Transcript Political Parties - Scotch Plains

Political Parties
AP U.S. Government & Politics
Mr. S. Kolesar
November 2010
What is a Political Party?
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
A group that seeks to elect
candidates to public office by
supplying them with a label – “party
identification” – by which they are
known to the electorate.
Examples – Democrat, Republican,
Green, Socialist, …
Functions of Political Parties
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
Labels – to help
voters identify
themselves with. The
trend has been
weaker party id since
the 19th C.
Organizations – to
recruit and campaign
for candidates.
Parties have been
weaker at this since
the 1960’s.
Functions of Political Parties - cont
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A set of leaders –
to try to organize
and control the
legislative &
executive
branches.
The trend has that
parties have
remained strong in
this capacity.
The Paradox of Political Parties
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Political authority
has become more
centralized in the
U.S.
Political parties
have not become
more centralized,
actually weaker
and more
decentralized.
Why?????
The Paradox of Political Parties
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Political parties are
closely regulated by
state & federal laws.
Many candidates are
chosen by primaries,
not party leaders.
Result = candidates
owe little to party
leaders
The Origins of Political Parties
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The “Founders”
typically did not
like parties – self
interest.
Washington
warned of them in
his farewell
address.
However, they
soon formed.
The Origins of a two-party System
Federalists
Led by Alexander Hamilton
Represented wealthy and upper-class interests
Favored strong executive leadership and liberal
interpretation of the Constitution
Evolved into the modern “Republican Party
Anti-Federalists
Democratic-Republicans
Led by Thomas Jefferson
Represented the “common man”
Favored Congress as the strongest arm of ”
government and a strict interpretation of
the Constitution
Evolved into the modern “Democratic Party”
•Spirit of Nationalism in US
•patriotism or national oneness
•Country is united, confident, and growing
•1791-1819, 9 states joined the original 13.
•One political party---Republican party
•Boston newspaper declared an “Era of Good
Feelings” had began.
•First party system was weak
•No family history of party identification
•Sectionalist politics
•People were not professional politicians
Jacksonian Democracy
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Return of the twoparty system –
Democrats &
Whigs
Huge increase in
political
participation
Why?
Laws passed
reducing voter
restrictions
Jacksonian Democracy
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The party convention
replaced the caucus
system (legislative
means of nominating
candidates for
president).
Gave more local
control over the
nominating process
Civil War & Sectionalism
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Slavery split the
country in half
Republican party
emerged as a 3rd
party
The Civil War resulted
in Northerners
becoming Republicans
and Southerners
Democrats.
Civil War & Sectionalism
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Result to political
parties = states
were now oneparty states and
competition within
parties within
those states
increased.
Parties split into
factions.
The Era of Reform
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Progressives split
from the “Old Guard”
Republicans.
Advocated primary
elections, strict voterregistration
regulations, civil
service reform, and
wanted to end the
abuses of
partisanship.
Resulted in the
weakening of political
parties.
Realigning Periods
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Times when sharp, lasting shifts occur in
the support of one or both parties.
Issues change resulting in shifts in voter
support.
Why do realignments occur????
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1. A major party is beaten so badly it
disappears
2. The two major parties continue, but voters
shift their loyalty from one to the other.
3. A new issue of utmost importance to the
voters cuts across party lines and helps form
new partisan identification.
The 5 Major Realigning Periods
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1800 – Jeffersonian Republicans defeat
the Federalists.
1828 – Jacksonian Democrats come to
power
1860 – Whig party collapses and the
Republican party rises
1896 – Republicans defeat William
Jennings Bryant
1932 – Democrats under FDR come to
power
Recent Realignment

The South which
had been
historically
Democrat has
shifted to
supporting
Republican
presidential
candidates since
1972.
More Reasons For Party Decline
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Party identification
has dropped.
The % of people
voting a split
ticket has also
increased.
Example – Bush
for President, but
a Democrat for
Senate or the
House
The National Party Structure
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
Party identification
is still the
strongest indicator
of how a person
will vote in an
election.
Political parties
exist at the
federal, state, &
local levels.
The National Party Structure
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
Party identification is
still the strongest
indicator of how a
person will vote in an
election.
Political parties exist
at the federal, state, &
local levels. They are
mostly independent of
each other.
The National Party Structure
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National conventions
meet every 4 years
to nominate a
presidential
candidate.
Party affairs are
managed by a
national committee
of delegates from
each state
The National Party Structure
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In Congress each party
has a congressional
campaign committee.
Functions – help
members run for reelection, others for
election.
National chairman
(elected by the
committee runs the
day-to-day affairs of
the party.
The National Party Structure
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1960’s -1970’s
Republicans reorganized their party
into a highly efficient
political organization.
Democrats became
split into factions.
After losing presidential
elections the
Democrats switched
philosophies to emulate
the Republicans
The National Party Structure
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The Republican
National Committee
(RNC) organized
financing through
technology to raise
revenue
The DNC has tried to
do the same thing
recently.
Both committees send
a lot of money to state
party organizations to
bypass federal
spending restrictions
National Conventions
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National Committees
establish time, date,
place, # of delegates
per state, and rules
for delegate
selection.
Delegate selection
formulas have
change and are
highly confusing
National Conventions
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Democrats factor in
the vote each state
cast for Dem.
Candidates in past
elections and the #
of electoral votes per
state.
Result = extra
delegates are given
to large states
National Conventions
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Republicans factor in
the # of reps in
Congress and whether
the state in past
elections cast its
electoral votes for the
Republican presidential
candidate and elected
Republicans to the
Senate, House, &
Governorship
Result = extra
delegates to loyal
states
National Conventions
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Party conventions have
evolved over time.
