AMERICAN POLITICAL AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIESPARTIES

Political PartiesPolitical Parties: groups organized to : groups organized to influence public policy by gaining public influence public policy by gaining public office through duly constituted electionsoffice through duly constituted elections

ComponentsComponents: party organization : party organization (leaders), party in government (party (leaders), party in government (party members who are office-holders), party in members who are office-holders), party in the electorate (members)the electorate (members)

PARTIES AS LINKAGE MECHANISMSPARTIES AS LINKAGE MECHANISMS

Linkage DevicesLinkage Devices: institutional components which : institutional components which connect the public with the outcome of the connect the public with the outcome of the policy-making processpolicy-making process

Other Linkage DevicesOther Linkage Devices: elections, interest : elections, interest groups, the mediagroups, the media

Competition and CoordinationCompetition and Coordination: parties compete : parties compete with each other and with other intermediaries with each other and with other intermediaries and cooperate with other intermediaries when it and cooperate with other intermediaries when it is advantageousis advantageous

PARTIES ARE DIFFERENTPARTIES ARE DIFFERENT They nominate and elect candidatesThey nominate and elect candidates They organize office-holdersThey organize office-holders They pursue a broad policy agendaThey pursue a broad policy agenda They structure electoral competition through They structure electoral competition through

their labels on ballotstheir labels on ballots They organize and mobilize large numbers of They organize and mobilize large numbers of

citizenscitizens Politics is their focus, not a side-linePolitics is their focus, not a side-line Their focus is on the large society, not a Their focus is on the large society, not a

particular subset of itparticular subset of it They are stable, enduringThey are stable, enduring They provide and emotion-laden connection and They provide and emotion-laden connection and

symbol between citizens and the systemsymbol between citizens and the system

FUNCTIONS OF PARTIES IFUNCTIONS OF PARTIES I Aggregate and organize political power—Aggregate and organize political power—

develop common grounddevelop common ground Educate the publicEducate the public Mobilize the public to political actionMobilize the public to political action Recruit and train potential office-holdersRecruit and train potential office-holders Influence the policy agenda’s contentsInfluence the policy agenda’s contents Perform gate-keeping functions with Perform gate-keeping functions with

regard to candidates, office-holders, and regard to candidates, office-holders, and issue developmentissue development

FUNCTIONS OF PARTIES IIFUNCTIONS OF PARTIES II

Govern through members who are office-holdersGovern through members who are office-holders Coordinate work of office-holders and Coordinate work of office-holders and

government agenciesgovernment agencies Simplify a large, diverse, complex political Simplify a large, diverse, complex political

systemsystem Provide a means of government accountabilityProvide a means of government accountability Manage the political conflict inherent in the Manage the political conflict inherent in the

systemsystem Facilitate citizen representation in governmentFacilitate citizen representation in government

PARTIES REFLECT THEIR PARTIES REFLECT THEIR

ENVIRONMENTSENVIRONMENTS Traits of the system: federalism, separation of Traits of the system: federalism, separation of

powerspowers Legal regulation: provisions for party organization Legal regulation: provisions for party organization

and activities, ballot accessand activities, ballot access The political culture: public receptiveness to The political culture: public receptiveness to

parties and what they doparties and what they do Elections and voters: electoral rules and Elections and voters: electoral rules and

processes, who may and who does voteprocesses, who may and who does vote Other: economy (hard times reduce resources), Other: economy (hard times reduce resources),

media (how they present parties to the public), media (how they present parties to the public), issues generated from outside the system (war)issues generated from outside the system (war)

THE AMERICAN PARTY SYSTEMTHE AMERICAN PARTY SYSTEM Two major parties—Democrats and RepublicansTwo major parties—Democrats and Republicans A varying set of minor parties, each generically A varying set of minor parties, each generically

known as a third partyknown as a third party A substantial number of citizens who profess to A substantial number of citizens who profess to

be unallied with any partybe unallied with any party Party organization reflects the federal nature of Party organization reflects the federal nature of

the government due to principal regulation by the government due to principal regulation by the states and the variety of offices filled through the states and the variety of offices filled through electionselections

They are cadre parties, run by small numbers of They are cadre parties, run by small numbers of activists with little member input; member activity activists with little member input; member activity is episodic and devoted to winning electionsis episodic and devoted to winning elections

WHY TWO PARTIES?WHY TWO PARTIES? Duverger’s Law: single-member district Duverger’s Law: single-member district

electoral systems generate two-party electoral systems generate two-party systemssystems

Simplicity (Occam’s razor): competition Simplicity (Occam’s razor): competition easily reduces to two perspectiveseasily reduces to two perspectives

