The document discusses the history and development of the U.S. two-party system from the Federalists and Republicans to today's Republicans and Democrats. It addresses the realignments that shifted control between the parties, including the Civil War, 1896, and 1932. The modern parties are examined in terms of their dominance of different regions and periods of control of the presidency and Congress since 1968.

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Chapter 8

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Party Competition and Majority Rule:
The History of U.S. Parties
The first parties
Federalists
Republicans
Republicans transform into Democrats
Andrew Jackson and grassroots parties
Dependent upon voter support
Democrats versus Whigs

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Party Competition and Majority Rule:
The History of U.S. Parties
Republicans versus Democrats: realignments
and the enduring party system
Enduring two-party system since Civil War
Partisan realignments during crises

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Party Competition and Majority Rule:
The History of U.S. Parties
Republicans versus Democrats: realignments
and the enduring party system
Realignment: three basic elements
1. Divisive issues—disruption of existing political order
2. Election—voters shift support strongly toward one party
3. Enduring change in party coalitions to favor dominant
party

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Party Competition and Majority Rule:
The History of U.S. Parties
Republicans versus Democrats: realignments
and the enduring party system
History of realignments:
 Civil War—Republicans gain control
 1896—Republicans solidify control
 1932—Democrats gain control

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Party Competition and Majority Rule:
The History of U.S. Parties
The nature and origins of today’s party alignment
Republicans
 Dominant in South
 Controlled presidency twice more than Democrats
since 1968
 Controlled both houses of Congress a third of the time
since 1968
 Missteps of Nixon and George W. Bush weakened power

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Party Competition and Majority Rule:
The History of U.S. Parties
The nature and origins of today’s party alignment
Democrats
 Dominant in Northeast
 Civil rights stance caused loss of power in South
 Less dominant party since 1968
Analysts divided on which party will have greater power
going forward

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Party Competition and Majority Rule:
The History of U.S. Parties
Parties and the vote
Strength of party identification
Rarity of true independents
Straight-ticket and split-ticket voting

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Electoral and Party Systems
Plurality (single-member-district) system of election
Contrast with multiparty system and proportional
representation
Encourages two-party system
Politics and coalitions in the two-party system
Seeking the center: median voter theorem
Party coalitions
 Broad and overlapping, but far from identical
 Gender gap

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Electoral and Party Systems
Minor (third) parties
Single-issue parties
 Greenback Party
Factional parties
 Bull Moose Party, 1912
Ideological parties
 Green Party, 2000
Reform parties
 Reform Party, 1992

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Party Organizations
The weakening of party organizations
Nominations
 Loss of party control to candidates
Primary election/direct primary
 Hinders strong party organizations
Loss of party power over patronage

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Party Organizations
The structure and role of party organizations
Local party organizations
 Where 95% of party activists are
State party organizations
 Central committee
 Chairperson
 Concentrate on statewide races

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Party Organizations
The structure and role of party organizations
National party organizations
 Structure of the national parties
 Run training programs for candidates and their staffs
 Runs presidential nomination conventions
 Major role in campaigns is raising and spending of money

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The Candidate-Centered Campaign
Campaign funds: the money chase
Organization and strategy: political consultants
Campaign strategists
Pollsters
Media producers
Fundraising experts
Packaging: highlight aspects of candidate’s positions and
background thought to be attractive to voters

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The Candidate-Centered Campaign
Voter contacts: pitched battles
Air wars
 Main battleground: advertising through media
Ground wars
Web wars
In retrospect: the consequences of the last war
 Prospective voting
 Retrospective voting

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Parties, Candidates, and
the Public’s Influence
Stronger relationships between voters and representatives
Weaker relationships between voters and representative
institutions
Candidate-centered campaigns add flexibility
Candidate-centered campaigns decrease accountability