Political Parties

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Political Parties

• Ch. 12

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What is a Political Party?

• Political Party
• American Political Parties
• Centrist v. Ideological
• The Two Party System
• Types of Members
• Party in Electorate
• Party in Government
• Formal Party Organization

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What do they do?

• Mobilizing Voters
• Selecting Candidates
• Provide Campaign Resources
• Simplifying Elections Educate the Public
• Straight Party Ticket
• Aggregating Interests
• Link to Govt
• Organizing the Decision Process
• Watchdog Role (Loyal Opposition)
• Identifying Issues and Stances
• Mixed up world?

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History of Political Parties

• Views on Parties varied at the beginning of the
  Republic
• Washingtons Farewell
• Madison 10
• Hamilton and Jefferson
• Evolution of Parties (The Quick Version)
• FedgtNatl RepublicansgtWhigsgtRepubs (1854)
• AntiFedsgtDem-RepubsgtDemocrats (1820)
• These are the main two since 1860

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Party History The Long Versions

• Feds and Anti-Feds (1796-1828)
• Hamilton
• Northern Industrialist
• Loose Interpretation of Const Strong Govt
• Ruling Educated Aristocracy
• Jefferson Hamilton
• Agricultural South
• Strict Int of Const Weak Govt
• Faith in Common Man
• The Democratic Republicans
• Jefferson over Adams 1800
• Monroe and the Era of Good Feelings 1820-1828

• Jackson Dems and Whigs (1828-1860)
• Democratic Advances
• Universal Male Suffrage
• Popular Election of Electors
• King Caucus is Dead
• Natl Nomination Conventions
• Farmers, Catholics, immigrants, Frontier Towns
• Whigs
• Strong Central Govt
• Minded Industrialists Planters
• Protestants
• William Harrison 1840

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• Republicans are Born (1860-1896)
• Division of the Whigs
• Slavery Divided N S
• Northern Whigs, Disgruntled Dems, Know Nothings
• The Grand Old Party
• Dominated President and Congress
• ExUnion Soldiers, AAs Northern Protestants
• Pro Business
• Democratic Stronghold
• Southerners, Irish Catholics, Farmers,
  Anti-Prohibitionists.
• States Rights and Limit Govt
• Grover Cleveland 1884 1892

• Republican Dominance (1896-1932)
• Realigning Election
• William Jennings Bryan (D) Rural South, West and
  Immigrants
• Industry urban Goes Repub
• GOP
• Opposed Social Welfare Assistance
• Govt Aids business
• Progressive Party
• 3rd Party
• Reform of Pol. Machines in N. M.W
• Voter Registration, Secret Ballot, Direct
  Primary, civil Service Laws
• Weakened Party Bosses Influence of Pol Parties
  in our Life

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• Democratic Dominance (1932-1980)
• The Crash
• Hoovers Ignorance
• Disillusioned Working Class
• The New Deal Coalition
• Urban Dwellers, blue collars, Catholics, Jews,
  Southern conservatives Northern Liberals
• Repubs
• Eisenhower 52 56
• Nixon 68 72
• Dems
• Truman 48
• Kennedy 60
• LBJ 64
• Carter 76

• Return of the Republicans (1980-Today)
• 1968 as foretelling the future
• Reagan, Bush I, Bush II
• Clinton
• Divided Government
• Dems in the House
• Repubs in the Senate
• 1994 Repub Domination

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The Parties Today

• 1/3 Independent (50) v. 1/5 Independent (Today)
• GOP
• Wealthy, male, rural, suburban, college educated,
  conservative
• Rugged individualism, strong national defense,
  minimal economic regulation and of business
• Dem
• Women, minorities, inner-city, poor, less
  educated, working class, liberals
• Promote social justice, regulate business, fair
  emplyment practices
• Differences
• Moral Issues
• Geographic
• Religious/Racial
• Ticket Splitting
• Southern Switch (50s 60s)
• Repub Pres and Congressional Dem

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The Decline of Party Politics

• Decline of Political Machines
• Party Organization who recruits members with
  tangible incentives and is characterized by a
  high degree of control over member activity
• Advancements leading to the Decline
• Direct Primary
• Civil Service Laws
• Issue Oriented Politics
• Television
• Political Consultants

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Political Party Structure
The Quadrennial National Convention
Informal Groups Young Republicans, Interest
Groups, PACs, think tanks, etc
National
Natl Party Chairperson
Natl Party Committee RNC 1856 DNC 1848
State Central Committees and Conventions
State
Congressional District Committees
City and County Committees
Precinct and Ward Committees
Local
Party Activists and Volunteers
Party Identifiers and Voters
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Modern Party Organization

• Republicans
• Highly organized at fundraising and direct
  mailing
• Support a lot of Activities Party Staff, voter
  contact, polling, advertising, research and
  campaign staff training
• Democrats
• Trail Republicans in organization and
  fundraising, but have made gains
• They do have a direct mail campaign,
  multi-million media production center and the
  Democratic National Training Institute

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Party in Government

• The Congressional Party
• Party Caucuses
• Parties organize congress
• Discipline
• The Presidential Party
• Head of Party
• Coat tail Effect and Clinton
• Non Partisan Presidents
• Parties and the Courts
• Local Judges Non partisan?
• State Federal Judges Patronage
• Parties and State Governments
• States function w/ the same theory as Natl Govt
• Governors have more patronage ability than pres,
  and 41 have line item veto power
• State legislatures are usually more partisan and
  loyal to parties than natl

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Party in Electorate

• The Mass of Potential Voters who identify with
  party labels, self identified and are
  increasingly disloyal
• Party Identification
• Rarely are we Card Carrying Members
• Party Symbols are our way of simplifying a
  complex/confusing world
• Declining Loyalty
• 80 Independent, but with party leanings
• Personality Politics, TV hired guns, and new
  issues crossing party lines

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One Partyism

• The age of one party dominating the other is
  over.
• No solid south
• No state dominated by one party or the other
• Is this true?
• Many use the split ticket.
• Issues and candidate over party politics

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Third Partyism

• Arise sporadically, never really threatening the
  others for power.
• 8 have gained College Votes, 5 have gained 10 of
  the vote
• American Party Millard Fillmore 1856
• Bull Moose Teddy 1912
• Progressive Party Bob LaFollette 1924
• American independent Party George Wallace 1968
• Reform Party Ross Perot 1992/96
• Green Party Ralph Nader 2000

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Causes of Third Parties

• Sectionalism
• 1948 Dixiecrats
• Economic Protest
• 1892 Populists
• Specific Issues
• Green Free Soil Parties
• Ideology
• Socialists, communists, Libertarians
• Charismatic Personalities
• George Wallaces American Independent
• Failures of the Major Parties
• Reform Party

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Why 3rd Parties Remain Minor

• Single Member Plurality Electoral System
• Power of 1 isnt much
• Dont have power to elicit change
• Dems and Repubs are automatically on the ticket
• Legislatures are organized based on Parties
• Dems and Repubs get more public Money
• Media ignores them as non-winners
• People like centrist politics not radical
  ideologues