CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 453 450-457 CH16S1-860053 12/3/04 5:12 AM Page 454

450-457 CH16S1-860053 12/3/04 5:10 AM Page 450

articipating IN GOVERNMENT

Voter Profile Age, gender, racial background, occupation, and many other factors may influence a person’s political choices. Survey more than 100 adults, identifying several char- acteristics such as those mentioned above. Include questions such as: “Do you consider yourself a Demo- crat, Independent, or Republican?” “Did you vote in the last presidential election?” Analyze the results. For example, what percentage of people ages 18-25 voted?

450 450-457 CH16S1-860053 12/3/04 5:11 AM Page 451

Court TV Step inside a television courtroom and see the judicial system in action. Glencoe’s Democracy in Action Video Program Court TV brings the judicial process into thousands of homes, helping people understand how the civil and criminal justice system works. The Democracy in Action video program “Court TV” includes a discussion with a teen participant who stresses how much the justice system affects us. As you view the video program, imagine yourself as an attorney arguing a case for your client, or as a judge hearing the opposing arguments of a court case. A copper eagle ▲ flagpole ornament in Boston, Massachusetts Hands-On Activity The Supreme Court allows no cameras for still pictures or for television. Most other courts restrict the media in some way. Do you believe that news media should have more access to tri- als, or do you think this would subject court decisions to too many public pressures? Construct a short poll on this topic and use e-mail to survey friends.

450-457 CH16S1-860053 12/3/04 5:11 AM Page 452

Political Awareness Political parties play a large role in the decisions made by government. This chapter will help you understand the function of political parties. It may also help you identify your own political beliefs. To find out more about how political parties influence policy and how you can get involved in the political process, view the Democracy in Action Chapter 16 video lesson: Political Parties

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ GOVERNMENT

Chapter Overview Visit the United States Government: Democracy in Action Web site at gov.glencoe.com and click on Chapter 16—Overview to preview chapter information.

452 450-457 CH16S1-860053 12/3/04 5:12 AM Page 453

Section 11 Development of Parties

Reader’s Guide nlike Italy, the structure of the government in the United States does not need Key Terms a coalition of political parties for the political party, theocracy, ideologies, coalition government to operate. That does not mean,U however, that political parties do not exist in government, third party, single-member district, proportional representation the United States. In a nation as large and diverse as the United States the voice and will of the indi- Find Out vidual citizen can easily be lost. ■ What is a multiparty system and how does it affect governing? ■ Why have third parties played only a minor Parties and Party Systems role in American politics? A political party is a group of people with Understanding Concepts broad common interests who organize to Growth of Democracy Could Americans have win elections, control government, and thereby in- participated as effectively in government without fluence government policies.Although most nations political parties? have one or more political parties, the role that parties play differs with each nation’s political system.

One-Party Systems In a one-party system the party, in effect, is the government. The decisions Government in Italy of party leaders set government policy. In some No one-party nations, political differences arise only , NOVEMBER 4, 1974 ROME, ITALY within the party itself because the government tol- esistance to authority erates no other opposition. In elections in such Ris spreading as Italy nations, only the party’s candidates appear on the enters its 21st week with- ballot. out a national govern- One-party systems are usually found in ment. Political chaos is nations with authoritarian governments. Such nothing new to Italians. parties often come into power through force. Italy has had 36 govern- For example, a revolution in 1917 brought the ments in the past 31 years. Communist Party to power in Russia. Today However, the current cri- Cuba, Vietnam, North Korea, and China are is the nation’s worst among the few nations that remain one-party sis An Italian demands World War II. It Communist governments. since a government began in June, when a One-party systems also exist in some coalition of 3 political non-Communist countries such as Iran where after only 3 months in power. Last parties collapsed majority religious leaders dominate government. A gov- effort failed to forge a ruling week another parties. ernment dominated by religion is known as more than 12 political from among Italy’s believe a theocracy. The Muslim clergy controls the accepted the news calmly. Few Most Italians it is formed, Islamic Republican Party. All major opposition government, whenever that their 37th parties have been outlawed or are inactive. Mex- than the 36th. will be better ico has also had a one-party government for many years. As in Iran, minor party candidates

The Democratic National Convention in Boston, 2004 ▲ CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 453 450-457 CH16S1-860053 12/3/04 5:12 AM Page 454

appeared on the ballot. Mexico’s Institutional Rev- olutionary Party (PRI) never lost a major election, GOVERNMENT and its leaders dominated Mexico’s government. In 1997 voters began to shift to rival parties, and in Student Web Activity Visit the United States 2000 a non-PRI candidate was elected president. Government: Democracy in Action Web site at gov.glencoe.com and click on Chapter 16— Multiparty Systems In nations that allow Student Web Activities for an activity about more than one political party, the most common political parties. political system today is the multiparty system. France, for example, has 5 major parties, and Italy Republicans believed that the states should have has over 10. In such countries voters have a wide more power than the central government. range of choices on election day. The parties in a multiparty system often represent widely differing Parties Before the Civil War After the Fed- ideologies, or basic beliefs about government. eralists elected John Adams president in 1796, their In a multiparty system, one party rarely gets power quickly declined. Thomas Jefferson won the enough support to control the government. Sever- presidency under the Democratic-Republican al parties often combine forces to obtain a majori- banner in 1800 and 1804. The Democratic-Repub- ty and form a coalition government. When licans dominated politics into the 1820s. Then groups with different ideologies share power, conflicts over banking, tariffs, and slavery shat- coalitions often break down when disputes arise, tered the party. By 1828, when Andrew Jackson requiring new elections. Thus, many nations with won the presidency, the Democratic-Republicans multiparty systems are politically unstable. were splitting into two parties. Jackson aligned with the group called Democrats. The other group Two-Party Systems Only about a dozen na- called itself National Republicans, or Whigs. tions have systems in which two parties compete By the 1850s the debate over slavery had creat- for power, although minor parties exist. In the ed divisions within both parties. The Democrats United States, the major parties are the Republican split into Northern and Southern factions. Many Party and the Democratic Party. Whigs joined a new party that opposed the spread of slavery—the Republican Party. Growth of American Parties Parties After the Civil War By the Civil War’s Many of the Founders distrusted “factions,” end, two major parties dominated the national or groups with differing political views. In political scene. The Republicans remained the The Federalist, No. 10 1 James Madison observed: majority party from the Civil War until well into the twentieth century. Democrats held the presi- The public good is disregarded in the dency for only 4 terms between 1860 and 1932. “conflicts of rival parties, and . . . measures are too often decided, not according to the Parties in the Great Depression and rules of justice and the rights of the minor After In 1932 the Democratic Party won the White party, but by the superior force of an inter- House and assumed control of Congress. For most ested and overbearing majority. of the next 60 years, Democrats were the majority —James Madison, 1787 ” party. Beginning in 1968, Republicans controlled the White House for 6 of the next 9 presidential In his Farewell Address of 1796,2 President terms. After losing the White House to Bill Clinton in George Washington warned against the “baneful 1992, Republicans won the 1994 mid-term elec- [very harmful] effects of the spirit of party.” Even tions, taking both houses of Congress for the first so, by the end of President Washington’s second term, two political parties had organized in opposition to one another. The Federalists called for a See the following footnoted materials in the Reference Handbook: 1. The Federalist, No. 10, pages 812–814. strong central government. The Democratic- 2. Washington’s Farewell Address, page 817.

