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Transcript
1
Chapter
Eight:
Political
Parties
Learning Objectives
2
 Distinguish between a political party, an interest
group, and a faction.
 Identify the primary functions of a political party.
 Identify and explain the significance of the
distinct eras of political party development.
Learning Objectives
3
 Explain the transformation of the Democratic
Party from a party of limited government,
states’ rights, and racism to a party of strong
government, national authority, and support for
civil rights.
 Describe the core constituents and economic
beliefs of the Republican and Democratic
parties today.
Learning Objectives
4
 Explain how economic politics and cultural
politics often pull individual voters in different
directions.
 Explain the three faces of a political party: the
party organization, the party in electorate, and
the party-in-government.
 Explain how the winner-take-all election system
works against third parties.
Learning Objectives
5
 Compare and contrast ideological third parties
and splinter parties.
 Explain what partisan realignment is and
identify the four most important realignments in
American history.
 Briefly explain the rise of independent voters
and split-ticket voting.
 Define the concept of demographically based
political tipping and give one contemporary
example.
What Is a Political Party?
6
 A political party is a group
of political activists who
organize to win elections,
operate the government,
and determine public
policy.
What Is a Political Party?
7
Political parties differ from interest groups:
 do not want to operate the government.
 do not put forth political candidates.
 interest groups tend to sharpen issues, while
political parties tend to blur their issue positions
to attract voters.
What Is a Political Party?
8
 Functions of Political Parties
 Recruit
candidates for public office
 Organize and run elections
 Present alternative policies to voters
 Accept responsibility for operating government
 Act as organized opposition to party in power
A History of Political Parties in the United
States
9
 The Formative Years: Federalists
and Anti-Federalists
 The Era of Good Feelings
 National Two-Party Rule:
Whigs and Democrats
A History of Political Parties in the United
States
10
 The Civil War Crisis
 The Post-Civil War Period
 “Rum,
Romanism, and
Rebellion”
 The Triumph of the
Republicans
A History of Political Parties in the United
States
11
 The Progressive Interlude
 The New Deal Era
A History of Political Parties in the United
States
12
An Era of Divided Government:
 From 1968–2010, the general pattern was often
a Republican president and a Democratic
Congress.
 2000 Presidential Election (Red state–blue
state)
The Two Major U.S. Parties Today
13
Economic beliefs:
 Democrats are associated with improving
the environment, education, energy
problems, and health care.
 Republicans are associated with dealing
with terrorism, and solving the budget deficit.
The Two Major U.S. Parties Today
14
The Two Major U.S. Parties Today
15
The Two Major U.S. Parties Today
16
 Cultural Politics and Socioeconomic status:
lower income people tend to be socially
conservative.
 The Regional Factor in Cultural Politics:
wealthier regions tend to support Democrats.
The Three Faces of a Party
17
 Party-in-the-Electorate
 Party Organization
 Party-in-Government
The Three Faces of a Party
18
Party Organization
 National Party Organization:
 National
Convention and Delegates
 National Committee
 National Chairperson
 State Party Organization
 Local Party Organization
The Three Faces of a Party
19
The Three Faces of a Party
20
The Three Faces of a Party
21
 Party-in-Government

Divided Government

The Limits of Party Unity

Party Polarization
Why Has the Two-Party System Endured?
22
 Historical foundations of the system
 Political socialization and practical
considerations
 The winner-take-all electoral system
 State and federal laws favoring the two-party
system.
The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics
23
 Ideological Third Parties
 Splinter Parties
The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics
24
The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics
25
The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics
26
 Impact of Minor Parties

Influence the Major Parties

Affect the Outcome of an Election
Mechanisms of Political Change
27
 Realignment: major
constituencies shift their
allegiance from one party
to another.
 Dealignment: increase in
independent voters.
 Tipping: a group becomes
more numerous over time
and changes the political
balance.
Mechanisms of Political Change
28
Web Links
29
 Democratic Party: www.democrats.org
 Republican National Committee:
www.rnc.org
 Libertarian Party: www.lp.org
 Green Party of the United States:
www.gp.org
 Politics1.com Offers information on major
U.S. parties and 50 minor parties:
www.politics1.com/parties.htm
What If…Parties Were Supported Solely by
Public Funding?
30
 Today’s major political parties are supported by
hundreds of millions of dollars offered by
unions, corporations, other groups, and
individuals.
 If funding was reduced, it would reduce the
effectiveness of political parties.
 Individuals, corporations, and interest groups
could not contribute.
What If…Parties Were Supported Solely
by Public Funding?
31
Possible effects:
 Could reduce lobbying
 Could lead to the growth of nonparty
organizations
 Could increase candidate fundraising.
 Could lead to new, smaller political parties