Political Parties

“Linkage Institution”

Essential Question

• To what extent are political parties necessary to democracy?

Linkage

• Political parties “link” government and its power to us, the people

• They provide a bridge to government

• Did you know political parties are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution?

The Framers

• The Founding Fathers actually viewed “factions” as dangers which needed to be controlled. They distrusted them!

• Yet those same guys became the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists (the first political “parties”)

• This was the main debate transitioning from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution of 1787.

The Framers cont.

• Here are the basics…..

• Anti-Federalists– Opposed a strong federal government– Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams

• Federalists– For a strong federal government– Alexander Hamilton, John Adams

Why Parties?

• The competition for power in a democracy needs to be organized

• Otherwise the democracy would be chaotic and unworkable

• Even though we inherently distrust their partisanship

Party Structure

• National Convention – meets every 4 years, nominates President

• National Committee – manages party affairs on daily basis

• Congressional campaign committee – supports party’s candidates

• National chair – manages daily work

Goal of a Political Party?

• WIN ELECTIONS

Function of Parties

1. Connecting citizens to government (linkage institution)

-Political Efficacy – citizen participation level and awareness of government decisions

2. Run candidates for political office

3. Inform the public – help voters decide who to vote for in elections

4. Organizing government – coordinate government policy-making

5. Act as a watchdog

Parties are unifying

• Too many parties might splinter society• A few, well organized parties:

– Encourage compromise– Blunt tensions– Marginalize extremism

• This is why political parties formed in every democracy– Despite a lack of definition in Constitution

Why 2 parties?

• Winner-take-all system • Winner receives a seat while loser

receives nothing• 3rd party usually joins one of other parties • Opposite – Proportional Representation –

% of votes is directly applied as the % of representatives

U.S. Political Parties

                                                                                                                                                                       

Left or Right?

Left• Federalists• Whigs• Republicans• Progressives• Democrats

Liberal

Right• Anti-Federalists• Democratic-Republicans• Democrats• Republicans

Conservative

“Grass Roots”

• “Grass Roots” – parties can also reach the voters personally and “get-out-the-vote” on a local level

Minor Parties

Third Parties have played a role in politics

Types

1. Individual personality – those dominated by one figure head (Ex. – 1912 Theodore Roosevelt – Bull-Moose, 1968 George Wallace – American Independent Party)

2. Long-lasting goal or ideology – (Ex. – Abolitionists, Prohibitionists, Socialists)

Major Third Parties

• Ideological– Socialist Party, Communist Party, Green Party,

Libertarian Party

• One-issue (or single-issue)– Free-soil, “Know-Nothing”, Prohibition, Woman’s

Party

• Economic protest– Populists

• Factional– Progressives, Dixiecrats, Reform

Party Identification

• Dealignment – weak membership, more “independents” or moderates – popular trend in the last 50 years. – “I’m not Republican or Democrat”

• Strait ticket voting – strong party membership, support all candidates for one party

• Ticket splitting – voting for candidates from multiple parties

Eras in American History

• Founding (1789 – 1824)– Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists/Dem-Rep– Controversy: Federalism

• Jacksonian Period (1824 – 1840)– Democrat vs. Whig– Controversy: Jackson himself

Eras in American History

• Sectionalism (1840 – 1876)– Democrats vs. Whigs (and Republicans)– Controversy: Slavery and Reconstruction

• Era of Reform (1876 – present)– Democrats vs. Republicans– Controversy: Government in economy

Realignments

• 1800– First peaceful transition of power

• 1828– First “heated” election

• 1860– Lead to Civil War based around civil rights

• 1896– Decided social roles of the parties re: business

• 1932– Decided social roles of the parties re: the people

Realignment?

• “Gridlock” – Congress and Presidency controlled by different parties

• 2004 - Republican sweep of Congress and Presidency - party loyalty stronger?

• 2006 - split the Presidency and Congress again• 2008 - brought a Democratic sweep• 2010 – Republican sweep, but Senate still

barely Democrat• 2012?

Divided government

• When one branch is one party, the other branch is the other party– President Obama, Democrat– House of Reps, Republican– Senate, Democrat

• How might this affect the dynamic process of government?

• Does it constrain or enhance change?• Is this good for government?

Review

• Political parties “link” government and its power to us, the people

• They provide a bridge to government

• Political parties are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution.

Why Parties?

• The competition for power in a democracy needs to be organized

• Otherwise the democracy would be chaotic and unworkable

• Even though we inherently distrust their partisanship

Essential Question

• To what extent are political parties necessary to democracy?