454 CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 450-457 CH16S1-860053 12/3/04 5:12 AM Page 455

PoliticalPolitical PartyParty Identification*Identification*

65 60 55 50 45 40 35 Democrats 30 Republicans 25 Independents Percentage 20 Apolitical 15 10 5 0 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 Year

Source: The National Election Studies, Center for Political Studies, University of Michigan. * Republican and Democratic data include Independents leaning toward that party, while Independents are those with no particular leaning.

Critical Thinking Since 1961, there have been four Democratic and five Republican presidents, yet a majority of the people in the country lean toward the Democrats. How could the Republican candidates have won the presidental elections?

time in 42 years. Beginning in 1995, for the first example, in the 1840s the Liberty Party and the time since Truman, a Democratic president worked Free Soil Party formed to take stronger stands with a Republican Congress. against slavery than either the Democrats or the Whigs had taken. A single-issue party generally is short-lived. It may fade away when an issue ceases The Role of Minor Parties to be important, or a party with a popular issue Despite the dominance of the two major may become irrelevant if one of the major parties parties, third parties have been part of the adopts the issue. American political scene since the early days of the Another type of third party is the ideological Republic. A third party is any party other than one party, which focuses on overall change in society of the two major parties. In any election there may rather than on an issue. Ideological parties such as be more than one party running against the major the Socialist Labor Party and the Communist Party parties, yet each of them is labeled a “third” party. USA advocate government ownership of factories, Because they rarely win major elections, third par- transportation, resources, farmland, and other ties are also called minor parties. means of production and distribution. The Liber- Although a variety of reasons motivates them, tarian Party calls for drastic reductions in govern- third parties have one thing in common. They be- ment in order to increase personal freedoms. lieve that neither major party is meeting certain The third type of minor party is the splinter needs. A third party runs candidates who propose party, which splits away from one of the major to remedy this situation. parties because of some disagreement. Such disputes frequently result from the failure of a popu- Types of Third Parties Although there may lar figure to gain the major party’s presidential be some exceptions and overlapping, minor par- nomination. The most notable occurrence was in ties generally fall into one of three categories. 1912, when former president Theodore Roosevelt The single-issue party focuses exclusively on led a group out of the Republican Party to form one major social, economic, or moral issue. For the Progressive, or Bull Moose, Party. Splinter

CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 455 450-457 CH16S1-860053 12/3/04 5:12 AM Page 456

AmericanAmerican PoliticalPolitical PartiesParties SinceSince 17891789

Major Parties

Democratic-Republican National Republican Democratic Whig Republican Third Parties Anti-Mason Liberty Free Soil American (Know-Nothing) Constitutional Union Southern Democrats Prohibition Liberal Republican Greenback Socialist Labor Populist National Democratic Socialist Bull Moose Progressive La Follette Progressive Communist Union Socialist Workers States' Rights Democratic Founder: Henry Wallace Progressive Workers World Theodore Roosevelt George Wallace American Independent Libertarian People's U.S. Labor Citizen's National Unity New Alliance *Reform Founder: Natural Law Ross Perot Constitution (U.S. Taxpayer’s) * Formerly known as United We Stand Green Source: Kruschke, Earl R., Encyclopedia of Third Parties in the United States (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1991); www.memory.loc.gov.

1789 1796 1804 1812 1820 1828 1836 1844 1852 1860 1868 1876 1884 1892 1900 1908 1916 1924 1932 1940 1948 1956 1964 1972 1980 1988 1996 2004

Critical Thinking Many political parties throughout American history have challenged the Democrats and Republicans, yet none have been very successful. Which third party has been in existence the longest?

456 450-457 CH16S1-860053 12/3/04 5:13 AM Page 457

parties typically fade away with the defeat of their automatically on the ballot in many states, but candidate. The Bull Moose Party disappeared third-party candidates are required to obtain a after Roosevelt lost in 1912, for example. large number of voter signatures in a short time. Another difficulty for third-party candidates is The Impact of Third Parties Minor parties that nearly all elected officials in the United States have influenced the outcome of national elections. are selected by single-member districts. Under Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party drew so this system no matter how many candidates com- many Republican votes from Presi- pete in a district, only one will win. dent William Howard Taft in 1912 Because most voters support a major that Democratic candidate Woodrow party, the winner will almost always Wilson was elected. In 1968 the be a Democrat or a Republican. American Independent Party won By contrast, many nations use an 13.5 percent of the vote, and some election system based on propor- believe this swayed the narrow elec- tional representation. In this system tion of Republican candidate several officials are elected to repre- Richard Nixon. Some believe Ross sent voters in an area. Offices are Perot’s independent candidacy may filled in proportion to the votes that have helped Bill Clinton win in 1992. each party’s candidates receive. Such Third parties often have promot- a system encourages minor parties. ed ideas that were at first unpopular Bull Moose Party button A related problem is financing or hotly debated. Major parties later third-party campaigns. Political cam- adopted many of their issues. For example, third paigns require a great deal of money. Americans, parties first proposed a minimum wage for work- convinced that a third-party candidate cannot win, ers, the five-day workweek, unemployment insur- are reluctant to contribute to such a campaign. ance, and health insurance. In the past, third parties have appealed mainly to voters in certain regions of the country or to cer- Obstacles to Third Parties As a result of tain groups in society. To survive, a third party the two-party tradition, minor parties face must plant political roots in all parts of the coun- difficulties in getting on the ballot in all 50 states. try. Few third parties have demonstrated this kind The names of Republicans and Democrats are of staying power.

Section 11 AssessmentAssessment Checking for Understanding Critical Thinking 1. Main Idea Use a graphic organizer like the one 5. Making Inferences Why might the National below to identify three types of political party Organization for Women want to choose and systems and how they affect governing. run a third-party candidate? Party System Effects

Growth of Democracy Imagine you have been 2. Define political party, theocracy, ideologies, named to a committee to plan a new govern- coalition government, third party, single-member ment for a former colony. The structure of this district, proportional representation. government will influence the development of 3. Identify Bull Moose Party, American Independent political parties. Consider the advantages and Party. disadvantages of no parties, one-party, two- 4. Identify three obstacles facing third parties. party, and multiparty systems. Write a speech explaining your choice.

CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 457 458-463 CH16S2-860053 12/3/04 5:13 AM Page 458

Section 22 Party Organization

Reader’s Guide n order to succeed, a political party must have a dedicated core of willing volunteers like Key Terms Jason Brinton of Utah. Both major parties employ small paid staffs in permanent party independent, precinct, precinct captain, ward, Ioffices at county, state, and national levels. state central committee, national convention, national committee, patronage Between elections these employees carry out the day-to-day business operations of the party. At Find Out campaign time, however, political parties also use ■ How are parties organized on the national, volunteers to perform a wide range of tasks. Vol- state, and local levels? unteers obtain campaign contributions, publicize ■ How do political parties assist in educating candidates, send out campaign literature, canvass the public? voters, and watch at the polls on Election Day. Par- Understanding Concepts ties also seek the help of various professionals to win elections. These professionals include media Political Processes What role do the Republican and Democratic Parties play in the day-to-day experts to prepare television commercials, poll- operations and processes of the government? sters to take public opinion polls, and writers to prepare speeches for the candidates. In addition, to be successful, a party needs strong leadership and good organization at every level. Teen Youngest Delegate Membership and Organization 13, 1996 Democrats and Republicans are organized CITY, UTAH, AUGUST SALT LAKE into 50 state parties and thousands of local local teenager has be- parties that operate independently of the nation- Acome one of the most al organization. Although the 3 levels generally visible delegates at the Re- cooperate, separate authority exists at each level. publican National Con- Local, state, and national parties select their own vention in San Diego this officers and raise their own funds. week. Among the speakers at yesterday’s opening ses- Party Membership How does a voter join a sion was 18-year-old Jason political party, and what does it mean to belong? of Brinton, a June graduate In many states citizens must declare their party West High School. Brin- preference when they register to vote or when to Jason Brinton ton’s election last spring they vote in certain kinds of elections. Joining a 28-mem- be part of Utah’s delegate at political party, however, is not required in the makes him the youngest ber delegation vigorous- United States. A voter may declare that he or gathering. “ I campaigned the Republican the young she is an independent, not supporting any par- Convention as a voice for ly at the Utah heads the ticular party. party,” he said. Brinton also people of our political People who belong to a political party gen- of Teen Age Republicans, a state chapter erally do so because they support most of its headquartered in Manassas, Virginia. action group ideas and candidates. Both the Republican and Democratic Parties do everything they can to

458 CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 458-463 CH16S2-860053 12/3/04 5:13 AM Page 459

attract supporters. In this sense, the two major parties PoliticalPolitical PartyParty OrganizationOrganization are open parties, welcoming whoever wishes to belong and accepting whatever de- National committee gree of involvement these individuals choose. Party State committees membership involves no du- ties or obligations beyond voting. Members do not have Congressional district and state to attend meetings or con- legislative district committees tribute to the party if they choose not to do so. Most County committees (townships in Northeast; people who consider them- Paper handbook parishes in Louisiana; districts in Alaska) selves Democrats or Republi- distributed to cans do nothing more than local Democratic Rural areas Urban areas leaders in 1936 Town, village, rural City committee vote for the party’s candidates. township committees Some citizens, however, Ward committee become more involved in the political process. They may support a party by contributing money Precinct leaders or by doing volunteer work for the party or its candidates. In most states, one must be a party member Critical Thinking in order to hold an office in a party or to be its can- The political party organization is not a hierarchy, with the lower didate for a public office. Thus, party membership levels subordinate to the higher levels. The provides a way for citizens to increase their influ- different groups cooperate, but they have ence on government. The parties, in turn, depend separate powers. What is the basic component on citizen involvement, especially at the local level, at the local level of political party organization? to carry out activities and accomplish goals.

Local Party Organization The basic local unit is the precinct, a voting district ranging in size they may seek recommendations from the county from just a few voters to more than 1,000 voters, chairperson when appointing judges and adminis- all of whom cast their ballots at the same polling trative officials. place. At the same time, however, local parties, be- In a precinct each party has a volunteer cause of the nature of their membership, are the precinct captain, who organizes party workers to weakest link in the organizational chain. One study distribute information about the party and its can- of political parties concluded the following: didates and to attract voters to the polls. Several adjoining precincts comprise a larger district The vast majority of local parties are called a ward. Party members in each ward select a “essentially voluntary organizations. . . . person, also unpaid, to represent the ward at the They have the least influence and the next level of party organization—the party’s coun- fewest resources. The combination of . . . ty committee. reliance on volunteers in an era when The county committee selects a chairperson to volunteers are hard to find, complex cam- handle the county party’s daily affairs. The party paign finance regulations, and the general county chairperson usually has a great deal of po- low regard in which parties are held litical power in the county. He or she is very often combine to discourage the best leadership the key figure in determining which candidate re- or the greatest participation. ceives the party’s support. If the state’s governor, or —Xandra Kayden” and Eddie a United States senator, is from the same party, Mahe, Jr., 1985

CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 459 458-463 CH16S2-860053 12/3/04 5:13 AM Page 460

State Party Organization In each state the representatives from the 50 state party organiza- most important part of a party is the state central tions, runs the party. Some members of Congress committee, which usually is composed largely of and some state and local elected officials also may representatives from the party’s county organiza- sit on the national committee, as may other select- tions. The state central committee chooses the ed party members. party state chairperson. In selecting this person, The party national chairperson, elected by the however, the committee generally follows the national committee, manages the daily operation of wishes of the governor, a United States senator, or the national party. Usually the person selected is the some other party leader powerful in state politics. choice of the party’s presidential candidate. The na- A main function of the state central committee tional chairperson also raises money for the party, is to help elect the party’s candidates for state gov- touts its achievements, and promotes national, ernment offices. In addition, the state central com- state, and local party cooperation. mittee may provide assistance to local parties and Both the Democrats and the Republicans also candidates and may help coordinate the activities have independent campaign committees for Con- of the local parties. Of course, it also works hard at gress. These committees provide assistance to sen- raising money. ators and representatives who are running for reelection. Each party’s committee also provides National Party Organization The national resources to help challengers defeat senators and party organization has two main parts—the na- representatives from the other party. tional convention and the national committee. The national convention is a gathering of party members and local and state party officials. It meets Political Party Functions every four years, primarily to nominate the party’s The Constitution does not provide for presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Be- political parties or even mention them. Yet yond this function it has very little authority. political parties are an essential part of the Ameri- Between conventions the party’s national can democratic system. Through the election committee, a large group composed mainly of process, the people select the officials who will

spots, and other devices Running for Office to promote your candida- he most direct way of being involved in gov- cy. Volunteers can help ernment is to hold elected office. The proce- get your message out T dures and requirements for becoming a to voters by distributing political candidate vary somewhat from state to your materials. You may state. However, in most cases to do so you must also need expert volunteer file an official petition, signed by the required num- help to file the campaign Campaign ber of registered voters, with the appropriate local finance reports required under or state election board before a specified dead- state and federal law. button line. If other members of your political party have filed petitions for the same office, you may have to articipating win a primary election to become the candidate. IN GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY Among the resources you will need in your campaign are time, money, and volunteers. Candidate Qualifications Contact your local Running for political office takes a great deal board of elections to determine the qualifica- of personal time. Loans and donations from tions, requirements, and procedures for running supporters will pay for brochures, TV and radio for office in your community.

