The Changing Role of Political Parties

Answer Review

List one defining characteristic of both the Democrats and

Republicans. They both constantly seek to appeal to a wide

spectrum of voters

List and explain the 5 major functions of political parties

1. Aggregation of demands: They represent a number of different groups.

2. Conciliation of Groups of Society: Both parties group the country based on issues or location to enhance their platforms

3. Staffing the Government: Elected politicians look to their parties to fill non election governmental positions

Functions cont.

4. Coordination of Government Institutions: At times political party ties can allow presidents to pass a lot of party platform legislation when the House and Senate are also held by that party (the opposite can happen too)

5. Promotion of Political Stability: In “mature” democracies P.P. act as a buffer between transition between one elected official and the next

Why has the two party system lasted for so long in the United States?

• Each party absorbs smaller movements, allowing people to feel more represented.

• Also America has never been “deeply” divided like other nations.– Canada – religion and language

What fears did the Founding Fathers have about Political Parties?

They feared that political parties organization would undermine representation of the people.

What were “political machines”? What role did they play in American history?

• Political machines were massive, well organized political groups found mostly in large urban areas. They were the candidate.

• Disenfranchised many immigrant groups.

Outline Development of Democratic Party

1801-1856: Democratic Republican PartyFederalists are a third party at the time – both

form the Democratic party that we know today after the Civil War.

At first the party represented the poor southerners and large land owners but throughout the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s came to represent liberalism in America today.

Outline Development of Republican party

1789-1800- First Republican Party – represented farmers and planters in Central and Southern states

1801-1856- Democratic-Republican PartyAfter the Civil war, third part Whig ideas combine to

create the modern Republican party. In post Civil War America the Republican party represents the interests of northerners and big industries of the north. Today the party represents conservative opinions.

What impact have primaries had on political parties?

• They limited the control parties had on who would run for office.

• The people are now responsible for voting for who they want to run for election.

What was “soft money”? What impact did it have on the election process?

Soft Monday is not “tied to any particular candidate’s campaign, is essentially unregulated by national campaign finance law.”

It was used for generic party advertising and issue advocacy and was transferred to states who needed it.

What was the purpose of the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act?

To outlaw the use of “soft money.” It also doubled the amount of “hard money”

people were allowed to contribute.

Throughout history what issues divided Democrats and Republicans?

SlaveryWelfareAbortionCivil Rights Movement Foreign Policy

What impact did “suburbanization” have on political parties?

Where you lived or what you did for a living impacted who you voted for a lot less starting in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

This was due to many people living the cities and moving to the suburbs which created the new American middle class.

People became more “issue based” rather than “follow the party line.”

According to the reading, are political parties on the rise or in decline in the

U.S.? Although parties are not nearly as strong as they

once were in America and people join parties for many different reasons today the author still argues that party power is on the rise. He cites a lack of successful third party politicians to prove is point.