Each party seeks to define itself in a way that will attract majority support
A political party is an ongoing coalition of interests jointed together in an effort to get its candidates for public office elected under a common label
The chapter's main points:
Party competition enables voting majorities to influence government
Historically, political competition has centered on two parties
Republican and Democratic coalitions are very broad
Each major party stresses moderate and somewhat overlapping policies
Party Competition and Majority Rule : The History of U.S. Parties
Section Introduction
In electing a party, the voters choose its candidates, its philosophy, and its policies over those of the opposing party
The history of democratic government is virtually synonymous with the history of parties
The First Parties
America's early leaders mistrusted political parties
America's parties originated in the rivalry within George Washington's administration between:
Thomas Jefferson, a supporter of state's rights and small landholders formed a party labeled the Republicans
Alexander Hamilton, who promoted a strong national government and commercial interests, formed a party labeled the Federalists
Early changes in American
The Federalist party faded away after Adams was defeated by Jefferson
The dominant faction of Republican party, under Andrew Jackson, was called the Democratic Republicans, later shortened to Democrats
Thus the Republican party of Jefferson is the forerunner of today's Democratic Party
Andrew Jackson and Grass-Roots Parties
Jackson's Democratic party consisted of committees and clubs at the national, state, and local levels, with membership open to all eligible voters
The Whig party emerged to challenge the Democrats
The U.S. party system essentially collapsed in 1860, for the only time in U.S. history
Republicans versus Democrats: Realignments and the Enduring Party System
After the Civil War, the nation settled into the pattern of competition between the Republican and Democratic parties that has prevailed ever since
The durability of these two parties is due not to their ideological consistency but to their remarkable ability to adapt during periods of crisis through realignments
Party realignments involve four basic elements:
The disruption of the existing political order because of emerging powerful and divisive issues
An election contest in which the voters shift their support strongly in favor of one party
A major change in policy through the action of the stronger party
An enduring change in party coalitions
Party realignments are rare, such as:
1896 election
The Great Depression of the 1930's
A New Realignment or a Dealignment?
A party realignment inevitably loses strength over time, because the issues that gave rise to it cannot remain dominant indefinitely
By the late 1960's the Democratic party was divided over the Vietnam War and civil rights, effectively ending era of New Deal politics
Republican inroads were less dramatic
The U.S. electoral system, may be undergoing a dealignment process rather than a realignment
Dealignment - a partial but enduring movement of voters away from partisan loyalties
Increased split-ticket voting
The decline of partisanship began during the 1960's and 1970's when divisive issues arose and disrupted existing party loyalties
civil rights
Vietnam
abortion
social welfare
Party loyalties have been weak ever since
If advocates of the dealignment thesis are correct, neither party will enjoy the prolonged success of the type the Democratic party had from 1930's on
Electoral and Party Systems
Section introduction
The U.S. traditionally has had a two-party system:
Federalists vs. Jeffersonian Republicans
Whigs vs. Democrats
Republicans vs. Democrats
Most democracies have multiparty system, in which three or more parties have the capacity to gain control of government, separately or in a coalition
The Single-Member-District System of Election
The nation chooses its officials through plurality voting in single-member districts, which discourages minor parties
Each constituency elects a single candidate to particular office, such as U.S. Senator or representative
By comparison, most European democracies use some form of proportional representation, in which seats in the legislature are allocated according to a party's share of the popular vote
Policies and Coalitions in the Two-Party System
Seeking the Center
The two parties stay close to center of political spectrum (shifts are costly)
The true balance of power in American elections rests with America's pragmatic and moderate voters
Nonetheless, the Republican and Democratic parties do offer somewhat different alternatives, an at times a clear choice
Roosevelt vs. Hoover
Johnson vs. Goldwater
Reagan vs. Carter
Public opinion is the critical element in partisan change
Party Coalitions
The groups and interests supportive of a party are collectively referred to as the party coalition
European parties tend to divide along class lines
American parties: Broad range of interest
