The Party System

The Party SystemChapter 8

What is a political party? What do political parties do? Why does the U.S. have a 2-party system? How did the U.S. get a 2-party system? How do party organizations work at the

local, state, and national levels?

Politics describes the exercise of political power.

Democracy in AmericaHe described political parties as a “necessary evil” in a free government.

Alexis de Toqueville’s

A group that advances certain political goals through organizing to gain power by winning elections.

What is a political party?

The Constitution never mentions political parties.

George Washington warned against them in his Farewell Address.

“It [a spirit of party]serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.”

George Washington on Parties

Nominate candidates for public office. Govern through party networking to support

or oppose issues being considered. Act as watchdogs over the other party and

inform the public about what the other party is doing.

Influence government by keeping extreme opinions out.

What do political parties do?

Sometimes the two major parties look and act so much alike because they are trying to attract support from the same people in the middle of the political spectrum. They are appealing to the “moderate middle.”

It started that way with the Federalists & Anti-federalists, Whigs & Tories.

In the competition over getting into power, individuals with similar goals tend to band together. They work for their goals and against those opposing them.

The electoral system has winner-take-all single member districts, so minor parties are cut out because voters may be afraid of “wasting” their votes.

Why does the U.S. have a two party system?

The two major parties in the U.S. are the◦ Democrat Party◦ Republican PartyThey often work together to eliminate

competition from 3rd or minor parties. Since they hold the power, they make rules to

make it difficult for 3rd party candidates to get listed on ballots.

The Two Major Parties

Parties establish platforms – a formal statement of the party’s positions on current issues.

See p. 165 for examples of Republican & Democrat platform planks on abortion from 2000.

Party Platforms

Liberal – a person whose political view seeks to change the political, economic, and social status quo to encourage the development and well-being of the individual. (Popular meaning)

Conservative – one whose political view defends the status quo against major changes in the political, economic, and social institutions of society.

Liberals vs. Conservatives

Liberals tend to interpret the Constitution from a Broad Constructionist perspective.

Republicans tend to interpret the Constitution from a Strict Constructionist view.

A political ideology committed to the ideal of limited government and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets.

Classical liberals also interpret the Constitution strictly and do not like to be labeled “liberal” by the more popular definition.

Classical Liberalism

People do not “join” political parties. They identify themselves according to party

and may vote for their party candidates or the other party’s candidates.

They have no obligations to the party they identify themselves with.

Most people choose their party based on their family background.

A two-party system makes a government more stable by keeping the same kinds of policies and people in power.

A one-party system usually provides a dictator with little consent or accountability.

When might a multi-party system be advantageous?

Stability & Flexibility

Federalists vs. Anti-federalists struggled to produce a government that fit their vision.

How did the U.S. get a two-party system?

At first just a few powerful individuals would meet together in a caucus to select candidates to run for election.

Then some 18th century men expanded participation by holding nominating conventions, in which delegates would be elected to select the candidates.

Organized political campaigns then developed to attract voter support.

A candidate could now be “invented.” Such was the case of William Henry Harrison, from a wealthy plantation family and son of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who was cast as a common man of the frontier who had been born in a log cabin.

Party Primaries later developed to select the delegates to the conventions. These allowed for more voter input. ◦ Nominating Primary – a state-run election to

choose the party nominees for local, state, and national offices.

◦ Presidential Primary – election of state party’s delegates to the party’s national convention which would choose the party’s presidential candidate.

Multi-Party Systems: It’s typically difficult for one party to gain a majority, so the parties must form a coalition to get elected. Then they share powers. In many cases the coalition breaks down.

One-Party Systems: Most countries with dictators have one-party systems in which there is little to no competition for power because one person or group holds it all.

Other Party Systems

Many third parties have existed and still exist in the U.S.

Third Parties

Issue Parties: spring up around one issue (Free-soil Party, Right-to-Life Party)

Ideological Parties: arise from political and social ideas (Socialist Labor Party, Libertarian Party, Green Party, Constitution Party)

Depression Parties: develop in economic hard times (Populist Party)

Splinter Parties: split from major parties over policies or personalities (Progressive Party, Dixiecrats)

Third Parties

While third parties may not get much voter support in elections, they do shape the issues in a campaign and may force the major parties to change their positions to consider new issues.

Example: Progressive Party led to the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th amendments to the Constitution.

How do parties work at the local, state, and national levels?

Party Organization

1. National Convention meets once every 4 years to choose president & vice president candidates for the party AND to approve the party’s platform.

2. National Committee oversees the party between conventions, raises money, and may target candidates. States party organizations choose at least some of the national committee members.

3. National Chairman functions as the head of the party, but if his party holds the presidency, the president really determines the direction of the party.

4. Congressional Campaign Committees raise money and support to try to get members of their party elected or re-elected to Congress.

National Party Organization has 4 components:

Who is the head of the DNC U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida.

Who is the head of the RNC? Reince Priebus, former chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party.

State Committee for each party, elected at a state convention.◦ Build an effective organization◦ Build party unity◦ Find candidates◦ Raise campaign funds

◦ State conventions in Texas are held every other year. The next one is June 2012.

State Party Organizations

Precinct organizations County organizations Congressional District organizations

Local Party Organizations

Precincts are the smallest units of election districts and party administrations.

Parties hold precinct conventions after the polls close on primary elections (for president & governor (in Texas.)

The precinct conventions elect delegates to the next level of convention and submit planks for the party platform.

Local Party Organizations

Independent Voters – voters who are not loyal to a particular party

Ticket-splitting – voting for candidates of different parties for various offices (Example: a Republican for governor and a Democrat for congressman.)

Elections have become very expensive because of the expense of purchasing media to get out one’s message. (TV)

Internet is changing the face of politics because people without much money can gain support, raise funds, and spread ideas.