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Chapter 9: Political Parties
Objectives:
Describe the roles of American political parties and how they differ from parties in other democracies.
The roles of American political parties are to serve as a label, provide an organization of politics, recruit and support candidates in elections, and coordinate behavior among elite politicians in office. In the House or Senate, the majority party has the responsibility of organizing the chamber and works with the President to try and implement their legislative agenda. A powerful party is one whose label has a strong appeal for voters, whose organization can decide who will be candidates and how their campaigns will be managed, and whose leaders can dominate the branches of government. American political parties differ from parties in other democracies in several ways. In America, the primary elections determine who will be on the ballot, while in other countries party leaders need to be persuaded to put someone's name on the ballot. Additionally, American parties are typically weaker than parties in other advanced industrialized democracies, as the federal system of government decentralizes political authority and political party organization.
Summarize the historical evolution of the party system in America.
The historical evolution of the party system in America can be traced back to the early 19th century. The first organized political party was made up of the followers of Thomas Jefferson, who called themselves Republicans. The followers of Alexander Hamilton kept the label Federalist. These two parties clashed on many political issues and the Federalists were eventually defeated by the Jeffersonian Republicans in 1800. In 1828, Andrew Jackson's first run for presidency marked the emergence of a distinct political participation, as new laws expanded the number of people eligible to vote, and the unpopular caucus system was replaced by the party convention. This led to the modern Republican party beginning as a third party, and as a result of the Civil War, becoming a major party. Those who supported the Union were Republicans, while those who supported the Confederacy were Democrats. Today, parties diverge on a whole host of issues because of an increasing importance of activists and the death of party machines being replaced with issue activists motivated by positions on certain issues.
Explain the major functions of political parties.
Political parties are responsible for nominating candidates for office, selecting platforms that reflect the goals of the party, running campaigns to inform citizens on the issues, and for mobilizing voters to go to the polls. They also serve as a way to organize and coordinate the activities of citizens who share common beliefs and values. They help to get their candidates elected by informing citizens on the issues and how their candidates stand on those issues. This can be done through voter registration drives, advertising, and get-out-the-vote efforts. Political parties also serve as a way to organize and structure the government. In a two-party system, the two parties control the government by forming coalitions and alliances with other parties and special interest groups. This helps to ensure that the government is run in a more fair and efficient manner. Finally, political parties also serve as a mediating force between the people and the government. By organizing their members into groups, political parties can create a more efficient and effective government by making sure all citizens’ voices are heard.
Explain how parties are organized in America.
Parties play a critical role in the nomination process by convincing people to run for office, selecting which candidates will run on the party's label, and overseeing the primary elections. Parties may also use closed or open primaries to choose their candidates. In a closed primary, only registered members of a political party may vote to select the nominee. In an open primary, all voters can vote regardless of party affiliation, but they can only vote in one party's primary. Nominations for presidential candidates usually occur through conventions, where candidates need the support of both pledged and superdelegates in order to win the nomination. The national party also plays an important role in the organization of the party by having ultimate authority over the decisions made at the national convention. The National Committee is responsible for managing party affairs, and the National Chair is responsible for the day-to-day work of the party.
Define partisan identification, and explain how it shapes the political behavior of ordinary Americans.
Partisan identification is an individual’s sense of affiliation with a political party. Partisan identification shapes the political behavior of ordinary Americans by influencing how they vote, how they think about certain political issues, and how they form opinions on candidates and policies. Partisan identification can also influence how people participate in the political process, such as whether they volunteer in campaigns, write letters to their representatives, or go to the polls on election day.
Summarize the arguments for why America has a two-party system.
America has a two-party system because features such as the single-member districts and winner-take-all elections encourage the existence of two parties. Additionally, most Americans see a difference between Democrats and Republicans and see the two parties as having different platforms and policy specialties. Although it is unlikely for third party candidates to win, they do still have an influence. From ideas and issues, when an idea gains traction among a third party, it may be adopted by one of the main parties. Also, third party candidates can split votes and influence election outcomes.
