Mr. Baumann’s Study Guide
Chap. 7 – Political Parties
OBJECTIVE: IN THIS CHAPTER WE EXAMINE THE HISTORY OF POLITICAL
PARTIES IN AMERICA AND WHY THEY ARE RELATIVELY WEAK TODAY COMPARED
WITH THEIR STRENGTH DECADES AGO AND WITH POLITICAL PARTIES ABROAD.
KEY QUESTIONS TO ANSWER:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
WHAT DID THE FOUNDING FATHER’S BELIEVE ABOUT POLITICAL
PARTIES?
HOW HAS AMERICA’S TWO-PARTY SYSTEM CHANGED OVER THE PAST
CENTURY AND A HALF?
HOW DOES IT DIFFER TODAY FROM THE PARTY SYSTEMS OF OTHER
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACIES?
TO WHAT EXTENT HAS THE DECLINE OF MASS ATTACHMENT TO THE
TWO MAJOR PARITES AFFECTED HOW AMERICANS VOTE?
IS THE FUTURE OF THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM INCREAINGLY SHAKY OR
VIRTUALLY ENSURED?
INTRODUCTION
AMERICA’S POLITICAL PARTIES ARE THE OLDEST IN THE WORLD, BUT THEY HAVE
CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE PAST 150 YEARS BECAUSE THE LAWS AND RULES
UNDER WHICH THEY OPERATE HAVE TAKEN AWAY MUCH OF THEIR POWER AT THE
SAME TIME THAT MANY VOTERS HAVE LOST THEIR SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO PARTY
IDENTIFICATION. (149)
PARTIES – HERE AND ABROAD
DEFINE: POLITICAL PARTY – A GROUP THAT SEEKS TO ELECT CANDIDATES TO PUBLIC
OFFICE BY SUPPLYING THEM WITH A LABEL OR IDENTIFICATION BY WHICH THEY CAN BE
KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC.
1. IDENTIFY THE THREE POLITICAL ARENAS WHERE POLITICAL PARTIES MAY BE FOUND.
ANSWER:
1.
2.
3.
AS A LABEL IN THE MINDS OF VOTERS
AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT RECRUITS AND CAMPAIGNS FOR CANDIDTATES
AS A SET OF LEADERS WHO TRY TO ORGANIZE AND CONTROL THE LEGISLATIVE
AND EXECUTIVE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
2. IDENTIFY WHICH POLITICAL ARENAS HAVE GROWN WEAKER IN THE PAST 50 YEARS
AND EXPLAIN THE REASONS:
ANSWER:
1.
AS A LABEL, FEWER PEOPLE IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH A PARTICULAR
PARTY AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE IDENTIFY AS “INDEPENDENTS” OR WITH
“NO PREFERENCE.”
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BECOME DRAMATICALLY WEAKER PROBABLY DUE TO
STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS .
2.
3. IDENTIFY THE SEVEN FACTORS WHY ARE EUROPEAN PARTIES SO STRONG COMPARED
WITH OURS.
ANSWER:
1.
THE FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE USA DECENTRALIZES
POLITICAL AUTHORITY AND THUS DECENTRALIZES POLITICAL
ORGANIZATIONS.
MOST OF THE IMPORTANT GOVERNMENTAL DECISIONS WERE MADE AT THE
STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS, SUCH AS REGARDING EDUCATION, LAND USE,
BUSINESS REGULATION AND PUBLIC WELFARE.
MOST OF THE GOVERNMENT JOBS WERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND THIS
MEANT THAT THE POLITICAL PARTIES HAD TO FOUCS ATTENTION ON WHO
CONTOLLED CITY HALL, NOT CAPITAL HILL.
FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATION
CANDIDATES ARE NOT SELECTED BY THE PARTY IN THE USA, BUT THROUGH
PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
IN EUROPE, WITH MOSTLY PARLIMENTARY ELECTIONS, THE WINNING PARTY
GETS TO SELECT THE PRIME MINISTER OR CHIEF EXECUTIVE. WHEREAS IN THE
USA, THE PRESIDENT IS INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED.
