Ch t 12
Chapter
P liti l Parties
Political
P ti
American Government: Continuity and Change
9th Edition
What Is A Political Party?
† An organized effort by office holders,
holders
candidates, activists, & voters to pursue their
common interests by
y gaining
g
g & exercising
g
power thru the political process
† Consist of three separate but related entities:
„ Governmental Party ~ Off holders who organize
themselves & pursue policy objectives under a
party
p
y label
„ Organizational Party ~ Workers & activists who
make up the party’s formal organization
„ Party in the Electorate ~ Voters who consider
themselves allied w/ the party
p.421-422
What Is A Political Party?
† An organized effort by office holders,
holders
candidates, activists, & voters to pursue their
common interests by
y gaining
g
g & exercising
g
power thru the political process
† Consist of three separate but related entities:
„ Governmental Party ~ Off holders who organize
themselves & pursue policy objectives under a
party
p
y label
„ Organizational Party ~ Workers & activists who
make up the party’s formal organization
„ Party in the Electorate ~ Voters who consider
themselves allied w/ the party
p.421-422
p.423
Evolution of American Party
Democracy
† G
Geo Washington
W hi t
warned
d against
i t parties
ti in
i
his farewell address ~ Jefferson’s AntiFederalists & Adams
Adams’s
s Federalists
„ Jefferson’s group (aka DemocraticRepublicans) preferred a fed system w/
more powerful
f l states
t t
„ Adams’s group preferred strong centl govt
† No broad support across the country for
parties at that time
y spt
p was from govtal
g
party
p y
† Primarily
factions in Congress
p.422
The Early Parties Fade
† F
Federalists
d
li
failed
f il d to elect
l
anyone after
f
Adams
Ad
&
the party dissolved in 1820
† James Monroe
Monroe’s
s presidency ushered in the “so
so
called” Era of Good Feelings (1817-1825)
„ Party politics nearly suspended at natl level
† Expansion of Democracy
„ 1820-1840 tremendous increase in voter turn out (300k
to 2M)
„ Movement away from state legislators voting for Pres to
popular vote ~ No longer an “elitist” thing
„ 1832 ~ Demo Party
y (old
(
Jeff Demo-Reps)
p ) 1st natl conv
† Rallied around Andrew Jackson ~ 1st to win Presidency
as the nominee of a natl party
p.422-425
The Early Parties Fade
† F
Federalists
d
li
failed
f il d to elect
l
anyone after
f
Adams
Ad
&
the party dissolved in 1820
† James Monroe
Monroe’s
s presidency ushered in the “so
so
called” Era of Good Feelings (1817-1825)
„ Party politics nearly suspended at natl level
† Expansion of Democracy
„ 1820-1840 tremendous increase in voter turn out (300k
to 2M)
„ Movement away from state legislators voting for Pres to
popular vote ~ No longer an “elitist” thing
„ 1832 ~ Demo Party
y (old
(
Jeff Demo-Reps)
p ) 1st natl conv
† Rallied around Andrew Jackson ~ 1st to win Presidency
as the nominee of a natl party
p.422-425
The Early Parties Fade
† The Whig Party (forerunner of modern
Republican Party) set its sights on the
abolition
b liti
off slavery
l
† New Republican Party successfully
supported Abe Lincoln in 1860
† Democratic candidate was Stephen A.
Douglas
g
„ Not a single southern state voted for a
Republican president until 1920
p.425
Democrats & Republicans:
The Golden Age
† 1860 to Present ~ Demo & Rep Parties
have dominated US elections
† Golden
G ld
A
Age off P
Political
liti l P
Parties
ti
„ 1874-1912 ~ Remarkable party stability
† E
Emigration
i
ti
ffrom E
Europe ffueled
l d the
th
development of big-city Party Machines
„ Jobs,
Jobs etc.
etc were used to win party loyalties
• 75% or better voter turnout 1876-1900
~ High degree of control over members
• Wm March “Boss” Tweed ~ Tammany Hall
political machine NYC – Convicted 1873
p.425-426
Democrats & Republicans:
The Golden Age
† 1860 to Present ~ Demo & Rep Parties have
h
dominated US elections
† Golden
G ld
A
Age off P
Political
liti l P
Parties
ti
„ 1874-1912 ~ Remarkable party stability
† E
Emigration
i
ti
ffrom E
Europe ffueled
l d the
th
development of big-city Party Machines
„ Jobs,
Jobs etc.
