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Chapter 8

Chapter 8. Political Parties http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lt-f3QQ7-A http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXJcmFeIZBY. 1. Do you Remember from last semester, the definition of Political Parties? Purpose?.

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Chapter 8

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  1. Chapter 8 Political Partieshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lt-f3QQ7-Ahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXJcmFeIZBY

  2. 1. Do you Remember from last semester, the definition of Political Parties? Purpose? • Def.: Team of men & women seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in duly constituted elections • As linkage institution Parties have Purposes: • Pick candidates (primaries & caucuses) • Run campaigns: more of coordination w/candidates campaign • Give cues to voters: what party stands for • Articulate policies: each offers diff. ideas & role of govt. • Coordinate policy making: among the branches to get policy passed

  3. 2. What are the three heads of Political parties? • 1. The party in the electorate: become member by saying so • 2. The party as an organization: a full organization with a staff budget, rules, laws, levels (local to national) • 3. The party in government: all of the office holders and elected officials

  4. 3. The Downsian model of party government? Limitations? • What: a relationship between citizens, parties & policy • Reason: rational choice perspective: it assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the cost & benefits of alternatives • He argues: • Voters want to maximize the chance that policies they favor will be adopted by govt. • Parties want to win office so they select policies that are widely favored • Limitations: • Since most voters in the middle, ideas limited to just those in the middle • This causes a second problem of not seeing much difference between 2 parties

  5. 4. History of party ID & how it changed. Its effects on elections? • Party ID: self proclaimed preference for one party over another • Importance: still an important indicator on how people vote • Today: • 41% see themselves as Independent • 22% (1952) to 31% (2004) to 27% (2012) see themselves as Republican • 49% (1952) to 35% (2004) to 34% (2012) see themselves as Democrat • Biggest change today has to with the increasing number of people declaring themselves as Independents!

  6. 5. Remember the five tier system for Political parties? • Neighborhood  city  county  state  National! • All levels in US are considered to be decentralized and fragmented, why? • Candidates can & do get elected without any help from party • Very little power at the top • In its early days local (urban) machines through patronage ran the show, and were office holders • Chicago’s mayor Daly & its 40,000 govt. temp. job for votes patronage & no bid contracts • Of all the levels state is considered to be the most important due to its clout for setting up elections rules and conducting elections for both parties • National also still seen important too due to national convention formally choosing the party nominees & running mate (presidential ticket), and creating the platform

  7. 6. Evolution of the American 2 party system. How do coalitions come into play? Party eras, critical elections? • 1. federalists: Washington & Adams (12 years) defeated by Dem. Rep. • 2. Democratic Republican (Jeffersonian): 28 years Jefferson to J.Q. Adams, had a splinter and formed • 3. Democratic Party: Andrew Jackson: 12 years, lost to Whigs • 4. Whigs, 2 Presidents, both died in office, replaced by Democrats, SAD! • Whigs & Democrats split due to slavery, a coalition of anti-slavery groups give birth to Republican Party • 5. Republicans win with Lincoln & dominate next sixty years in two waves: • From 1860 to 1884 (mainly) • From 1896 to 1920 (mainly) • 6. after Civil War a major realignment by both parties has them switch places & ideology to the way we know them today • 7. New Deal coalition: Democrats back in charge with FDR & Truman • 8. after 1968 DNC, a divided govt., congress mainly held by Democrats & presidency mainly held by Republicans

  8. 7. Consequences of 2 party system on politics & policy making?How have 3rd parties made a difference? • Consequences: today both parties are going through dealignment; more and more voters are declaring themselves independent • Result: 3rd party groups are back and some of those moving away from 2 party going with independents • 3 types of third parties: • Promote certain/single issue or extreme ideological position (libertarian or Socialism) • Splinter parties: off shoots of major parties; ex. Progressive party, State Rights party • An extension of popular individual w/presidential aspirations (Ross Perot)

  9. 8. Reasons for decline in political Party membership? Who are their rivals? Prospects for future? • Dealignment: this push to move away from the 2 party system • Party neutrality: people feel indifferent towards the two parties • Why? Parties are no longer the main source of our information, attention or affection • Rivals to parties causing this lack of love: • Media: print & broadcast • Special Interest: which we can seek change issue by issue • They will still be there, and will still play an important role, but not the same major role it used to serve when it was the main source of information on elections and candidates on all different levels!

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