Political Parties

AP Government What is a Political Party? • Organized group • Common interests Shape of Party Organizations

• Every election district – Some kind of party unit • Each organization is unique to region – Politics and stances on issues • Political parties - permanent coalitions – Individuals with shared interests who support one another. Ideal Candidates • Unblemished record • Ability to raise enough money for serious run for office. – House seat – (Lotsa Money) several hundred thousand dollars. – Senate seat – (Lotsa and Lotsa Money) several million dollars.

Nominating Candidates • Nomination – Process by which a party selects a candidate. – Nomination by Committee – Nomination by Convention – Nomination by Primary Election • Dominant method – Closed Primary – Open Primary – Blanket Primary

Party Activists Drawn from the ranks of strong voters - contribute Time Energy Effort to party affairs (Ring doorbells, stuff envelopes, attend meetings, and contribute money to the party) Most Important functions of Political Party • Recruit candidates • Nominate candidates • Get out the vote • Influence & coordinate activities of the national government

Electoral Politics Today • Recently, more focus on candidates. • Political parties today – Mainly composed of office seekers.

Meaning of Party 8.1

 Tasks of the Parties  Parties, Voters, and Policy: The Downs Model

 Parties pick candidates  Parties run campaigns  Parties give cues to voters  Parties articulate policies  Parties coordinate policymaking

 Rational-choice theory  Political scientist Anthony Downs’ model  Most voters are moderate  Center of political spectrum  Parties seek voter loyalty  Position themselves to left and right of center

Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Theory of Party Competition • Anthony Downs – – Most voters tend to be moderates – Parties move to center to attract the “median voter.” – Ideological line blurs between parties • Little real difference between Democrats and Republicans. FIGURE 8.1 The Downs model: How 8.1 rational parties position themselves near (but not at) the center of public opinion

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Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 8.1 8.1 How do parties maximize their appeal to voters? a. Position themselves near political center b. Lie about their opponents c. Stake out clear positions to the left or right d. Make party members sign loyalty oaths

V.O. Key Political Parties

Political scientist V.O. Key Three key aspects of political parties:

• Party-in-the-electorate • Party-as-organization • Party-in-government The Party in the Electorate 8.2

 Party membership is psychological  Citizens think they know what parties stand for  Choose parties based on affinity with personal preferences  More Americans identify as independents

Electorate (People) - Trends • Cuban Americans - Republicans. • Growing percentage of Hispanic & young voters • Men and women - “Gender Gap” – Young single women • Catholics – Once staunch Democrats – Shifted to Republicans (Abortion?) • Relatively affluent individuals – Republican – Work in public sector (foundations and universities) • vote Democrat

Coalitions in Politics 8.2 8.2 More Americans are identifying as Independents, especially

a. People over 65

b. Minorities

c. Young people

d. Less-educated citizens

a. People over 65

b. Minorities

c. Young people

d. Less-educated citizens

Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved The Party as an Organization • Formal party organizations & processes • National office • Full time staff • Rules, bylaws • Budget • State and local headquarters. • Includes precinct leaders • Work Independently from national office • Keep party going between elections • Assist and direct candidates seeking to win office in elections. The Party Organization: From 8.3 the Grass Roots to Washington

 Local Parties  The 50 State Party Systems  The National Party Organizations

 Once main party organization  Party machines  Rewarded voters  New York and Chicago  Patronage  Jobs for voters and contributors  Progressive reforms ended this system

 No two exactly alike  Some well-funded, some weak  Permanent headquarters  Provide technical services  Open or closed primaries  Straight-ticket voting  Single column or random list of candidates

 National convention  Meets every four years  Writes party platform  Formal nomination of candidates  National committee  Operates between conventions  Led by national chairperson

Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 8.3 8.3 What are the functions of the party’s national convention? a. Write party platform b. Nominate candidate for president c. Meet every four years to revise rules d. All of the above

• Parties lost control over nomination of candidates – “Direct primary” • Control of nominations to voters – Closed, Open, Blanket Party-in-government Ability of parties to structure and control government

The Party in Government: 8.4 Promises and Policy

 Party in power determines policy  Coalitions support parties  Most presidents fail to implement campaign promises  Party platforms are blueprints

Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Partisanship in Congress • Since 1980s • Party politicians more likely to view themselves as part of party “team” The “Big Tent” • Both major parties • Different coalitions exist within each party • Compete for attention/influence • Tea Party, Libertarian, Working Families • Designed to attract independent-minded voters Party Appeal

• Democrats – Organized labor – The poor – Members of racial minorities – Liberal upper-middle class professionals • Republicans – Business – Upper middle and upper class groups of the private sector – Social conservatives 8.4 8.4 Which of the following is a campaign promise kept by President Reagan?

a. Increase social welfare spending b. Increase defense spending c. Increase the federal deficit d. Increase funding for education