etc were used to win party loyalties
• 75% or better voter turnout 1876-1900
~ High degree of control over members
• Wm March “Boss” Tweed ~ Tammany Hall
political machine NYC – Convicted 1873
p.425-426
Modern Era
† Social, political, technological, & govtal
changes in the nature of natl parties
since
i
th
the 1920s
1920
† Govt began doing things previously
performed
f
d by
b parties
ti
„ Printing ballots, conducting elections,
providing social welfare services
„ 1930s social services seen as right not
privilege in exchange for support
p.426
Modern Era
† Direct Primary System ~ Progressive
„ The selection of party candidates from ballots
of qualified voters rather than at party
conventions
† Civil Service Laws ~ Progressive
g
„ Appointment based on merit/exams (Chap 9)
† Issue-Oriented Politics
„ A focus on specific issues rather than on party,
candidate, or other loyalties
† Civil
Ci il rights,
i ht ttax-cutting,
tti
environmentalism
i
t li
† Leads to ticket-splitting (vote issue not party)
p.426
Modern Era
† Candidate-Centered Politics ~ Brought on
by the Progressive Era
„ Focusing directly on the candidates,
candidates their
character & particular issues
„ Television ~ Emphasizes personalities rather
th
than
abstracts
b t
t like
lik party
t label
l b l
† 1960 ~ Kennedy-Nixon Debates
† Growth of the Suburbs
„ Spreads people out ~ Hard to knock on every
door
„ Sense
S
off privacy
i
& detachment
d t h
t deters
d t
party
t
organizers
p.426-427
Realignment
† Party
P
R li
Realignment
„ Periodically voters make dramatic shifts in partisan
preference (i.e., change parties)
† Critical Election ~ Realignment due to voter
polarization around new issues ~ Next Slide
„ 1800 ~ Jefferson v
v. Federalists Æ Demo-Reps
Demo Reps
„ 1860 ~ Lincoln v. Slavery Æ Republicans
„ 1932 ~ FDR v. Depression Æ Democrats
† Secular Realignment
„ The gradual rearrangement of party coalitions, based
g p
shifts than on p
political upheaval
p
more on demographic
„ Generational replacement
p.427
Realignment
† Party
P
R li
Realignment
„ Periodically voters make dramatic shifts in partisan
preference (i.e., change parties)
† Critical Election ~ Realignment due to voter
polarization around new issues ~ Next Slide
„ 1800 ~ Jefferson v.
v Federalists Æ Demo
Demo--Reps
„ 1860 ~ Lincoln v. Slavery Æ Republicans
„ 1932 ~ FDR v. Depression Æ Democrats
† Secular Realignment
„ The gradual rearrangement of party coalitions, based
g p
shifts than on p
political upheaval
p
more on demographic
„ Generational replacement
p.427
Colors mixed up
p.428
The Functions of American Parties
† Mobilizing
bl
Supt & Gathering
h
Power
„ Coalition ~ A group made up of interests or
organizations that join forces for the purpose
of electing public officials
†
†
†
†
†
Force for Stability
y & Moderation
Unity ~ The Glue
Electioneering ~ Recruit Candidates/Voters
Issue Cue ~ Esp For Least Informed
Policy Formation & Promotion ~ Next Slide
„ National Party Platform ~ @ Four Yrs
p.430-433
American Values/American Voices
Democrats, Republicans, Independents, & Shared Values
p.431
Crashing the Party ~ Minor Parties
† Proportional Representation ~ Many European
„
System that apportions legislative seats according to the % of the
vote won by a particular political party
† Winner-Take-All System
y
~ American System
y
„
An electoral system in which the party that receives at least one
more vote than any other party wins the election
† Third Parties ~ Roots in Sectionalism
„
„
Focus on issues ignored by the major parties
Often a “dynamic” leader
† ’68 ~ Geo Wallace – Civil Rights
„
Gov Alabama ~ Stood in door to
block blacks at U of A (’63)
† ’92 ~ Ross Perot – Budget Deficit
„
„
Texas Billionaire
Take
T
k votes
t away from
f
major
j
candidates
p.433-435
Crashing the Party ~ Minor Parties
† Proportional Representation ~ Many European
„
System that apportions legislative seats according to the % of the
vote won by a particular political party
† Winner
Winner--Take
Take--All System
y
~ American System
y
„
An electoral system in which the party that receives at least one
more vote than any other party wins the election
† Third Parties ~ Roots in Sectionalism
„
„
Focus on issues ignored by the major parties
Often a “dynamic” leader
† ’68 ~ Geo Wallace – Civil Rights
„
Gov Alabama ~ Stood in door to
block blacks at U of A (’63)
† ’92 ~ Ross Perot – Budget Deficit
„
„
Texas Billionaire
Take
T
k votes
t away from
f
major
j
candidates
p.433-435
DNC ~ 1848 ~ Pres
NDCC ~ 1866~ Cong
Every 4 yrs each party
holds a natl conv to
nominate its Pres & VP
candidates
State & local parties have become
significantly more effective @ fund
raising, etc.
