Political Parties

A group of people who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the hold of public offices.

Key Issues and Questions

• What are political parties and what do they do?

• Why do we have a two party system and how does a two party system differ from a multiparty system?

• What differentiates our major parties an how have they evolved over time?

Party Functions

– – – – – – – – – –

Organize the Competition Unify the Electorate Inspire and Inform Voters Translate Preferences into Policy Provide Loyal Opposition Organize Government Help Govern Act as Watchdogs Nominate Candidates Ensure Candidate Quality

Party Systems

• One Party Systems • Two Party Systems • Multi-party Systems

Why America Has Only Two Dominant Parties

? • Historical circumstance • The stability of two • Laws that preserve the two party monopoly • Informal institutional supports

Organization of New Nation=Organization of Parties Timeframe: 1787-1800

First Era

????????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????

Federalists Proponents of the Constitution

Supporters of a strong central government and ratification

Anti-Federalists Opponents of the Constitution

Feared increasing the powers of the central government and no formal bill of rights And the CHANGE-

After influential NEW YORK and VIRGINIA bring ratifying States total to 11, there is not much sense remaining as an Anti-Federalist, so………….

Timeframe: 1790-1816

Second Era

Two-Party System emerges…and the fights begin.

“Leading” Federalists “Leading” Dem-Reps George Washington presides without holding to one specific party, and upon his decision to renounce serving a third term partially due to the emerging parties’ squabbles, he warns the fledgling nation; Federalists Advocated; (Business) Strong, central government “Loose” Interpretation Inclined toward England Democrat-Republicans Advocated; States’ rights “Strict” Interpretation Inclined toward France have lifted them to unjust dominion.” Farewell Address Sept. 19, 1796 (Farming)

NOPE!

The Federalists implode opposing the War of 1812, changing America’s political landscape and the nature of political parties.

Party Systems

Multiparty Two party



Coalition government is necessary

• Winner-takes-all system 

Minor parties have an incentive to persevere

• “Wasted vote” syndrome

discourages minor parties



Proportional representation



Governments tend toward instability

• Government tends toward

stability



Choice

• Parties tend to be umbrella

parties



Difficult to come to a consensus

• Truly competitive elections 

Parties are more distinctive

• Voters limited to two choices

The U.S. is a two-party system; most other democracies have a multiparty system

American Party History

• • • • • • •

Federalist Party Anti-Mason Party Two minor anti-slavery parties in the 1840s:

– –

Liberty Party Free-soil party Greenback Party People’s Party American Socialist Party Socialist Labor Party

Why America Has Only Two Dominant Parties

The Stability:

It just so happened that two major factions emerged in our early years. However, once this happened, it became difficult for any third faction to for a third party to survive. This is because a third group would steal votes from one of the other existing parties, thus splitting the votes and dooming both of them. Thus, new groups usually merged into one of the two existing factions.

Why America Has Only Two Dominant Parties Informal Institutional Supports: – Media Coverage – Voter Loyalty – Ability to Raise Cash – Public Perception (third parties are just for wackos)

Why America Has Only Two Dominant Parties Laws that Preserve the Two Party Monopoly: – Single member districts/winner take all – Vs. a proportional system

Multi-Party System

In Multi-party states, it’s difficult for any one party to win a majority. Coalitions with similar parties become necessary. But coalition partners may resign over particular government policies, so this system is less stable.

Example of government instability: Italy, from 1945 to 1995, had 44 different coalition governments.

Example: Israeli Elections 2006

• March 2006 Election outcome: Kadima Party wins the most with 28 seats in the Knesset. The new Prime Minister must form a coalition government.

Single Member Plurality (SMP)

The candidate who wins a plurality of the vote prevails; a majority is not needed. Only one seat per district. No way for voters to designate their 2 nd choice. Tends to produce a two-party system unless a small party’s voters are concentrated in a district.

• Used in the U.S., Canada, India, Britain, New Zealand , Germany.

Single Member Plurality (SMP) system

Electoral College: Presidential candidates must win 270 electors (out of 538) to win office. Example: Ross Perot & Reform Party in 1992 won 19% of the popular vote but not one elector.

Proportional Representation (PR).

Each district has multiple seats. Each political party wins the same proportion of seats as the vote it wins. Favors the development of multiple political parties.

Assume the following vote distribution in a district with 10 parliamentary seats: Quisenberry Party wins 50% Wiggins Party wins 30% Baker Party wins 20% How many seats does each party win?

Wiggins Party wins 50% Quisenberry Party wins 30% Baker Party wins 20% SO: Wigginistas gain 5 seats Quisenberries win 3 seats Bakerites gain 2 seats

Would the U.S. be better off with a multi-party or two party system?

Two Party vs. Multiparty Systems

• Both systems, being democratic, rest on compromise.

– In a two party system, compromise takes place prior to elections as parties select moderate candidates who they believe can win a majority.

– In multiparty systems, ideologically pure parties are forced to compromise after elections in order to form a majority coalition to pass laws (and often select a prime minister).

Two Party vs. Multiparty System pros and cons • Two party systems tend to be more stable.

• Multi-party systems offer voters more choice.

• Having only two choices may dampen voter turnout.

• Two Party Systems narrow legislative debate: – Even if outvoted, small parties if represented are likely to raise issues the other parties wouldn’t otherwise discuss.

• Two Party Systems may be more polarizing: – Parties in multiparty systems must work together and form coalitions which forces members to reach across party lines.

One-Party Systems

• Dictatorships • Areas dominated by a party – Government & party closely linked. No opposition parties permitted.