Political PartiesPolitical PartiesFunctionsFunctions

Political PartiesPolitical Parties Today many Americans take Today many Americans take

pride in their status as pride in their status as “independent” voters“independent” voters

Some see parties as lacking a Some see parties as lacking a vision for the countryvision for the country

Political PartiesPolitical Parties Since many people think that Since many people think that

each of the major parties only each of the major parties only cares about defeating or cares about defeating or humiliating the other, they humiliating the other, they avoid identification as a avoid identification as a “loyal Democrat”“loyal Democrat” or a or a “staunch Republican”“staunch Republican”

Political PartiesPolitical Parties These negative These negative

attitudes toward attitudes toward parties are parties are rooted in the rooted in the roles that roles that political parties political parties play in American play in American politicspolitics

Political PartiesPolitical Parties In most democracies political In most democracies political

parties are important parties are important institutions that link citizens institutions that link citizens to their governmentto their government

Political PartiesPolitical Parties The founders of the U.S. The founders of the U.S.

political system hoped to avoid political system hoped to avoid the “mischief” of political the “mischief” of political factions when they envisioned factions when they envisioned a government with enough a government with enough points of influence to make points of influence to make parties necessaryparties necessary

Political PartiesPolitical Parties James Madison James Madison

reflected this in reflected this in Federalist #10Federalist #10

Political factions Political factions are necessary evils are necessary evils to be controlled by to be controlled by federalism and federalism and separation of separation of powerspowers

Political PartiesPolitical Parties Founders still believed that Founders still believed that

political parties such as those political parties such as those that dominated British politics that dominated British politics could and should be avoided could and should be avoided at all costsat all costs

Political PartiesPolitical Parties Political parties appeared almost Political parties appeared almost

as soon as the new government as soon as the new government was created with their origins in was created with their origins in the disagreements between two the disagreements between two of Washington’s cabinet membersof Washington’s cabinet members

Thomas Jefferson & Alexander Thomas Jefferson & Alexander HamiltonHamilton

What are the functions What are the functions of political parties in the of political parties in the

American political American political system?system?

Functions of PartiesFunctions of Parties

(1) Connecting citizens to their (1) Connecting citizens to their governmentgovernment

(2) Running candidates for (2) Running candidates for political officepolitical office

(3) Informing the public(3) Informing the public (4) Organizing the government(4) Organizing the government

Connecting Citizens to their Connecting Citizens to their GovGov

Parties are one Parties are one of several of several linkage linkage institutionsinstitutions

Connect people Connect people in a large in a large democracy to democracy to the governmentthe government

Connecting Citizens to their Connecting Citizens to their GovGov

In any country with a In any country with a population large enough to population large enough to form a representative form a representative democracy, institutions that democracy, institutions that link people to government link people to government are a necessityare a necessity

Connecting Citizens to their Connecting Citizens to their GovGov

Party ideology and organization Party ideology and organization increase political efficacyincrease political efficacy

Helps citizens to make sense of Helps citizens to make sense of government decision & government decision & processes; makes people feel processes; makes people feel that government listens to themthat government listens to them

Connecting Citizens to their Connecting Citizens to their GovGov

Modern linkage institutions Modern linkage institutions include:include:

Interest GroupsInterest Groups MediaMedia ElectionsElections PoliticalPolitical PartiesParties

Running Candidates for Running Candidates for Political OfficePolitical Office

Parties pick Parties pick policymakers and policymakers and run campaignsrun campaigns

Most elected Most elected officials (local, state, officials (local, state, national level) run national level) run as nominees of a as nominees of a major political partymajor political party

Running Candidates for Running Candidates for Political OfficePolitical Office

Whereas wealth Whereas wealth certainly helps, certainly helps, most candidates most candidates rely on the party rely on the party organization to organization to coordinate & fund coordinate & fund their political their political campaignscampaigns

Informing the PublicInforming the Public Parties Parties articulate articulate policiespolicies

Give Give cuescues to voters to voters

Informing the PublicInforming the Public Although both major Although both major

parties are by parties are by necessity broadly necessity broadly based, they each based, they each convey an imageconvey an image & & endorse policiesendorse policies that that help voters decide help voters decide which candidates to which candidates to supportsupport

Organizing the Organizing the GovernmentGovernment

Parties often Parties often coordinate coordinate government government policymaking that policymaking that would be more would be more fragmented among fragmented among the three branches the three branches & the local, state, & the local, state, and federal levelsand federal levels

Organizing the Organizing the GovernmentGovernment

Informal relationships Informal relationships between officials in different between officials in different parts of government but with parts of government but with similar partisan ties can make similar partisan ties can make policymaking go more policymaking go more smoothlysmoothly

Review Questions:Review Questions:

In Federalist #10, what In Federalist #10, what system did James Madison system did James Madison advocate in order to control advocate in order to control factions?factions?

What are the 4 functions of What are the 4 functions of American political parties?American political parties?