The Nature and Functions of American Political Parties

1. The Nature and Functions ofAmerican Political Parties Prepared for the Center for Civic Education Richard J. Hardy, Ph.D. Professor of Political Science Director of the Centennial Honors College Western Illinois University August 1, 2012

2. “No America without democracy, no democracy without politics, no politics without parties, no parties without compromise and moderation.” --Clinton Rossiter

3. Topical Outline • What Are Political Parties? A. Definition of Political Parties B. Classification of Political Parties 1. By Selection of Members 2. By Nature of Ideology 3. By Degree of Centralization 4. By Degree of Party Discipline

4. What is a Political Party?

5. Do You Think of Political Party Leaders?

6. Do You Think of Political Party Symbols?

7. Do You Think of Political Party Conventions?

8. Do You Think of Political Campaigns?

9. Do You Think of Divisions in Congress?

10. Do You Think of Political Parties Positively? Do You Think of Political Parties Negatively?

11. Definition • A political party is group of people who run candidates for public office under its banner.

12. 1. By Selection of Members • Cadre Parties • Mass Parties

13. Cadre Party Cadre refers to a nucleus or small core of indoctrinated leaders who promote ideological interests. Examples: Socialist Workers’ Party, American Nazi Party, Communist Party

14. Mass Party Mass party refers to an organization where anyone is encouraged and free to join. There are few if any tests for membership. Examples: American Democratic and Republican Parties

15. 2. By Nature of Ideology • Missionary Parties • Broker Parties

16. Missionary Party Missionary party refers to a highly ideological organization whose members must be recruited and converted to the tenets or values of the organization. Examples: Prohibition Party, Communist Party

17. Missionary Parties want Converts!

18. Broker Party A Broker is someone who buys and sells on a commission. A broker party is an organization that is less ideological and is willing to modify its positions on issues in order to secure the most votes. Examples: American Democratic and Republican Parties

20. Broker Parties Want VOTES!

21. Ideology • Ideology is a systematic set of attitudes and opinions people use to justify their view of the political world. • There is no one ideology. • Ideology is thought to exist on a continuum from left to right on the political spectrum.

22. N=Number Frequency Distribution High Low Low High T=Trait

23. N Men’s Shoe Size Range of Sizes 4 8 10 12 22 T

24. N 4 8 10 12 22 T

25. N 4 8 10 12 22 T

26. Statistical Normality “The Bell Curve”

27. Grade Distribution N Class of 500 College Freshman F D C B A T

28. N Standard Deviations from the Mean -2 -1 0 +1 +2 T

29. N Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) -2 -1 0 +1 +2 120 144 151 160 180 T

30. N Left Right Moderate Liberal Conservative Radical Reactionary -2 -1 0 +1 +2 -1 -2 0 +1 +2 T

31. -2 -1 0 +1 +2

32. N Moderate DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS Liberal Conservative Radical Reactionary -2 -1 0 +1 +2 T

33. N Moderate INDEPENDENTS Liberal Conservative REPUBLICANS Radical Reactionary DEMOCRATS -2 -1 0 +1 +2 T

34. -2 -1 0 +1 +2

35. -2 -1 0 +1 +2

36. -2 -1 0 +1 +2

37. -2 -1 0 +1 +2

38. What would happen if….? -2 -1 0 +1 +2

39. What would happen if….? -2 -1 0 +1 +2

40. What would happen if….? -2 -1 0 +1 +2

41. What would happen if….? -2 -1 0 +1 +2

42. Lesson “To win elections, candidates must play between the forty yard lines of the political football field.”

43. 3. By Degree of Centralization • Highly Centralized (Unitary) • Highly Decentralized (Federal)

44. Centralized Power

45. Decentralized Power

46. The American Democratic and Republican Parties are perhaps the most DECENTRALIZED political parties in the world!

47. 4. By Degree of Discipline • Strong Party Discipline • Weak Party Discipline

48. Strong Party Discipline Discipline refers to the degree of authority and power the leaders hold over their rank and file members. Parties with strong party discipline hold a great deal of leverage over party members. Examples: British Labour and Conservative Parties

49. Weak Party Discipline Discipline refers to the degree of authority and power the leaders hold over their rank and file members. Parties with weak party discipline have relatively little leverage over party members. Examples: American Democratic and Republican Parties

50. Democrats and Republicans • Mass Parties--virtually anyone can join • Broker Parties--looking for votes, not converts • DecentralizedParties--power is widely dispersed • Weak PartyDiscipline--leaders exert few sanctions