Historical antecedents: Federalists and Historical antecedents: Federalists and Anti-Federalists, Jeffersonians and others, Anti-Federalists, Jeffersonians and others, Jacksonian Democrats and WhigsJacksonian Democrats and Whigs

Political socialization: new generations Political socialization: new generations are taught their orientations by the older are taught their orientations by the older generations, which reflect the two existing generations, which reflect the two existing partiesparties

THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES MODELMODEL

Parties offer voters distinctive programsParties offer voters distinctive programs Voters ballot for candidates of those Voters ballot for candidates of those

parties whose programs are most parties whose programs are most attractiveattractive

The winning party enacts its program once The winning party enacts its program once in officein office

Voters hold the winning party accountable Voters hold the winning party accountable in the subsequent election (retrospective in the subsequent election (retrospective voting with an eye to prospective results)voting with an eye to prospective results)

THE SIXTH PARTY SYSTEM ITHE SIXTH PARTY SYSTEM I

1968 – present1968 – present Increasingly candidate-centeredIncreasingly candidate-centered Dealignment of early years a prelude to Dealignment of early years a prelude to

secular realignment in later yearssecular realignment in later years African Americans enfranchised, upward African Americans enfranchised, upward

social mobility encourages Catholics to social mobility encourages Catholics to realign, white Southerners also realign, realign, white Southerners also realign, fundamentalist Christians pursued by fundamentalist Christians pursued by Republican PartyRepublican Party

THE SIXTH PARTY SYSTEM IITHE SIXTH PARTY SYSTEM II

Independent candidates emerge, but Independent candidates emerge, but rarely affect the system (Wallace, rarely affect the system (Wallace, Anderson, Perot, Nader)Anderson, Perot, Nader)

Split-ticket voting becomes more commonSplit-ticket voting becomes more common Intense partisanship among party leaders Intense partisanship among party leaders

and party members in government—the and party members in government—the political elite—developspolitical elite—develops

NATIONAL PARTY ORGANIZATIONSNATIONAL PARTY ORGANIZATIONS

National conventions—quadrennial; nominate National conventions—quadrennial; nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates, presidential and vice-presidential candidates, adopt platform, adopt party rules, choose adopt platform, adopt party rules, choose national chairpersonnational chairperson

National committees—govern party when National committees—govern party when convention not in session; RNC—three convention not in session; RNC—three members from each state; DNC—three or more members from each state; DNC—three or more members from each state plus representatives members from each state plus representatives of various party elementsof various party elements

National chairpersons—daily administrators and National chairpersons—daily administrators and leaders of party operations; Rep—Michael leaders of party operations; Rep—Michael Steele; Dem—Tim KaineSteele; Dem—Tim Kaine

ADDITIONAL NATIONAL PARTY ADDITIONAL NATIONAL PARTY ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS

““Hill Committees”: Hill Committees”: campaign entities created by campaign entities created by party members in Congress and dedicated to party members in Congress and dedicated to the election/re-election of party members to the the election/re-election of party members to the House and SenateHouse and Senate

National Republican Congressional National Republican Congressional Committee, Committee, chaired by Pete Sessions, TXchaired by Pete Sessions, TX

National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, chaired by Jon Cornyn, TXchaired by Jon Cornyn, TX

Democratic Congressional Campaign Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Committee, chaired by Chris Van Hollen, MDchaired by Chris Van Hollen, MD

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, chaired by Robert Menendez, NJchaired by Robert Menendez, NJ

STATE/LOCAL PARTY STATE/LOCAL PARTY ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION

Precincts—precinct committee Precincts—precinct committee representativesrepresentatives

County—county committee (executive County—county committee (executive committee), county chairperson and other committee), county chairperson and other officers, county convention?officers, county convention?

Congressional District—district Congressional District—district convention, district executive committee, convention, district executive committee, district chairpersondistrict chairperson

State—state convention?, state executive State—state convention?, state executive committee, state chairpersoncommittee, state chairperson

PROFILE OF PARTY LEADERSPROFILE OF PARTY LEADERS More likely than ordinary members to come from More likely than ordinary members to come from

politically active familiespolitically active families Somewhat higher SES than ordinary membersSomewhat higher SES than ordinary members More likely to see system and world through an More likely to see system and world through an

ideological lensideological lens Democrats more liberal than ordinary members Democrats more liberal than ordinary members

and voters in general, Republicans more and voters in general, Republicans more conservativeconservative

More focused on electoral success than issue More focused on electoral success than issue consistency and ideological purityconsistency and ideological purity

PARTIES IN THE ELECTORATEPARTIES IN THE ELECTORATE

Defined by “party identification”—one’s Defined by “party identification”—one’s psychological attachment to one political psychological attachment to one political party or anotherparty or another

Ascertained by responses to common set Ascertained by responses to common set of questions in personal interviewsof questions in personal interviews

PARTY ID QUESTIONSPARTY ID QUESTIONS ““Generally speaking, do you consider yourself a Generally speaking, do you consider yourself a

Democrat, a Republican, an independent, or Democrat, a Republican, an independent, or what?”what?”

