POLS 21

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POLS 21

• Political Parties

Saying we should keep the two-party system
simply because it is working is like saying the
Titanic voyage was a success because a few people
survived on life rafts. Eugene McCarthy
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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

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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...
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Two Opposing Views
Parties are dangerous and divisive
Parties are absolutely indispensible
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The rise of political parties is indubitably one
of the principle distinguishing marks of modern
government. The parties, in fact, have played a
major role as makers of democratic government
Political parties created democracy, and modern
democracy is unthinkable save in terms of
parties. E.E. Schattschneider
vs.
The spirit of party serves always to distract
the Public Councils and enfeeble the Public
administration. It agitates the Community with
ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles
the animosity of one party against another,
foments occasional riot and insurrection. It
opens the door to foreign influence and
corruption, which find a facilitated access to
the government itself through the channels of
party passions. George Washington
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Are political parties good or badfor democracy?

• There is no constitutional sanction for political
  parties.
• Many of the nations early leaders were openly
  hostile to the very idea of parties.
• Still, most political scientists embrace
  political parties as an essential component of
  American government.

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Political Parties
What functions do they perform?

• Parties provide a short-hand cue for voting
• Parties mobilize support and aggregate power
• Parties promote stability
• Parties provide for unity, linkage and
  accountability
• Parties recruit, train, and fund political
  candidates
• Parties formulate public policy
• Parties promote civic virtue

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Tripartite view of American political parties
Party-in-the- electorate
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The Responsible Party Model

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.

Notice that each of these questions presents a
TESTABLE HYPOTHESIS. Does the responsible party
model work in practice?
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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?

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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
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What do these terms mean?

• Liberal lib-er-uh l Open-minded or tolerant,
  especially free and not bound by traditional or
  conventional ideas, values, etc.
• conservative kuh n-sur-vuh-tiv Disposed to
  preserve existing conditions, and institutions,
  or to restore traditional ones, and to limit
  change.

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X
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Political Ideology
A Working Definition

• LIBERALISM A belief in the positive uses of
  government to bring about justice and equality of
  opportunity.
• CONSERVATISM A belief that limited government
  ensures order, competitive markets, and personal
  opportunity.

LIBERAL
CONSERVATIVE
MODERATE
Is a single dimension really adequate?
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Government Control
Social and political conservatives favor broad
government regulation of individual behavior
CONSERVATIVE
STATIST
SOCIAL POLICY
CENTRIST
LIBERAL
LIBERTARIAN
Social and political liberals favor limited
government regulation of individual behavior
Government Control
ECONOMIC POLICY
Freedom
Economic conservatives favor fiscal
responsibility and limited government
involvement in economic policymaking and
regulation of business
Economic liberals favor spending and broad
government involvement in economic policymaking
and regulation of business
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Government Control
Social and political conservatives favor broad
government regulation of individual behavior
These days, you cant be too careful. I think we
need to spend a lot more money on the national
security. I wish there was a police officer on
every corner! The police could search my car all
they want, since I dont break the law. I also
think the government should crack down on the
mediatheir reporting gives our enemies an inside
look at all our military preparations.
I worked my way up from poverty to become the
successful business owner that I am today. I get
frustrated when I think that my tax money goes to
support people who wont help themselves. I think
part of the blame belongs with the mediathey
promote all the wrong values.
I really dont care what other people do in
their free time, as long as they dont bother me.
I sure dont like it when the government tells me
what to do with my money or in my own homeIm
certainly not going to turn around and do the
same thing to my neighbors.
I really worry about the state of the world
today. It seems like more and more kids are
growing up in poverty and theres no one to help
them. I think we need to do more toward providing
health care and education programs for young
people.
CONSERVATIVE
STATIST
SOCIAL POLICY
CENTRIST
LIBERAL
LIBERTARIAN
Social and political liberals favor limited
government regulation of individual behavior
Government Control
ECONOMIC POLICY
Freedom
Economic conservatives favor fiscal
responsibility and limited government
involvement in economic policymaking and
regulation of business
Economic liberals favor spending and broad
government involvement in economic policymaking
and regulation of business
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A Primer on Party Factions
The Democratic Party

