Political Parties

1
Chapter 7

• Political Parties

2
Party Power

• Party strength has declined due to laws and rules
  that have taken away their power
• Produced a decentralized party system

3
Parties Here and Abroad

• Defined - a group that seeks to elect candidates
  to public office by supplying the with a label by
  which they are known to the electorate.
• Label will appear next to the candidates name in
  the US but not all nations.

4
3 political arenas

• Label - in the minds of voters
• Organization - that recruits and campaigns for
  candidates
• Set of leaders - try to organize and control the
  legislative and executive branches.
• All three areas have experienced weakening -
  split ticket voting

5
In Europe

• Must be nominated by party leaders
• Funding comes from party
• Once in office, the elected officials are
  expected to vote and act with members of their
  party.

6
Why the Difference?

• Decentralized federalist form of government in
  the US.
• Candidates are not selected by party members but
  by voters as is dictated by law
• If a party wins congress, it does not also win
  the right to select the executive.

7
Political Culture

• In America one does not actually join a party.
• In Europe, one pays dues and attends meetings.
• In some countries, parties actually sponsor
  activities and associations

8
The Rise and Decline of the Political Party

• Framers disliked parties, saw them as factions
• Washington hated the fighting between Jefferson
  and Hamilton
• First party Jefferson (Republicans) Hamilton
  (Federalists) - faded after 1820 - no history,
  participation was limited.

9
The Jacksonians

• Second party system
• 1824 - Civil War
• Huge increase in electorate casued parties to
  become more popular
• Party nominating conventions were established to
  remove power from congressional caucuses.

10
The Civil War and Sectionalism

• Modern Republican party emerged out of the the
  Civil War (only minor party to become major).
• From 1896 to 1930s the North was primarily
  Republican and the south was Democratic.
• Caused states to be one party states and caused
  division within parties

11
Party Realignmnets

• Theory of critical or realigning period - used to
  explain major turning points in party history.
• During these periods, a sharp, lasting shift
  occurs in support of parties as well as the views
  of the parties
• This may occur at any time during the election or
  just after.

12

• 5 critical realignment periods
• Every 28 - 36 years
• Party loses and a new party emerges
• Voters shift support