Chapter Five:
Political Parties
The Role of Political Parties
Characteristics of Political Parties
- A group of people
- Joined together by common principles
* While party leaders may claim common beliefs, there
can be great diversity of opinion among the members
* American political parties are not primarily driven by
principles, but ideological purity does seem to be increasing in
both parties (there are fewer liberal Republicans and
conservative Democrats)
The Role of Political Parties
Characteristics of Political Parties
- Seeking to control the government
- Motivated by a desire to affect certain public policies
and programs
* For some politicians controlling the government is the
only real motivation
* “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”
– Vince Lombardi
The Role of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
- Incidental Functions
* Political parties are essential to our government even
though the Constitution never mentions them
* Parties link the people to the government and
facilitate communication between them
* Parties help to forge compromise between different
competing interests
The Role of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
- Major Functions
* Nominating Candidates
- Parties recruit and promote candidates for office
- Party members decide their respective party’s
choice of candidate through primary elections
- Parties help candidates run their campaigns
The Role of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
- Major Functions
* Nominating Candidates
- Parties keep the campaign apparatus running between
elections
* Raising money
* Training staff
* Researching issues
- Nominating candidates is the distinctive function of parties
(it separates them from all other interest groups)
The Role of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
- Major Functions
* Informing and Activating Supporters
- Parties encourage their members to contribute time, money, or other
resources to the political process
- Parties help to inform the public about the issues in government
* Parties use television, pamphlets, conventions, rallies, the internet, etc.
Most parties will present information in the most advantageous way
(propaganda)
The Role of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
- Major Functions
* Informing and Activating Supporters
- Parties discourage the public from supporting other parties’
candidates by criticizing them
- Parties share the informing and activating functions with the
news media and interest groups
The Role of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
- Major Functions
* Bonding Agent
- By acting as a bonding agent, parties try to ensure
the good performance of its candidates and officeholders
- Qualifications for office may also include good moral
character
- Failure to enforce good behavior usually translates into
electoral loss
The Role of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
- Major Functions
* Governing
- Parties help coordinate the efforts of various office-holders
* State legislators and Congressmen organize themselves
by party
* Executive appointments to office are usually made based
on party loyalties (partisanship)
- Parties can both help and hinder cooperation between the
branches of government
The Role of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
- Major Functions
* Watchdog
- The party out of power (whichever doesn’t control the
executive office) carefully watches and criticizes the party
in power
- The party out of power is often called the loyal opposition –
opposition to the governing party, loyal to the interests of
the nation
Section II:
The Two-Party System
The Two-Party System
Historical Basis
- Despite the Framer’s opposition to the idea of political parties, they
developed in the earliest years of our republic
*The debate over ratifying the Constitution created two distinct interests, the
Federalists and Anti-Federalists
* Alexander Hamilton eventually emerged as the leader of the Federalist
Party
* Thomas Jefferson eventually emerged as the leader of the Anti-Federalists,
who called themselves Democratic-Republicans
- The parties have usually defied the Framer’s predictions of dividing the
country, as each attempts to attract large, national followings
The Two-Party System
Reinforcement from the Electoral System
- The two-party system has been so long established that many
believe that it is a self- perpetuating system
- The election process favors the two-party system in significant
ways
* Each election is determined by the outcomes in a specific
district, and there is no chance to split the representation in
that district
The Two-Party System
Reinforcement from the Electoral System
- The election process favors the two-party system in significant ways
* The representation of each district goes to the candidate with the plurality
(highest number of votes, whether it’s a majority of votes or not) in that
district
* All minor parties desiring to win the next election have no choice but to
merge or at least form an alliance
* Voters are likely to abandon parties that do not attempt to merge and win
(considering it a wasted vote)
The Two-Party System
Reinforcement from the Electoral System
- Both of the major political parties usually cooperate to limit ballot access
* Minor political parties typically have to work much harder (gather more
signatures, etc.) to qualify for a place on the ballot
* Few minor parties can garner the resources to consistently overcome these
hurdles
The Two-Party System
The American Ideological Consensus
- Over time, most Americans have shared most of the same basic
beliefs (i.e. capitalism, representative democracy, etc.)
The Two-Party System
The American Ideological Consensus
- Sharp disagreements have occurred over specific issues like slavery and
abortion, but they have not led to permanent, unbridgeable political
divisions
* Other nations have struggled with seemingly permanent divisions based
on economic class, social status, religious belief, or national origin
* In spite of growing increasingly diverse in recent years, those divisions still
don’t exist in the United States
* Both parties compete for moderate voters who are not committed to
either party, leading them to avoid taking positions that are too extreme
The Two-Party System
Alternatives to the Two-Party System
- Multi-Party Systems
* A system in which several major and many minor parties
seriously compete for political power
* Common in European and other parliamentary systems
* Each party is typically organized for a special interest (i.e.
