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Explore the challenges in evaluating the relative strength of American political parties, including factors like primaries, independents, candidate-centered campaigns, and divided government. Discover evidence for decline and resurgence, from party unity in Congress to partisanship in the electorate. Understand why political parties are created and maintained by office seekers and benefit seekers as rational solutions to channel ambition, organize conflict in government, and mobilize voters.
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Why is it difficult to assess the relative strength of the American political parties?
Evidence for decline • Primaries • Independents • Candidate centered campaigns • Divided government • Committees/seniority • Presidents go public
Evidence for strength • Resurgent party unity in Congress • Partisanship in the electorate • Still the “major instruments for democratic government”…
Who makes up a political party • Office seekers • Benefit seekers
Why (according to Aldrich) do these actors create and maintain political parties?
Parties are rational solutions to three problems • Channel ambition • Organize conflict in government • Mobilize voters
