Tasks of Political Parties

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Tasks of Political Parties

• Parties chose candidates to run for political
  office (through nominations/primaries).
• Parties help run campaigns ().
• Parties serve to link citizens to government.
• Parties provide cues to voters when they evaluate
  politicians, issues, and when they vote.
• Parties make promises, they articulate public
  policies.
• Parties coordinate policy making between and
  within branches and levels of govt.

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Political Parties in the Electorate

• Party Identification-- Self proclaimed preference
  for one party over another.
• Party power in the electorate has declined
• of independents increasing over time, coming
  mainly at a cost to the Democrats (see table).
• Party loyalty has declined. Increased ticket
  splitting in voting.
• Voters more likely to match ideology with party--
  Southern realignment.
• Greater ideological cohesiveness in parties.

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Parties as Organizations

• Party organizations are decentralized and
  fragmented. Formal organizations lack power.
• Traditionally strong at the local level via party
  machines and patronage. Local strength is a
  rarity today.
• State party organizations have grown in strength.
• National Party committees (RNC, DNC) run
  conventions, organize national races, funnel s
  to campaigns.

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Parties as Organizations, MONEY

• Campaign Finance Laws (FECA of 1974) primarily
  make parties fund-raising organizations.
• Direct fundraising (Hard Money) by campaigns is
  limited by FECA.
• Parties rely on soft money, which is largely
  unregulated money given to parties. Soft money
  donations to the national committees banned in
  the 2002 reform law.
• Parties still funnel money indirectly to
  campaigns through attack ads. Candidate-centered
  elections.

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Parties in Government

• Parties generally keep the promises they make
  during campaigns. The politicians generally do
  what they say theyll do (75 kept promises).
• Party voting in Congress has increased in recent
  years, reviving the political partys role in
  government.
• The best indicator of a member of Congress vote
  is his/her party.
• Partisanship is alive and well in Washington.

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Polarized Politics

• Polarized Politics The two parties are more
  ideologically distinct from each other, more
  loyal, and ideologically homogenous.
• Increases gridlock and frustrates cooperation
  between the parties and branches.
• Distribution of ideology in Congress differs from
  distribution w/in electorate (show graphically).

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Party Eras in American History

• American has a 2 party system. We have always
  had a 2 party system. Likelihood is well always
  have one.
• Party coalitions rarely change
• Important Party Eras
• 1932 Election-- New Deal Coalition comes to
  power.
• 1968-present-- Era of divided government and the
  Southern Realignment.

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The 2-party system

• System clearly biased to favor 2-party system.
  3rd parties can be important, but dont win.
• Are the 2 parties irresponsible?
• Many say no because they are unable to govern.
• However, much of the gridlock is not partisan,
  but by design due to constitutional setup.
• 2 party system lacks accountability.