CABINET MEMBERS CANNOT HOLD TWO POSITIONS IN THE GOVERNMENT, SO
THE PRESIDENT CANNOT CONTROL LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS THROUGH HIS
APPOINTMENTS.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
POLITICAL CULTURE
4.
DESCRIBE HOW THE ATTITUDES AND TRADITIONS OF AMERICAN VOTERS ARE
DIFFERENT THAN THEIR EUROPEAN COUNTERPARTS. (152)
ANSWER:
IN AMERICA, POLITICAL PARTIES RARELY PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE LIFE OF AN
AVERAGE CITIZEN. BY COMPARISON, IN EUROPE, LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WILL JOIN
A PARTY, PAY DUES AND ATTEND REGULAR MEETINGS. IN THE USA, WE TEND TO KEEP
OUR PERSONAL LIVES ENTIRELY SEPARATE FROM OUR POLITICAL AFFILIATION.
THE RISE AND DECLINE OF THE POLITICAL PARTY (152)
THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTY CAN BE SEPARATED INTO FOUR
PERIODS.
5.
IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE THESE FOUR PERIODS.
1.
2.
3.
THE FIRST PERIOD IS KNOWN AS THE “FOUNDING.” DURING PERIOD FROM
1799 TO 1820, THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM WE KNOW TODAY WAS FORMED. THE
FIRST TWO PARTIES WERE KNOWN AS THE REPUBLICANS (TODAY THE
DEMOCRATS) AND THE FEDERALISTS. THOMAS JEFFERSON LED THE
REPUBLICANS AND ALEXANDER HAMILTON LED THE FEDERALISTS. THESE
TWO MEN ORGANIZED THEIR RESPECTIVE POLICIES BECAUSE THEY STRONGLY
OPPOSED EACH OTHER’S VIEWS ON THE INTERPRETATION OF THE
CONSTITUTION AND THE ROLE OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT. THESE INITIAL
PARTIES WERE MAINLY LOOSE CAUCUSES OF POLITICAL NOTABLES, WITH NEW
ENGLAND LARGELY FEDERALIST AND THE SOUTH LARGELY REPUBLICAN. BY
1800, WITH THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER HAMILTON AND SOME APPEASING
EFFORTS BY JEFFERSON, THE FEDERALIST PARTY BEGAN TO WEAKEN AND
WAS VERY WEAK BY 1820.
THE SECOND PERIOD, KNOWN AS THE JACKSONIAN PERIOD, EMERGED ABOUT
1824 WHEN JOHN QUINCY ADAMS WAS CHOSED AS PRESIDENT BY CONGRESS
EVEN THOUGH ANDREW JACKSON HAD MORE OF THE POPULAR VOTE. THE
PERIOD LASTED UNTIL 1860. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE
VOTERS GREW DRAMATICALLY AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION BECAME A
MASS PHENOMENON. ELIGIBLE VOTERS NOW INCLUDED ALL WHITE MEN,
REGARDLESS OF WEALTH OR CLASS. THE CAUCUS SYSTEM OF NOMINATING
THE PRESIDENT, HAVING CAUCUSES COMPOSED OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
NAMINATE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES BECAME UNPOPULAR AND
DISCREDITED IN THE 1824 ELECTION (SEE ABOVE), AND PARTY CONVENTIONS
TO SELECT THE PRESIDENT BEGAN AS A WAY OF ALLOWING FOR SOME
MEASURE OF LOCAL CONTROL OVER THE NOMINATING PROCESS. DURING THIS
TIME PERIOD, THE WHIG PARTY EMERGED TO OPPOSE ANDREW JACKSON AND
CHALLENGE THE REPUBLICANS.
