AP Government Unit 4

1. Political Parties AP Government Unit 4

2. What is a Political Party? A political party is a group of voters, activists, candidates, and office holders who identify with a party label and seek to elect individuals to public office.

3. Is this true??  The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, richer and remove the crab grass on your lawn. . Republicans are the party that says government doesn’t work and . . . then they get elected and prove it! -PJ O’Rourke

4. Political Parties are… • At the most basic level, a political party is a group of office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who identify with a group label and seek to elect to public office individuals who run under that label. • Ours is a centrist party system. • Our parties tend not to be as ideological as parties in other countries.

5. What makes up a Party? • Parties are composed of committees that • raise campaign funds • coordinate election activities • formulate policies • recruit members

6. Parties are Made Up of Three Types of “Members” • Governmental party • The office holders and candidates • Organizational party • Workers and activists • Party-in-the-electorate • Those who vote for the party or consider themselves to be allied or associated with it

7. Hamilton and Jefferson, as heads of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist groups respectively, are often considered 'fathers' of the modern party system. By 1800, this country had a party system with two major parties that has remained relatively stable ever since. 1796 and 1800 Federalists vs. Democratic- Republicans New Englanders vs. Southerners The Evolution of American Party

8. History of American Political Parties

9. The Main Political Parties in the U.S. Today • Our system contains two major parties • The Democratic Party and the Republican Party. • We also have a number of minor or third parties at any given time. • Among the more important third parties today are the Reform Party and the Libertarian Party.

10. AKA…Divided Government Splitting the Vote Creates a Divided Government! • Some voters split their vote between the parties, and occasionally vote for third parties and independent parties. • For example: • A voter might vote for a Republican presidential candidate but then vote for a Democrat for Congress, and an Reform Party member for governor.

11. Why Democrats seem like Republicans and vice versa • Despite their differences, American the two main political parties are generally considered to be centrist parties • Given declining voter identification, parties attempt to appeal to as much of the electorate as possible. • Parties attempt to “blur” their positions to discourage opponents. • Declining party identification has increased the role of interest groups.

12. Independent Voters • The number of independents in the U.S. is rising • Identification with the two major parties today is in the mid 80% range • Voter identification with the two major parties has declined, resulting in an increase in the number of individuals identifying themselves as independents. • These “Leaners” may feel a party affiliation, but choose not to self-identify with a party

13. What is a Party Platform? • A formal statement of beliefs, opinions, and policy stands tied together by a set of underlying principles based on the party’s ideological orientation.

14. The Party Platform • Formulating the Party Platform is the most important and visible job that political parties contribute to in American politics • Every four years officials, activists, and the nominee for president compile the party’s position on a variety of issues • The platform is usually unveiled at the Party Convention

15. A significant trend of recent times is the demise of one-party voting One party voting means the dominance of elections in a given region One-party dominance among states is declining due to population shifts and increased voter mobility. From the presidential elections of 1860 to the present, the same two major parties have contested elections in the United States Democrats and Republicans The formerly Democratic "Solid South" is no more - instead solidly Republican with Democrats fighting for seats and power Competitive Parties = Close Elections

16. Creation of Party Symbols- Thomas Nast • Thomas Nast, famous as the cartoonist who brought down Boss Tweed, came up with the • The jack-a*$ (donkey) represented Democrats (around 1870) • An elephant represented Republicans (1874). • These were NOT meant to be complimentary!

17. Where do I belong?? • Party identification is often a voter's central political reference symbol. • Party identification generally come from one's parents. • However party ID can be affected by a number of factors such as education, peers, charismatic personalities, cataclysmic events, and intense social issues.

18. Loyalty Trends (today)- Democratic • Liberals tend to be Democrats • The Northeast and West tend to vote for Democrats • Catholics* and Jews are mostly Democrats • Labor union members tend to vote Democratic • Women trend more towards Democrats than men • Over 80% of African Americans; Hispanics vote 3 to 1 Democratic (not Cuban-Americans!) • Young people are more Democratic • Americans under 30 - since 1992 - are now a rock-solid Democratic constituency when it comes to presidential voting. • The more highly educated vote for Democrats • Be careful here: high school diploma or advanced degrees NOT college attendees or graduates) • Most blue collar workers and unemployed are Democrats • The widowed are mostly Democrats • The single are mostly Democrats