economic class, religion, or ideology)
* Proponents argue that multi-party systems give voters more
meaningful choices
The Two-Party System
Alternatives to the Two-Party System
- Multi-Party Systems
* The greatest weakness of a multi-party system is that a single
party very rarely wins a majority
- This requires it to form a governing coalition with another
party or parties
- The coalition partners may have very little in common, and
the period of cooperation may be short
- This often leads to instability
The Two-Party System
Alternatives to the Two-Party System
- One-Party Systems
* More appropriately called a “no-party system”
* Common in dictatorships, where political dissent is suppressed
* Different regions of the United States have been thoroughly
dominated by one party or the other at different times,
providing examples of democratic one-party systems
The Two-Party System
Party Membership
- Membership in a party is strictly voluntary, and you may register as
an “independent” if you choose
- In areas where one party is particularly strong, many voters will
join that party to better influence their representation through the
primary election
The Two-Party System
Party Membership
- Each American party draws members from every demographic,
but some demographics do more strongly associate with one
party
* Democratic groups typically include Jews, African-Americans,
women, and union members
* Republican groups typically include whites, males, and
businessmen
The Two-Party System
Party Membership
- Family is the strongest predictor of political affiliation (odds are
you will be what your parents were)
- Major historical events like the Civil War and Great Depression
also dramatically reshape the political landscape
Section III:
The Two-Party System
Through History
The Two Party System Through History
The Emergence of Parties, 1789 to 1800
- Federalist Party
* Favored the interests of trade and manufacture
* Strongest in the Northeast and in cities
* Believed in a strong central government and loose
interpretation of the Constitution
* Prominent members included Alexander Hamilton, President
John Adams, and, arguably, George Washington
* Effectively disappeared by 1816
The Two Party System Through History
The Emergence of Parties, 1789 to 1800
- Anti-Federalist Party
* Favored the interests of small farmers
* Strongest in the South and countryside
* Believed in strong state governments and a strict interpretation
of the Constitution
* Prominent members included Presidents Thomas Jefferson and
James Madison
* Variably known as the Jeffersonian Republicans and
Democratic-Republicans, eventually emerged as the modern
Democratic Party
The Two Party System Through History
Democratic Dominance, 1800 to 1860
- During this period, Democrats won the presidency 13 out of 15
times
- In what has been called the Era of Good Feelings (1816 to 1824)
there was no national party to challenge the DemocraticRepublicans
The Two Party System Through History
Democratic Dominance, 1800 to 1860
- By 1828, the Democratic-Republican party had split into factions:
National Republicans (Whigs) and Democrats
* The Whigs pursued many programs that would have appealed to
former Federalists, such as national improvements
* Prominent Whigs included Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and
Presidents W.H. Harrison and Taylor
* The Democrats continued to appeal primarily to lower income and
rural voters
* Prominent Democrats included President Andrew Jackson
- By 1860, the Democrats were hopelessly split by the issue of slavery
The Two Party System Through History
Democratic Dominance, 1932 to 1968
- During this period, Democrats won the presidency 7 out of 9 times
- The Great Depression shattered the previous political alignment
and allowed Franklin Roosevelt to form his overwhelming New
Deal Coalition based mostly on economic interests
- The New Deal Coalition began to show signs of fracture during
the tumults of the 1960s (Civil Rights Era, Feminist Movement, etc.)
The Two Party System Through History
Divided Government, 1968 to Present
- During this period, Republicans won the presidency 7 out of 10
times
- Unlike previous periods, the Congress and presidency have
usually been controlled by different parties
- Republicans have controlled both Congress and the presidency
since 2000, and some have predicted that a new Republican Era
is beginning, but the country is still very evenly split
Section IV:
The Minor Parties (“Third Parties”)
The Minor Parties (“Third Parties”)
Although they have little chance of taking power in America, minor
parties are still important
- Innovation
* Original ideas may begin with minor parties and then gain
acceptance from the major parties (i.e. holding national
nominating conventions for President)
* Third parties may champion non-traditional approaches and
solutions to conventional problems
The Minor Parties (“Third Parties”)
Although they have little chance of taking power in America, minor
parties are still important
- Spoiler Role
* In close elections, third parties may siphon enough support
from a major party candidate to change the outcome of the
election
* In recent elections, Democrats have supported conservative
third parties, while Republicans have supported liberal third
parties, hoping to help their respective candidates
The Minor Parties (“Third Parties”)
Although they have little chance of taking power in America, minor
parties are still important
- Democratic Safety Valve - Third parties give disaffected citizens a
chance to protest within the system, theoretically making
revolution less likely
The Minor Parties (“Third Parties”)
Four Distinct Categories of Minor Parties
- Ideological Parties
* These parties are based on a single, all-encompassing set of
beliefs
* Most American ideological parties have grown out of Marxism
(i.e. Communists, Socialists, Socialist Labor, Socialist Worker...)