AP Government Party Eras in American History 8.5  1796–1824: The First Party System  1828–1856: Jackson and Democrats Versus the Whigs  1860–1928: The Two Republican Eras  1932–1964: The New Deal Coalition  1968–Present: Southern Realignment and the Era of Divided Party Government

Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Party Development in Early America Political parties – Unanticipated or wanted by Framers • Framers (Hamilton, Washington, and Jefferson) – Parties are divisive & detrimental to republican government • Deep Political Divisions – Hamilton and Jefferson form 1st American political parties The Two-Party System

U.S. - Two-party system

Andrew Jackson ran for president in 1828, his opponents tried to label him First emerged - late 18th century a "jackass" for his populist views and his slogans. Thomas Nast, a famous political cartoonist in1870 used it and Conflict between it stuck. Democrats say represents humble, homely, smart, courageous Federalists (Alexander Hamilton) and loveable & Democratic- Republicans (Thomas Jefferson and James Madison)

The imagination of cartoonist Thomas Nast. First appeared in Harper's Weekly on November 7, 1874. Republicans think represents dignified, strong and intelligent Democrats Republicans Modern Democratic Modern Republican party established late party 1850s 18th century Antislavery party - Revitalized by Andrew remnants of Whig party Jackson in 1820s

• Party Eras o Historical periods where one political party dominates/gains majority of support

Two Party System - First Parties • Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans • Federalists – Alexander Hamilton – Northeastern mercantile, New England states – Protective tariffs, assumption of state revolutionary debt, national bank, commercial ties with England – Disappeared after pro-British sympathies during War of 1812 • Democratic-Republicans – Thomas Jefferson, James Madison – Southern agrarian factions, Southern states – Free trade, agrarian over commercial interests, friendship with France Second Party System • One political party – “Era of Good Feelings” • More voters enter system – No property requirement • Jackson and Van Buren – Develop party organizations – State and national levels • 1830s-40s – Opposition party - Whigs • 1840 - Whig candidate William Henry Harrison – “Old Tippecanoe” elected president Second Party System (cont.) • 1840 election – Food & drink provided – “Hard cider” campaign • Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1850’s – Rise of Republican party • Coalition – Former Whigs – Know-Nothings – Free-Soilers – Antislavery activists • Commercial & Anti-slavery interests • 1860 – 1st Republican president - Lincoln Third Party System • From Civil War to Great Depression – Republicans dominant party • Growth of Party Machines • Patronage – Government jobs – “Spoils” System • Tammany Hall • Progressive Reforms – Reaction to Party machines • Voter registration • Australian ballot, Non-partisan local elections • Referendums, initiatives, recall votes Fourth Party System • Great Depression – Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt starts New Deal – FDR built party around core group • Unionized workers • Upper-middle class intellectuals & professionals • Southern farmers • Jews, Catholics, and northern blacks. • Good until 1960’s - Civil rights, Great Society, Vietnam Fifth Party System • 1964 – Conservative Republicans • New focus – Reducing taxes – Less government spending and regulation – Eliminate many federal programs • 1968 – Richard Nixon - “Southern Strategy” – Angry white southerners – Independent George Wallace helps • 1980 – Ronald Regan – Coalition w/ religious conservatives • 2000 – George W. Bush • Won with least popular vote FIGURE 8.4 Realignment in the South 8.5

Realignments: 1800  Democratic Republicans dominate

1828  Jacksonian Democrats “democratize” American politics

1860  Emergence of Republicans (and their victory in Civil War) leads to post- Reconstruction competitive balance between Democrats and Republicans 1896  Republicans reassert their dominance with loss of William Jennings Bryant and Populists

1932  Franklin Roosevelt and New Deal produce long era of Democratic dominance

1968  Richard Nixon’s victory and end of Democrats’ “Solid South” produces highly competitive era of divided party control FIGURE 8.3 Party coalitions today 8.5

• 1796-1824: The First Party System • 1828-1856: Jackson and the Democrats Versus the Whigs • 1860-1928: The Two Republican Eras • 1932-1964: The New Deal Coalition • 1968-Present: The Era of Divided Party Government

8.5 8.5 Which events sparked party realignments? a. Civil War b. Great Depression c. Nixon’s Southern strategy d. A and B only

Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 8.5 8.5 Which events sparked party realignments? a. Civil War b. Great Depression c. Nixon’s Southern strategy d. A and B only

American history • a large number of New party supplants voters changing their ruling party party allegiance becoming the dominant political • a great deal of voter force participation in an Scholars call these election enduring changes in • a stable change in the party strength party controlling the electoral government realignments. 1796-1824: The First Party 8.5 System  Madison warned against factions  Hamilton and the Federalist Party  Capitalist support, Northeast  Short-lived  Ideas of loyal opposition and rotation of power new  Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans  Agrarian support, South  Torn by factions

 General Andrew Jackson as leader  Democratic-Republicans v. Democratic Party  New coalition in election of 1828  Westerners, Southerners, poor whites  Broaden suffrage  Martin Van Buren  Theory of loyal opposition  Whig Party