460 458-463 CH16S2-860053 12/3/04 5:14 AM Page 461

govern them. As part of this process, political par- Third Parties Sway Elections ties perform several important functions. No other body or institution in American government per- forms these tasks.

Recruiting Candidates Political parties seek men and women who seem to have a good chance of being elected. Selecting candidates for public office and presenting them to the voters for approval is the major function of political parties. It is often said that political parties are election-oriented rather than issues-oriented. This characteristic helps the Republicans and the Democrats maintain their status as major parties.

Educating the Public Despite efforts to avoid division, political parties do bring important issues to the public’s attention. Each party publishes Appealing to Voters Independent candidate its position on important issues such as infla- Ross Perot filmed “infomercials” during his presidential campaigns. Here he holds a chart tion, military spending, taxes, pollution, energy, depicting an increase in deficit spending and and the environment. Candidates present these declares that he can put the nation’s finances views in pamphlets, press conferences, speeches, in order. Analyze the impact of Perot’s and television, radio, and newspaper advertisements. candidacy on the political issues of the The Republican and Democratic Party national time. organizations as well as third parties also maintain Web sites to raise money for their candidates, keep supporters informed about party positions on key issues, and recruit volunteers. The Democratic vote. By supporting a candidate just because he or National Committee site (www.democrats.org) pre- she is a Democrat or a Republican, the voter knows sents information about current campaigns, new generally how the candidate stands on key issues. legislation, important policy issues, and local party Political party affiliation helps voters assess which organizations. The Republican National Committee candidate will be more acceptable. site (www.rnc.org) contains similar material, along with video news briefs, a “week in review” feature, Operating the Government Political parties and special reports. also play a key role in running and staffing the Sometimes major party candidates feel safer government. Congress and the state legislatures are attacking their opponent’s views than stating their organized and carry on their work on the basis own. Important issues can become lost in a sea of of party affiliation. Party leaders in the legisla- personal attacks. When major party candidates fail tures make every effort to see that their members to address issues, a minor party candidate may support the party’s position when considering leg- force debate on these subjects. In 1992 and 1996 islation. Ross Perot brought his concern for the national A party also acts as a link between a legislature debt and the nation’s economic problems to the and a chief executive. A chief executive works campaign agenda. In 2000 and 2004 Ralph Nader through his or her party leaders in the legislature to championed consumer and environmental issues promote the administration’s program. For most of as leader of the Green Party. the past 30 years, however, one party has controlled Unfortunately, many Americans are not well- the White House and the other has controlled one informed about important issues or the back- or both houses of Congress. In recent years the ground of candidates. Political parties simplify same situation has developed between governors elections by helping such people decide how to and legislatures in more than half the states.

CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 461 458-463 CH16S2-860053 12/3/04 5:14 AM Page 462

patronage in recent years, the practice remains a major way that parties control and reward their supporters.

The Loyal Opposition The party out of power in the legislative or executive branch as- sumes the role of “watchdog” over government. It observes the party in power, criticizes it, and offers It’s a Zoo In 1874 Thomas Nast drew a solutions to political problems. If the opposition cartoon in Harper’s Weekly that showed a party does this successfully, public opinion may donkey, representing Democratic president swing in its favor and return it to power in a future Ulysses S. Grant, and an elephant, symbolizing election. Concern about this makes the party in Republicans fearful that Grant would run again power more sensitive to the will of the people. for president. When the symbols stuck, the parties put a spin on them. For Republicans, Reduction of Conflict In a complex society, the elephant is strong and intelligent; for conflict among groups with differing interests is Democrats, the donkey is clever and brave. inevitable. To win an election, a political party must attract support from many different groups. To accomplish this, a party encourages groups to Dispensing Patronage Political parties also compromise and work together. A key outcome of dispense patronage, or favors given to reward this process is that parties encourage government party loyalty, to their members. These favors often to adopt moderate policies with mass appeal. include jobs, contracts, and appointments to gov- Parties contribute to political stability in an- ernment positions. Business executives or labor other way, too. When one party loses control of the unions that contribute heavily to a political party, government, the transfer of power takes place for example, may expect government to be sympa- peacefully. No violent revolutions occur after elec- thetic to their problems if that party comes to tions, as they do in some nations. In the United power. They may be awarded contracts to provide States, the losing party accepts the outcome of government with goods or services. Loyal party elections because it knows that the party will con- workers may be placed in government jobs. tinue to exist as the opposition party and someday Although laws and court decisions have limited will return to power.

Section 22 AssessmentAssessment Checking for Understanding Critical Thinking 1. Main Idea Use a graphic 5. Understanding Cause and Effect What are organizer like the one to the advantages and the disadvantages of the the right to show the three system of patronage? levels at which each major political party functions. 2. Define independent, precinct, precinct captain, ward, state central committee, national convention, national committee, patronage. Political Processes Prepare for a debate on 3. Identify party county chairperson, party state the following statement: The two-party system chairperson, party national chairperson. has outlived its usefulness. Choose either 4. Analyze the role of political parties at the the pro or con side of the issue and prepare national, state, and local levels. arguments for the side you chose. Pair up with a classmate who has prepared arguments opposing yours and debate the issue.

462 CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 458-463 CH16S2-860053 12/3/04 5:14 AM Page 463

to SHOULD THERE BE LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN SPENDING?

Although there are limits to how much individuals and groups can contribute to a federal candidate, there are no limits on how much money a candidate can raise or spend. In the presidential election of 2004, candidates spent more than $650 million on their campaigns.