RNC ~ 1856~ Pres
NRCC ~ 1866~ Cong
Real work goes
on at the
h state
level
Smallest voting unit is the
precinct ~ 100k in US
p.436
The Transformation of
the Party Organization
† Both major parties have supplemented
their efforts with new technology &
communication strategies
† Both have similar objectives ~ Win!
„ Republicans more organized
organized, stronger fund
fundraising machine ~ Democrats doing better
„ Internet/Direct Mail
† ’04 ~ Howard Dean ~ Revolutionized
fund raising via Internet ~ DNC Chair
„ $Ms on surveys & TV ads
p.440-442
The Transformation of
the Party Organization
† Both major parties have supplemented
their efforts with new technology &
communication strategies
† Both have similar objectives ~ Win!
„ Republicans more organized
organized, stronger fund
fundraising machine ~ Democrats doing better
„ Internet/Direct Mail
† ’04 ~ Howard Dean ~ Revolutionized
fund raising via Internet ~ DNC Chair
„ $Ms on surveys & TV ads
p.440-442
Soft $ ~ Unregulated $ funneled thru under auspice of
party building
Hard $ ~ Can be used for direct
electioneering but highly regulated
p.440
Half--Way Point
Half
Ch t 12
Chapter
P liti l Parties
Political
P ti
American Government: Continuity and Change
9th Edition
The Party in Government
† Congressional
C
l Party ~ Most Visible
bl & Vitall
„ Prior to every session, parties select party leaders &
make committee appointments
„ In effect, parties organize & operate Congress
„ Elaborate mgt systems
† Web of Deputy & Asst Whips
„ Majority party generally holds more power
† Can push its agenda ~ pork-barrel
pork barrel projects, etc.
„ Party discipline ~ staying w/ the “party line”
† Hurt by individualistic nature of U.S. politics
† But party voting has increased since the 1970s
p.442-443
The Party in Government
† Congressional
C
i
l Party ~ Most Visible
i ibl & Vital
i l
„ Prior to every session, parties select party leaders &
make committee appointments
„ In effect, parties organize & operate Congress
„ Elaborate mgt systems
† Web of Deputy & Asst Whips
„ Majority party generally holds more power
† Can push its agenda ~ pork-barrel
pork barrel projects, etc.
„ Party discipline ~ staying w/ the “party line”
† Hurt by individualistic nature of U.S. politics
† But party voting has increased since the 1970s
p.442-443
p.444
The Presidential Party
† Party
P t off the
th President
P
id t
„ Captures the public’s imagination & shapes the
electorate’s opinion
p
of the two p
parties
„ Perceptions of the incumbent President
determine how citizens perceive the parties
„ Some Presidents more party-oriented
party oriented
† Modern tendency (since FDR) have been less
supportive of their respective political parties
† Eisenhower “nonpartisan”
nonpartisan ~ Didn
Didn’tt promote his party
„
„
A “soldier” president
Actually hurt his party
p.444-445
The Presidential Party
† Presidents
P
id t Who
Wh N
Neglected
l t d Th
Their
i P
Parties
ti
Johnson & Carter
Eisenhower & Nixon
† Party Oriented
Wilson & Roosevelt
Reagan & Geo W.
p.444-445
The Presidential Party
† Presidents
P
id t Who
Wh Neglected
N l t d Their
Th i Parties
P ti
Johnson & Carter
Eisenhower & Nixon
† Party Oriented
Wilson & Roosevelt
Reagan & Geo W.
p.444-445
Parties and the Judiciary
† Viewed
d as “above-politics”
“ b
l
” & nonpartisan
but are products of their party
identification
† Presidents overwhelmingly choose judges
from the ranks of their party
„ Many have had long careers as loyal party
workers or legislators
g
Geo W. Bush nominees Miguel
Estrada & Priscilla Owens were
not confirmed by Senate
Democrats
p.445-446
The Parties & State Governments
† The major national parties are the dominant political
forces in all 50 states
„ Third parties have emerged but all have faded
† Parties & Governors
„ Usually have more influence on party organizations &
legislators
„ More patronage positions
„ Line-item veto (41)
† Parties & State Legislators
„ Nearly split evenly between the two parties
„ Parties
P ti h
have greater
t legislative
l i l ti
iinfluence
fl
att th
the state
t t
level than at the national level.
