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Chapter 7 - Political Parties

Chapter 7 - Political Parties. Party Socialization. Structures political perceptions within group Educates membership on policy and platform Provides a reference point for change. Election 2004 Party Makeup. People who feel attached to one of two major parties.

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Chapter 7 - Political Parties

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  1. Chapter 7 - Political Parties

  2. Party Socialization • Structures political perceptions within group • Educates membership on policy and platform • Provides a reference point for change

  3. Election 2004 Party Makeup

  4. People who feel attached to one of two major parties.

  5. Outgrowths of the Electoral Process • Political parties, like interest groups, are organizations seeking to influence government. • A party attempts to gain control by electing its members to office. • Parties are the legal structure for selecting candidates • Parties integrate common interests and select from differing alternatives.

  6. Outgrowths of the PolicymakingProcess • Parties are also essential elements of the process of making public policy. • Parties are coalitions of individuals sharing common goals and objectives. • Parties facilitate victory through organization.

  7. Parties On Ballot in 2000/04 • Democratic Party (51,003,926) (62,040,606) • Republican Party (50,460,110) (59,028,109) • Green Party (2,041,572) Nader - (463,647) • Libertarian Party (301,511) (397,231) • Reform Party (365,826) • Constitution Party (81,715) • Grass Roots Party (778) • Independent Party (2098) • National Labor Party (78,361) • Other Party (15) • Prohibition Party (185) • Socialist Party (3,823) • Socialist Workers Party (19,668) • Workers World Party (94,245) • None of the Above (2,919) Rest – (368,497)

  8. U.S. Party Characteristics • Two primary parties • Representation • Proportional • Single member districts • Third parties influence

  9. Major Parties • Democrats • Began with Jefferson and Madison’s opposition to Adams and Hamilton's federalists. • Republicans • Have changed names several times but philosophically began with the Federalists efforts during the fight to ratify the Constitution.

  10. The Two-Party System in America • Historical Origins • Electoral Alignments and Realignments • American Third Parties

  11. Historical Origins • The Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans were the first American parties. • Federalists from New England • Jeffersonians from the South • The Jeffersonian Republicans would evolve into the Democratic Party in the late 1820s. • Controlled government 1824 - 1860 and from 1932 - 1968 • The Republican Party grew out of the antislavery movement in the 1850s. • Controlled government 1860 - 1932

  12. Electoral Alignments and Realignments • An electoral realignment occurs when a new party supplants the ruling party. • Realignments occur roughly every thirty years. • Five have occurred over the years • Caused by new issues or new voters • Realignment versus dealignment theories

  13. American Third Parties • Types • issue-oriented: slavery, suffrage, environment • ideological: libertarian, socialist workers • splinter: Bull Moose, American Independence, Reform • Third parties have played an important role in American politics. • George Wallace in 1968 • Ross Perot in 1992 • The ideas of the third party may be adopted by one of the major parties.

  14. American Third Parties • Third-party success in the United States is limited by — the electoral system • single-member district • winner take all, pluralistic system; — socialization; — belief that voting for third party is a wasted vote.

  15. Party Organization • Structure of Organization • National Convention • National Committee • Congressional Campaign Committees • State and Local Party Organizations

  16. State and Local Party Organizations • Each party maintains a presence at the state and local level. • Traditionally, there has been very little coordination between the national and state levels.

  17. Parties and Elections • Recruiting Candidates • Nominations • Campaigns and High-Tech Politics • From Labor-Intensive to Capital-Intensive Politics

  18. Recruiting Candidates • Traditionally, parties actively recruited candidates for office. • Over the last few decades, candidates have been self-selected.

  19. Nominations • The parties still control the process for the nomination of candidates. • The primary has weakened the control over which a candidate is nominated.

  20. From Labor-Intensive to Capital Intensive Politics • Money is now more important than ever. • The mobilization of the party faithful is less necessary given the power of modern media.

  21. National Convention • The National convention is a chance to showcase the unity of the party. • Presidential candidate is nominated, party platform is drafted, and party rules are enacted.

  22. National Committee • DNC and RNC • Raise campaign funds, • Manage the party’s image, • Head off factional disputes.

  23. Components of Political Parties • Party in the Electorate • Functional Organization • Party in Government

  24. Party Identification • Individuals tend to identify with one of the two major parties. • Identification with a particular party is based on the shared views and interests of the individual and the party.

  25. 2004

  26. Group Affiliations • The parties represent coalitions of groups, which include • race and ethnicity, • gender, • religion (Jews, Catholics, Protestants), • class (income), • age, • ideology, • geographic region

  27. Parties and Government • Parties and Policy • Parties in Congress • President and Party

  28. Parties and Policy • Political parties must attempt to offer policy proposals that appeal to the greatest number of voters. • As a result, the two major parties look and sound very similar. • Differences remain.

  29. Parties in Congress • The leadership and committee structure of Congress is controlled by partisan politics. • In 1994, the Republican Party won control of the House and Senate for the first time since the 1950s.

  30. President and Party • The president controls the policy agenda and is therefore an important office for the parties to control. • Divided government weakens the power of the president.

  31. Decline of Political Parties • Civil Service System • General Welfare rather than party welfare • Electioneering • No longer labor intensive • Wealthy candidates and PACs • Primary/caucus election system

  32. Future of Parties • National organizations were once all powerful good old boy groups • Decreasing power in electoral politics • Preference for divided government • Increase in number of independent voter

  33. Parties and Democracy • Parties are deemed essential for the existence of democracy. • Democracy is enhanced through strong and responsible parties. • Role of the opposition to maintain a moderate course • Ability to promote the vote • Encourage involvement • Convert participation into effective government

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