Session 12 Political Parties Critical Elections And Realignments

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Session 12Political Parties Critical Elections
And Realignments
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How is a political party different from an
interest group?

• Run candidates under their own labels
• Broad issue concerns
• Priority to controlling the personnel of
  government
• Quasi-public organizations
• A unique relationship with supporters

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Models of Party Competition
Electoral Competition Theory Parties compete
for votes by taking the most popular positions
they can Problems in theory and practice Party
looses focus trying to accommodate the most
voters possible

• Responsible Party Government
• Theory Elections and parties present voters
  with a real choice
• Problems in theory and practice -The direction
  and leadership comes from party insiders, and
  sometimes interest groups, rather than the
  people - the partys position may not be what
  voters want

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Concept Party Systems

• Realignment
• A major shift in the party system
• A minor party becomes the major party (example
  1860)
• The major party has an infusion of support that
  allows it to remain the major party (example
  1896)
• A change in the party loyalties of certain groups
  (example 1932)

• Dealignment
• A shift in the party system caused by a decline
  in party attachment
• One party looses its dominance by no other party
  emerges as the new dominant party (1968)