Political Parties

1. Political Parties “Linkage Institution”

2. Essential Question • To what extent are political parties necessary to democracy?

3. Linkage • Political parties “link” government and its power to us, the people • They provide a bridge to government • Did you know political parties are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution?

4. The Framers • The Founding Fathers actually viewed “factions” as dangers which needed to be controlled. They distrusted them! • Yet those same guys became the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists (the first political “parties”) • This was the main debate transitioning from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution of 1787.

5. The Framers cont. • Here are the basics….. • Anti-Federalists • Opposed a strong federal government • Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams • Federalists • For a strong federal government • Alexander Hamilton, John Adams

6. Why Parties? • The competition for power in a democracy needs to be organized • Otherwise the democracy would be chaotic and unworkable • Even though we inherently distrust their partisanship

7. Party Structure • National Convention – meets every 4 years, nominates President • National Committee – manages party affairs on daily basis • Congressional campaign committee – supports party’s candidates • National chair – manages daily work

8. Goal of a Political Party? • WIN ELECTIONS

9. Function of Parties • Connecting citizens to government (linkage institution) -Political Efficacy – citizen participation level and awareness of government decisions • Run candidates for political office • Inform the public – help voters decide who to vote for in elections • Organizing government – coordinate government policy-making • Act as a watchdog

10. Parties are unifying • Too many parties might splinter society • A few, well organized parties: • Encourage compromise • Blunt tensions • Marginalize extremism • This is why political parties formed in every democracy • Despite a lack of definition in Constitution

11. Why 2 parties? • Winner-take-all system • Winner receives a seat while loser receives nothing • 3rd party usually joins one of other parties • Opposite – Proportional Representation – % of votes is directly applied as the % of representatives

12. U.S. Political Parties

13. Left Federalists Whigs Republicans Progressives Democrats Liberal Right Anti-Federalists Democratic-Republicans Democrats Republicans Conservative Left or Right?

14. “Grass Roots” • “Grass Roots” – parties can also reach the voters personally and “get-out-the-vote” on a local level

15. Minor Parties Third Parties have played a role in politics Types • Individual personality – those dominated by one figure head (Ex. – 1912 Theodore Roosevelt – Bull-Moose, 1968 George Wallace – American Independent Party) • Long-lasting goal or ideology – (Ex. – Abolitionists, Prohibitionists, Socialists)

16. Major Third Parties • Ideological • Socialist Party, Communist Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party • One-issue (or single-issue) • Free-soil, “Know-Nothing”, Prohibition, Woman’s Party • Economic protest • Populists • Factional • Progressives, Dixiecrats, Reform

17. Party Identification • Dealignment – weak membership, more “independents” or moderates – popular trend in the last 50 years. • “I’m not Republican or Democrat” • Strait ticket voting – strong party membership, support all candidates for one party • Ticket splitting – voting for candidates from multiple parties

18. Eras in American History • Founding (1789 – 1824) • Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists/Dem-Rep • Controversy: Federalism • Jacksonian Period (1824 – 1840) • Democrat vs. Whig • Controversy: Jackson himself

19. Eras in American History • Sectionalism (1840 – 1876) • Democrats vs. Whigs (and Republicans) • Controversy: Slavery and Reconstruction • Era of Reform (1876 – present) • Democrats vs. Republicans • Controversy: Government in economy

20. Realignments • 1800 • First peaceful transition of power • 1828 • First “heated” election • 1860 • Lead to Civil War based around civil rights • 1896 • Decided social roles of the parties re: business • 1932 • Decided social roles of the parties re: the people

21. Realignment? • “Gridlock” – Congress and Presidency controlled by different parties • 2004 - Republican sweep of Congress and Presidency - party loyalty stronger? • 2006 - split the Presidency and Congress again • 2008 - brought a Democratic sweep • 2010 – Republican sweep, but Senate still barely Democrat • 2012?

22. Divided government • When one branch is one party, the other branch is the other party • President Obama, Democrat • House of Reps, Republican • Senate, Democrat • How might this affect the dynamic process of government? • Does it constrain or enhance change? • Is this good for government?

25. Review • Political parties “link” government and its power to us, the people • They provide a bridge to government • Political parties are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution.

26. Why Parties? • The competition for power in a democracy needs to be organized • Otherwise the democracy would be chaotic and unworkable • Even though we inherently distrust their partisanship

27. Essential Question • To what extent are political parties necessary to democracy?