THE THIRD PERIOD BEGAN DURING THE RUN-UP TO THE CIVIL WAR AND
CONTINUED UNTIL 1930. WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE WHIGS AND THE
REPUBLICANS COULD NOT STRADDLE THE ISSUE OF SLAVERY, THE OLD
PARTIES DIVIDED AND NEW ONES EMERGED. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE
WHIGS EMERGED INTO A NEW REPUBLICAN PARTY WHILE THE FORMER
“REPUBLICANS” BECAME KNOWN AS THE “DEMOCRATS.” THE SPLIT HAD A
PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE ORGANIZATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES, FOR IT
MEANT THAT MOST STATES WERE NOW ONE-PARTY STATES WITH THE NORTH
EMERGING AS PRIMARILY “NEW” REPUBLICAN AND THE SOUTH VIRTUALLY
ENTIRELY DEMOCRAT (CALLED “SECTIONALISM”). YET THERE ALSO EMERGED
TWO MAJOR FACTIONS WITHIN EACH PARTY. ONE WAS COMPOSED OF PARTY
REGULARS, THE “STALWARTS” OR OLD GUARD AND THE OTHER THE
“MUGWUMPS” OR PROGRESSIVES OR REFORMERS.
4.
THE REFORM ERA BEGAN IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY WHEN PROGRESSIVES
BEGAN TO PROMOTE MEASURES TO REPLACE NOMINATING CONVENTIONS
WITH PRIMARY ELECTIONS BECAUSE THE FORMER WERE MANIPULATED BY
PARTY BOSSES AND FOSTERED CORRUPT ALLIANCES BETWEEN PARTIES AND
BUSINESSES. THEY ALSO WANTED STRICT VOTER REGISTRATION LAWS TO
PREVENT VOTER FRAUD.
6. IDENTIFY AND EXPLAIN THE EFFECT OF THE PROGRESSIVE CHANGES TO PARTY
POLITICS.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN POLITICAL CORRUPTION.
MADE “BOSS RULE” MUCH MORE DIFFICULT
POLITICAL PARTIES WERE LESS ABLE TO HOLD OFFICEHOLDERS
ACCOUNTABLE
POLITICAL PARTIES WERE LESS ABLE TOA SSEMBLE THE POWER NECESSARY
FOR GOVERNING
CONGRESSIONAL PARTY LINES BEGAN TO GROW FAINTER
CONGRESSIONAL PARTY LEADERSHIP GREW WEAKER
DEFINE: STALWARTS – A PARTY REGULAR, PRE-OCCUPIED WITH PARTY MACHINERY,
DEVELOPING PARTY LOYALTY, AND ACQUIRING AND DISPENSING PATRONAGE (JOBS AND
OTHER FAVORS) FOR THEMSELVES AND FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS. THEIR PRIMARY
INTEREST WAS WINNING AN ELECTION THROUGH PROMISES OF PATRONAGE,
ORGANIZATION, NEGOTIATION, BARGAINING AND COMPROMISE.
DEFINE: PATRONAGE – GIVING JOBS AND OTHER FAVORS (OFTEN GOVERNMENT
CONTRACTS) TO THEMSELVES AND FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS.
DEFINE: MUGWUMPS – A PARTY MEMBER WHO OPPOSED PATRONAGE, DISLIKED PARTY
MACHINERY, FEARED THE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS AND WANTED THE PARTY TO TAKE
UNPOPULAR POSITIONS ON ISSUES. THEIR PRIMARY INTEREST WAS PRINCIPLE.
THE NATIONAL PARTY STRUCTURE TODAY (157)
AMERICAS TWO-PARTY SYSTEM REMAINS STRONG, BUT
7.
EXPLAIN HOW AND WHY IT HAS EVOLVED IN THE PAST THIRTY YEARS
ANSWER: SINCE THE INVENTION OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND WITH IT THE ABILITY
TO TRACK PARTY MEMBER ACTIVISM AND INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS ON A
LARGE SCALE, THE PARTIES HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A FUND-RAISING
BUREAUCRACIES LARGELY DEVOTED RECRUITING AND TRAINING CANDIDATES, GIVING
THEM LEGAL AND FINANCIAL ADVICE, STUDYING ISSUES AND ANYLYZING VOTING
TRENDS AND CONDUCTING NATIONAL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
DEFINE: NATIONAL CONVENTION – THE PARTY MEETING EVERY FOUR YEARS TO
NOMINATE A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
DEFINE: NATIONAL COMMITTEE –THE PARTY MANAGEMENT BETWEEN ELECTIONS
MADE UP OF DELEGATES FROM EACH STATE AND TERRITORY.
