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Chapter 5
Political Parties
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“A party of order or stability, and a party of
progress or reform, are both necessary
elements of a healthy state of political life.”
~ John Stuart Mill
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(Major) Party- a group of persons who seek to
control government through the winning of
elections and the holding of public office(s).
◦ Republicans
◦ Democrats
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(Minor) Party- one of the many political
parties without wide voter support.
◦ Green Party
◦ Prohibition Party
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Where in a typical political election, two major
parties dominate American politics.
A number of factors explain why America has
had and continues to have a two-party
system.
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Framers of the Constitution were opposed to
political parties.
◦ Federalist No. 10: One can either destroy the
factions, or somehow, control its outcomes.
◦ Bi-partisan system still follows Madison’s “multiple”
faction government.
◦ Federalist No. 14: “Big Tent” involves inviting
multiple factions/spheres of thought into the Big
Tent
◦ A means of controlling the “mob mentality”
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Started with the Federalists and AntiFederalist
◦ More Americans except the idea of a two-party
system because there has always been one
◦ James Madison said that a larger Republic is better,
as to increase the number of factions, and to
distribute power
 No one party can overpower the system… or can
they?
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Single-member districts: Electoral process in
which one person is chosen by the voters for
each elected office
Plurality: The winning candidate who receives
a the largest number of votes cast for an
office
◦ The plurality does NOT have to be the majority
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Bipartisan: The two major political parties find
common ground and work Together
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The American people over time have shared
many of the same ideals, same basic
principles, and same patterns of belief
Pluralistic Society: One consisting of several
distinct cultures and groups
◦ The United States is the “melting pot” of the world
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Federalist Paper No. 55
◦ Argues that a smaller assembly is better for the
country. More likely to get things RATIFIED
◦ However, this is contradictory to the People’s Voice
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Consensus: A general agreement
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Not always so in American society
American Civil War
Great Depression
Vietnam Era
Persian Gulf War II (Afghanistan and Iraq)
Party Polarity (Republicans v. Democrats)
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A system in which several major and many
lesser parties exist, seriously compete for,
and actually win public office(s).
Based around particular interests, including:
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Economic class
Religious beliefs
Sectional attachment
Political ideology
Creates a broader and more diverse
representation of electorates.
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A political system in which only one party
exists.
Falls under a dictatorship in many nations.
Within the United States, a modified oneparty system is prevalent in certain regions of
the country.
Post Civil War Elections:
◦ Republican party = New England & Midwest
◦ Democrats = South
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Federalist No. 10 & 51
Both majority and minority factions are
brought up, and Madison believes that the
majority factions are the most dangerous.
Using the liberties of citizens can bring down
a Democracy.
Factions- conflicting groups
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Election of 1800
◦ “The Great Revolution” signified the transfer of
political powers from one political party to another
◦ The incumbent Federalist president, John Adams,
was defeated by Republican Thomas Jefferson
 Incumbent- current office holder
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Since then, there have been 4 major periods
of political party dominance.
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Era of the Democrats (1800-1860)
Although called Republicans, the DemocraticRepublicans can be compared to the
Democratic Party of today.
Ran unopposed in national politics up to
1830.
◦ Split up into factions with the introduction of the
Andrew Jackson administration
◦ National Republicans (Whigs) vs. Democrats
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Era of the Republicans (1860-1932)
Republican dominance started in 1860 with
the election of President Lincoln.
Only political party to jump from 3rd party to
major party status
Electorate- the people eligible to vote.
Sectionalism- the devotion toward interests
of one section of the country or population
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The New Democratic Era (1932-1968)
The Great Depression brought the election of
a new American leader, FDR
Democrats held the national government up
to the Vietnam War
◦ Richard Nixon’s second attempt for the presidency
proved successful for a short-term Republican
reign
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Era of Division (1968-current)
New points of interest have created a rift
between the public’s concern and that of the
political parties’ agendas
The Minor Parties
Ron Paul
Ralph Nader
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There are MANY neglected third parties that
field a presidential candidate
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Constitution Party
Green Party of the U.S.
