POLITICAL PARTIES Chapter 8 The Meaning of Party Party Competition Battle of the parties for control of public offices Political Party: A Beacon.

POLITICAL PARTIESChapter 8

The Meaning of Party

Party CompetitionBattle of the parties for

control of public offices

Political Party:A Beacon in the fog of

politics - a group of “like-minded individuals” whose purpose is to gain control of gov’t through elections and make policy.

Components of Political PartiesParties can be thought of in three parts: A 3 headed political GIANT:Party in the electorate

Voluntary membershipParty as an organization

Nat’l, state and local day to day operations whose goal is to select candidates, building platforms, win elections.

Party in governmentelected officials - party or power elites

who sometimes agree on policy or the making of policy.

Functions of Parties

• Parties sponsor grassroots mobilization, energizing members to support a candidate or proposal.

• Parties are a linkage institution connecting citizens with government.

Functions of Parties• All parties promotes the same purpose:• Pick candidates via a nomination

• Run campaigns• Establish an image• Give cues to voters• Articulate policies through their platforms

• Coordinate policymaking• Compete for votes

Rational Choice TheoryDown’s Rational Choice theory states . . .• voters want certain issues addressed and adopted by gov’t

soooooooo• parties want to win office byyyyyyyyy• selecting policies that are widely favored. . . by the

populous. . .nobody votes for losers. . .only for winners! • centrist policies usually win. . .don’t drift too far from moderate

proposals.

The Party in the Electorate: About the Voters• Party Image

• Voter’s perception of what the GOP or Dems stand for (conservative/liberal)• Party Identification

• Citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other• Those registered for a party will likely vote for its candidates• Many voters have moved to the middle of party identification - a de-alignment of party ID. • 2000 election had over 40% claiming independent monikers. . .w/ Democrats losing more ID than Republicans.

• Ticket-splitting:• Voting for candidates of different parties.

• The result is often divided government.

• Since 1968, era of “Divided gov’t. . .” • one party runs the Exec Branch

• the other controls Congress

• which could create legislative gridlock.

An Era of Divided Government

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington

• Local and State Parties• Party Machines exchanged

votes for favors• Patronage—when a patron

in government gives political supporters benefits

• Pendleton Civil Service Act led to a merit based civil service and diminished machines.

• National parties are weak compared to state and local parties.

Party machines – The Hunt for the right candidate?

• Each state manages its own party operation - a decentralized and fragmented system. • Patronage dominates - It’s the good

boy/girl club. .Party regulars become gov’t appointees IF . . .

• Finding the right candidates takes parties through “grass roots” democracy, until the inTERparty campaign begins. It seems to last foooooooor evvvvverrrrr to find the right candidates!

• How does one come across a potential party elite? Be a party regular! and hold a public office at some level - US Congressperson or state Govenor

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington• Local (State) Parties Run

Primaries• Closed: voters must be

registered with their party in advance and can only vote for that party

• Open: independents and those registered to a party may vote in that party’s primary

• Primaries and caucuses weaken national party organizations

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington

• The National Party Organizations• National Convention (Select presidential + VP

candidates, sets platform, endorses all party nominees for other offices!)

• National Committee • National Chairperson

• Relative to other countries, our national organizations are weak.

• Attempting to manage 50 states’ operations• Campaign highway goal - form enough coalitions

( of SIGS) to win the election INTERparty event• dominate the media • vanquish your opponent via attack ads!

What is the Tea Party?• The Tea Party stands for “taxed enough already.”

• The Tea Party, although it runs candidates, is not a party.

• Tea Party candidates run as Republicans.

• So, the Tea Party is a faction within the Republican Party

The Party in Government: Promises and Policy

• Party members actually elected to government.

• Candidates are less dependent on parties to get elected than other countries, but they still need help.

• Lack of Party Discipline in U.S.• Coalition:

• A group of groups with a common interest who support a political party over time.

• NOT the same as a coalition in parliamentary governments.

• Party members actually elected to government.

• Candidates are less dependent on parties to get elected than other countries, but they still need help.

• Lack of Party Discipline in U.S.• Coalition:

• A group of groups with a common interest who support a political party over time.

• NOT the same as a coalition in parliamentary governments.

Party Eras inAmerican History

• US Parties typically been two-party - offering American voters a choice. . .which is what democracy is all about!

• Historically • Federalists v. anti-federalists• evolved into Democrats v. Republicans

• Party Eras• When one party wins most elections

because its coalition is bigger• Critical Election

• An electoral “earthquake” where new issues and new coalitions emerge, beginning a new party era.

• Party Realignment• The shifting of groups in a coalition,

usually before a critical election. Groups leave one party and support the other party.

Party Eras inAmerican History

• Republicans and Democrats have switched in dominance since 1800, referred to as re-alignment.

1932-1964: New Deal CoalitionForged by Democrats- relied upon urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners

Party Eras inAmerican History • 1968-Present: Era of

Divided Party Government• One party holds the

presidency while one or both houses of Congress are controlled by the other party.

• Party de-alignment- disengagement of people from parties

• Rise of independent voters

Third Parties: Impact on American Politics • Political parties other than Democrat

or Republican• Rarely win elections• But, they bring new groups and people into politics

• Charismatic Leader- Ross Perot• Ideological - Socialists, Independents

• Single issue - Free Soilers, Greenpeace

• Economic protests - Greenback Party

• Splinter - Bull Moose

Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics • Winner-take-all system:

• First Past the Post/Single Member District

• Legislative seats awarded only to first place finishers.

• Proportional Representation:• Legislative seats awarded

based on votes received by party- more votes, more seats

• Coalition Government:• Two or more parties join to

run government

Understanding Political Parties • Responsible Party Model: Parties

should meet the following conditions:• Provide distinct, comprehensive

programs for governing• Candidates must be committed to its

program and have internal cohesion and discipline to carry out the program

• Majority party must implement programs and minority party must explain what they would do differently if in power

• Majority party must take responsibility for their performance in government

Understanding Political Parties Is the Party over?

No longer chief source of information for voters

But, state and national party organizations are getting stronger

Majority of people still identify with a party, but still split their tickets

Parties will continue to be around