 1850s: Slavery dominated politics  Split both parties  Republicans rose as anti-slavery party  Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War  Second party realignment  Lasted 60 years  Democrats controlled the South  1896: Second Republican era  Democrats and “free silver”

Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 1932-1964: The New Deal 8.5 Coalition  Hoover loses to FDR  FDR promises New Deal  New coalition formed  Elements of New Deal coalition  Urban dwellers  Labor unions  Catholics and Jews  The poor  Southerners  African Americans

The Granger Collection, NYC

 Nixon’s Southern strategy  Support for states’ rights, law and order, strong military posture  Win Southern Democrats

 Republicans did not have Congress  New pattern  Divided government now normal  Dealignment

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 Three types of third parties  Cause parties  Offshoots of major parties  Vehicles for individual candidacies  Rarely win office but can affect elections

Main parties fail to address issues Growth of 3rd parties Influence of 3rd Parties

• 1992 - Ross Perot • 2000 - Ralph Nader • Reform Party candidate • Green Party • 19% of popular vote • 3% of popular vote • Influenced debate • Pulled votes from Gore • NAFTA • Florida • Free trade • Cost Gore election? • Budget deficits • Pulled votes from both Bush and Clinton Barriers to Third Party Success • Wasted vote • Attract good candidate • Getting on state ballot • Can be very difficult • Lack of national organization • 3rd parties are important o Can be “safety valves” for popular discontent o Bring new groups and ideas into politics

Other reasons 3rd parties short-lived – Single-member plurality (“ winner take all”) electoral system • Limit opportunities for electoral success – Period of change, crises, and uncertainties subside or are addressed by public policies

The EmergenceThe Emergence of Third of Third Parties Parties, 1790s-1990s– 1790s to 1990s

15 Number 10

0 1790-1800s 1810-1820s 1830-1840s 1850-1860s 1870-1880s 1890-1900s 1910-1920s 1930-1940s 1950-1960s 1970-1980s 1990s Era

Source: Data from Immanuel Ness and James Ciment, eds., The Encyclopedia of Third Parties in America (Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000). See especially Table of Contents and Introduction, pp. xx-xxi. Data tabulated by author. Note: Indicates number of major third parties that emerged in each decade. ELECTORAL YEAR PARTY CANDIDATE VOTE% OUTCOME in Next Election VOTE 1832 Anti-Masonic William Wirt 7.8% 7 Endorsed Whig Candidate

1848 Free Soil Martin Van Buren 10.1 0 5% of the vote, absorbed by Republican Party 1856 Whig-American Millard Fillmore 21.5 8 Dissolved

1860 Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge 18.1 72 Dissolved

1860 Constitutional Union John Bell 12.6 39 Dissolved

1892 Populist James B. Weaver 8.5 22 Absorbed by Democratic Party

1912 Progressive Teddy Roosevelt 27.5 88 Returned to Republican Party

1912 Socialist Eugene V. Debs 6.0 0 Won 3% of the vote

1924 Progressive Robert M. LaFollette 16.6 13 Returned to Republican Party

1948 States' Rights Strom Thurmond 2.4 39 Dissolved

1948 Progressive Henry Wallace 2.4 0 Won 1.4% of the vote

1968 American George Wallace 13.5 46 Won 1.4% of the vote Independent 1980 Independent John Anderson 6.6 0 Dissolved

1992 Reform H. Ross Perot 18.9 0 Won 8.4% of the vote

1996 Reform H. Ross Perot 8.4 0 Did not run 2000 Reform Ralph Nader 2.7 0 Ran Next election 2004 Green Ralph Nader 1.0 0 -- Why do we have only two major political parties? • Winner take all system • Minor parties give up and merge into big parties 8.6 8.6 Why are there only two major parties in the U.S.?

a. Only two parties are constitutionally allowed b. Two parties fulfill preferences of all voters c. No interest in additional parties d. Winner-take-all elections

 Democracy and Responsible Party Government: How Should We Govern?  American Political Parties and the Scope of Government

 Responsible party model  Distinct governing programs  Internal cohesion and commitment  Major party must implement program  Major party must accept responsibility  Party leadership weak in U.S.  “Blue Dog Democrats”  Is this good or bad?

 Not as broad as in Europe  Health care example  Parties not disciplined  Hard to cut spending  Not disciplined enough to say “no”  Get more for own constituents

Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Summary of Chapter • Parties a pervasive linkage institution in American politics. o Party in electorate, government, and as organization • America has a two-party system. • Decentralized nature of political parties makes major change difficult • Encourages individualism in politics today. Definitions

• Critical Election o Election that changes the support a political party gets - helps end a party era o Also called Realigning election • Party Realignment o The removal of the majority party by the minority party, usually the result of a critical election

• Party Dealignment o Voters moving away from 2 major political parties o Identifying themselves as independent o Increase in split-ticket or ticket-splitting voting