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