• New Democrats Centrists who take liberal
  positions on social issues, and conservative
  positions on economic issues, organized as
  members of the Democratic Leadership Council
  (e.g., Bill Clinton)
• Blue Dog Democrats Choked blue by the
  partys more liberal leadership, a group that
  pushes an agenda of social conservatism and
  fiscal responsibility
• Boll Weevils 1980s term for socially
  conservative southern Democrats
• Dixiecrats 1950s term for socially
  conservative southern Democrats
• DINOs Democrats-in-name-only (e.g., Zell
  Miller, Joe Lieberman)
• Progressives Preferred term for those who
  find the L-word (liberal) pejorative

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A Primer on Party Factions
The Republican Party

• Rockefeller Republicans 1970s term for those
  who were socially liberal, pro-business, and
  conservative on foreign policy, willing to raise
  taxes instead of running deficits. The social
  conservatism of the Reagan Revolution pushed them
  to the left edges of the party
• The Mod Squad Group of moderate, socially
  liberal U.S. Senators (e.g., Lincoln Chafee,
  Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, etc.)
• Gypsy Moths Republican moderates from the
  North East and Midwest, 1980s
• Log Cabin Republicans Gay, lesbian, and
  bisexual supporters of the Republican Party
• Neo-Cons Big government conservatives,
  foreign policy hawks (e.g., Paul Wolfowitz)
• Pro-Cons a.k.a. Progressive Conservatives,
  fiscal conservatives, social moderates, foreign
  policy eagles (not hawks)
• RINOs Republicans-in-name-only (e.g., John
  McCain, Arlen Specter)

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Government Control
FOREIGN POLICY?
Social and political conservatives favor broad
government regulation of individual behavior
Republican Party
G.W. Bush?
Pro-Cons
Mod Squad
SOCIAL POLICY
Blue Dog Democrats
DLC
Democratic Party
Bill Clinton
Social and political liberals favor limited
government regulation of individual behavior
Government Control
ECONOMIC POLICY
Freedom
Economic conservatives favor fiscal
responsibility and limited government
involvement in economic policymaking and
regulation of business
Economic liberals favor spending and broad
government involvement in economic policymaking
and regulation of business
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We want to get our society back on track-toward
good schools with great teachers, welfare that
really helps, and health care responsive to the
needs of people, not government. We want to make
sure our most important programs-like Social
Security and Medicare-are there when people need
them. We need a smaller, more effective, more
efficient, less bureaucratic government that
reflects our time-honored values. The American
people do not want big government solutions and
they do not want empty promises. They want a
government that is for them, not against them
that doesn't interfere with their lives but
enhances their quality of life. Our purpose in
welfare reform is not to save money but to bring
into the mainstream of American life those who
now are on the margins of our society and our
economy. Government's job should be to give
people the tools they need to make the most of
their own lives. Americans must take the
responsibility to use them, to build good lives
for themselves and their families. Personal
responsibility is the most powerful force we have
to meet our challenges and shape the future we
want for ourselves, for our children, and for
America. We reaffirm our commitment to
agricultural progress, environmental improvement,
and the prudent development of our natural
resources. Our goal is to continue the progress
we have made to achieve a cleaner, safer,
healthier environment for all Americans - and to
pass on to our children and grandchildren a
better environment than we have today. We believe
in equal opportunity for all, and special
privileges for none. Which party used these two
keywords in their slogan Opportunity and
Responsibility?
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Political Ideology vs. Partisan Identification
Percent responding
Percent responding
Strong Democrat
Strong Republican
Extremely Liberal
Extremely Conservative
Moderate
Independent
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2008 Election Results by State
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Introducing the Purple Party?
Almost half of Americans consistently call
themselves moderates. We are people without a
party. We open-minded, openhearted moderates are
alienated from the two big parties because
backward-looking ideologues and p.c. hypocrites
are effectively in charge of both. Why cant we
have a serious, innovative, truth-telling,
pragmatic party without any of the baggage of the
Democrats and Republicans? A real and enduring
party built around a coherent set of ideas and
sensibilityneither a shell created for a single
charismatic candidate like George Wallace or Ross
Perot, nor a protest party like the Greens or
Libertarians, with no hope of ever getting more
than a few million votes in a presidential
election. A party that plausibly aspires to be
not a third party but the third partyto willing
and governing. Kurt Andersen (2006)
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Creating a Political Brand
How should the Democratic and Republican parties
position their brands to best capture an
electoral majority?