What is a Party:
Parties recruit and support candidates in elections.
Party leaders help these candidates raise money to successfully win the general election.
Parties exist in the heads of voters
Parties coordinate behavior among elite politicians in office
Majority party in the House or Senate have the responsibility of organizing the chamber
Congressional parties work with the President to try and implement his legislative agenda
A powerful party is one whose label has a strong appeal for voters, whose organization can decide who will be candidates and how their campaigns will be managed, and whose leaders can dominate the branches of government.
Political Parties at Home and Abroad:
In general, American pirates have been weaker than parties in other advanced industrialized democracies.
In other systems, parties control access to the ballot.
In America, the primary elections determine who will be on the ballot.
In Europe, there are no primaries. Party leaders need to be persuaded to put your name on the ballot.
In parliamentary systems, the legislative and executive branches are unified.
The party of the legislative branch has the right to select the chief executive
Federal system of government decentralizes political authority, and thus decentralizes political party organization.
National political parties would be coalitions of local parties.
Rise of the Political Party:
First organized political party was made up of the followers of Thomas Jefferson who called themselves Republicans.
Followers of Alexander Hamilton kept the label the Federalist
Opponents were the Anti Federalists
The Federalist Party collapsed as they were defeated by the Jeffersonian Republicans in 1800.
Andrew Jackson’s first run for presidency had distinct political participation.
New laws enlarged t;he number of people eligible to vote.
The Caucus system was unpopular and discredited, and replaced by the party convention.
The modern Republican party began as a third party, and as a result of the Civil War became a major party.
Those who supported the Union were Republicans; those who supported the Confederacy were Democrats.
Today parties diverge on a whole host of issues. This change is due to the increasing importance of activists
As party machines died, they were replaced with issue activists motivated by positions on certain issues.
Party Realignments:
Five major realignments in American politics:
1800: Jeffersonian Republicans defeated the Federalists
1828: Jacksonian Democrats came to power
1860: Whig party collapsed and Republicans under Lincoln came to power
1896: Republicans defeated William Jennings Bryan
1932: Democrats under Roosevelt came into office
Two types of realignments:
When a major party is so badly defeated it disappears and a new party emerges to take its place (Federalists in 1800 and Whigs in 1860)
When two existing parties continue but voters shift their support from one to the other (1896 and 1932).
Functions of Political Parties Today:
Convincing people to run. Just like most people don’t get involved in politics, political candidates are no different.
Once candidates are recruited, parties need to decide which ones will run under the party’s label.
Nominations occur through the primary elections.
Closed primary: only registered members of a political party may vote to select the nominee
Open primary: all voters can vote regardless of party affiliation, but they can only vote in one party’s primary
Nominations via convention for presidential candidates
Pledged delegates: awarded through presidential primaries and caucuses
Candidates need support of both pledged and superdelegates.
This system weakens the power of political bosses, but has the unintended consequence of empowering activists.
Activists are more polarized, so the current system pushes candidates away from the center
Parties as Organizations:
Ultimate authority is in the hands of the national convention for both parties.
National committee manages party affairs
Day-to-day work is done by the paid national chair
Main responsibility of national parties is to call the national party convention.
State and local parties are dominated by intense policy demanders.
Before, political machines used to recruit via tangible incentives
Two Party System:
Ultimate authority is in the hands of the national convention for both parties.
Why such a permanent feature? Most Americans see a difference between Democrats and Republicans
Democrats favored on issues such as poverty, the environment and health care
Republicans favored on issues such as national defense, foreign trade and crime
Parties evenly split on issues such as the economy and taxes
Although it is unlikely for third parties to win, they do have an influence:
Ideas and issues: when an idea gains traction among a third party, it may be adopted by one of the main parties
Election Outcomes: third party candidates can split votes