Political Parties

1
Political Parties

• Theory

2
What is a political party?

• A team of people seeking to control the governing
  apparatus by winning elected office.
• Institutional characteristics
• Nongovernmental political institution
• Endogenous institution

3
Who makes up a political party?

• Office seekers
• Benefit seekers
• Not voters

4
Freewrite

• The framers thought that parties were bad for
  America. Were they right? What are parties
  negative effects on the political system? What
  are their positive effects? What would politics
  be like without them?
• As usual, you will turn in this freewrite for
  participation credit.

5
Problems that political parties solve

• Reducing transaction costs in legislating
• Mobilizing voters
• Regulating conflict
• Enforcing collective responsibility

6
Why two political parties

• Single member, plurality districts
• Electoral college
• Ballot Access Restrictions
• Campaign Finance Laws
• Voter loyalty
• Hard to raise money
• Hard to get media attention
• Hard to recruit strong candidates

7
3rd Party Candidates with 5 of PV
8
8 minor party candidates have won Electoral Votes

• 1832 Anti Masonic party, 7EV
• 1856 Know-Nothing Party, 8 EV
• 1860 Constitutional Union Party, 39 EV
• 1892 Populist Party, 22 EV
• 1912 Progressive Party, 88 EV
• 1924 Progressive Party, 13 EV
• 1948 Dixiecrat Party, 39 EV (2 of PV!)
• 1968 American Independent Party, 46 EV

9
Significant Nader votes, 2000