If Democrat (Republican): “Do you think of If Democrat (Republican): “Do you think of yourself as a strong Democrat (Republican) or a yourself as a strong Democrat (Republican) or a not so strong Democrat (Republican)?”not so strong Democrat (Republican)?”

If independent: “Do you lean toward the If independent: “Do you lean toward the Democratic Party, lean toward the Republican Democratic Party, lean toward the Republican Party, or lean toward neither?”Party, or lean toward neither?”

Result is 7-point partisan measure: Strong D, Result is 7-point partisan measure: Strong D, Weak D, Indep. Leaning D, pure Indep., Indep. Weak D, Indep. Leaning D, pure Indep., Indep. Leaning R, Weak R, Strong RLeaning R, Weak R, Strong R

PARTY SIZE IN THE CURRENT PARTY SIZE IN THE CURRENT ELECTORATEELECTORATE

GallupGallup PewPew RasmussenRasmussen

DemocratsDemocrats 36% 34% 35%36% 34% 35%

Republicans 28 27 33Republicans 28 27 33

Independents 33 34 32Independents 33 34 32

(Gallup: 6/11-13/10; Pew: 6/16-20/10; Rasmussen: 6/30/10)(Gallup: 6/11-13/10; Pew: 6/16-20/10; Rasmussen: 6/30/10)

PARTY COALITIONSPARTY COALITIONS

DemocratsDemocrats: less affluent, less well : less affluent, less well educated and best educated, ethnic/racial educated and best educated, ethnic/racial minorities, non-Protestants, working minorities, non-Protestants, working class/union families, liberals, women, class/union families, liberals, women, youngest and oldestyoungest and oldest

RepublicansRepublicans: white, male, Protestant, : white, male, Protestant, affluent, well-educated, professionals and affluent, well-educated, professionals and managers, conservatives, white managers, conservatives, white Southerners, middle-agedSoutherners, middle-aged

THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT ITHE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT I

Identifiers: men (55%), affluent (55% have Identifiers: men (55%), affluent (55% have incomes over $50K), conservative (70%), incomes over $50K), conservative (70%), Republican (49%) or independent (43%)Republican (49%) or independent (43%)

US adult support: 28% (26% oppose)US adult support: 28% (26% oppose) Opposed to health care reform bill (87%) Opposed to health care reform bill (87%)

and “pro-life” (65%)and “pro-life” (65%)

Gallup, 3/26-28/10Gallup, 3/26-28/10

THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT IITHE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT II

Tea Party Supporters’ partisan and ideological Tea Party Supporters’ partisan and ideological backgrounds (vs. all Americans)backgrounds (vs. all Americans)

Lib DemLib Dem 3% (18%), 3% (18%), Mod DemMod Dem 7% (19), 7% (19), Conserv Conserv DemDem 5% (9), Indep 6% (8), 5% (9), Indep 6% (8), Conserv RepConserv Rep 62% 62% (29), (29), Mod/Lib RepMod/Lib Rep 17% (15) 17% (15)

2010 congressional vote intentions 2010 congressional vote intentions Tea Party Supporters 80% Rep.Tea Party Supporters 80% Rep. Conservative Republicans 95% Rep.Conservative Republicans 95% Rep. All Americans 45% Rep.All Americans 45% Rep.

Gallup late Mar-mid June 2010Gallup late Mar-mid June 2010

THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT IIITHE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT III

Tea Party Supporters’ Concerns (vs. neutrals’ & Tea Party Supporters’ Concerns (vs. neutrals’ & opponents’):opponents’):

Federal Govt DebtFederal Govt Debt 61% 61% (44%, 29%)(44%, 29%)

TerrorismTerrorism 51 51 (43, 29)(43, 29)

Size, Power Fed GovtSize, Power Fed Govt 4949 (30, 12)(30, 12)

Health Care CostsHealth Care Costs 4141 (37, 33)(37, 33)

Illegal ImmigrationIllegal Immigration 4141 (32, 14)(32, 14)

UnemploymentUnemployment 3535 (34, 32)(34, 32)

Govt Doing Much ThatGovt Doing Much That

Should Be Left to Ind & BusShould Be Left to Ind & Bus8080 (52, 27)(52, 27)

Gallup late May-Mid June 2010Gallup late May-Mid June 2010