DEFINE: CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE – THE GROUP OF MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS WHO HELPS CANDIDTES WHO ARE RUNNING FOR REELECTION OR WOULD-BE
MEMBERS RUNNING FOR AN OPEN SEAT OR CHALLENGING A CANDIDATE FROM THE
OPPOSING PARTY.
DEFINE: NATIONAL CHAIRMAN – THE MANAGER OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE, WHO IS
ELECTED BY COMMITTEE.
DEFINE: RNC – REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
DEFINE: DNC – DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
DEFINE: SOFT MONEY – FUNDS TO AID PARTY ADVERTISING AND POLLING RATHER THAN
PARTICULAR CANDIDATES OFTEN SHIPPED TO STATE PARTY ORGANIZATIONS TO RUN
ADVERTISING THERE.
NATIONAL CONVENTIONS (159)
8.
DESCRIBE HOW A CANDIDATE IS NOMINATED AT A NATIONAL CONVENTION.
ANSWER: THE NATIONAL CONVENTION IS WHERE A CANDIDATE IS NOMINATED FOR
PRESIDENT BY CONVENTION DELEGATES. THE DNC AND THE RNC ESTABLISH THE RULES
FOR SELECTING AND ALLOCATING DELEGATES TO THE CONVENTION. THEIR RULES FOR
SELECTING AND ALLOCATING HAVE UNDERGONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES OVER THE PAST
40 YEARS TO WEAKEN THE CONTROL BY LOCAL PARTY LEADERS AND INCREASE THE
PROPORTION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES. DELEGATES ONCE SELECTED BY PARTY
LEADERS ARE NOW CHOSEN BY PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND GRASSROOTS CAUCUSES. A
MAJORITY OF DELEGATE VOTES AT THE CONVENTION ARE REQUIRED FOR NOMINATION.
DELEGATES, NOT SUPERDELEGATES, WHO ARE PLEDGED TO A CANDIDATE IN A PRIMARY
MUST VOTE FOR THAT CANDIDATE.
DEFINE: SUPERDELEGATES – PARTY LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO BECOME
DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION WITHOUT HAVING TO RUN IN PRIMARIES
OR CAUCUSES.
STATE AND LOCAL PARTIES (161)
9.
IDENTIFY THE TWO EXTREMES OF STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS:
ANSWER:
1.
2.
POLITICAL MACHINES
IDEOLOGICAL PARTIES
10. DESCRIBE A POLITICAL MACHINE AND EXPLAIN THE FOUR REASONS WHY IT HAS LOST
POLITICAL CLOUT OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS.
ANSWER: A POLITICAL MACHINE IS A PARTY ORGANZATION THE RECRUITS ITS MEMBERS
BY THE USE OF TANGIBLE INCENTIVES SUCH AS MONEY , POLITICAL JOBS, OR SOME
OTHER WAY TO GET FAVORS FROM GOVERNMENT. THEY WERE TYPICALLY WELL
ORGANIZED, BUT FRAUDUENT. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE INFAMOUS TAMMANY HALL
IN NEW YORK CITY (LED BY BOSS TWEED).
THEIR POWER WAS GRADUALLY CURTAILED BY:
1.
2.
3.
4.
STRICTER VOTER REGISTRATION LAWS AND RULES
CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS SUCH AS THE “HATCH ACT” THAT PROHIBITED
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES FROM TAKING AN ACTIVE PART IN POLITICAL
CAMPAIGNS
COMPETITIVE BIDDING LAWS
CHANGES AMONG VOTERS – THEY GREW IN EDUCATION, INCOME AND
SOPHISTICATION AND DEPENDED LESS AND LESS ON THE ADVICE AND
LEADERSHIP OF LOCAL PARTY OFFICIALS.
IDEOLOGICAL PARTIES (163)
11.
