Chapter 7

Political Parties

The Meaning of PartyPolitical Party:

A “team of men [and women] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.”

Parties can be thought of in three parts:Party in the electorateParty as an organizationParty in government

The Meaning of PartyTasks of the Parties

Linkage Institution: The channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda.These translate input from the public into

outputs from the policymakers.Parties Pick CandidatesParties Run CampaignsParties Give Cues to VotersParties Articulate PoliciesParties Coordinate Policymaking

The Meaning of PartyParties, Voters, and Policy: The Downs

ModelRational-choice theory: Assumes that

individuals act in their own best interest, weighing the costs & benefits.

Policies closest to the views of a majority of voters.

The Party in the ElectorateParty identification is a citizen’s self-

proclaimed preference for one party or the other.Recent party id trend: decline in both parties and

growth of independents. Ticket-splitting:

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices.

Ticket-splitting has become the norm in American voting behavior.

-Divided party government

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to WashingtonThese are the people that work for the party.Local Parties

Party Machines: A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements to win votes and to govern.

Patronage: A job, promotion or contract given for political reasons rather than merit. Used by party machines.

Now urban party organizations are generally weak.

County organizations have partially filled the void.

The Party Organization: From the Grass Roots to WashingtonThe 50 State Party Systems

Closed primaries: voters must be registered with their party in advance and can only vote for that party

Open primaries: voters decide on election day which party to participate in, and then only that party

Blanket primaries: voters get a list of all candidates and can vote for one name for each office, regardless of party label

State party organizations are on an upswing in terms of headquarters and budgets.

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to WashingtonThe National Party Organizations

National Convention: The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and the party’s platform.Supreme power within each of the parties

National Committee: One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions.

National Chairperson: Responsible for day-to-day activities of the party.

The Party in Government: Promises and PolicyThese are the party members actually

elected to government.Candidates are less dependent on parties

to get elected.Coalition:

A group of individuals with a common interest upon which every political party depends.

Parties & politicians generally do what they say they will do.For every broken promise, many more will be

kept.

Party Eras inAmerican HistoryAmerica is a two party system.Party Eras

Historical periods in which a majority of votes cling to the party in power.

Critical ElectionAn electoral “earthquake” where new issues

and new coalitions emerge.Party Realignment

The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election.

Party Eras inAmerican History1796-1824: The First Party System

Madison warned of “factions”First party were the FederalistsDemocratic-Republicans were the party that

defeated the Federalists.-led by Jefferson, Madison, & Monroe

1828-1856: Jackson and the Democrats Versus the WhigsModern party founded by Jackson, who

forged a new political coalition.Whigs formed mainly in opposition to

Democrats

Party Eras inAmerican History1860-1928: The Two Republican Eras

Republicans rose as the antislavery party1896 election revolved around the gold standard

and silverResulted in party realignment and entrenched republicans

another generation1932-1964: The New Deal Coalition

Forged by the Democrats - relied upon urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, and African Americans.

LBJ’s Vietnam policies tore Democrats apartin 1968.

Party Eras in American HistoryParty Coalitions Today (Figure 8.2)

Party Eras in American History1968-Present: The Era of Divided Party

GovernmentNixon started the era of divided party

gov’t.Continued with Reagan, Bush, and

eventually Clinton.Political Scientists believe we could be

seeing an era of party dealignment.Party dealignment - disengagement of

people from parties

Party Eras in American HistoryPartisan Control of State Governments:

2005 (Figure 8.3)

Third Parties: Their Impact on American PoliticsParties other than Democrat or Republican3 types of third parties

Parties promoting single issuesSplinter partyParties that are extensions of popular

individuals with presidential aspirations.Rarely win electionsThird parties bring new groups and ideas

into politics

Understanding Political PartiesDemocracy and Responsible Party

GovernmentResponsible Party model:

Parties must present distinct, comprehensive programs for governing the nation.

Majority party must implement its programs, and minority party must state what it would do if it were in power.

Majority party accepts responsibility.Voters would know who to blame!Critics:

Believe its not appropriate for the type of limited gov’t that the founders sought to create.

Understanding Political PartiesAmerican Political Parties and the Scope

of GovernmentLack of uniformity keeps government

smallBut, it also makes cutting government

programs harder to do

Understanding Political PartiesIs the Party Over?

One of the key problems for political parties is that they are no longer the chief source of information for voters.

Television allows voters to find out about candidates without party information.

Parties still have a role in articulating policies.