Delegates are no
longer selected by
party leaders (chosen
by primary elections
and caucuses)
Conventions are now to
affirm and ratify
choices made by
primary voters, not
haggle over candidate
selection
State & Local Parties
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Every state has a
Democratic &
Republican state
party organized
under state law.
Hierarchy
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State central
committee
County committees
City, town
committees
Political Machines
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A party organization
that recruits its
members by dispensing
patronage and has a
high degree of control
over member activity.
Ex. Democratic Party in
NYC 1870’s
Abuses were wellknown and widespread
Political Machines
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Gov’t restrictions
reduced their control.
Ex. Civil service &
voter-registration
reforms. Hatch Act
(1939).
Increased education
reduced dependence on
the machines
Pros & cons
Almost extinct today.
Other Types of party Organizations
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ideological parties – usually 3rd parties formed
on issues of principle, socialist, Right-to–life
Solidarity Groups – an organization formed
based on camaraderie of purpose, not
material gain.
Sponsored Parties – One already existing
organization sponsors a local party structure,
Ex. UAW- Democratic alliance
Personal Following – candidates try to get
people to work for them during their election
runs. Requirements = personality, lots of
friend and big $$$. Ex. The Kennedy’s
Features of a Two-Party System in the U.S.
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Dems. & Reps. Only
real chance of
winning national
elections.
Parties are not as
competitive in state
elections as federal
Party resurgence has
occurred frequently
in U.S. History
Features of a Two-Party System in the U.S.
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Plurality system –
winner (take-all) gets
the most votes, even
if it is not a majority
of the total votes
cast.
Electoral College
system discourages
voters from
supporting 3rd party
candidates.
Features of a Two-Party System in the U.S.
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Encourages broad
appeal of the party
as you must win the
highest number of
votes to take office.
Despite the
increasing number of
people registering as
independents, most
people vote
Democratic or
Republican
Nominating a President
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Delegates have a tough job at nominating
conventions.
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Truly reflect the will of the people? Primary
voting and caucuses. OR
Nominate the candidate they feel has the best
chance of winning the election.
Only about ½ as many people vote in
primaries as in the general election.
States with late primaries typically see low
turnout if the nomination seems all but
won.
Nominating a President
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What is a caucus?
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I have no idea 
It is a meeting of party followers that often
lasts for hours in which party delegates are
picked.
Beliefs
•Supports government
spending on social
programs
•Military cutbacks
•Government spending
to stimulate the
economy
•Lower tax rates for low
income and higher on
rich.
•Favor minimum wage
laws
•Government
involvement to provide
tools to bring about
equality
Beliefs
Supports Democrats
•Federal aid in
•Labor unions
education providing
•Catholics and Jews
grants.
•Greater government •People in the South
involvement in
(although, this is
regulating business,
changing)
labor and industry
•Northeast
•Abortion, ProChoice
•Urban areas
•Belief in bringing
•People with less
about equality in
education
society with
government
•Minority groups
supporting the people
in need.
•Common people
•Young/college age
Beliefs
Beliefs
•Less government
•Supports and favors
spending on social
big business and less
programs
government
regulation of
•Strong military
business
•Fewer taxes to
stimulate the economy
•Abortion, Pro-Life
•Less taxes on wealthy
•People helping
and businesses
people in need and
•Some minimum wage
what has made this
laws—BUT let private
country great is the
business owner raise
people, not the
wages instead of US
government.
Govt. forcing businesses
to raise wages.
•Less government in
your life the better
•Supports state and local
government in
education
Supports Republicans
•Business and
professionals
•Protestants
•People in the rural
west
•Midwest and New
England
•Small towns
•People with more
education
•European heritage-”WASP”
•Wealthier than
Democrats
•Older/more
established
The Role of Minor Parties
rd
Sometimes called 3
parties
 serve as “safety valves” by
giving people an outlet for
anger at “the system”
 often are the source of new
political ideas
The Role of Minor Parties
Minor parties...
 often are indicators of
change
 often reflect popular
concern over a single issue
Types of Minor
Parties
Ideological
Parties
Example:
Libertarian
Party
Constitution
Party
Singleissue
Parties
Example:
Prohibition
Party
Right to Life
Party
Economic Protest
Parties
Example:
The Greenback
Party
Splinter Party
Example:
“Bull Moose”
Progressive Party
Reform Party
Socialist Party
Communist Party
Green Party
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5
Chapter 5, Section 4
Ideological Party:
Based on social, economic
and political ideas.
•Libertarian Party
•Constitution Party
Economic protest:
Formed during economic
depressions
•The Greenback Party
•Socialist Party
•Communist Party
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5
Chapter 5, Section 4
Single Issue Party:
Single public policy that’s
emphasized.
•Prohibition Party
•Right to Life Party
•Green Party
Splinter Party:
Separates from the major
parties.
“Bull
Moose” Progressive
Party
Reform Party
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5
Chapter 5, Section 4
Minor parties play several important roles
Spoiler Role
Minor party candidates can pull decisive votes away from
one of the major parties’ candidates, especially if the minor
party candidate is from a splinter party.
Critic
• Minor parties, especially single-issue parties, often take
stands on and draw attention to controversial issues that the
major parties would prefer to ignore.
Innovator
• Often, minor parties will draw attention to important issues
and propose innovative solutions to problems. If these
proposals gain popular support, they are often integrated
into the platforms of the two major parties.
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5
Chapter 5,5,Section
Chapter
Section 4
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