Political Parties
John N. Lee
Florida State University
Summer 2010
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
1 / 18
Political Parties
Political Party − “A coalition of people who seek to control the
machinery of government by winning elections (KGK, 790).”
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
2 / 18
Primary System
Primary Election − “An election held before the general election in
which voters decide which of a party’s candidates will be the party’s
nominee for the general election (KGK, 791).”
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Closed Primary − Only political party members can vote for that
parties candidate (e.g. Republicans can not vote in the Democratic
primary).
Open Primary − Everyone can choose which political primary they
will vote in.
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
3 / 18
Iowa Caucus
First event regarding the choice of the political party’s candidate for
election.
Caucus − “A closed meeting of a political or legislative group to
choose candidates for office or to decide issues of policy (KGK, 783).”
How does it work?
Republicans cast secret ballots, they are counted and then the results
are reported.
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
4 / 18
Iowa Caucus
Democrats are more complicated.
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Instead of casting ballot, individuals are told to stand in sections of the
room to which the caucus meets.
Once in groups members have 30 minutes to try and convince their
neighbor group members to support their candidate.
After thirty minutes, the leaders go around and see which candidates
have viable support (at least 15% of the people present).
Once unviable candidates are pointed out their supporters have 30
minutes to find a candidate they will support.
Then they count up the participants and report the results to the
county, who then reports it to the state.
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
5 / 18
Following Iowa
After Iowa New Hampshire is up next.
Is it fair that two states exert such influence over the electoral
process?
Should other states be allowed to move their primaries up?
Michigan and Florida (Jan 29) both tried this and were punished by
both political parties in 2008.
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
6 / 18
How are Delegates Aggregated?
Democrats − Proportional Representation. If a candidate gets 50%
of the votes they get 50% of the delegates.
Republicans − Some are winner take all (New York), some are
district-level winner take all (California), and some are proportional
representation (Massachusetts).
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
7 / 18
Superdelegates
Superdelegate − Delegates to the Democratic National Convention
who can support any candidate that they choose (not bound by any
state’s primary/caucus results).
Republicans have them too but they are not called “superdelegates.”
In 2008 they make up 15 of the delegates at the Democratic National
Convention.
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
8 / 18
Is it rational to vote?
Expected Utility of Voting = (Utility of Voting)*(Probability of Being
Deciding Vote) − (Cost of Voting)
EUV (Voting ) = B ∗ P(D)-C
(1)
Where...EUV (Voting ) is the Expected Utility of Voting, B is the Benefits of
voting, P(D) is the probability of being the deciding vote, and C is the cost of
voting.
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
9 / 18
Is it rational to vote?
Some argue for the inclusion of the “D-term.” This represents the utility
individuals garner from
maintaining the democratic institutions
being patriotic
the general positive feeling of voting
EUV (Voting ) = B ∗ P(D)-C + D
(2)
Where...EUV (Voting ) is the Expected Utility of Voting, B is the Benefits of
voting, P(D) is the probability of being the deciding vote, C is the cost of voting,
and D is the unmeasurable benefits of voting (e.g. patriotism, continuing
democracy, etc).
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
10 / 18
Why are Parties Useful to Voters?
Since we know that based on a strict rational choice perspective
people should not rationally vote, how do political parties help
overcome this problem?
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
11 / 18
Why are Parties Useful to Voters?
Heuristics − “...guide in the investigation or solution of a problem.”
Cognitive Shortcut − “A mental device allowing citizens to make
complex decisions based on a small amount of information (KGK,
783).”
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We can think of Political Parties as Cognitive Shortcuts if I know that
candidate “x” is a democrat I know that they are most likely liberal on
all policies they are confronted with. Thus, rather than having to
ascertain information on all of their positions (e.g. global warming,
health care reform, war, etc) I can immediately assume that because
they are democratic they have liberal positions on these issues.
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
12 / 18
Party Platforms
Party Platform − A piece of writing which describes a political
party’s positions on various issues.
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
13 / 18
The Democratic Party
Democrats are typically liberal.
Liberal − “[A] proponent of a political ideology that favors extensive
government action to redress social and economic inequalities and
tolerates social behaviors that conservatives view as deviant (KGK,
788).”
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
14 / 18
The Republican Party
Republicans are typically Conservative
Conservative − “[A] proponent of a political ideology that favors
small or limited government, an unfettered free market, self-reliance,
and traditional social norms (KGK, 784).”
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
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The Third Parties
Types of Third Parties
Splinter Parties − Political parties which have split from larger
political parties because of ideological disagreement.
Can sometimes play a spoiler role.
Ideologue Parties − Political parties which have a unique political
ideology.
Single Issue Parties − Political parties which are only campaign on
one issue.
Are often coopted by larger political parties once their issues prove
popular.
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
16 / 18
Two−Party System
Two−Party System − “A political system in which only two
majority parties compete for all the elective offices (KGK, 793).”
Some argue this is bad.
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
17 / 18
Global Warming
Global Warming − The idea that global temperatures are increasing as a
result of increased CO2 emissions.
What do you think?
Is it real?
What can be done?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpWa7VW-OME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJAbATJCugsfeature=fvw
John N. Lee (Florida State University)
Political Parties
Summer 2010
18 / 18