MONEY AND INFLUENCE PROTECTING FREE SPEECH Fund-raising abuses and a disgruntled public In 1976 the Supreme Court have forced Congress to take a closer look at what considered the issue of putting can be done to limit campaign spending. In 1997 a cap on campaign spending. It the Senate proposed a constitutional amendment ruled that setting limits on an to put a cap on spending. It was voted down. The individual’s campaign spending Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act was passed by was unconstitutional because it Congress in 2003 and largely upheld by the violated the right of free speech. Supreme Court. It restricts some uses of campaign The Court said that money is necessary funds, but only in federal elections. State campaigns for a candidate to reach voters. are less regulated but could be affected by a Others who balk at limits say that if constitutional amendment. campaign spending is controlled, incum- Those who favor reform argue that large corpo- bents will have an edge because of name rations and other special interest groups have more recognition. To compete, opponents need to money to spend on contributions, which gives them be able to spend large amounts of money to more influence over the candidates. With the costs generate the same kind of name recognition. One of campaigning increasing in every election, many bill in Congress proposed that free television time people are concerned that only the wealthy or and reduced mail rates be offered to candidates someone backed by one of the two major parties who voluntarily adhere to spending limits. can be elected to government office. Debating the Issue

SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISH A CAP ON CAMPAIGN SPENDING? Assume you are a member of Congress who ✔ Are the wealthy favored in the campaign will vote on a constitutional amendment to limit process? campaign spending. Spending limits would hurt your next campaign, but you are receiving pressure Debate Discuss the issue in class. Select three peo- from your district to curb campaign spending. ple on each side of the issue to hold a debate in front of the class. KEY ISSUES ✔ Do you think unlimited campaign spending can Vote Vote for or against limited campaign spend- lead to political corruption? ing. Those on each side of the issue should work ✔ Is the threat to free speech a valid argument together to draft a letter to Congress expressing for not limiting campaign spending? their viewpoint.

CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 463 464-473 CH16S3-860053 12/3/04 5:14 AM Page 464

Section 33 Nominating Candidates

Reader’s Guide arty nominations are often hard-fought contests. In the summer that Harding was Key Terms selected, the Democrats later required 44 ballots to choose their candidate, Ohio caucus, nominating convention, boss, direct Pgovernor James Cox. To win elections, a party primary, closed primary, open primary, plurality, runoff primary, ticket, platform, planks must first offer appealing candidates and conduct expensive campaigns. Find Out ■ How are primaries conducted as a method of choosing candidates? How Candidates Are Selected ■ What are the processes followed at a national Historically, individuals have sought nomi- nominating convention? nation for public office in one of four ways: Understanding Concepts (l) caucus; (2) nominating convention; (3) primary election; or (4) petition. Although election laws Political Processes Primaries and nominating conventions are democratic methods of selecting vary greatly from state to state, all candidates have candidates. What are some drawbacks? reached the ballot through one or more of these methods.

Caucuses Early in our nation’s history, caucuses—private meetings of party leaders— chose nearly all candidates for office. The caucus Hard to Choose became widely criticized as undemocratic, howev- UNE 12, 1920 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, J er, because most people had no say in selecting the candidates. fter failing in four In modern caucuses, party rules require a Atries to nominate openness with the selection process starting at the presidential candidate, the local level. Selecting delegates starts at the neigh- Con- Republican National borhood level and then moves to the county, convention recessed last night. went gressional district, and finally the state level. When the delegates Nineteen states use caucuses today. to bed, General Leonard Illinois gover- Wood and Nominating Conventions As political nor Frank Lowden were 1920 Republican caucuses came under attack, the nominating the front-runners for the candidates convention, an official public meeting of a party nomination. This morn- found to choose candidates for office, became popular. ing the delegates Republican had changed. Exhausted Under this system, local party organizations the situation meeting M. from an all-night send representatives to a county nominating leaders emerged at 6 A. settling on Ohio sena- in the Blackstone Hotel, after convention that selects candidates for county be the candidate. Harding tor Warren Harding to offices and chooses delegates who will go to a in yesterday’s voting. After finished a distant fourth state nominating convention. The state conven- delegates finally agreed to six more ballots today, the tion, in turn, selects candidates for statewide the choice of Harding. office and chooses delegates who will go to the national convention.

464 CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 464-473 CH16S3-860053 12/3/04 5:14 AM Page 465

In theory, the convention system was more as general elections are. Each state sets the date of democratic than party caucuses because power its primary, provides the ballots and the people to would flow upward from the people. As the con- supervise the election, and counts the votes. In vention system developed, however, it became most states a primary candidate does not need a increasingly undemocratic. Powerful party leaders, majority of the votes to win, but only a plurality, called bosses, chose delegates and controlled con- or more votes than any other candidate. In a few ventions. Public reaction against the bosses in the states, however, if no candidate receives a majority, 1900s led to primary elections as the method of a runoff primary is held. The runoff is a second selection at the state and local levels. primary election between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first primary. The Primary Elections The method most com- person who wins the runoff becomes the party’s monly used today to nominate candidates is the candidate in the general election. direct primary, an election in which party mem- In most states today, candidates for governor bers select people to run in the general election. and for the House, Senate, other state offices, and Two types of primary elections are held. Most most local offices are selected in primary elections. states hold a closed primary, in which only mem- In many states, however, party caucuses and nom- bers of a political party can vote. Thus, only inating conventions continue to exist alongside Democrats pick Democratic candidates for office, primaries. and only Republicans can vote in the Republican primary. In an open primary, all voters may par- Petition Under the petition method, a person ticipate, even if they do not belong to the party, but announces his or her candidacy and files petitions they can vote in only one party’s primary. that a specified number of voters have signed in Primary elections are conducted according to order to be placed on the ballot. Some states re- state law and are held at regular polling places just quire that all candidates file petitions.

oretta and Linda Sanchez, typ- Loretta and Linda plan to share ical sisters in many ways, are housing near the Capitol and travel Making a Difference Lsharing a unique and historic back to California on weekends. Making a Difference experience in Washington, D.C.: Although they are both members of they are the first sisters ever to the Democratic Party, they are not Loretta and serve in Congress together. exactly alike. “My sister is more lib- Linda Sanchez Loretta, the older of the two mem- eral than I,” says Loretta. “We ap- bers of the House of Representa- proach issues from a different tives, was first elected from perspective.” Loretta earned an California’s 47th district in 1996. MBA degree and had a career in fi- Linda was elected in 2002 to rep- nancial consulting before entering resent California’s 39th district. public service. Linda studied law Both sisters credit their mother and served as a labor leader and for their success. Maria Sanchez civil rights lawyer before entering helped all of her children make it to into politics. college before she enrolled herself, The Sanchez sisters are glad while in her forties, and earned a to be in this together. Linda says, “I college degree in bilingual educa- think it will be good to come home tion. “She’s an incredible woman,” to somebody who understands how says Linda Sanchez. “She was very difficult it can be to do the work involved in the local community and here in Washington and can appre- always taught us to stand up for ciate the mini-victories or help with what was right.” the mini-failures.”

CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 465 464-473 CH16S3-860053 12/3/04 5:15 AM Page 466

In a primary contest, the party-backed candi- open to the public’s view. Likewise, presidential date has an advantage because party workers will nominations have not always been as democratic circulate petitions. The party will also use its fi- as they are today. nancial and organizational resources to back its choice. Candidates without caucus or convention The History of Presidential Nominations support have serious obstacles to overcome. If such Before national nominating conventions, congres- a candidate poses a serious threat, however, party sional caucuses chose presidential candidates. leaders frequently are willing to make a deal. They From 1800 to 1824, congressional leaders from might offer the challenger party support for an- each party met in secret and selected their party’s other office, or appointment to a government post, ticket. In the presidential election of 1824, Andrew to avoid a primary. Political analyst Theodore H. Jackson made the caucus system an issue, declaring White once explained why: that a small group of representatives did not speak for the nation. Although Jackson Established leaders hate lost the election, his revolt “primaries for good reason; against “King Caucus,” as he they are always, in any called it, discredited the caucus form, an appeal from the system and led to the eventual leaders’ wishes to the peo- adoption of the nominating ple directly. Primaries suck convention. up and waste large sums of A minor political party, the money from contributors Anti-Masons, held the first na- who might better be tapped tional convention in 1831, and for the November finals; the two major parties quickly the charges and counter- copied the idea. Since 1832 a charges of primary civil convention of party members war provide the enemy has chosen major party presi- party with ammunition it dential candidates. To make can later use with blast ef- these conventions more demo- fect against whichever pri- Andrew Jackson presented cratic, by 1916 almost half the mary contender emerges himself to voters as the hero states were choosing convention victorious. of the “common man.” delegates in presidential prima- —Theodore” H. White, 1961 ry elections. For years, when citizens voted in a presidential primary, they really were choosing among groups Presidential Nominations of party members pledged to support specific can- The most exciting and dramatic election in didates. The group pledged to the winning candi- American politics is the presidential elec- date became that state’s delegation to the national tion. Every 4 years, each major party gathers dur- convention. ing July or August in a national convention. In the 1970s, however, both major parties pro- Elected or appointed delegates representing the 50 vided a more democratic nomination process. For states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, example, new party rules encouraged that women, American Samoa, and the District of Columbia minorities, and young people be included as con- attend the convention. The task of the delegates is vention delegates. By 1996, presidential primaries to select a ticket—candidates for president and existed in 44 states and were part of the selection vice president—that will win in the November process for about three-fourths of the delegates to general election. Because this ticket, if elected, can the two national conventions. change history and affect every American’s life, millions of Americans watch the televised cover- Presidential Primaries Today Like other age of the conventions. The drama and spectacle primary elections, presidential primaries operate of a convention, however, have not always been so under a wide variety of state laws. In addition, each

466 CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 464-473 CH16S3-860053 12/3/04 5:15 AM Page 467

party frequently changes its rules regarding dele- more important than the issues. The news media’s gate selection. Even in the same state, each party’s coverage of primary campaigns tends to play up can- primary may operate under different procedures. didates’ personalities rather than their positions on The following three generalizations, however, can important questions. Also, relatively few people vote be made about presidential primaries: (1) They in primaries. Thus, the winner of a primary may not may be a delegate selection process or a presidential be as popular as the victory would indicate. preference poll, or both. (2) Either the candidate Candidates who win the early primaries cap- who wins the primary gets all the state’s convention ture the media spotlight. Often the other candi- delegates (called “winner-take-all”), or each candidates are saddled with a “loser” image that makes it date gets delegates based on how many popular difficult for them to raise campaign contributions. votes he or she receives in the primary. (3) Dele- Some are forced to drop out before the majority of gates selected on the basis of the popular vote may voters in either party have the chance to pick their be required to support a certain candidate at the choice for the nominee. national convention, or they may be uncommitted. Some states have joined forces to create re- Many presidential primaries were originally gional primaries. Four New England states held winner-take-all. The Democrats now use propor- their 2004 Democratic presidential primaries on tional representation. Under this system a state’s del- March 2, while four Southern states held theirs on egates must represent the candidates in proportion to March 9. Candidates who did not do well on either the popular vote each receives in the primary once a date lost almost all chance of becoming their certain threshold is reached. The Republicans allow party’s nominee. both winner-take-all and proportional systems. Getting to the National Convention Although proportional representation was intended to make a party’s Primary Elections nomination process more democratic, The major political par- in many states it had an unanticipated ties generate excitement in the primaries result. Combined with the other rules and the national con- for state delegations, proportional repre- ventions by sponsoring sentation made delegate selection al- young voter programs. most impossibly complicated. Today Why do states con- only a few of the states with presidential tinue to experiment with the structure primaries hold “beauty contests.” These of primaries? are preference polls in which voters indicate which candidate they would like to be the nominee. Caucuses later choose the actual delegates. Criticisms of Presidential Pri- maries While most people agree that the presidential primary system is a great improvement over the previous method of selecting convention delegates, it has its critics. A major criticism is that the primaries extend over too long a time in an election year. With the first primary held in February and the last in June, seeking a Republican button party’s nomination is a very long, costly, (above) and and exhausting process. Democratic Another criticism is that the primaries brochure (left) seem to make the image of the candidates

CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 467 464-473 CH16S3-860053 12/3/04 5:15 AM Page 468

Because primaries eliminate many opponents, . . . an American invention as native to the they often result in one-sided convention victories for “U.S.A. as corn pone or apple pie. . . . It has particular candidates. Some observers believe that the something of the gaiety of a four-ring circus, nominating convention itself has become simply a something of the sentiment of a class re- rubber-stamp operation. If the primary winners union, and something of the tub-thumping come to the convention with enough delegate votes frenzy of a backwoods camp meeting. to win the nomination, they ask, why hold the nom- —Theodore H. White” inating convention at all? Of course, it is possible that in the future, primary election support for con- The noise and confusion subside as the party tenders will be more equally divided, in which case chairperson calls the opening session to order. The the convention will once again be an arena of debate evening of the opening day over and real battles for the presidential nomination. marks the keynote speech, an address by an important party member in- The tended to unite the party for the coming cam- National paign. The delegates Convention then approve the convention’s four standing From Febru- committees—rules and ary to June, the order of business, creden- candidates crisscross Supporting tials, permanent organiza- the country competing presidential tion, and platform and for delegate support. Meanwhile, candidates resolutions—that have been the national committee staff is at work for several weeks. preparing for the convention to Because in recent conventions be held in late summer. there has been little suspense about who would be either party’s candidate, the only real conflict has Preconvention Planning Long before its con- involved committee reports. The convention vention meets, the national committee of each major spends the second and third days, or even longer, party chooses the site and dates. After the city and listening to these reports and to speeches about dates are chosen, the national committee tells each them. state party organization how many votes the state will have at the convention. In the past, states had The Rules Committee Each party’s rules the same number of convention votes as they had committee governs the way its convention is run. electoral votes. At recent conventions, however, the The committee proposes rules for convention pro- parties have used complicated formulas to determine cedure and sets the convention’s order of business. the number of votes each state will have. The delegates must approve any proposed changes in the rules of the last convention. Although the Assembling the Convention From across the rules committee report is usually accepted, at times country, thousands of delegates assemble in the con- real battles have developed over it. The outcome of vention city, accompanied by a mass of spectators, a rules fight can be vital to a candidate for the pres- protesters, and news media representatives.When the idential nomination. For example, at the 1980 Dem- delegates arrive, many are already pledged to a candi- ocratic convention, Senator Edward Kennedy was date, but others are not. All the candidates actively eager to capture the nomination, even though woo these uncommitted delegates, especially if the President Jimmy Carter had won a majority of the presidential nomination is still in doubt. As rumors delegates in the primaries. of political deals circulate, candidates hold news con- Thinking that many of the Carter delegates ferences, and reporters mill about in search of stories. were not strong supporters of the president, One writer described a national convention as: Kennedy sought to defeat a rule binding delegates

