Political Parties Dr. Christopher S. Rice

What is a political party?

Political Party An ongoing coalition of interests joined together in an effort to get its candidates for public office elected under a common label.

2

Parties give citizens the capacity to act together

Enables people from diverse backgrounds with diverse interests to unite behind a single alternative

“ It is the competition of [parties] that provides the people with an opportunity to make a choice. Without this opportunity popular sovereignty amounts to nothing.” - E.E. Schattschneider

Party Coalition the groups and interests that support a party

The Necessity of Coalitions

Democratic coalition tends to draw from society’s “underdogs”

Democratic Party Coalition Blacks union members the poor Urban dwellers Hispanics Jews Gays and Lesbians and other minorities

Blacks

union members

the poor

Urban dwellers

Hispanics

Jews

Gays and Lesbians

and other minorities

Republican Party Coalition Consists primarily of white, middle-class Protestants (largely evangelical). GOP tends to do better in the suburbs, the South and Midwest, and among white fundamentalist Christians.

Consists primarily of white, middle-class Protestants (largely evangelical).

GOP tends to do better in the suburbs, the South and Midwest, and among white fundamentalist Christians.

Republican Party Coalition Consists primarily of white, middle-class Protestants (largely evangelical). GOP tends to do better in the suburbs, the South and Midwest, and among white fundamentalist Christians.

Consists primarily of white, middle-class Protestants (largely evangelical).

GOP tends to do better in the suburbs, the South and Midwest, and among white fundamentalist Christians.

Party Organization the formal organizational apparatus of a political party

Party Organizations Roles and Functions of Party Organizations Structure of Party Organizations Differences between Republican and Democratic Party Organizations

Roles and Functions of Party Organizations

Structure of Party Organizations

Differences between Republican and Democratic Party Organizations

Roles and Functions of Party Organizations Primary purpose of a party organization is to run candidates for election. Aggregate Interests Facilitate Participation Simplify Alternatives Stimulate Interest in Politics and Government

Primary purpose of a party organization is to run candidates for election.

Aggregate Interests

Facilitate Participation

Simplify Alternatives

Stimulate Interest in Politics and Government

Some of these functions are being taken over by 527 groups

Structure of Party Organizations

loose associations of national, state and local party organizations

Cooperation, not control

Levels of Party Organizations Local State National

Local

State

National

VS.

Republicans: Ahead of the Game?

Democrats: Lagging Behind but Catching Up

Blogs & the Emerging “Netroots”

Change in Nomination Process + Decline in Patronage __________________________ Decline in Party Organizations

Nomination selection of individual who will run as the party’s candidate in the general election.

3 Types of Party Systems

One-party system A political system in which representatives of one political party hold all or almost all the major offices in government.

Two-party system A political system in which only two political parties have a realistic chance of controlling the major offices of government.

Multi-party system A political system in which three or more political parties effectively compete for political office and no one party can win control of all offices.

Why does the US have a two party system? Electoral Rules Restrictions on Minor Parties Attitudes of the American Public

Electoral Rules

Restrictions on Minor Parties

Attitudes of the American Public

Most democratic nations use a proportional representation system.

Source: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)

CLOSED LIST OPEN LIST SOURCE: ACCURATEDEMOCRACY.COM

United States uses a First Past The Post (FPTP) System

aka, Plurality, Single-Member District system

“ Winner Takes All”

US system discourages rise of Third Parties (cc) 2005 Grant Neufeld - Creative Commons, Some Rights Reserved

Why does the US have a two party system? Electoral Rules Restrictions on Minor Parties Attitudes of the American Public

Electoral Rules

Restrictions on Minor Parties

Attitudes of the American Public

The major parties often establish rules that make it difficult for other parties to get on the ballot. (cc) 2006 Adrian Liem - Creative Commons Some Rights Reserved

Qualification rules for third-party presidential candidates can create financial difficulties… (cc) 2006 Steven Hoang - Some Rights Reserved

Suspension of the FCC’s “equal time” and “fairness doctrine” requirements creates difficulties for third party candidates to get invited to the debates. (cc) 2000 Ruby Sinreich - Some Rights Reserved

Why does the US have a two party system? Electoral Rules Restrictions on Minor Parties Attitudes of the American Public

Electoral Rules

Restrictions on Minor Parties

Attitudes of the American Public

The broad belief in The American Creed leaves little room for parties outside the mainstream. (cc) 2006 Samuel Eichner - Some Rights Reserved

People grow comfortable with the system they are used to… (cc) 2006 Mattias Berg - Some Rights Reserved

“ Human institutions have an impressive capacity to perpetuate themselves, or at least to preserve their form.” ~ V.O. Key

Minor parties in the two-party system

PROTEST IDEOLOGICAL SINGLE-ISSUE SPLINTER Types of Minor Parties

PROTEST IDEOLOGICAL SINGLE-ISSUE SPLINTER Types of Minor Parties

PROTEST IDEOLOGICAL SINGLE-ISSUE SPLINTER Types of Minor Parties

PROTEST IDEOLOGICAL SINGLE-ISSUE SPLINTER Types of Minor Parties

PROTEST IDEOLOGICAL SINGLE-ISSUE SPLINTER Types of Minor Parties

The Role of Minor Parties

Articulate and popularize new ideas

Allow people with grievances to express themselves in a way not possible within the major parties.

Minor parties are usually not as cautious as the major parties Tend to be loud, unambiguous about policies, ideologically committed. Expand the scope of conflict in American politics. Increase interest and attention among at least some segments of the public. Bring a few more Americans into the political process.

Tend to be loud, unambiguous about policies, ideologically committed.

Expand the scope of conflict in American politics.

Increase interest and attention among at least some segments of the public.

Bring a few more Americans into the political process.

Realignment When a new party system has taken the place of the old system because of a fundamental shift in the types of groups that support the parties.

Realignment Why are they caused?

Realignment When do they tend to occur?

Critical elections?

1932

Dealignment Transformation of the party system in which a previously dominant party loses its dominant status but no new party takes its place.

Parity isn’t just for the NFL or College Basketball!

Public identifies less with either party , increasingly becomes alienated from them , less confident parties can solve nation’s problems (cc) 2006 photoreciprocity - Some Rights Reserved

Evidence supporting dealignment analysis: Decline in strong party identifiers among American citizens. Rise in those claiming to be independents. Wide-spread distrust in capacities, intentions of both parties & their leadership. Proliferation of independent candidates and third-party efforts, 1992-2000. Americans did NOT support a conservative shift in national policies in the 1994, 2000 elections.

Decline in strong party identifiers among American citizens.

Rise in those claiming to be independents.

Wide-spread distrust in capacities, intentions of both parties & their leadership.

Proliferation of independent candidates and third-party efforts, 1992-2000.

Americans did NOT support a conservative shift in national policies in the 1994, 2000 elections.