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Political Parties

Political Parties. No parties at founding of the republic Washington cautioned against their baneful effects Madison warned against factions But Federalists and Anti-Federalists debated ratification of Constitution. Origins of Political Parties. Jefferson created the first party in 1796

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Political Parties

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  1. Political Parties • No parties at founding of the republic • Washington cautioned against their baneful effects • Madison warned against factions • But Federalists and Anti-Federalists debated ratification of Constitution

  2. Origins of Political Parties • Jefferson created the first party in 1796 • Party created to secure opposition in the Electoral College to federalist candidate John Adams • Jefferson called supporters Republicans • Federalists called them Democratic Republicans to emphasize the demos or unruly mob

  3. Brief History • 1789-1796 Pre-party period • 1796-1820 First Party System • 1800 Jefferson elected with support of Democratic Republicans • election determined in House because Jefferson and Burr received equal votes • 1804 12th Amendment requires separate candidates for President & V.P.

  4. Brief History continued • 1820-28 Democratic Republicans divided • Andrew Jackson (populist Democrat) • John Quincy Adams (National Republican) • 1828-1856 Second Party System • 1834 National Republicans renamed Whigs • 1856-present Third Party System • 1860First Critical Election (major realignment) • Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln • No. Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas • So. Democrats nominated John Breckinridge

  5. Brief History continued • Republicans became party of the North • strong ties to business • Democrats became party of the South • Republicans were seen as the party of Lincoln--opposed to slavery and the South’s attempt to secede • 1894 Severe recession • 1896Second Critical Election • solidified Republican base • Republicans nominated William McKinley (Ohio); favored high tariffs & gold standard • Democrats nominated Wm. Jennings Bryan; favored silver coinage

  6. Brief History continued • Republicans won and dominated national politics until 1929 and Wall Street crash • 1932Third Critical Election • FDR elected by landslide • Democrats control presidency for 36 years • Republicans control presidency for 28 years • Democrats control House of Representatives for 40 years (1954-1994)

  7. Parties and View of Government

  8. Grass Roots Party Organization

  9. Traditional Roles of Parties • Serve as intermediary between citizens & government • Screen or recruit candidates, including president, for public office • Contest elections, mobilize voters, and increasingly fund candidates • Organize government (e.g. Congress) • Serve as agents of accountability (to public) • Manage societal conflict (organize interests)

  10. Responsible Party Model • Typical of Parliamentary system • Strong, competitive parties • Platform represents promise to people • Majority party selects government leader (e.g. prime minister--no divided government) • Majority party held accountable for living up to promises (party discipline enforced)

  11. Parties in the U.S. • Representatives have multiple obligations • To self (conscience) • To constituents • To political party • Parties operate in multiple domains • Organize interests of the electorate • Achieve program goals in government • Develop loose coalitions in political system

  12. Minor Political Parties • Bolter Parties • splinter groups within major parties that bolt • e.g. Progressive Party (liberal Republicans) opposed excesses of economic and political power; introduced initiative, referendum, and recall • e.g. Reform Party (Ross Perot in 1992 & 1996) • Ideological Protest (Marxists, Socialists) • Single Issue Parties; Farm-Labor Coalition • Take votes from major parties but force examination of important issues

  13. Endurance of Two Party System • U.S. is unusual relative to other countries; most have multi-party systems • with multi-member constituencies • proportional representation • U.S. Procedures favor two-party system • winner-take-all or first-past-the-post elections • single member districts • simple plurality

  14. Decline of the Political Party? • 1960s End of consensus; Vietnam protests • 1968 Democratic National Convention and Chicago riots with police brutality • Democrats reject leadership • open party participation to women, minorities; • introduce more primaries (direct vote) • Republicans introduce organizational change • RNC adopts business practices • automates mailing lists • professionalizes fundraising

  15. Decline of the Political Party? • Party identification waning; voters are increasingly independent • Fewer citizens involved in party politics; decreased issue role of parties • Media and interest groups assume some intermediary roles left vacant by parties • Media personalizes politics; politicians respond with cult of individual • Interest groups encourage greater diversity of interests; society more fragmented

  16. Decline of the Political Party? • Interest groups forced to work within two party system • Parties become “big tents” for groups with varied interests • Party conventions no longer determine party nominee but try to attract media attention • Parties harness soft money unavailable to candidates • Parties respond to changing times

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