468 CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 464-473 CH16S3-860053 12/3/04 5:16 AM Page 469

to vote for the candidate who had won their state primary. If the rule were defeated, the Carter delegates would be free to support whomever they wished. Kennedy felt that many of the Carter delegates would then switch to him. When Kennedy lost this rules vote, he also lost whatever chance he had for the nomination.

The Credentials Committee The credentials committee must approve the delegations from each state. Sometimes disputes arise over who the proper delegates are. Candidates who trail in delegate support may challenge the credentials of their opponents’ delegates. Two entire rival delegations may even appear at the convention, each claiming Party Conventions Supporters of President Bush to be a state’s official delegation. It is up to the cre- enjoyed the excitement and energy of the crowd at dentials committee to determine which delegates the Republican National Convention in New York City should be seated. Although the committee’s deci- in 2004. Why do the major political parties strive sions may be appealed on the convention floor, the to hold entertaining national conventions? delegates generally accept its report without changes. Fights over credentials often have been livelier than rules fights at national conventions. In 1964, called planks, may divide the delegates. In 1968, for example, African Americans at the Democratic for example, a pro-Vietnam War plank angered convention charged that an all-white Mississippi Democrats who wanted the United States to with- delegation had excluded them, giving the African draw from that conflict. In 1980 the Republican American citizens of Mississippi no representation platform contained a plank opposing the Equal at the convention. The credentials committee Rights Amendment. Although this plank was con- allowed some African Americans to be seated in the troversial, the platform passed. Mississippi delegation. In 1968 the same situation Because the party’s presidential candidate occurred. The committee refused to seat another must support the party platform, all contenders all-white Mississippi delegation, and this time re- try to get their viewpoints into the platform. Rival placed it with an integrated rival delegation. candidates with opposing views often will create a fight within the party over the platform. The dan- The Committee on Permanent Organiza- ger is that a platform fight may divide the party. If tion This committee selects the permanent chair- the fight is bitter, as it was for Democrats in 1968, person and other officials for the convention. After the party may become so divided that it loses the it reports, the delegates elect the permanent con- election. vention officials who take the day-to-day control of the convention from the temporary officials. Nominating the Candidates After each committee’s reports are adopted, the highlight of The Platform Committee The platform the convention occurs. It is time to select the committee, as its name suggests, is assigned an im- party’s candidate for president. From the opening portant task—the writing of the party’s platform, a day, the leading contenders have been working to statement of its principles, beliefs, and positions on hold onto their delegates and to gain as many un- vital issues. It also spells out how the party intends committed delegates as possible. to deal with these issues. The party must try to In recent years, however, the front-runners adopt a platform that appeals to all factions, or di- have won enough committed delegates in the pri- visions, at the convention—not always an easy task. maries to take the suspense out of the nominating Part of the difficulty in getting platforms ac- process. Even so, the nominating speech for each cepted is that individual parts of the platform, candidate sets off a demonstration, as supporters

CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 469 464-473 CH16S3-860053 12/3/04 5:16 AM Page 470

parade around the convention hall. After the nom- The Vice-Presidential Nomination The inating speeches and all the seconding speeches vice-presidential nomination, which normally that follow are made, the balloting starts. takes place on the last day of the convention, may The convention chairperson now instructs create some suspense. Usually, the party’s pres- the clerk to read the alphabetical roll call idential nominee selects a running mate, of the states, and the chairperson of and the convention automatically each state delegation calls out the nominates the person chosen. A delegates’ votes. The candidate who vice-presidential candidate is some- receives a majority of the votes be- times selected to balance the ticket, comes the party’s nominee. If no meaning that he or she has a per- candidate does, then further roll sonal, political, and geographic calls must be taken until one can- background different from the didate wins a majority. presidential nominee. This balance In recent conventions most can- is designed to make the ticket appeal didates have been selected on the first to as many voters as possible. ballot. This is partly because rising In 1960 John F. Kennedy, a young campaign expenses have narrowed the Walter Mondale chose Catholic senator from Massachusetts, field of candidates in the primaries. Geraldine Ferraro as chose Lyndon B. Johnson, an older Candidates who win few delegates in his running mate. Protestant senator from Texas, as his the early primary states quickly drop running mate. In 1984 Minnesota sen- out, knowing that they will not be able to raise the ator Walter F. Mondale made New York represen- large sums of money needed to keep the campaign tative Geraldine Ferraro the first female going. By convention time, there may be no mys- vice-presidential major party candidate. tery about who will be the presidential nominee. Party leaders benefit from the early victory of Adjournment With the nomination of the one candidate, having more time to plan the con- presidential and vice-presidential candidates, the vention and unify the party. The convention can convention is almost over. These major nominees then become a scripted television event. However, appear before the delegates and make their accep- with the mystery removed from the nominating tance speeches. These speeches are intended to process, a convention may not be able to attract a bring the party together, to attack the opposition large television audience. This is one reason that the party, to sound a theme for the upcoming major television networks have reduced their cover- campaign, and to appeal to a national television age to a few hours of prime time. audience. The convention then adjourns.

Section 33 AssessmentAssessment Checking for Understanding 5. How is each major party’s presidential candidate 1. Main Idea Use a chart like the one below to show chosen at its national nominating convention? four ways candidates for office can get on the Critical Thinking ballot and why each method has drawn criticism. 6. Making Generalizations What historical and Method Criticism political changes in society have influenced presidential nominating methods? 2. Define caucus, nominating convention, boss, direct primary, closed primary, open primary, plurality, runoff primary, ticket, platform, plank. 3. Identify convention delegates, rules committee. 4. How do states deal with the situation in which Political Processes Create a poster that no primary candidate wins a majority of votes? presents a democratic and cost-efficient system for selecting nominees for president.