Communist Party
Libertarian Party
America First Party
Freedom Socialist Party
Reform Party
Prohibition Party
American Nazi Party
And Many More…
1.
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Ideological Parties
Parties based on a particular set of beliefs-a
comprehensive view of social, economic, and
political matters.
◦ Have seldom been able to win many votes
◦ Libertarian Party- focuses on the individual
◦ Communist Party- focuses on the well-being of the
society
2.
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Single-Issue Parties
Parties that focus on only one public-policy
matter
◦ Most of these parties fade into history, with the
issue they stood for.
◦ The two major parties may address their key issue,
as one of their own.
◦ Usually found in the minor party name.
 Prohibition Party (Founded 1869)
 U.S. Marijuana Party (Founded 2002)
3.
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Economic Protest Parties
Parties rooted in periods of economic
discontent.
◦ There is no clear-cut ideological base
◦ A disgust toward the two major parties
 Occupy Wall Street
◦ Most often, they have been sectional parties
 Drawing strength from the South & West
◦ Greenback Party (1876-1884)
◦ Populist Party (1890s)
4.
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Splinter Parties
Parties that have split away from one of the
major political parties
◦ Most of the more important 3rd parties have been
splinter parties
◦ Form around a strong personality-an individual
◦ These parties usually collapse when the individual
steps down
 Bull Moose Progressive Party Progressive Party (1912)
 Green Party with Ralph Nader
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Third-party candidacy can act as a “spoiler
role” in a close election.
◦ Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party took away
votes from the Republican candidate in the 1912
election
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Minor parties act as the critics (bring
attention to wrong doing) and innovators
(new ideas are co-opted by major parties) for
political issues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dd2OAgn8Q&feature=related
Each major American political party builds its
structure from four basic elements:
1. The National Convention
2. The National Committee
3. The National Chairperson
4. The Congressional Campaign
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State party foundations are set by State law:
1. State Organization- chairperson and the State
Central Committee
2. Local Organization- follow the electoral map
of a State
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Ward: a unit into which cities are often divided for
the election of city council members
Precinct: the smallest unit of election administration
Polling Place: voting locations within the precinct
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Nominating Candidates
Informing & Activating Supporters: shared with
news media & interest groups
Bonding Agent: tries to pick qualified
candidates with good moral character
Watch Dog: party out of power watches party in
power (holds the White House)
Governing: office holders, executive
appointments, etc…basis for conducting
government, provides channels for the
Exec/Leg branches to work together
*Sharp drop in number of voters who classify
themselves as Republican or Democrat
Rise in Independents/Minor Parties
*Split-Ticket Voting: voting for candidates of
different parties for different offices at the
same election
A true system with bipartisan behaviors – issue voting
*Straight – ticket Voting: voting for all the
candidates in one party
* Coattail Effect: Strong candidate helps to attract
voters to other lesser candidates in the same party
Qualifications set by the States (5 limitations by Constitution):
* Sufferage: the right to vote
15th Amendment: removed race/color
19th Amendment: removed sex/gender
23rd Amendment: DC right to vote
24th Amendment: eliminated poll taxes
26th Amendment: 18 yr olds can vote
Voting Rights Act of 1965: removed literacy tests, gave Federal
government more power to enforce 15 th amendment being
ignored by the states
National Voter Registration Act 1993 (Motor Voter Act):
Allowed people to register to vote by mail, @ time of license
renewal/application, with registration forms found in public
assistance offices
OPEN PRIMARY: any qualified voter may vote
CLOSED PRIMARY: only declared party members may vote
CAUCUS/ CONVENTION: groups of like-minded people who
meet to sect candidates for election
GENERAL ELECTION: all or most memebers of a given political
body are up for election
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS: private organizations trying to
persuade public officials to respond to the shared attitudes of
its members – to shape public policy
PAC’s: Political Action Committes – political arms of
special interest groups, lobbyists
HARD MONEY: $$ contributed directly to the candidate, subject
to regulation ($2400 ind/ $5000 org)
SOFT MONEY:$$ contributed to the political party by large
donors, unregulated