• Has American conservatism reached a turning
  point? The conservatism that defined itself in
  reaction against the New Deal minimal
  government conservatism is dead, says
  columnist George Will. Big government
  conservatism is on the rise.
• Can American liberalism overcome the stigmatism
  attached to the L-word? Is its future best
  placed in the hands of candidates like Howard
  Dean, who claimed to represent the Democratic
  wing of the Democratic party, or with
  someoneanyoneelse?

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(No Transcript)
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Government Control
Social and political conservatives favor broad
government regulation of individual behavior
CONSERVATIVE
STATIST
SOCIAL POLICY
CENTRIST
Social and political liberals favor limited
government regulation of individual behavior
LIBERAL
LIBERTARIAN
Government Control
ECONOMIC POLICY
Freedom
Economic conservatives favor fiscal
responsibility and limited government
involvement in economic policymaking and
regulation of business
Economic liberals favor spending and broad
government involvement in economic policymaking
and regulation of business
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We want to get our society back on track-toward
good schools with great teachers, welfare that
really helps, and health care responsive to the
needs of people, not government. We want to make
sure our most important programs-like Social
Security and Medicare-are there when people need
them. We need a smaller, more effective, more
efficient, less bureaucratic government that
reflects our time-honored values. The American
people do not want big government solutions and
they do not want empty promises. They want a
government that is for them, not against them
that doesn't interfere with their lives but
enhances their quality of life. Our purpose in
welfare reform is not to save money but to bring
into the mainstream of American life those who
now are on the margins of our society and our
economy. Government's job should be to give
people the tools they need to make the most of
their own lives. Americans must take the
responsibility to use them, to build good lives
for themselves and their families. Personal
responsibility is the most powerful force we have
to meet our challenges and shape the future we
want for ourselves, for our children, and for
America. We reaffirm our commitment to
agricultural progress, environmental improvement,
and the prudent development of our natural
resources. Our goal is to continue the progress
we have made to achieve a cleaner, safer,
healthier environment for all Americans - and to
pass on to our children and grandchildren a
better environment than we have today. We believe
in equal opportunity for all, and special
privileges for none. Which party used these two
keywords in their slogan Opportunity and
Responsibility?
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2008 Election Results by State
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Partisan Identification
Generally speaking, do you usually think of
yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an
Independent, or what? Would you call yourself a
strong DEMOCRAT/REPUBLICAN or a not very strong
DEMOCRAT/REPUBLICAN? IF INDEPENDENT, NO
PREFERENCE, or OTHER Do you think of yourself
as closer to the Republican Party or to the
Democratic Party?
Do all Independents belong in the middle of the
political spectrum?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Strong Democrat
Weak Democrat
Lean Democrat
Lean Republican
Weak Republican
Strong Republican
Independent
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Trends in Partisan Identification,
1952-2008Excluding Leaners
Source National Election Studies, various years.
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A Rise in Independents?

• Not all respondents classified as Independents
  label themselves that way.
• Most independents are, in fact, hidden
  partisans.

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• Nothing in that respect. I dont consider
  myself anything politically.
• I aint none of them.
• None.
• Not anything.
• Laughs You should call me nothing.
• No preference.
• I dont think of myself as anything.
• It depends.
• Im an American.
• May the best man win. Its the best
  candidate.
• Im someone who believes in what I believe is a
  good man who will do the most for the country.
• Im not a Republican, not a Democrat, not an
  Independent, and not a Communist.
• Im nothing. I dont holler about it.
• Interviewer asks if the respondent would call
  himself an Independent. You dont mean one of
  those minority groups?
• Oh hell, I dont know.

