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Political Parties

Political Parties. Wilson 9A. Objective Questions. Who Governs? . To What Ends?. Did the F ounding Fathers think that political parties were a good idea? How, if at all, should America’s two-party system be reformed?.

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Political Parties

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  1. Political Parties Wilson 9A

  2. Objective Questions Who Governs? To What Ends? Did the Founding Fathers think that political parties were a good idea? How, if at all, should America’s two-party system be reformed? • How has America’s two-party system changed, and how does it differ from the party systems of other representative democracies? • How much do parties affect how Americans vote?

  3. Comparisons United States Europe Very disciplined Gatekeepers of an agenda Select candidates Manage campaigns Form coalitions Parliamentary Select chief executive • Older in development • Were very influential • Decentralized • Varies • Regions • Time • Leadership

  4. Label to organize, recruit, and elect a set of leaders to control the political policies of the legislative and executive branches • More independent voting and split-ticket voting • Do not join or pay dues • Separate from other aspects of life • Local authority in decision-making, doling out jobs • Parties regulated by state and local laws • Candidates chosen through primary system • President and cabinet separate from Congress US System

  5. Founding to 1820s • Jacksonian to Civil War • Sectionalism to 1930s • Reform (1900 – present) • Party realignments • Sharp, lasting shift in the coalitions supporting parties • Issues that separate parties change 1. Party defeated so badly it disappears 2. Voters shift loyalties from one party to another Rise and decline

  6. 1800 – Jeffersonian Republicans over Federalists 1828 – Jacksonian Democrats came to power 1860 – Whig Party collapsed over slavery – Replaced by Republicans 1896 – Republicans defeated Populists (Bryan) 1932 – Democrats and the New Deal of FDR (LBJ-1964/Nixon-1972) 1980 – Reagan? Congress 2008 – Obama? Race, Congress Historical Realignments

  7. 1787 – 1820s • Disliked parties, viewed as factions • Federalist/Anti-federalist (Constitution) • Distinguish between policy disputes and challenges to legitimate government • Jefferson vs. Hamilton • Republican domination • Heterogeneous local coalitions Founding to Jackson

  8. Political participation became a mass phenomenon • Enlarged numbers of eligible voters • More voters reached • 1832 electors selected by popular vote • Party built from bottom up • Replaced caucus’ with convention • Conventions allowed local control Jackson to the Civil War

  9. Slavery • Republican success • Civil War and Union Pride • Bryan’s alienation of northern Democrats • Most states dominated by one party • Factions within each party • Republican = “old guard” professional politicians + progressive “mugwumps” • Democrats = progressive west + Jim Crow south Civil War and Sectionalism

  10. Began 1900, firmly established with New Deal • Progressive legislation to lessen party power • Primaries instead of nominating convention • Nonpartisan elections at city and state levels • Break party-business alliances • Strict voter registration • Civil service reform • Initiatives and referendums • Officeholders not as accountable to party influence Era of Reform

  11. Evidence that parties are declining • Not a realignment • More split tickets • Use of office-bloc ballot • Reject party-column ballot • More divided government • Less identification with party • Challenged by some scholars who say parties are resurgent since the 1960s. Provide evidence to support this position in recent elections. Party Decline

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