AP US GOVERNMENT
& POLITICS
UNIT 3
POLITICAL PARTIES/INTEREST GROUPS/
THE MASS MEDIA/AND ELECTIONS
POWERPOINT #5:
Political Parties
• Political parties, the media, and interest groups
ALL affect the political process in America –
whether it be with the outcome of an election
or the shaping of laws.
Political Parties
• Political party: a group of political activists who
organize to win elections and hold public office in an
effort to determine public policy.
• Party membership includes:
– The electorate (voters – people registered with that
party)
– Party officials / organization
– Elected officials
• Political parties are organized at the local, state,
and federal level – in other words they are
decentralized. Nonetheless, a national
chairperson does exist for each party.
– Both the national Republican & Democratic
parties hold a national convention every four
years.
– Purpose of the national convention:
• Nominate a presidential candidate for the party
• Establish a party platform (a general list of views members of the
party share)
• Establish rules for organizing their party
• For many voters a political party . . .
– Gives them an image of candidates (this “party image” is similar
to a stereotype or generalization)
– Gives them a political identity (i.e. Who am I?
A Republican? A
Democrat?)
• For practical purposes political parties are often
organized to include members of various
backgrounds and occasionally different special
interests. Therefore parties often form unlikely
coalitions. Example: FDR’s New Deal coalition included blue collar
workers, ethnic minorities, white southerners, and intellectuals.
• In recent decades more and more people have
identified themselves as “independents” because of
their dissatisfaction with the Republican and
Democratic Parties.
Republican Party
• The Republican Party is often called the GOP
(Grand Old Party).
• Party Platform (generalized):
– Abortion: Pro‐Life
– Taxes: wish to see lower taxes across the board
– Economic regulations: want less restrictions on small
businesses and corporations
– Foreign policy: hawkish, little emphasis on multilateralism
– Energy & Environment: focus on traditional sources of energy
(oil, coal) skeptical of global warming
– Values: advocate traditional Judeo‐Christian values
• Supporters (generalized): upper and upper middle class,
Christians (especially evangelical Christians), white males,
business organizations, rural residents.
Democratic Party
• Party Platform (generalized):
– Abortion: Pro‐Choice
– Taxes: wish to see lower taxes across the board for the poor and
middle class, tax hikes for those earning more than $250k a year
– Economic regulations: want enhanced regulations on large
corporations and the banking industry
– Foreign policy: occasionally dovish, emphasis on multilateralism
– Energy & Environment: focus on alternative sources of energy
(solar, wind), wants to further regulate polluters
– Values: believes government should not advocate one type of
lifestyle over another
• Supporters (generalized): lower & middle classes, minorities, union
workers, urban residents.
• Why do we have two parties / a two‐party
system?
– Historical basis
– Plurality (the candidate with the most votes wins, so
people vote for the candidate who most shares their
views AND has an actual shot at winning)
– Single member districts (only one candidate can
win an elected national office)
• Remember! The Constitution says nothing about
political parties so the fact that we have a two‐party
system instead of a multi‐party system isn’t because
the Constitution says so.
Functions of Political Parties
1. Nominate candidates
a. Previously: caucuses ---> nominating conventions ---> now primary elections
b. With expansion of primaries, nominating function now seriously lessened. Party leaders no longer control nominations --->
more candidate-centered politics than party-centered politics
2. Raise and spend campaign funds ---> declining importance w/advent of "candidate-centered" campaigns.
3. Register voters
4. Simplify decisions for voters: Provide a "shorthand" through which busy and uninterested voters can base a voting decision.
In an LA Community College District election, 133 candidates were on the ballot, and without party labels ---> difficult for
voters to make decisions.
5. Unify diverse interests
6. Reduce diffusion of power in government
a. In theory, a party brings govt. together in order to overcome the systems of separation of powers and checks and balances--> parties act as a unifying force.
b. In reality, people tend to split their tickets ---> divided government (One party controls presidency, the other controls at
least one house of Congress)
7. Provide patronage
a. In theory, this should ensure that the will of the people is carried out.
b. In reality, vast majority of government jobs are filled by Civil Service. Plus, appointment of people with political connections
has often resulted in corruption and incompetence
8. Inform public through party platforms (Party’s agenda for the next 4 years)
9. Provide “loyal opposition” (after the “honeymoon period”)
10. Serve as linkage institution between people and government
Relative Party Strengths
NATIONAL LEVEL
President: Democrat
House:
247 Republicans, 188 Democrats
(114th Congress)
Senate:
54 Republicans, 46 Democrats
STATE LEVEL
Governors:
31 Republicans,
18 Democrats,
1 Independent
(2015 figures)
State legislatures: Republicans
control
31 states, Democrats control
11 states, and 8 states are split.
(2015 figures)
***Divided government typical of the past few decades. The usual
pattern has been Republican Presidents and a Democratic Congress.***
Other political party info:
• Minor Parties / 3rd parties: a political
party other than the Democratic or
Republican. Sometimes they are “single‐
issue” in nature. Although they have
little chance of winning they can swing an
election and they do provide an outlet for
those disgruntled with the major parties.
• Party machines: a political party
organization that often relies on
patronage to win votes and govern; often
dominating politics in a defined territory
(ex: Boss Tweed during the Gilded Age, Mayor Daley and
the Chicago Machine).
The Role of Third Parties in the Political Process
Though they rarely win offices, Third parties play
A vital role in our political system.
1. Voters
dissatisfied with
the major parties’
stances on
environmentalis
m formed the
Green Party
Providing
alternatives for
voters who do
not agree with
major parties
Bringing
overlooked
issues into the
national
political
debate by
running
candidates
2. The Green Party
can bring
environmentalism
to a national
audience by
running
candidates for
political office
Having their issues
incorporated into the
platforms of the major
parties
The NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THIRD PARTIES:
Vote Splitting: If a third party candidate
runs in a general election against members
of the two major parties, the party LEAST
like the third party benefits.
EX 1: In 1992, Ross Perot ran as a third
party conservative candidate. He cut into
George Bush’s voting base and swung the
election towards Clinton.
EX 2: In 2000, Ralph Nader ran as a third
party liberal candidate. He cut into Al
Gore’s voting base and swung the election
to George W. Bush.
3. The Green Party may
have their issues
incorporated into the
Democrats’ platform in
exchange for votes
NOTE:
While major parties
have a broad
political platform,
third parties are
often single issue
parties
(Ex. Right to Life)
• At the transition point of one party era to the next
is often a critical election.
–
–
–
–
usually fueled by major events (i.e. Civil War, Great Depression)
new issues emerge
new coalitions can form
old parties can die away, realignment
• Party realignment: The displacement of the
majority party by the minority party.
• Party dealignment: Voters choosing to identify
with neither of the two major parties.
Example: