The TwoParty System

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The Two-Party System

• Democrats and Republicans

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Reasons for the Two-Party System

• Historical Basis
• The Framers were opposed to political parties
• The Federalists and Anti-Federalists were the
  first two parties
• The Force Tradition
• It has always existed
• Minor parties have made little progress

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• The Electoral System
• Single member districts preserve the two-party
  system
• State election laws are written to discourage
  minor parties
• The American Ideological Consensus
• Americans tend to agree on fundamental issues
• The parties tend to take a moderate stand to
  attract more voters

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Multiparty Systems

• In some countries, parties represent a wide
  variety of class, religious, sectional and
  political interest, often making governments
  unstable.
• In America, institutional and ideological factors
  make a multiparty system unlikely.

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One-Party Systems

• Nearly all dictatorships have one party.
• Traditionally, many areas of the US were
  dominated by one single party.
• Recently, two-party competition has spread.
• Minnesota has traditionally voted for a Democrat
  in presidential elections.
• We have begun to split in the state.

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Membership in parties

• Party membership is voluntary and is generally
  composed of a cross-section of the population.
• There are some segments of the electorate that
  tend to support one party or the other.

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Read 98-114 and answer the following questions

• What is the function of American political
  parties?
• Why does the United States have a two party
  system?
• What makes it difficult for third or minor
  parties to get their members elected to public
  office?
• Describe the Eras of Dominance by the Republicans
  and the Democrats. How would you describe the
  modern era of political history?
• What are the main elements of party organization
  at the national level? How are the parties
  similar and different at the local and state
  levels?

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The First Parties

• Federalists Alexander Hamilton
• Democratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson
• The two parties differed in their views of
  economics, governments proper role, and
  interpretations of the Constitution

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The Era of the Democrats 1800-1860

• A coalition of farmers, planters, debtors and
  pioneers backed the Democrats, who backed the
  Democrats after the election of 1800
• The Democrats were opposed by Federalists, Whigs,
  and finally the Republicans

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Era of the Republicans 1860-1932

• Republicans dominated the government, supported
  by Northern and Western Farmers, businesses and
  African American.
• Democrats during this period controlled the South
  and rebuilt their support from there.

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Return of the Democrats 1932-1968

• During the Great Depression, Roosevelt built a
  new Democratic coalition, based on the support of
  the Southerners, small farmers, organized labor,
  minorities and big city political organizations
• The New Deal marked a fundamental change in the
  publics attitude towards big government

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Modern Era 1968-Now

• Since 1968, Republicans have dominated the
  Presidency, Democrats have dominated the Congress
• This era of division is unprecedented in American
  History

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National Party Organization

• National Conventions Nominates the parties
  candidate for president and VP as well as setting
  the party platform
• National Committee Stages the convention and
  handles the party affairs
• National Chairperson Chosen by nominee and
  works to unify the party, raise money, recruit
  voter support
• Congressional Campaign Committees Works to
  increase the parties members in Congress

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National Chairpersons of the Republicans and
Democrats
Howard Dean - D
Mike Duncan - R
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National Conventions

• Democratic and Republican Conventions this summer
  in Denver and St. Paul

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State and Local Parties

• State Organization The State chairperson and
  committees job is to further the partys
  interests in the state.
• Local Organization Can vary widely, generally
  follows the state map with a party unit for each
  district.

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Minnesota Party Leaders

• DFL Chairman Brian Melendez
• RPM Chairman Ron Carey

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Elements of the Party

• Each party has Leaders, activists and hangers-on
  that control the party machinery
• The people who always vote for the party
• Elected officials who are members of the party

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