„ Party leaders have more authority and power
„ State legislators depend on state & local parties for
election assistance more than members of Congress
p.446-447
Party in the Electorate
† Party Identification ~ A citizen’s
citizen s personal affinity for a
political party
„ Usually expressed by his or her tendency to vote for the
candidates of that party
„ Can’t vote in “primary” elections unless you are a
member of one of the parties ~ An incentive to join
† Sources
„ Parents ~ “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”
„ Marriage & other aspects of adult life can change one’s
party
p
y loyalty
y y
„ Charismatic political personalities, cataclysmic events, &
maybe intense social issues
powerful indicator
„ Social class remains a p
† Wealthy = Republican
† Working-Class = Democrat
p.447-450
p.448
¾ Point
Ch t 12
Chapter
P liti l Parties
Political
P ti
American Government: Continuity and Change
9th Edition
Group Affiliations ~ Most Noticeable
V i ti
Variations
~ (Details Next Slide)
† Geographic Region
„
South competitive at natl
level but Democratic
affinity at local level
† Gender
G d ~ 2004 P
Pres
„
Men = Rep
†
„
Bush 55%; Kerry 44%
Women = Demo
†
Bush 48%; Kerry 51%
† Race & Ethnicity
„
„
Af Am/Hispanics = Demos
† Mostly Liberal
† Conserv on abortion &
gay
Asian/White = Reps
† Mostly Conservative
† Liberal on abortion &
gay
† Age
„
„
Young & Old = Liberal
social issues = Demo
Middle = Reps
† Socioeconomic
„
„
Execs, professional, &
white-collar = >$ = Rep
Trial lawyers,
y
, educators,, &
blue-collar = <$ = Lib
† Religion
„
„
Protestants = Republicans
Caths/Jews = Democratic
„
Married people lean more
towards Republicans.
† Marital Status
† Ideology
„
No surprises
p.250-255
Group Affiliations ~ Most Noticeable
V i ti
Variations
~ (Details Next Slide)
† Geographic Region
„
South competitive at natl
level but Democratic
affinity at local level
† Gender
G d
~ 2004 Pres
P
„
Men = Rep
†
„
Bush 55%; Kerry 44%
Women = Demo
†
Bush 48%; Kerry 51%
† Race & Ethnicity
„
„
Af Am/Hispanics = Demos
† Mostly Liberal
† Conserv on abortion &
gay
Asian/White = Reps
† Mostly Conservative
† Liberal on abortion &
gay
† Age
„
„
Young & Old = Liberal
social issues = Demo
Middle = Reps
† Socioeconomic
„
„
Execs, professional, &
white-collar = >$ = Rep
Trial lawyers,
y
, educators,, &
blue-collar = <$ = Lib
† Religion
„
„
Protestants = Republicans
Caths/Jews = Democratic
„
Married people lean more
towards Republicans.
† Marital Status
† Ideology
„
No surprises
p.250-255
p.451
The number
of self
d l
declared
d
independents
has increased
to over 38%
of the
population ~
p.447
p.451
Least Difference
Most Difference
p.452
Is the Party Over or Has it Just
Begun?
† Dealignment ~ A general decline in partisan
identification & loyalty in the electorate
† Rise of Independents
„ Rise from 19% in 1958 to height of 40% in 2000
„ Subsequently, Independent percentages hover near
that watermark
„ Many of these are “leaning” Independents
† Tend to vote very much like real partisans
† But generally reluctant to reveal their leanings
† May indicate that party labels are viewed as an
offense to their individualism
„
„
„
p.455-457
Growth of issue-oriented politics
Personality politics
Party splits
Is the Party Over or Has it Just
Begun?
† Dealignment ~ A general decline in partisan
identification & loyalty in the electorate
† Rise of Independents
„ Rise from 19% in 1958 to height of 40% in 2000
„ Subsequently, Independent percentages hover near
that watermark
„ Many of these are “leaning” Independents
† Tend to vote very much like real partisans
† But generally reluctant to reveal their leanings
† May indicate that party labels are viewed as an
offense to their individualism
„
„
„
p.455-457
Growth of issue-oriented politics
Personality politics
Party splits
Is the Party Over or Has it Just
Begun?
† Parties’
Parties decline can easily be
exaggerated
„ How/Why?
1 U
1.
Usually
ll have
h
been
b
reliable
li bl vehicles
hi l ffor mass
participation
2. Both major parties have demonstrated flexibility &
pragmatism,
p
g
, which has helped
p
ensure their survival
& the success of the society they serve
3. Have continued to provide competition for each other
& the voters at the natl level
4 Party in govt & the party organizations
4.
are stronger than ever, regardless of the
fluctuations found in the
electorate
p.455-457
Ch t 12
Chapter
P liti l Parties
Political
P ti
American Government: Continuity and Change
9th Edition