Political PartiesPolitical PartiesChapter 11

Political Parties Political Parties • Political Parties

– Organized groups with public followings that seek to elect office holders who identify themselves by the group’s common label, for the purpose of exercising political power.

Political PartiesPolitical Parties• Party Competition

- A process in which conflict over society’s goals is transformed by political parties into electoral competition in which the winner gains the power to govern.

- Allows people to unite as a group behind the option of governing that they prefer.

History of Political History of Political PartiesParties

• The Formative Years– Even before the Constitution was

drafted, the Federalists and Anti-Federalists represented a partisan division in American politics

– Though George Washington HATED the idea of parties, once he left office they sprang up anyways

History of Political History of Political PartiesParties

• Federalists– Included 2nd President John Adams– Advocated for a strong national

government• Democratic-Republicans (Republicans)

– Included 3rd President Thomas Jefferson– Advocated for State’s Rights and the

rights of farmers

History of Political History of Political PartiesParties

• From 1800 to 1820 Democratic Republicans regularly won the Presidency and the majority of seats in Congress and the Federalist party collapsed

• Era of Good Feelings– The years from 1817 to 1825 when

James Monroe was President and there was, in effect, no political opposition

History of Political History of Political PartiesParties

• Andrew Jackson wanted more power to the common people and away from the elites of the time. He envisioned a grassroots party that could accomplish this.

• Grassroots party- A political party organized at the level

of the voters and dependent on their support for its strength.

History of Political History of Political PartiesParties

• Democrats– One of the two major political parties, originally

the supporters of Andrew Jackson when the Democratic Republicans split.

– Favored personal liberty and opportunity for the common man.

• Whigs– Anti-Jackson wing of the split Democratic

Republicans. – Favored federal spending on regional

improvements such as roads.

History of Political History of Political PartiesParties

• The Whig Party split in two. Southern Whigs were pro-slavery and Northern Whigs were anti-slavery. People in the South did not trust the Southern Whigs, so the Northern Whigs banded together with those democrats who were anti-slavery and formed the Republican Party

History of Political History of Political PartiesParties

• Post Civil War Democrats– Held a strong advantage in the South and amongst

Catholics– Were against the overly strong government

advocated by Republicans• Post Civil War Republicans

– At first, had a strong, moral standpoint advocating protestant morals in schools and some wanting to ban alcohol.

– Later, became known as the party who best managed the economy.

History of Political History of Political PartiesParties

• The early 1900’s saw the rise of the progressivism which feared powerful corporations and wanted government control of the economy.

• This saw a shift in the stance of the Democratic party to being more receptive of government stepping into the economy

History of Political History of Political PartiesParties

• Republican Presidents did not meet the public demand in fighting the Great Depression

• The working class no longer believed in the Republican party’s ability to control the economy.

• The public overwhelmingly elected Democrat Franklin Roosevelt who intervened in the economy with his New Deal. This New Deal helped all people, white and black, and thus got African Americans on the side of the Democrats for the first time

History of Political History of Political PartiesParties

• The Democrats remained in control until 1968. At this time, strife over civil rights issues and the war in Vietnam caused many voters to lose faith in the Democratic Party and rejoin the Republicans.

• With this, the power of the two parties became almost equal.

Modern Political PartiesModern Political Parties• Republicans

– Less government action on the economy– More government action on social issues

• Democrats– More government action on the economy– Less government action on social issues

Party CompetitionParty Competition• Unified Government

– A situation where the presidency and both houses of Congress are controlled by the same party

• Divided Government– A situation where the presidency is held

by one party and at least one house of Congress is controlled by a different party.

Party CompetitionParty Competition• Two Party System

– A system of electoral competition in which two parties are consistently the most likely to win office and gain power.

– Plurality Elections in single member districts favor two parties.

Reasons for the two Reasons for the two party systemparty system

• Single Member Districts– Electoral districts in which only one

person is elected to represent the district in a representative body

• Plurality Elections– Elections in which the candidate with

the most votes (not necessarily a majority) wins.

Reasons for the two Reasons for the two party systemparty system

• Often, it is the voters in the middle who have the most power. Most Americans aren’t extremely conservative or liberal, and as such, the political parties (and candidates) often reach out to voters in the middle by taking moderate stances on issues.

““Third” PartiesThird” Parties• Often focus on issues that people

see the major parties as ignoring• Often short lived • While they may not win elections,

the most successful minor parties succeed in bringing the attention of major parties to the concerns they address.

““Third” PartiesThird” Parties• Often seen as “stealing the vote”• Many voters don’t want to “waste” their

vote• Missouri Third parties

– A party who receives at least 2% of the vote in a statewide election is guaranteed a ballot spot in the next two general elections

– Otherwise, candidates must get the signature of 10,000 registered voters to get on the ballot

Third” PartiesThird” Parties• Reform Party

- A minor party that bases its appeal on the claim that the major parties are having a corrupting influence on government and policy.

• Single-Issue Party- A minor party formed around a single

issue of overriding interest to its followers.

Third” PartiesThird” Parties• Ideological Party

- A minor party characterized by its ideological commitment to a broad and non-centrist philosophical position.

• Factional Party- A minor party created when a faction

within one of the major parties breaks away to form its own party.

Third” PartiesThird” Parties• Libertarian Party• Constitution Party• Learn about the different parties (

www.politics1.com/parties.htm)

Why the system has Why the system has enduredendured

• Duality• Political socialization and practical

considerations• The Winner-Take-All Electoral

System• State and Federal Laws Favoring

the Two Parties

Political PartiesPolitical Parties• Party Organization

- The party organizational units at national, state, and local levels; their influence has decreased over time because of many factors. (Mostly because the candidates themselves can now reach out to millions of voters at a time)

Political PartiesPolitical Parties