19. Loyalty Trends (today) Republican • Conservatives tend to be Republican • Professionals, executives, and white collar workers tend to be Republican • Chamber of Commerce members tend to vote Republican!! • The South and Midwest tends to be more Republican today • “Bible Belt” • Men tend to split fairly evenly between the two parties, but are more conservative • Cuban Americans are generally Republicans (anti-Castro) • Married couples tend to be Republican • Evangelicals tend to be Republicans • Not all especially young evangelicals • White Protestants tend to be Republican (WASP’s) • Very important since the 1980’s-Christian Coalition

20. Hispanic voters are becoming increasingly important.- 2008 • Between 2000 and 2004, Hispanics accounted for half of the growth in the U.S. population. • Out of every 100 Hispanics, 40 were voting age citizens, 23 were likely to be registered and only 18 were likely to vote. • But on Super Tuesday in California 2008, Hispanics were 30% of the Democratic primary electorate, up from about 17% four years ago

22. In 2004 where an individual stood on religion was a good predictor of how he would vote. The more religiously observant groups turned out heavily for George Bush The less observant ones for John Kerry. The fastest growing Christian denominations are evangelical, and they gave Mike Huckabee a boost in Iowa and in the South on Super Tuesday. But the number of people with no religious affiliation is growing. These individuals are now about 16% of the population, up from 8% in the 1980s. They're reliable Democratic voters. Importance of Religion-2004-08 Mike Huckabee

24. The suburbs are new the contested terrain- 2008 • "Density equals Democrats" • Republican voters used to dominate the suburbs, but "with these areas becoming larger scale, quasi-urban environments, they are highly contested spaces that contain some of the nation's most important swing districts.“ • Conversely, the farther out you get from the urban core, the more voters lean toward the GOP. • GOP performance in the emerging suburbs and exurbs that lie on the fast-growing metropolitan fringe (52% growth between 1990 and 2005, compared to only 11% in the innermost suburbs).

25. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties • National Level • National Committees • The Party in Government • Chairman/Leadership • National Conventions • State Level • States and Localities • Congressional districts • The Party in the Electorate • Local activists • Precincts • Grassroots groups • Informal Groups • Voters

27. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties National Committees— • The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Republican National Committee (RNC) are the national policy organs of the parties. • They choose national chairpersons and run the quadrennial conventions. • In addition, the Senate and House parties also have committees that are located with the national committees in D.C.

28. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties • Leadership— • The party chairpersons are usually selected by the sitting president for the party in power, and the party national committee usually selects the other national chairperson. • The chair is an important spokesperson for party interests.

29. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties Democrats President Obama Minority Leader Pelosi Majority Leader Reid • Each national party has a committeeof elites who decide national agenda and platforms (RNC, DNC…) • Most national party members are polarized…left or right • But for parties to survive, they must focus on the ability to capture the swing voter. • How can they do it??? Republicans Minority Leader McConnell Majority Leader Cantor Speaker Boehner

30. Each party holds a primary or a caucus in each state Then, the political elite from each party are selected as Delegates Both parties have Super delegates as well Superdelegates in the Democratic Party are typically members of the Democratic National Committee, elected officials like senators or governors, or party leaders They do not have to indicate a candidate preference and do not have to compete for their position. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties

31. Democrats There are currently 4,049 total delegates to the Democratic National Convention, including 3,253 pledged delegates and 796 superdelegates. The total number of delegate votes needed to win the nomination is 2,025. Republicans There are currently 2,380 total delegates to the Republican National Convention, including 1,917 pledged delegates and 463 unpledged delegates. The total number of delegate votes needed to win the nomination is 1,191. The Primaries and those Pesky Delegates (and Superdelegates)

32. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties • National Conventions— • Every four years, the national committees put together the presidential nominating conventions. • Until 1984, they got gavel-to-gavel coverage by media outlets. • Today, coverage is more selective. • The conventions allow parties to nominate candidates, but also to discuss party organizational matters. 2009 Walton Graduate Ryan Gibson and President Clinton at 2008 DNC in Denver

33. The National Party Conventions • Both major parties hold their conventions during the summer of a presidential election year. • Earlier in the year, each party selects delegates by primaries, conventions, committees, etc. • Presidential conventions have come a long way since the days when delegates and party leaders would emerge from “smoke-filled rooms”, battle weary after hours of negotiating over platforms and presidential nominees.

