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Chapter
Eight:
Political
Parties
Learning Objectives
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 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
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 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
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 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
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 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?
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 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?
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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?
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 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
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 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
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 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
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 The Progressive Interlude
 The New Deal Era
A History of Political Parties in the United
States
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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
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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
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The Two Major U.S. Parties Today
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The Two Major U.S. Parties Today
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 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
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 Party-in-the-Electorate
 Party Organization
 Party-in-Government
The Three Faces of a Party
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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
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The Three Faces of a Party
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The Three Faces of a Party
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
Party-in-Government

Divided Government

The Limits of Party Unity

Party Polarization
Why Has the Two-Party System Endured?
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 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
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 Ideological Third Parties
 Splinter Parties
The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics
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The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics
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The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics
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 Impact of Minor Parties

Influence the Major Parties

Affect the Outcome of an Election
Mechanisms of Political Change
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 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
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Web Links
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 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?
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 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?
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Possible effects:
 Could reduce lobbying
 Could lead to the growth of nonparty
organizations
 Could increase candidate fundraising.
 Could lead to new, smaller political parties