470 CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 464-473 CH16S3-860053 12/3/04 5:16 AM Page 471

Technology Using an Electronic Spreadsheet

eople use electronic spreadsheets to manage the computer will automatically change the totals large groups of numbers quickly and easily. to reflect the new number. The computer will even PYou can use an electronic spreadsheet and copy a formula from one cell to another. allow the computer to perform the mathemati- cal functions with any data that involves num- Practicing the Skill bers that can be arranged in columns and rows. Suppose you wanted to chart the number of Learning the Skill votes the Republican, Democratic, and third- party candidates received in the last five presiden- A spreadsheet is an electronic worksheet. It tial elections. Use these steps to create a is made up of numbered cells that form rows and spreadsheet that will provide this information: columns. Each column (vertical) is assigned a let- 1. In cells B1 and C1, respectively, type the name ter or number. Each row (horizontal) is assigned of the political party; in cell D1 type in Third a number. Each point where a column and row Party. In cell E1, type the term total. intersect is called a cell. The cell’s position on the 2. In cells A2-A6, type the year of a presidential spreadsheet is labeled according to its correspond- election. In cell A7, type the word total. ing column and row—Column A, Row 1 (A1); 3. In row 2, enter the number of votes each party Column B, Row 2 (B2) and so on. See the diagram received in the year named in cell A2. Repeat below. this process in rows 3-6. 4. A1 B1 C1 D1 E1 Create a formula to calculate the votes. The formula for the equation tells which cells (B2 A2 B2 C2 D2 E2 + B3 + B4 + B5 + B6) to add together. A3 B3 C3 D3 E3 5. Copy the formula to the right in the cells for the other parties. A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 6. Use the process in steps 4 and 5 to create and A5 B5 C5 D5 E5 copy a formula to calculate the total number of votes all parties received in each year. Spreadsheets use standard formulas to calculate the numbers. By entering a simple equation into the computer, you command the computer Application ActivityActivity to add, subtract, multiply, or divide the numbers Use a spreadsheet to enter your test in specific cells, rows, or columns. scores and your homework grades. At the To make changes in a spreadsheet, use a end of the grading period, input the correct mouse or the cursor keys to move to the cell you formula and the spreadsheet will calculate choose. That cell will be highlighted or have a bor- your average grade. der around it. If you change a number in any cell,

471 464-473 CH16S3-860053 12/3/04 5:17 AM Page 472

Chapter 1616 Assessment and Activities

1. A political party’s (1) is expressed in each (2) of the (3) that it adopts at the (4) to GOVERNMENT select its (5). 2. Although the (6) replaced the party (7) in Self-Check Quiz Visit the United States Government: choosing its (8), the party’s (9) continued Democracy in Action Web site at gov.glencoe.com and to influence the nomination process. click on Chapter 16–Self-Check Quizzes to prepare for the chapter test. Recalling Facts Reviewing Key Terms 1. What is the main function of the two major Insert the correct terms into the sentences. Some political parties? terms will be used more than once. 2. What are the responsibilities of a precinct captain within a political party? bosses ticket 3. What role does the political party out of power plank national convention assume? ideology platform 4. What is the difference between open and caucus closed primaries? 5. Identify the three types of third parties and identify a party of each type.

Party Development Understanding Concepts 1. Growth of Democracy Why have third parties • Late 1700s: Despite Washington’s warnings, two political parties— Federalists and Democratic-Republicans—form had so little success in the United States? • Pre-Civil War: Conflicts over issues such as slavery cause divisions within 2. Political Processes Why are many Americans nation’s political parties; Democratic-Republicans split into Democrats uninformed about the issues in a campaign? and Whigs 3. Political Processes Why is a primary election bet- • Post-Civil War: Republicans and Democrats emerge as the two domi- ter than a party caucus for selecting candidates? nant political parties • Third Parties: Continue to impact the political scene, despite obstacles presented by the two-party tradition Critical Thinking Party Organization and Functions 1. Understanding Cause and Effect The two major parties are criticized as being out of touch • Political parties are organized at the local, state, and national level with the needs of many Americans. How might • Functions of political parties include recruiting candidates for public office, educating the public about issues, running and staffing the gov- a successful third party affect the two major ernment, rewarding party loyalists with favors, watching over the party parties? in power, and encouraging compromise and moderate government 2. Predicting Consequences Use a chart to analyze policies the advantages and disadvantages of a national primary to nominate each party’s presidential Party Nominations candidate.

• Caucuses—private meeting of party leaders; used early in our Advantages Disadvantages nation’s history and in some states today • Nominating conventions—official public meeting of a party to choose candidates for office • Primary elections—party members select people to run in the general election; method most commonly used today • Petitions—candidate is placed on the ballot if a certain number of voters signs a petition 464-473 CH16S3-860053 12/3/04 5:17 AM Page 473

Chapter 1616

Analyzing Primary Sources Interpreting Political Cartoons Activity William Jennings Bryan’s famous “Cross of Gold” speech 1. What event is was made at the 1896 this cartoon Democratic National Convention, documenting? which focused that year on the 2. What symbols issue of monetary standards. does the car- The speech gained Bryan the toonist use? nomination as the Democratic 3. Why does the presidential candidate that year, elephant seem although he lost the election to so jubilant? Republican William McKinley. Read the excerpt and answer the questions that follow.

“We care not upon what lines the battle is fought. If they say bimetallism is good, but that we cannot have it until other nations help us, we reply that, instead of having a gold standard because England has, we will restore bimetallism, and then let England have bimetallism because the United States has it. If they dare to come out in the open field and de- fend the gold standard as a good thing, we will fight them to the utter- most. Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the la- Participating in boring interests and the toilers everywhere, we will answer State Government their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of The method by which dele- thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.” gates are selected to national nominating conventions depends 1. To what demographic of American society on party rules and on the laws of does Bryan seem to be appealing? each state. Work with a partner to 2. Bryan’s speech focused primarily on one determine the process in your state. Contact each issue—monetary standards. Can you see any party’s county and state organizations and local harm in having an election or a party based board of elections to find out the following informa- around a single political issue? tion: • How many delegates your state sends to each party’s national convention Applying Technology Skills • How this number is determined • How the delegates to the national convention Using the Internet Find current information are selected about the Democratic and Republican Parties on • Any special laws or rules that apply to the the Internet to write an information pamphlet processes about ways that citizens can participate in political When all information is gathered and analyzed, parties at the national, state, and local levels. present your findings to the class.

CHAPTER 16: POLITICAL PARTIES 473