34. The Decline of Party Conventions • Before the 1960’s, National Conventions were important events that did more than promote the candidate and party • The delegates met to promote party unity, establish the party platform, vote for a presidential nominee, and then a vice presidential nominee. • The last contested convention was the 1976 Republican Convention where Ronald Reagan challenged President Ford for the nomination • Now they are more of a Pep Rally and media event

35. The Role of the Convention Today • The “pomp and circumstance” of the party conventions persists, despite the fact that their role in selecting a ticket is largely ceremonial and for show • The “Post-Convention bump” in the polls • Generally, the conventions remain only as a way to gather momentum as the two candidates head into the post-Labor Day election season.

36. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties

37. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties • States and Localities— • Parties are structurally based at the state and local levels. • Much of the work of the party is carried out at the precinct, city, county, and state levels. • At the state level, voters are much more ideological, resulting in larger number of factional splits than at the national level. • Inter-party competition remains relatively high at the state level.

38. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties • Recently some state parties have overruled national party guidelines concerning primary elections • Super-Duper Tuesday (Feb. 5, 2008) • Florida and Michigan bypassed South Carolina and were “in trouble” with the DNC • States and Localities • Do not always follow the national party rules

39. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties • The Party-In-The-Electorate • The party-in-the-electorate is the mass of potential voters who identify with party labels. • This group is self-identified and seems to exhibit ever lower levels of party loyalty.

40. The Party-In-The-Electorate • Declining Loyalty?? • New issues have cut across traditional party lines and weakened party affiliation. • So does the personality politics fostered by television and political consultants • But, pollsters often find that many self declared independents often 'lean' quite strongly in one direction or the other. .

41. The Party-In-The-Electorate • Party Identification • American voters identify with a party, but rarely belong to it. • They tend not to physically join and pay dues; instead they simply assert they are a Republican or a Democrat.

42. Party Realignment and Critical Elections • Party Realignment occurs when voters change parties during a election and the change is permanent and abrupt. • These elections are called critical elections • This has occurred 4 times in American history (so far!): • Jeffersonians in 1800 • Republicans in 1860 • McKinley in 1898 • Democrats in 1932

43. Secular Realignment • Secular realignment occurs when voters switch parties in a gradual way. • This refers to the slow change that occurs in some regions or groups that may or may not be noticeable • Examples: • Older voters replaced with younger voters • The formerly “Solid South” Democratic states have become more Republican • The Northeast has shifted from Republican to Democratic

44. Dealignment • Dealignment is a general decline in party identification among the electorate • Has increased over the past 2 decades • At least 1/3 of the population does not identify with a political party • However for the time being, parties still control American politics

45. Political CoalitionsMajor political groupings that shape American policy The Last Important Coalition… • The New Deal Coalition…Democrats • Labor union members • Poor people • Southern whites* • most minorities • and most socially conscious individuals voted for FDR in 1932 • This group became the root of today’s Democratic party • As Southern whites* began to abandon the Democratic party in 1968 and 1972, the party began to change to accommodate the remaining members of the coalition

46. Different Roles of the Party Which is most important on election day? • The Parties at the National Level • National Convention • RNC and DNC • The Parties at the State Level • State committees • The Party in the Electorate • Activists • The actual voters

47. Different Roles of the Party Which is most important on election day? • The Parties at the National Level • National Committees • RNC and DNC • Runs National Convention • The Parties at the State Level • State committees • The Party in the Electorate • Activists • The actual voters

48. The Modern Transformation of Party Organization • Republican Strengths • Until 1992, the Republicans outclassed the Democrats in most categories of campaign service and fundraising. • The Republicans have developed a particularly effective direct mail fundraising organization, and the party often has trouble legally spending all the money it collects. • The Republican Party supports a large array of activities and services including: • party staff • voter contact • polling • media advertising • campaign staff training and research

49. The Modern Transformation of Party Organization • Democratic Party Gains • The national Democratic Party remained quite weak and disorganized until it suffered massive defeats in the 1980s. • Democrats trailed Republicans in most campaign and fundraising functions until 2008 (the Obama campaign has changed this). • The Democrats now have their own direct mail program and a multi-million dollar media center for producing TV and radio spots at very low rates. • Democratic party campaign committees in Congress now raise significant amounts of money from congressional incumbents.

50. The Basic Structure of American Political Parties The Party in Government • Consists of party members who are elected or appointed to office • Includes • Congressmen and Senators • The President and Appointees • The Federal Judges and Justices • Elected officials at the state and local level