Political Parties

1
Political Parties

• POLS 125 Political Parties Elections

2
(No Transcript)
3
(No Transcript)
4
(No Transcript)
5
Its hard to tell who is more to blamethe
political zealots who have turned partisanship
into nothing more than a muckraking war, or all
the people who are so terrified of thinking for
themselves that they allow a political party to
do it for them. The simple fact of the matter
is that all of us are influenced by different
things. Our political opinions come from
different places and for different reasons. But
partisanship leaves us all blind. Partisanship
tells us that if you're a Democrat, you believe
A, B and C. If you're a Republican, you believe
D, E and F. Period. Does that sound like a free
thinking society to you? Chris Bellamy
Undergraduate at the University of Utah
6
To me, America is the epitome of freedom, and we
havent been showing it.  We havent been led by
men who have that as their top priority.  Worst
of all, most of the men who have been leading
recently have wanted nothing but their own
goals.  Its why I hate political parties.  It
fosters hostility, distrust, and selfishness. 
This is not American. So, for all of you, this
is what Im fighting for.  Im fighting for
America.  Im not a terrorist, a mob war starter,
or a crazy person.  Im a vigilante and a
patriot. I just happen to fight for America,
not a party. Conner Wesselman, 16
7
I hate political parties. It seems like all they
are is a way to turn us against each other I
don't think its healthy to bunch everyone in one
group or the other I mean look at this
election, I don't remember ever seeing so much
mudslinging and constant attacking between the
two parties. And the sad thing is that you can't
even rely on a candidate to practice what he
preaches. Kyle Thompson, 21Gamer and graphics
designer
8
Political parties ruin politics and what they
stand for all together.  The concept is more
about getting into office than anything else. 
Rather than represent the people and do work for
them, the party politicians seem to always fight
for a way to get into or stay in office 
Political parties have put democracy at stake
and with each election the situation only
worsens. David Cano
9
I hate political parties. Seriously, I
do. People ask me why I registered as an
Independent, and I usually answer It was the
lesser of many evils. My reasoning behind this
is that I hate Republicans and I hate Democrats.
Each party is evil in their own way. Im not a
party voter - I dont blindly vote for my party
line out of loyalty. That is a bull---- way to
vote and a bull---- way to think. I vote on the
issues as they pertain to me and everyone around
me. Tasha CostaBlogger at MyFistYourFace.net
10
That is why I hate political parties. They don't
exist for the good of the nation. They exist to
get people elected. Jason SiggerA defense
policy analyst in the DC area
11
Why I Hate Political Parties

• Parties are divisive and polarizing
• Parties and narrow and rigid in their ideology
• Parties are self-interested and self-serving in
  their pursuit of elections
• Parties are obstructionists. Their petty
  squabbling hinders the governments ability to
  get things done

12
Did the Founding Fathers Agree?
Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and
warn you in the most solemn manner against the
baneful effects of the Spirit of Party...
13
Tripartite view of American political parties
Party-in-the- electorate
14
PARTIES-IN THE-ELECTORATE PARTIES AS ORGANIZATIONS PARTIES-IN-GOVERNMENT
Provide a short-hand cue for voting Recruit, train, and fund political candidates Provide stable rules and procedures for handling conflict in Congress
Mobilize voter turnout Run party primaries and caucuses to winnow down the list of potential candidates Craft party platforms that help guide policy decisions
Provide common ground between different branches and levels of government
15
Two Opposing Views
Parties are dangerous and divisive
Parties are absolutely indispensible
16
Imagine a world without parties
17
The Responsible Party Model
Notice that each of these questions presents a
TESTABLE HYPOTHESIS. Does the responsible party
model work in practice?

1. Parties have a clear platform of issue positions.
2. All candidates run for election on the basis of
   their partys platform.
3. Voters cast ballots based on the issues presented
   in the platform.
4. Once elected, the majority party enacts their
   platform
5. Voters hold the majority party accountable for
   the outcome.

18
But

• Do parties have clear issue positions?
• Do voters accurately understand party
  differences?
• Do campaigns focus on parties and issues, or
  candidates?
• Do candidates run as party members, or as
  individuals?
• Do voters hold elected officials accountable for
  outcomes?

19
A World Without Parties

• Special interest groups and PACs gain
• Wealthy and celebrity candidates gain
• Incumbents gain
• The news media, and television news in
  particular, gains
• Political consultants gain

20
Parties in Decline?

• Technological change
• Proliferation of interest groups
• The importance of money
• New electoral techniques
• Presidential primaries

21
(No Transcript)
22
The American Two-Party System
The institutional explanation

• Duvergers Law
• The Electoral College
• Ballot access restrictions
• Campaign finance laws
• Downs and the median voter model
• Voter socialization

Historical and cultural explanations
23
Advantages of the Two-Party System

• Winners usually get a majority of the vote, which
  creates the sense of legitimacy necessary for
  governing.
• Tendency to incorporate but not empower radical
  ideas.
• Drives outcomes towards the median voter
  (compromise, coalition-building)
• Offers clarity of choice
• Enhances electoral accountability

24
Disadvantages of the Two-Party System

• Slow to accept change.
• Lower voter turnout not all views are
  represented.
• Electoral rules allow for a spoiler effect.
• Virtual two-way elections encourage negative
  campaigns.
• Forces voters to engage in tactical voting, not
  voting based on conscience.