Since the 1930's, the major policy differences between the Republicans and the Democrats have involved the national government's role in solving social and economic problems
The Democratic party's biggest gains recently have been with women
The Republican coalition consists mainly of white middle-class Protestants
The GOP has made big gains in recent decades among white fundamentalist Christians
The differences in the party coalitions was clearly evident in the 2000 presidential vote
Women, minorities, and lower-income Americans cast a majority of their votes for the Democratic nominee Al Gore
Men, whites, and higher-income Americans aligned primarily with Republican nominee George W. Bush
The larger a party becomes, the greater is the likelihood that conflict among the groups within it will occur
Minor Parties
Section Introduction
Only one minor party, the Republican party , has ever achieved majority status
Minor parties in the U.S. have formed largely to advocate positions that their followers believe are not being adequately represented by either of the two major parties
Single-Issue Parties
Right-to-Life Party
Prohibition Party
Single-issue parties usually disband when their issue is favorably resolved or fades in importance
Factional Parties
Factional conflict within the major parties has led to the formation of minor parties
The Bull Moose party
The States' Rights party
Deep divisions within a party can lead to a change in its coaliton
Ideological Parties
Other parties are characterized by their ideological commitment, or a belief in a broad and radical philosophical position
Modern day ideological parties
Citizens party
Socialist Workers party
Libertarian party
One of the strongest ideological parties in the nation's history was the Progressive party
The strongest minor party today is the Green party
Before the 2000 presidential election the strongest minor party was the Reform party
Are Conditions Ripe for a Strong Third Party?
The Perot and Nader candidacies are the first substantial third-party presidential candidacies in a quarter-century
The U.S. electoral system frustrates smaller parties
There is no powerful issue on the horizon that could serve as a rallying point for a strong third-party movement
Although, 30 percent of Americans, surveyed in 2000, believe a third party is needed
Party Organizations
The Weakening of Party Organizations
Nomination
Until the early twentieth century, nomination s were entirely the responsibility of party organizations
Progressives argued for nominating primaries
Primaries are the severest impediment imaginable to the strength of the party organizations
Different types of primaries
closed primaries
open primaries
blanket primaries
Party organizations also lost influence over elections because of a decline in patronage
In the process of taking control of nominations, candidates have also acquired control of most campaign money
In Europe, there are no primaries
The Structure and Role of Party Organizations
Section Introduction
Although the influence of party organizations has declined, they still provide support:
fund-raising
polling
research
media production
U.S. parties are loose associations of national, state, and local organizations
Local Party Organizations
In a sense, U.S. parties are organized from the bottom up, not the top down
Local parties tend to be strongest in urban areas in the Northeast and Midwest
State Party Organizations
At the state level, each party is headed by a central committee made up[ of local party organizations and state officeholders
In recent decades the state parties have expanded their budgets and staffs considerably
They play a smaller in campaigns for national or local offices
National Party Organizations
Organizational structure
Day-to-day operations
Republican National Committee (RNC)
Democratic National Committee (DNC)
Committee structure
Campaign finance laws
Soft money limits
Candidate-Centered Campaign
Running for Office
Seeking Funds: "The Money Chase"
High campaign costs force candidates to spend much time raising money
Creating Organization: "Hired Guns"
"New politics" centered on consultants, pollsters, fundraisers, etc.
EMILY's List - fundraising organizations for liberal women candidates
Devising Strategy: "Packaging the Candidate"
Today, candidates' media images are crucial
Going Public: "Air Wars" and "Spin"
Candidates use TV ads and appearances and seek to put favorable "spin" on news coverage
Internet Politics: "In the Web"
Although television is still the principal mechanism of election politics, some observers believe that the Internet may eventually replace it, particularly in congressional races
Parties, Candidates, and the Public's Influence
Candidate-centered campaigns
Advantages
Provide flexibility and new blood to electoral politics
Encourage national officeholders to be responsive to local interests
Disadvantages
Prominent influence of special interests and stress on campaign funding
Can degenerate into personality contests and "attack politics" (Robb-North)
Blur the connection between campaigning and governing
