POLITICAL PARTIES

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POLITICAL PARTIES
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What is a Political Party?

• A political party is a group of voters,
  activists, candidates, and office holders who
  identify with a party label and seek to elect
  individuals to public office.

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The Evolution of American Party Democracy

• Hamilton and Jefferson, as heads of the
  Federalist and Anti-Federalist groups
  respectively, are often considered 'fathers' of
  the modern party system.
• By 1800, this country had a party system with two
  major parties that has remained relatively stable
  ever since.

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Democrats and Republicans The Golden Age

• From the presidential elections of 1860 to the
  present, the same two major parties have
  contested elections in the United States
  Democrats and Republicans.
• Reconstruction -- Republican dominance
• 1876-1896 -- closely competitive
• 1896-1929 -- Republican dominance
• 1930s and 1940s -- Democratic dominance
• 1950s and 1960s -- closely competitive
• 1970-present -- neither party dominant

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Coalition - major political groupings that have
shaped American policy.

• New Deal Coalition
• 1932 - F.D. Roosevelt

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A New Deal liberal believes

• Using the power of govt to solve problems
• a strong presidency
• curb big business, help the underdog
• not much objection to taxes or deficits
• favors labor and working persons
• minorities
• supports govt action to foster employment
• help those unable to help themselves
• civil liberties

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Loyalty Trends (today)- Democratic

• Labor union members tend to vote Democratic
• Democrats have a lead in garnering the women's
  votes
• Over 80 of African Americans and Hispanics vote
  3 to 1 Democratic
• Young people are again more Democratic
• Most blue collar workers and unemployed are
  Democrats
• Catholics and Jews are mostly Democrats
• The widowed are mostly Democrats
• Liberals tend to be Democrats

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A Classic Conservative believes

• Best govt is the least govt
• less taxes
• oppose deficits, balance budget
• de-centralization
• de-regulation (laissez-fair capitalism)
• stress patriotism and strong defense
• strong Congress
• appeals to affluent and middle class

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Loyalty Trends (today) - Republican

• Chambers of Commerce tend to vote Republican
• The West tends to be more Republican
• Men tend to split fairly evenly between the two
  parties
• Cuban Americans are generally Republicans
  (anti-Castro)
• Professionals, executives, and white collar
  workers tend to be Republican
• High status Protestants tend to be Republican
• Married couples tend to be Republican
• Conservatives tend to be Republican

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The Roles of American Parties

• The two party system has been used to resolve
  political and social conflicts.
• Mobilizing Support and Gathering Power
• A Force for Stability
• Unity, Linkage, Accountability
• The Electioneering Function
• Party as a Voting and Issue Cue
• Policy Formulation and Promotion

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Party Platform

• A formal statement of beliefs, opinions, and
  policy stands tied together by a set of
  underlying principles based on the partys
  ideological orientation.

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One-Partyism

• A significant trend of recent times is the demise
  of one-partyism (one party dominance of elections
  in a given region).
• The formerly "Solid South" is no longer only
  Democratic.
• There are no Republican or Democratic states at
  this time.
• Many individuals split their vote between the
  parties, and sometimes vote for third parties.

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Minor Parties Third-Partyism

• Minor parties are not a threat to the two major
  parties.
• Only eight third parties have won any electoral
  votes in a presidential contest.
• The third parties that have had some success are
• 1996 and 1992 Ross Perots Reform Party
• 1968 George Wallaces American Independent Party
• 1924 Robert LaFollettes Progressive Party
• 1912 Teddy Roosevelts Bull Moose Party
• 1856 Millard Fillmore's American Party

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The Basic Structure of American Political Parties
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The Party in Government

• The Congressional Party
• The Presidential Party
• The Parties and the Judiciary
• The Parties and State Government

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The Party-In-The-Electorate

• The party-in-the-electorate is the mass of
  potential voters who identify with specific
  party.
• American voters often identify with a specific
  party, but rarely formally belong to it.
• Party identification is often a voter's central
  political reference symbol.
• Party identification generally come from one's
  parents.
• However party id can be affected by a number of
  factors such as education, peers, charismatic
  personalities, cataclysmic events, and intense
  social issues.

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Declining Party Loyalty?

• The number of independents in the U.S. rose from
  19 in 1958 to 37 twenty years later.
• Identification with the two major parties today
  is in the mid 80 range.
• Pollsters often find that many self declared
  independents often 'lean' quite strongly to
  either the Democrat or Republican party.
• Leaners do feel party affiliations, but choose
  not to self-identify with a party.

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Who is in the drivers seat today?

• New Deal Coalition
• Conservative Coalition
• Moderates
• Ticket Splitters
• Single Elite
• ?

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Why are Political Parties Important?
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What do Parties do in Elections?
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Whos Who and What are You?
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Party Evolution

• Birth
• Adolescence
• Adulthood - Republican Era 1896-1928
• Democratic Era 1932-68
• Today?

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Responsible Party Model -

• A party system in which each party offers clear
  policy alternatives and holds their elected
  officials responsible for enacting these policies
  in office.

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Multiparty Politics

• Pro
• Con