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Political Parties

This article discusses the absence of political parties in the U.S. Constitution, defining what parties are, their functions, the consequences of their actions, and the reasons for the dominance of the two-party system. It also explores the advantages and disadvantages of a two-party system and delves into the prospects of a third party forming in the U.S. It concludes with a discussion on the strength of parties in the U.S. and the potential ways to strengthen them.

jameserobertson
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Political Parties

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  1. 0 Political Parties October 22, 2007

  2. The Constitution’s Unwanted Offspring • The Constitution contains no mention of political parties. • What is a political party? • An organization whose purpose is to monopolize government. Power. • One definition: “A coalition of people who seek to control government by contesting elections and winning office” • A party differs from a single candidate’s campaign because a party runs an entire slate of candidates for a wide range of offices. • A party differs from an interest group because a party seeks to win offices rather than to influence those in office. • Parties are made up of ordinary voters, officeholders, office seekers, and activists

  3. What do parties do? • Organization • organize people by bring people under one tent. • Provide information, propagandize party ideology • for the average citizen they simplify the political world • Parties recruit candidates • (more commonly, politicians are self-starters) But candidates need the party label to get elected. • Contest elections • Parties mobilize the electorate

  4. Consequences of Party Action • Form governments • Form organizations: committee/party leadership • -inter-branch coalitions: between executive and leg.; senate/house • legislatures of 49 states and the US Congress are organized along party lines. • Provide accountability • provide a set of people to reward or blame • Dispersal of power destroys political responsibility

  5. Why only two parties? • The rules of our political system play a large role in determining how voters and parties behave. • Our electoral system is based on “winner take all”. It is referred to as a single member plurality system (SMD). Also referred to as “first past the post”. • Under such a system, voters are discouraged from voting for smaller parties that have no chance of winning. • Smaller parties are discouraged from contesting elections

  6. Multi-party Systems • Most modern democracies have an electoral system that is based on proportional representation. • The system gives a party a share of seats in the legislature matching the share of votes it wins on election day. • In most cases, parties put forth a list of candidates and citizens vote for the list. Thus voters choose among parties, not individual candidates. • Voters have less of an incentive to defect (from their sincere preference) and smaller parties have a greater incentive to contest elections.

  7. Sample (SMD) Ballot

  8. Single Transferable Vote (STV) Voters select candidates based on their preference, i.e Mark 1 in the box for your first choice, mark 2 beside the candidate for your second choice… Ireland

  9. New Zealand Proportional (Mixed) System 120 members total About 55 elected by party vote from one large national district Also divided into first-past-the-post (plurality winner) single member districts (electorate vote)

  10. Implications of Two Party System • Encourages parties to converge toward the “median voter”. • Parties adopt moderate platforms to appeal to the broadest possible audience • Difficult for voters to recognize differences

  11. Example of Spatial Competition Number of Voters Party C Party A Party B Median Voter

  12. Disadvantages with Having Only Two Parties • Normative concerns (what is lost) • Fairness • Should 50% of participating voters make govt.? Should incumbent parties draw districts? • Trust • If voters are not aligned with major party, and their vote is “wasted” on a third party, will they trust government? • Competition • Participation • US has one of the lowest rates of participation • Why show up if vote will be wasted?

  13. Advantages of Two Party System • Stability • Multi-party democracy said to be unstable • Must form coalition governments • Evidence is that coalition governments are less stable than single party government • Illusion of Majority Rule • Accountability • “responsible party” thesis

  14. How Could a Third US Party Form? • Institutional Change • Prospects slim for US Congress to act • State Legislatures • Citizen’s initiative • Major split in existing party • Rise of regional conflict

  15. Strength of Parties in the US • Generally “weak” as compared to parties elsewhere • Lack of recruitment (most candidates are usually self starters) • Lack of funding (most candidates have to raise the bulk of their funds independently) • Lack of party discipline

  16. Should Parties be Strengthened? • Strong parties would: • Promote party discipline • Provision of a clear choice • Concentration of power in hands of winning party

  17. How Can Parties be Strengthened? • Campaign Finance Reform • Allow soft money? • Limit contributions from interest groups… • Reform primary system • Closed primaries

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