Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed...

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Political Parties in the US

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Transcript of Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed...

Page 1: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Political Parties in the US

Page 2: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Political Parties: Essential To Democracy

Political parties • Existed since the first decade of the new

government’s existence. • Americans have always had ambivalent

feelings about them.• Are necessary and they perform vital

functions. • But they have always been complicated,

full of internal conflict, disorganized and decentralized, rigid but capable of being taken over by reformers.

Parties often mirror American society and are deeply rooted in the democratic process.

Page 3: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

What Parties Do for Democracy

•Party Functions• Organize the Competition• Unify the Electorate• Inspire and Inform Voters• Translate Preferences into Policy• Provide Loyal Opposition• Organize Government• Help Govern• Act as Watchdogs• Nominate Candidates• Ensure Candidate Quality

•Party Systems – Multiparty and Two Party System

•Minor Parties: Persistence and Frustration

Page 4: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Party SystemsMultiparty

Coalition government is necessary

Minor parties have an incentive to persevere

Proportional representation

Governments tend toward instability

Two party

• Winner-takes-all system

• “Wasted vote” syndrome discourages minor parties

• Government tends toward stability

• Policy change is incremental

The U.S. is a two-party system; most other democracies have a multiparty system

Page 5: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Party SystemsAlthough the United States has many minor parties, only the

two major parties have much of a chance to win elections.

Multiparty systems are almost always found in countries that have a parliamentary government, in contrast to our presidential system.Barriers to Minor-Party

Success

• Tradition

• Consensus

• History

Page 6: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Party Organization

The two party model we’ve described is only partly accurate in that federalism creates something more like 52 parties with 2 common names

That is, we have two national parties (the Democratic and Republican parties) and 50 state versions of these parties

Page 7: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Party Organization

National

State

Local

Page 8: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Party Organization

National

State

Local

party voters and identifiers

activists and volunteers

ward and precinct committees

Page 9: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

The Party Organization

Local Parties Urban party organizations today are generally

weak. Find county party provides more organization and activities.

Historically--Party Machines ruled city organizations. What is it? A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements to win votes and to govern.

Used Patronage: A job, promotion or contract given for political reasons rather than merit. Used by party machines.

Candidates are less dependent on local parties to get elected, but they still need help.

Page 10: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Party Organization

National

State

Local

city & county com.

congressional district com.

state committees & conventions

Page 11: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

The Party Organization

The 50 State Party Systems State party organizations are on an upswing in

terms of headquarters and budgets. In charge of running the state primary/caucus.

Closed primaries: voters must be registered with their party in advance and can only vote for that party

Open primaries: voters decide on election day which party to participate in, and then only that party

Blanket primaries: voters get a list of all candidates and can vote for one name for each office, regardless of party label

Help run, finance, and work campaigns on state level.

Page 12: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Party Organization

National

State

Local

chairperson andnational committee

national partyconvention

Page 13: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

The Party Organization

The National Party Organizations National Committee: One of the institutions that

keeps the party operating between conventions. National Chairperson: Responsible for day-to-day

activities of the party. Duties:

National Convention: The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and the party’s platform.

Help run, finance, and work campaigns on national level.

Page 14: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

History

Republican Party Dominance From 1860 through 1932

Republicans control White House

every presidential election cycle with the exception of

Grover Cleveland (1884-1888; 1892-1896)

Woodrow Wilson (1912-1920)

Page 15: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

History

Democratic Party Dominance From 1932 to 1968 Democrats control White House (with

the exception of

Dwight Eisenhower (1952-1960)

and they control

Congress from 1932 to 1952

Page 16: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

History

Contemporary Party Republican Ascendance?

1968 to 2008 Republicans control White House for all except:

Carter (1976-1980)

Clinton (1992-2000)

Obama (2008- 2016)

Page 17: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

The Last Half Century• Major shifts in party demographics have occurred in

recent decades.

• Since 1953, divided government, with one party controlling Congress and the other the White House, has been in effect twice as long as united government.

• Elections during the past few decades have seen power change hands numerous times without any long-term shifts in the population in party allegiance.

CONTROL OVER NATIONAL POLITICS HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE PARTIES SINCE THEIR BEGINNING

Federalist

1789 1800 1860 1932 1968 2000 2011Anti-Federalist;

Democrats Republicans Dem DR R DD R RD

Page 18: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Party Eras in American History Party Coalitions Today (Figure 8.2)

Page 19: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

What do the main parties believe?

Political parties are generally considered left/liberal or right/conservative

What does liberal mean? Values social and political change to achieve progress

Quicker to adopt changes to fix problems

Typically call for more government intervention or “big government”

What does conservative mean? Believing in established values and traditions in politics and society

Slower to adopt change, rather sees history as cyclical and problems can work themselves out without intervention

More often favors little to no government intervention, “small government”

Page 20: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Republicans

Right/conservative

Main points of platform Against increasing taxes, prefer cutting spending and programs

Against government-run institutions, such as health care

Judges should interpret law, not make law from the bench

Oppose same-sex marriage

Intend to continue high levels of spending on military

Oppose abortion, “pro-life”

Key Names Mitt Romney, John McCain, Bush Family, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio

Page 21: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Democrats

Left/liberal

Main points of platform Will increase taxes to raise revenue

Instituted government-run programs such as healthcare, welfare, social security, etc.

Accept same-sex marriage

Call for a decrease in military spending to better fund other programs

State abortion should not be made illegal, “pro-choice”

Believe taxes should be on a graduated system More you make, the higher your tax should be

Main Names Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Hilary Clinton, John Kerry

Page 22: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Reform Party

Claim to be centrist or right of center

Main points on platform Supports balanced budget amendment

Isolationist foreign policy US must be asked to help, stay out of international agreements and

associations

No official stance on abortion and gay rights

Favors reduced healthcare costs but not government run

Voting reform: vote on weekends, term limits, outlaw PAC contributions to elections

Notable Names Ross Perot, Andre Barnett, Kenneth Cross

Page 23: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Libertarian Party

Centrist, “Minimum Government, Maximum Freedom”

Third largest party in the US

Major points of platform Oppose government censorship of media

Supports same-sex marriage

Pro-choice on abortion

Wish to repeal income tax, favors balanced budget

Isolationist, believe US should leave alliances and agreements

Most support legalization of marijuana

Major names Lucas Overby, Gary Johnson, Ron Paul

Page 24: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

Green Party

Left

Major points on platform Everything is done with the environment in mind

End privatization of media, make it community and state run

Oppose censorship

Against pre-emptive strikes on countries harboring terrorists

Favor graduated tax on persons and businesses

Favor open source software

Major Names Ralph Nader, Jill Stein, John Eder

Page 25: Political Parties in the US. Political Parties: Essential To Democracy Political parties Existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence.

How do parties affect policy?

Political parties present a platform of beliefs

The candidates are expected to adhere to and introduce bills that continue the party’s beliefs

Remember, “everyone is a shade of purple”

More members you have, higher chance of bill passing

Constantly changing social norms force constant shifting of beliefs of parties and candidates

Not all candidates will agree with all points of a party’s platform


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