DEFINE AND DESCRIBE: IDEOLOGICAL PARTY – THE EXTREME OPPOSITE OF THE
PARTY MACHINE, THIS GROUP OF PARTY MEMBERS VALUES PRINCIPLES ABOVE ALL ELSE
AND SPURNS MONEY INCENTIVES. IN GENERAL, THESE PARTIES HAVE MORE EXTREME
VIEWS THAN THE MAIN STREAM PARTIES WITH MEMBERS OF THESE “REFORM” CLUBS
OR GROUPS EITHER MORE CONSERVATIVE (IN THE CASE OF REPUBLICANS) OR MORE
LIBERAL (IN THE CASE OF DEMOCRATS). FOR EXAMPLE, THE ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS
THE CHRISTIAN COALITION HAS TAKEN A MORE CONSERVATIVE POSITION ON SOCIAL
ISSUES (SUCH AS ABORTION) THAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, BUT HAS CHOSEN TO
REMAIN IN AND INFLUENCE THE REPUBLICAN RATHER THAN CREATE ITS OWN
SEPARATE PARTY. HOWEVER, MANY OF THESE GROUPS BREAK OFF FROM THE
DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN PARTIES AND FORM THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT PARTY.
12.
IDENTIFY FOUR EXAMPLES OF IDEOLOGICAL PARTIES:
1.
2.
3.
4.
TEA PARTY
RIGHT-TO-LIFE PARTY
LIBERTARIAN
SOCIALIST WORKERS
SOLIDARITY GROUPS (164)
DEFINE: SOLIDARITY INCENTIVES – REASONS FOR PARTICIPATING IN POLITICS OTHER
THAN FOR MONEY OR IDEOLOGY, SUCH AS TO SOCIALIZE AND RUB SHOULDERS WITH
POWERFUL PEOPLE. OFTEN THE PEOPLE WHO RESPOND TO THESE INCENTIVES ARE
OLDER AND FROM FORMER POLITICAL MACHINES.
SPONSORED PARTIES
DEFINE: SPONSORED PARTY – WHEN ANOTHER ORGANIZATION CREATES OR SPONSORS A
LOCAL POLITICAL PARTY, SUCH AS WHEN A UNION (LIKE THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS)
PERCEIVING COMMON INTERESTS, ENCOURAGES ITS MEMBERS TO GET INVOLVED
VOLUNTARILY IN LOCAL POLITICS.
DEFINE: PERSONAL FOLLOWING – WHEN A PERSON SEEKING ELECTED OFFICE CREATES
A PERSONAL FOLLOWING AMONG HIS OR HER SUPPORTERS, USUALLY BASED ON AN
APPEALING PERSONALITY THAT WILL ENGAGE IN CAMPAIGNING DURING THE PRIMARY
ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND THEN DISBANDS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE SARAH PALIN, GEORGE
W. BUSH AND THE KENNEDY FAMILY.
SUMMARY: BY THE 21ST CENTURY, MOST STATES NO LONGER HAVE TRADITIONAL PARTY
ORGANIZATIONS, THAT ARE HEIRARCHICAL, LASTING, BASED ON MATERIAL ICENTIVE
AND CAPABLE OF INFLUENCING WHO GETS NOMINATED FOR OFFICE. ACCORDING TO
DAVID MAYHEW, THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ONLY IN 8 STATES.
THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM (165)
DEFINE: TWO-PARTY SYSTEM – A DEMOCRACY WITH ONLY TWO MAJOR POLITICAL
PARTIES.
13. EXPLAIN THE THREE REASONS WHY THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM HAS SURVIVED IN THE
USA.
ANSWER:
1.
IN THE USA, OUR ELECTIONS ARE USUALLY GIVEN TO THE CANDIDATE WHO
WINS A PLURALITY OF THE VOTES (WINNER-TAKE-ALL), EVEN IF THE
CANDIDATE DOES NOT WIN A MAJORITY (50%) OF THE VOTES.
CONSEQUENTLY, TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF ITS PRINCIPLES GAINING
INFLUENCE, MINORITY PARTIES MUST MAKE ALLIANCES WITH A MAJOR PARTY
BEFORE A PRIMARY ELECTION THAT ENDS THEIR INCENTIVE TO REMAIN
SEPARATE. OTHER SYSTEMS ARE IN USE IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE PARTY
CANDIDATES WIN GOVERNMENT POSITIONS BASED ON THEIR PROPORTION OF
THE VOTE (A PARTY WITH 2% OF THE VOTE RECEIVES 2% OF THE LEGISLATIVE
SEATS), BUT THIS SYSTEM HAS NOT CAUGHT ON THE USA, PROBABLY BECAUSE
OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
WHERE THE ELECTION WINNER CAN BE ELECTED BY A PLURALITY OF VOTERS
2.
