Political Parties

1. Political Parties AP Ch 9

2. Objectives • 1. Define and compare to Europe • 2. Trace development of 2 party system through 4 major periods • 3. Describe the structure and differences of the 2 major parties • 4. Investigate 3rd or minor political parties

3. Definition (2) • A. Group of people who seek to control govt by holding public office • B. Group of people, joined together by common principles, in order to affect certain policies • Difference? • Where do the US parties fit?

4. Election Oriented v. Issue Oriented • US parties are motivated by elections • Europeans have much “stronger” parties • Much more “centralized” than US and better at mobilizing voters

5. Notes/ History Take Notes to use on history quiz • 4 major periods of party domination and Realignments pg. 201-206

6. 5 Major Functions • 1. Nominating Candidates • Makes them different than other political groups • 2. Informing and Activating Supporters • “Spin and Spark” • 3. Bonding Agent Function • Screening candidates

7. Functions (cont.) • 4. Governing • In many ways US is govt by party • Partisanship (strong support of the party and its issues) links branches, organizes elections • 5. Watchdog Function • Party out of power criticizes party in power plays the role of “loyal opposition”

8. Party Realignments • AKA critical periods • A sharp, lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties • Issues change, and so do the people who vote

9. There have been 5 Realignments • 1. 1800 • 2. 1828 • 3. 1860 • 4. 1896 • 5. 1932

10. 2 types of Realignments • 1. When one major party is badly defeated and a new party emerges • (1800, 1860) • 2. When major parties stay, but the voters switch to the other party (1896, 1932)

11. Minor Political Parties 4 Types

12. 1. Ideological • Comprehensive view of American political system • Long lasting • Not concerned with election • Marxist • Libertarian

13. 2. Splinter • Bull Moose • Dixiecrats

14. 3. Single Issue • Free Soil • Know Nothings • Right to Life

15. 4. Economic Protest • Usually find a real or imagined enemy • Greenbacks, Populists

16. Major Party Decline • The # of People who strongly id w/ party is declining • Split ticket voting is increased (unheard of in 1800’s) • “Office bloc” ballot replaced the party-column ballot

17. National Party Structure Today • 2 Party system is still strong • NOT arranged like a big corporation • Both Parties have a national convention that meets every 4 years • Both have a national committee

18. Congressional Campaign Committee • Help candidates win election (in congress) $$ • National Chairman handles day to day activities

19. Republicans Organize • Recruiting in the 70’s • Elaborate fundraising • Structured • Bureaucratized

20. Democrats Disorganized • Fragmented their power and influence to allow for more diversity • Factionalized

21. Republicans use technology • Computerized mailing lists of donors • RNC used the $ to run a national consulting firm • Democrats copied • Increased the importance of “soft money”- $ given to the party, not direct to candidates

22. Internet Funds • 2004 Primaries, Howard Dean raised $30 million, by donations of under $100 • (and screamed about it) • Obama? Billion?

23. Geographical support • Dems have moved support from the south to the North and West • Repubs have moved support from the East to the South and Southwest • Result: Dems move left and Repubs move right

25. National Conventions • National Committee selects time and place • Sets the number of delegates and how they are to be chosen • Can influence what candidate is selected

26. Apportioning Delegates (News article) • Extremely complex • Dems give extra votes to large states • Repubs give extra votes to loyal states

27. Reforms add to the Middle Class split • Repubs traditional conservative MC • Dems- new liberal MC

28. 2 Party System- Why? • Scholars disagree • 2 Possible Explanations: • 1. Election system/ laws • 2. Public Opinion

29. Review organization of parties • Late 60’s early 70’s

30. Stucture of Parties • Dems- more factional • Repubs- more bureaucratic

31. 2 Party System Pretty Rare • Only about 15 countries have it

32. How to gauge strength of parties • How many ID • Organization • Recruiting • Election of leaders of all branches

33. Party as LABEL • Most of the time, it comes down to the label function- (key to understanding party’s function)

34. Differences between US parties and others • Federalism effect- more decentralized • US has primaries (most states)- not party leaders who nominate • Culture- US parties have less influence in our lives limited to voting • Pres appointment power is limited • Pres and congress do not run together

35. Political Labels and Categories • How people view policy regarding the economy • How people view policy on civil rights and race relations • How people view public and political conduct

36. 1. Pure Liberals • Liberal on both econ and personal conduct • Want govt to reduce inequality • Regulate business, tax rich • Cure economic causes of crime • Pro- choice, rights of the accused • Broad First Amendment Rights

37. Traits of Pure LiberalsMore likely to be: • Younger • College educated • Non- religious

38. Pure Conservative • Conservative on both econ and personal conduct • Want to cut welfare • Allow free markets to regulate itself • Keep taxes low • ‘lock up” criminals • Stop anti- social conduct

39. Traits: More likely to be: • Older • Higher incomes • White • Midwestern

40. Libertarians • Conservative on economic issues • Liberal on social issues • Want small weak govt that has little or no control over any aspect of our lives

41. Traits: More likely to be.. • Young • College educated • White • Higher incomes • No religion • Live in west

42. Populists • Liberal on econ matters • Conservative on social issues • Want govt to reduce econ inequality and control big business • Regulate personal conduct • Lock up criminals • Permit school prayer

43. Traits: More likely to be.. • Older • Poorly educated • Low income • Religious • Live in South or Midwest

44. Ch 9 Test • Read all ch 9 except 201-204

45. 70’ Dem reforms • Weaken party leaders influence • Increase rank and file power • Republicans out perform Dems in everything but diversity

46. Delegate selection • Changing rules has made the Dems more liberal and Repubs more conservative

47. Review 1980’s (Hunt Commission) • goal was to increase the influence of party leaders in the pres. Selection process • Increased Superdelegates (elected officials and party leaders who are not required to pledge themselves in advance)

48. Grassroots • Local levels of parties have been dying out • Political machines no longer exist (strong around turn of century) • Pol machines characterized by patronage, trading votes for favors, corruption, not ideology

49. State and Local parties • The Machine • -high degree of leadership • - • Personal Following • Solidary Group (social) • Sponsored Party (Detroit)

50. Finance • Remember- Repubs have been more successful, but Dems are catching up • Both parties re-doubled their soft money fundraising