Chapter 10 – The Judiciary

Chapter 12 – Political Parties

Political parties have been a part of US democracy since late 1700s and will continue to be
Chapter Topics

Political party definition
Party evolution
Party roles
Party structure
Party in the government
Modern transformation of parties
Party in the electorate
One and third partyism
Continuity and change of politics

What is a political party? (436)

Expectations of parties differ – some expect policy change, win elections, etc
Political Party – group of office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who identify a group and seek to elect individuals who run with the group’s title

Goal: win office (not compete win)
May carry ideology and issue positions

Makeup of a political party

Governmental Party – office holders who run under the party banner
Organization Party – workers and activists who makeup the party’s formal organization
Party in the Electorate – voters who associate with the party

The Evolution of American Party Democracy (438)

Washington warned against political parties when he left office
Two parties formed shortly after

Federalists – Hamilton the main figure; supported a strong central gov
Anti-Federalists or Democratic-Republicans – Jefferson; supported relatively strong states

Jefferson was the first Pres elected who was nominated by a political party

Thought the “party” a temporary measure to help him get elected
The parties did not have means to try to mobilize broad support
They mainly disputed the federal gov’s power

The Early Parties Fade (438)

Federalists fail to get a nominee elected after Adams; dissolve in 1820
Era of Good Feelings – occurred during Monroe; national parties nearly disappear
Party growth results from large electorate increase from 1820 to 1840

Suffrage given to all white males regardless of land owndership
Vote increases from 300k to 2M

By 1820, most states switched selection of electoral college members from state legislatures to popular election

Made presidential election more influenced by ordinary voters

Congressional leaders nominated candidates

Unpopular, elitist practice gave way to large nominating conventions

1^st major national Pres nomination convention – 1832 by the Democratic Party (successor of Jefferson’s Demo-Repb)

Formed around populist Pres Jackson

Strong personality and charismatic; polarized politics
First to win White House from a truly national political party

Opposition party: Whig Party; descended from Federalists
Both parties strengthened with state and local organizations

Whig party dissolves amid slavery issues; replaced by the Republican Party in 1854 by antislavery activists
Republicans get Lincoln elected in 1860; many southern states voted Democrat

Starts a tradition – not a single southern state votes Republican for President until 1920

Democrats and Republicans: The Golden Age (440)

Since 1860, Republicans and Democrats have been the dominant political parties
Republicans often called the GOP (Grand Old Party)

The Modern Era Versus the Golden Age (441)

“Golden age” of parties existed from about to 1870s to 1920s

Machines – big-city party orgs that recruit members with tangible incentives; high degree of control

Fueled by immigrants – gave them upward social mobility
Party and Gov almost interchangeable – sponsored services, entertainment, and employment
Intense devotion resulted in 75%+ voter turnout (today averages about 50%)

Is the Party Over? (441)

Government takes over party roles – prints ballots, conducts elections, welfare, etc

Social services become seen as rights not as privilege in exchange for votes

Direct Primary – selection of party candidates through ballots of qualified voters; gave power to electorate
Civil Service Laws – require appointment on basis of competitive exams

Patronage – jobs, grants, or favors given as rewards for political support
Spoils System – firing of defeated parties’ office holders and replacement with those loyal to newly elected

Progressive movement – politically liberal reformers who brought on these changes to parties
Post WWII Changes

Broad education leads to issue-oriented politics (focus on specific issues rather than party labels)

Issue politics often cut across parties
Encourages ticket-split (vote for candidates of differing parties)

Population growth; shift to suburbs

Urban cities dense and easily organized; suburbs are sprawling
District population grew so much that going to every door became impractical

TV emphasizes personality over abstract party labels
Political Consultant – professional who manages political campaign adverts

The Parties Endure (444)

Still reliable vehicles for mass participation
Parties abilities to stay alive

Enlarge the practicing electorate

Exception: Southern Democrats tried to exclude blacks (contracted electorate)

Adapt to changes; flexibility and pragmatism ensure survival and success
Provide strong competition for each other and voters in general
New research indicates parties are rebounding from 1990s lows

The Roles of the American Parties (445)

Mobilizing Support and Gathering Power (445)

Office holders can rely on their parties for support on tough choices
Coalition – group of interests that join forces to elect officials
Continuing mutual interest causes current coalitions to stay so each election does not need new coalitions

A Force for Stability and Moderation (445)

Parties tame extremes to attract the most voters out of a practical desire to win the election
Contradictions inherent in coalitions strengthen the nation

Unity, Linkage, and Accountability (446)

Framers separated powers to protect liberty but in such made gov hard to coordinate and act timely

Parties bring unity

Party affiliation is a basis for linkage among different people

Laterally among branches and vertically among local, state, and national gov
Between the candidate and voter
Unifies the nation by forcing sections to group with each other in order to be less of a minority

The Electioneering Function (447)

Parties help gov by finding people to run for office and making election competitive
Thousands of candidates and staff are recruited by parties each election
Staff of winning candidates often receive key gov positions as a reward

Party as a Voting and Issue Cue (447)

Party is a valuable filter
Less informed voters use the party as a quick shortcut for interpreting issues

Policy Formulation and Promotion (447)

Senator Long said that parties were essentially the same
National Party Platform – goals of a political party promulgated at the national convention

Usually rewritten every 4 years to highlight major issues for the Pres convention
2/3 of the winning party’s policy gets implemented
½ of the losing party’s policy get implemented too

Recently party platforms more like Pres platforms

Non-controversial to appeal to a broad range of voters
Written for the candidate, not for the party

The Basic Structure of American Political Parties (449)

Political Party Organization

National – quadrennial national convention; national chairpersons; national committee
State – state committees and conventions; congressional district committees
Local – city / county committees, precinct and ward committees, party activists and volunteers; party voters

National Committees (449)

Democrat National Convention (DNC) est. 1848 and RNC in 1856
National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) setup when radical republicans were feuding with moderate successors to Lincoln

Democrats setup something similar
Both parties setup committee for the Senate after the 17^th Amendment (direct election of senators)

These six major committeees are the major service-oriented orgs in American politics

Leadership (450)

Elected by the national committee if the Pres is not in their party
National Convention – held by each party to nominate their Pres and VP candidates

Chairperson plans the Pres nominating convention
Carefully coordinated to represent the party well to voters

States and Localities (451)