candidate To form a personal following, the candidate must have an appealing personality, a lot of must have an appealing personality, a lot of friends, or a big bank account.friends, or a big bank account.

The key asset is to have a known political The key asset is to have a known political name name

The Two-Party SystemThe Two-Party System Two-Party SystemTwo-Party System- An electoral system with two - An electoral system with two

dominant parties that compete in national elections.dominant parties that compete in national elections. By one estimate only 15 nations have one. By one estimate only 15 nations have one. We have only two parties with any chance of winning We have only two parties with any chance of winning

nationally, between 1888 and 2000, the republicans won 16 nationally, between 1888 and 2000, the republicans won 16 presidential elections and the democrats 13.presidential elections and the democrats 13.

Scholars do not entirely agree on why the two-party system Scholars do not entirely agree on why the two-party system should be so permanent a feature of American Political Life, should be so permanent a feature of American Political Life, but two explanations are of major importance. The first had but two explanations are of major importance. The first had to do with the system of elections, the second with the to do with the system of elections, the second with the distribution of public opinion.distribution of public opinion.

Plurality systemPlurality system- An electoral system in which the winner - An electoral system in which the winner is the person who gets the most votes, even if he or she is the person who gets the most votes, even if he or she does not receive a majority; used in almost all American does not receive a majority; used in almost all American elections.elections.

Elections at every level of gov’t are based on the plurality, Elections at every level of gov’t are based on the plurality, winner-take-all method.winner-take-all method.

Nominating a PresidentNominating a President

Conflicting forces: Candidates must be extreme to win Conflicting forces: Candidates must be extreme to win nomination but be moderate to win the election.nomination but be moderate to win the election.

Political activists and leaders have different views than Political activists and leaders have different views than party members.party members.

Democratic leaders are more liberal than democratic Democratic leaders are more liberal than democratic voters. Republican leaders are more conservative voters. Republican leaders are more conservative than republican votersthan republican voters

After 1972 there were more primaries than caucusesAfter 1972 there were more primaries than caucuses Only about half as many people vote in primary than in Only about half as many people vote in primary than in

general electionsgeneral elections Today, delegates don’t do it for the moneyToday, delegates don’t do it for the money Nominating conventions are influenced by ideologically Nominating conventions are influenced by ideologically

motivated activists.motivated activists.

Parties Vs. VotersParties Vs. Voters

Democrats win control of congress Democrats win control of congress but not presidency. Republicans win but not presidency. Republicans win control of presidency but no control of presidency but no congress.congress.

This is because Democrats tend to This is because Democrats tend to nominate people that are more nominate people that are more liberal than voters.liberal than voters.

To win, delegates must choose To win, delegates must choose candidates that match the views of candidates that match the views of the voters the most.the voters the most.

Parties-Here and AbroadParties-Here and Abroad

Political party is a group of people that looks for Political party is a group of people that looks for candidates who can get elected to public office.candidates who can get elected to public office.

Political parties support mostly known or Political parties support mostly known or familiar candidates. Other than supporting weak familiar candidates. Other than supporting weak candidatescandidates

The political party’s are found in a label as the The political party’s are found in a label as the mind of the people, as an organization that mind of the people, as an organization that recruits and campaigns for candidates, and as a recruits and campaigns for candidates, and as a set of leaders who try to organize the legislative set of leaders who try to organize the legislative and executive branch of the government.and executive branch of the government.

Political CulturePolitical Culture

Political parties in this country has Political parties in this country has rarely involved itself around the rarely involved itself around the average citizen, so that’s what average citizen, so that’s what makes it weak.makes it weak.

Unlike in Europe, many citizens will Unlike in Europe, many citizens will join a party, pay dies, and attend join a party, pay dies, and attend regular meetings.regular meetings.

In the U.S. we tend to keep parties In the U.S. we tend to keep parties separated from our daily life.separated from our daily life.

The FoundingThe Founding The Founders dislike parties, they thought of them The Founders dislike parties, they thought of them

as “Factions” motivated by ambition & self-interestas “Factions” motivated by ambition & self-interest Before political parties became legitimate, it was Before political parties became legitimate, it was

necessary for people to be able to separate in their necessary for people to be able to separate in their minds arguments about policies & elections from minds arguments about policies & elections from disputes over the legitimacy of the new Govt. itselfdisputes over the legitimacy of the new Govt. itself

The first organized political party in American The first organized political party in American History was made up of the followers of Jefferson.History was made up of the followers of Jefferson. Beginning in the 1790’s calling themselves Beginning in the 1790’s calling themselves

RepublicansRepublicans Hamilton kept the label FederalistHamilton kept the label Federalist

Republicans were successful than the Federalist Republicans were successful than the Federalist and made the Federalist cease to existand made the Federalist cease to exist