Each of these respondents was ultimately
classified as an Independent.
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Party Identifiers Voting for Their Partys
Presidential Candidate
1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996
Strong Democrats 85 73 91 86 87 93 93 96
Weak Democrats 58 48 74 60 67 70 69 82
Independents, closer to Democrats 52 60 72 45 79 88 71 76
Independents -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Independents, closer to Republicans 82 86 83 76 92 84 62 68
Weak Republicans 82 90 77 86 93 83 60 70
Strong Republicans 96 97 96 92 96 98 87 94
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Party Identifiers Voting for Their Partys
Presidential Candidate
1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996
Strong Democrats 85 73 91 86 87 93 93 96
Weak Democrats 58 48 74 60 67 70 69 82
Independents, closer to Democrats 52 60 72 45 79 88 71 76
Independents -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Independents, closer to Republicans 82 86 83 76 92 84 62 68
Weak Republicans 82 90 77 86 93 83 60 70
Strong Republicans 96 97 96 92 96 98 87 94
Independents who lean are often as loyal to
their preferred party as self-described partisans
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Trends in Partisan Identification,
1952-2008Including Leaners
Is there room for a third party?
Source National Election Studies, various years.
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Trends in Partisan Identification, 1952-2008
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Introducing the Purple Party?
Almost half of Americans consistently call
themselves moderates. We are people without a
party. We open-minded, openhearted moderates are
alienated from the two big parties because
backward-looking ideologues and p.c. hypocrites
are effectively in charge of both. Why cant we
have a serious, innovative, truth-telling,
pragmatic party without any of the baggage of the
Democrats and Republicans? A real and enduring
party built around a coherent set of ideas and
sensibilityneither a shell created for a single
charismatic candidate like George Wallace or Ross
Perot, nor a protest party like the Greens or
Libertarians, with no hope of ever getting more
than a few million votes in a presidential
election. A party that plausibly aspires to be
not a third party but the third partyto willing
and governing. Kurt Andersen (2006)
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(No Transcript)
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Third Parties in America
Third Party Year of Popular Vote Electoral Votes Fate in Next Election
Anti-Masonic 1832 7.8 7 Endorsed Whig candidate
Free Soil 1848 10.1 0 Received 4.9 of vote
Whig-American 1856 21.5 8 Party dissolved
Southern Democrat 1860 18.1 72 Party dissolved
Constitutional Union 1860 12.6 39 Party dissolved
Populist 1892 8.5 22 Endorsed Dem. candidate
Progressive (T. Roosevelt) 1912 27.4 88 Returned to Rep. Party
Socialist 1912 6.0 0 Received 3.2 of vote
Progressive (LaFollette) 1924 16.6 13 Returned to Rep. Party
States Rights Democrat 1948 2.4 39 Party dissolved
Progressive (H. Wallace) 1948 2.4 0 Received 0.2 of vote
American Independent 1968 13.5 46 Received 1.4 of vote
John B. Anderson 1980 7.1 0 Did not run in 1984
H. Ross Perot 1992 18.9 0 Received 8 of vote
Ralph Nader 2000 2.7 0 Received 0.4 of vote
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Barriers to Entry

• Winner-take-all elections
• Ballot access
• Fundraising
• Media attention
• Presidential debate participation

NADER ENTERS RACE, REJECTING LABEL OF POTENTIAL
SPOILER WASHINGTON--Consumer advocate Ralph
Nader, widely blamed by Demcrats for siphoning
votes from Al Gore in 2000 and thereby helping
George W. Bush win the White House, announced
yesterday that he will run for president again
this fall. The Boston Globe, Febuary 25, 2008
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Access to Presidential Debates
The Commission on Presidential Debates selects
candidates on the basis of the following criteria
Is this fair to third party and Independent
candidates? Do we set the bar too high?

• Evidence of Constitutional eligibility
• Must be at 35 years of age
• Must be natural born citizen, and a resident of
  the U.S. for at least 14 years
• Must be otherwise eligible under the
  Constitution
• Evidence of ballot access
• The candidate must qualify to have his/her name
  appear on enough state ballots to have at least a
  mathematical chance of securing an Electoral
  College majority
• Indicators of Electoral support
• The candidate must have a level or support of at
  least 15 of the national electorate as
  determined by five selected national public
  opinion polling organizations

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The Spoiler Effect
Third party candidates often split part of the
vote with a major party candidate. For example,
in 2000 George W. Bush won the state of
Floridaand, consequently, the presidencyby just
a few hundred votes over Al Gore, the Democratic
candidate. Green Party candidate Ralph Nader won
95,000 votes in Florida, and polls suggest that
for most Nader voters, Gore was their second
choice. Thus, if the race had been a head-to-head
contest between Bush and Gore instead, Florida
voters probably would have chosen Gore by a clear
margin.
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The Spoiler Effect
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The Iraq ballot offered a choice of 111 parties.
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Which Third Party?
Ryan Lizza asks Why hasnt there been a
serious attempt to start a third party since
Perot?

• Centrist issues budget deficits, political
  reform
• Leftist issues Universal health care, global
  warming
• Rightist issues Immigration, social
  conservatism, taxes and spending