3.
(BECAUSE THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES GO TO THE PLURALITY WINNER IN
EACH STATE).
IN THE USA, THERE SEEMS TO BE A ROUGH PARITY (EQUALITY) OF SUPPORT ON
BOTH SIDES OF ECONOMIC ISSUES, CRIME, POVERTY, ENVIRONMENT, TAXES
AND NATIONAL DEFENSE.
IN ADDITION, THE USA HAS NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH UPHEAVALS OF THE
ECONOMIC SYSTEM, A MONARCHY OR AN ESTABLISHED RELIGION WHICH HAVE
CAUSED SUCH DIVISIVENESS IN OTHER COUNTRIES THAT IT HAS BEEN
DIFFICULT TO FORM BROAD COALITION PARTIES THERE.
MINOR PARTIES (169)
14. IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE THE FOUR KINDS OF MINOR PARTIES.
1.
2.
3.
4.
IDEOLOGICAL PARTIES – PARTIES PROFESSING A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF
AMERICAN SOCIETY AND GOVERNMENT THAT IS RADICALLY DDIFFERENT
FROM THAT OF THE ESTABLISHED PARTIES. MOST HAVE BEEN MARXIST IN
OUTLOOK, BUT SOME ARE QUITE THE OPPOSITE, SCH AS THE LIBERTARIAN
PARTY. EXAMPLE: SOCIALIST PARTY, COMMUNIST PARTY, LIBERTARIAN
PARTY.
ONE-ISSUE PARTIES – PARTIES SEEKING A SINGLE POLICH CHANGE, USUALLY
REVEALED BY THEIR NAMES, AND AVOIDING OTHER ISSUES. EXAMPLE:
PROHIBITION PARTY.
ECONOMIC-PROTEST PARITES – PARITES, USUALLY BASED IN A PARTICULAR
REGION, ESPECIALLY INVOLVING FARMERS, THAT PROTEST AGAINST
DEPRESSED ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. THESE TEND TO DISAPPEAR AS
CONDITIONS IMPROVE. EXAMPLE: POPULIST PARTY
FACTIONAL PARTIES – PARTIES THAT ARE CREATED BY A SPOLIT IN A MAJOR
PARTY, USUALLY OVER THE IDENTITY AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE MAJOR
PARTY’S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. EXAMPLES: REFORM PARTY, TEA PARTY.
NOMINATING A PRESIDENT (172)
15. IDENTIFY AND EXPLAIN THE TWO CONTRARY FORCES THAT MAJOR POLITICAL
PARTIES FACE.
1.
2.
3.
THE DESIRE TO WIN THE PRESIDENCY PUSHES THE PARTY IN THE DIRECTION
OF APPEALING TO A MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS AND WHO WILL HAVE MIDDLEOF-ROAD VIEWS.
HOWEVER, THE PARTY MUST KEEP DISSIDENT ELEMENTS IN THE PARTY,
LEADING TO COMPROMISE WITH DISSIDENTS OR EXTREMISTS THAT MAY LEAD
TO DAMAGING ITS STANDING WITH MIDDLE-OF-ROAD VOTERS.
THE PROBLEMS BALANCING THESE TWO FORCES HAS BECOME MORE AND
MORE DIFFICULT AS THE PARTIES HAVE SHIFTED AWAY FROM NOMINATING
THE PRESIDENT AT THE PARTY CONVENTION, TO A SELECTION PROCESS THAT
FAVORS SELECTING THE PRESIDENT THROUGH A PRIMARY ELECTION PROCESS.
ARE DELEGATES REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VOTERS? (172)
SOMETIMES DELEGATES TO THE NOMINATING CONVENTION NOMINATE A PERSON WHO
IS NOT THE MOST POPULAR PERSON.
16. DESCRIBE WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE DISPARITY BETWEEN DELEGATE
PREFERENCE AND VOTER ATTITUDE?