* Another enduring ideological party, the Libertarian, is founded
on a minimalist approach to government and strong
individualism
The Minor Parties (“Third Parties”)
Four Distinct Categories of Minor Parties
- Single-Issue Parties
* These parties focus on a single public policy
* Examples include the Free Soil Party (opposing the spread of
slavery), the American (“Know Nothing”) Party (opposing nonAnglo-Saxon immigration), and the Right to Life Party
(opposing abortion)
* Most single-issue parties fade when their issue loses significance
or their position is adopted by one of the major parties
The Minor Parties (“Third Parties”)
Four Distinct Categories of Minor Parties
- Economic Protest Parties
* Lacking the broad ideologies of some minor parties, economic
protest parties are not quite single-issue parties because they
usually pursue a package of economic reforms
* Examples include the Greenback and Populist Parties (issues
included control of the money supply, railroads, utilities, taxes,
tariffs...)
* Economic protest parties fade when the economy improves or
when their positions are adopted by one of the major parties
The Minor Parties (“Third Parties”)
Four Distinct Categories of Minor Parties
- Splinter Parties
* These parties split from the major parties, sometimes over an
issue, but usually under a strong leader
* Examples include the Progressive Party and Dixiecrats
* Most splinter parties fade when they rejoin a major party
The Minor Parties (“Third Parties”)
Four Distinct Categories of Minor Parties
Some parties defy easy categorization (i.e. Green Party, originally
single-issue, now seems to be developing into an ideological party)
Section V:
Party Organization
Party Organization
Political parties may be considered by their three components
- The Party Apparatus
* The leaders, activists, donors, and employees of the political
parties
* Largely responsible for recruiting and assisting candidates while
keeping the parties functional between elections
Party Organization
Political parties may be considered by their three components
- The Party in the Electorate
* Voters who loyally support a particular party but seldom
participate in any other way
* The vast majority of party members are in this category
Party Organization
Political parties may be considered by their three components
- The Party in Government
* The members elected or appointed to government positions
* The smallest, but possibly the most influential, segment of the
party
Party Organization
Decentralized Nature of Political Parties
- The three components of a party are usually widely dispersed
with several centers of power
* Headquarters usually exist at the local, state, and national
level, and nothing ensures that those leaders necessarily get
along well
* The party in power is usually more solidly united because of the
President’s leadership
* The President leads his party through his access to publicity,
money, and government favors
Party Organization
Decentralized Nature of Political Parties
- Several causes keep the parties decentralized
* Federalism: our government is decentralized, so the parties are
as well
* The Nominating Process: intra-party fights over nominations
lead to some splintering
Party Organization
Party Machines
- National parties consist of four basic elements
* National Convention
- Quadrennial gatherings of party members
- Nominates candidates for president and vice-president
- Establishes party platforms (statements of positions and
beliefs)
- Showcases the party leaders before a national audience
Party Organization
Party Machines
- National parties consist of four basic elements
* National Committee
- Supposedly steers the party between conventions, but
exercises little control
- Most of its work centers on organizing the conventions
Party Organization
Party Machines
- National parties consist of four basic elements
* National Chairman
- The leader of the national committee, elected by it to a fouryear term
* In fact, national chairmen are appointed by the newly
nominated presidential candidates in consultation with the
committees
* Primarily responsible for overseeing the headquarters staff in
Washington, D.C. and working to strengthen the party’s
membership and fundraising
Party Organization
Party Machines
- National parties consist of four basic elements
* Congressional Campaign Committees
- The party also organizes campaign committees in each
house of Congress
- These committees work to protect incumbents
- These committees are chosen and directed by the members
of Congress
Party Organization
State and Local
- National parties are largely set by custom or tradition, but state
parties are often controlled by state law
- State Parties
* Organized around a central committee, headed by a
chairman
* The chairman may be independently influential, but more likely
serves as a proxy for a governor, senator, or other powerful
politician
* State parties focus on building membership, raising money, and
fielding candidates
Party Organization
State and Local
- Local Parties
* Great variations exist in the party organizations at the local
level
* Generally organized within the electoral districts of the state
* Cities are often further divided into wards for efficiency or
increased participation
* Voters are organized into precincts, small areas that share a
polling station
* Many local organizations are mostly dormant outside of
election season
Party Organization
The Future of the Major Parties
- Americans may not be enthusiastic about political parties, but
their existence is taken for granted
- Political parties have been declining in many ways since the
1960s
* Increasing numbers of voters refuse to identify and register with
either party
* Many more voters split their votes between the parties (voting
for different parties for different offices)
Party Organization
The Future of the Major Parties
- Political parties have been declining in many ways since the 1960s
* Some states are forcing more open political processes (i.e.
allowing independents to vote in party primaries)
* Changing campaign strategies, such as using new technologies,
make candidates less reliant on the party machines for
mobilizing voters
* Interest groups (“special interests”) that exist independently from
the parties have been playing greater roles in fundraising, etc.