Political Parties

1

• Political Parties
• American Government
• Policy Politics,

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In This Chapter We Will Cover

• The party system
• Party organization
• The history of parties in America
• The party balance
• Voting patterns
• Issue orientation
• Divided government

3
The Party System

• A political party is a group of individuals who
  join together to seek government office in order
  to make public policy.

4
The Party System

• A two-party system divides voter loyalties
  between two major political parties resulting in
  the near exclusion of minor parties.

5
The Party System

• A plurality election system awards office to
  candidates with the most votes. Use of this form
  of election may account for the U.S. having a
  two-party system.

6
The Party System

• A third party is a minor party in a two-party
  system. Over the last decade, the U.S. has seen
  an upsurge in activity by independent and third
  party candidates.

7
Party Organization

• In a multiparty system voter loyalties are
  divided among three or more parties.
• In a system with proportional representation
  legislative seats are awarded to each party based
  on their popular voting strength.

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Party Organization

• The organization of political parties in the
  United States reflects the federal system, with
  organizations at both the state and national
  levels.
• State level Executive party committees are
  elected by party activists who participate in
  local party meetings, district conventions, and
  state party conventions. The executive committee
  usually elects the state party chair.
• National committee and national chair lead the
  national party organization. When the party
  controls the White House, the president handpicks
  the national chairperson.
• The goal of political parties is to control the
  government.

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Party Identification, 7-Point Scale, 2002
10
Party Fund-raising, 1994-2004
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The History of Parties in America

• First Party Era, 1790s to Early 1820s
• (The Federalists vs. The Jeffersonians) Americas
  first political parties emerged from the policy
  conflict between two members of George
  Washingtons administration.
• Second Party Era, the 1820s to 1860
• (The Democrats vs. The Whigs) After the demise of
  the Federalists, the United States experienced a
  brief one party period.
• Third Party Era, 1860 to 1896
• (The Democrats vs. The Republicans) Slavery split
  the parties. Anti-slavery Democrats and Whigs
  joined other minor parties to form the
  Republicans.

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The History of Parties in America

• Fourth Party Era, 1896 to 1932
• The 1896 presidential election between Democrat
  William Jennings Bryan and Republican William
  McKinley was a watershed, changing the party
  balance in favor of the Republicans for the next
  30 years.
• Fifth Party Era, 1932 to 1980
• The Great Depression set the stage for the fifth
  party era. When the economy collapsed, many
  voters blamed Republican President Herbert Hoover
  in 1932.
• Sixth Party Era, Since 1980
• This era is characterized by new voting patterns,
  a different party balance, and divided government.

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The Party Balance

• Party Identification
• Democrats have enjoyed a slim advantage in party
  identification for most of the current party era
  except in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War and in
  the months after the terrorists attack of
  September 11, 2001.
• Offices Held
• Today each political party has a significant hold
  on public office at both the national and state
  levels.
• Money
• Republicans enjoy a fundraising edge over the
  Democrats.

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Voting Patterns

• Income
• Race and ethnicity
• Education
• Gender
• Age
• Family and lifestyle status

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Voting Patterns

• Region
• Political ideology
• Religion
• Place of residence

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Issue Orientation

• In the past several decades, the parties have
  grown further apart in philosophies. The split
  is usually described as being between liberalism
  (Democrats) and conservatism (Republicans).

• Republicans called the treaty unrealistic.

• Democrats favored ratification of the Global
  Warming Treaty.

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Issue Orientation

• The Democratic platform called for targeted tax
  cuts to help people save for college, improve
  their job skills, pay for health insurance,
  afford childcare, save for retirement, and care
  for elderly or disabled loved ones.

• The Republican platform proposed broad-based tax
  cuts and the elimination of the inheritance tax.

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Issue Orientation

• The Democrats support legal protection for
  abortion.

• Republicans endorsed a constitutional amendment
  to outlaw abortion in all circumstances.

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Selected 2004 Democratic and Republican Party
Platform Positions
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Selected 2004 Democratic and Republican Party
Platform Positions Continued
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Divided Government

• Divided government (one party controlling the
  legislature while the other holds the executive)
  has become commonplace in recent decades. Between
  1952 and 2000, eight elections resulted in
  unified government while 16 elections produced
  divided government. Divided government is common
  at the state level as well. After the 1998
  election, the governors in 26 states faced
  legislatures with at least one chamber controlled
  by the opposition party.

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Party Control of Executive and Legislative
Branches of American National Government Since
1969
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Concluding Review Questions

• How do parties differ from interest groups?
• Why does America have a two-party system?
• What do the national political party
  organizations do?
• What was the nature of party politics in each of
  the nations party eras?

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Concluding Review Questions

• What are the characteristics of the current party
  era?
• What are the reasons for the emergence of divided
  government?
• What role do political parties play in the policy
  process?