THERE SEEMS TO BE AN IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PARTY DELEGATES
WHO ACTUALLY CHOSE THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE AND THE “RANK-AND-FILE”
VOTERS. SOME BLAME THE DIFFERENCE ON THE CHANGES TO THE RULES FOR
SELECTING DELEGATES, REQUIRING INCREASED REPRESENTATION BY YOUTH,
MINORITIES AND WOMEN, BUT THIS DOES NOT EXPLAIN WHY SOME PARTIES HAVE
NOMINATED CANDIDATES WHO ARE CLEARLY UNELECTABLE IN A GENERAL ELECTION
(E.G. BARRY GOLDWATER). ANOTHER EXPLANATION IS THAT THE DELEGATES CHOSEN
IN PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES DO NOT HAVE THE SAME VIEWS AS THE “RANK-AND-FILE,”
BUT EVEN THIS VIEW IS NOT A FULL EXPLANATION BECAUSE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN
THAT THERE ARE FEW STRONG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE DELEGATES AND REGULAR
VOTERS.
WHO VOTES IN PRIMARIES? (173)
17. DESCRIBE AND COMPARE THE IDEOLOGICAL ORIENTATIONS OF PRIMARY VOTERS
WITH THE PREFERENCES OF THE GENERAL ELECTION VOTERS.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE STUDY MENTIONED ABOVE, IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE FAR
FEWER PRIMARY VOTERS THAN GENERAL ELECTION VOTERS. IN 2000, THE PRIMARY
VOTER TURNOUT WAS ONLY 13.6% OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS. CONSEQUENTLY, IN STATES
WITH CAUCUSES INSTEAD OF PRIMARIES ONLY THE MOST DEDICATED PARTISANS WITH
THE STRONGEST IDEOLOGICAL VIEWS VOTE. (E.G. DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS ARE
MORE LIBERAL THAN THE RANK-AND-FILE AND THE SAME IS TRUE FOR REPUBLICANS)
DEFINE: CAUCUS – A MEETING OF PARTY FOLLOWERS WHERE PARTY DELEGATES ARE
PICKED.
WHO ARE THE NEW DELEGATES? (174)
18. DESCRIBE THE TYPICAL NEW DELEGATE.
THE NEW DELEGATES ARE TYPICALLY PARTY ACTIVISTS WHO WORK WITHOUT PAY OR
PATRONAGE AND WHO ARE IN POLITICS OUT OF AN INTERSTIN THE ISSUES. IN
CONTRAST, PRIOR TO 1972, DELEGATES WERE FREQUENTLY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
PARTIES VERSUS VOTERS (174)
19. IDENTIFY AND EXPLAIN WHY HISTORICALLY ONE PARTY USUALLY WINS THE
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS, BUT TYPICALLY THE OTHER PARTY WINS THE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
SINCE 1968, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE LARGELY CONTROLLED CONGRESS, WHILE DURING
THE SAME TIME PERIOD THE REPUBLICANS HAVE CONTROLLED THE PRESIDENCY. THIS
DISCREPANCY MAY BE CAUSED BY THE GULF THAT SEPARATES THE OPINION OF THE
DELEGATES FROM THE OPINIONS OF MOST CITIZENS.
CONCLUSION
20. SUMMARIZE THE CHAPTER.
POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN THIS COUNTRY. OVER TIME, THEY HAVE
DEVELOPED INTO THREE SEPARATE IDENTITIES: VOTERS, GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZATIONS, AND GROUPS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS. THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS
OF ORGANIZED POLITICAL PARTIES: PRIMARILY LOCAL AND NATIONAL. AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL, THEY ARE WEAKER DUE TO DECENTRALIZATION AND THE SPREAD OF
DIRECT PRIMARIES MAKING IT HARDER FOR PARTIES TO INFLUENCE THE BEHAVIOR IN
THE NOMINATING AND ELECTION PROCESS. MINOR PARTIES HAVE ARISEN, BUT IN
GENERAL THEIR POWER HAS BEEN VERY LIMITED BECAUSE OF PLURALITY ELECTIONS
AND THE ABILITY OF MINOR PARTIES TO WIELD INFLUENCE IN A MAJOR PARTY
THROUGH THE PRIMARY SYSTEM.