Political Parties
Rossiter
"They are creatures of compromise, coalitions of interest in which principle is muted and often silenced"
Brogan
"Two bottles with different labels, both half empty?"
'Two broad coalitions with more ideological differences within them than between them.' To what extent is this still an accurate description of the Republican and Democrat party? (30 marks).
(1) Statement not still true; Recent increases in congressional voting with own party in Congress and partisan alignment figures prompts ideological cohesion within the parties. - E.g. Reps banded together post 2000 to help Bush push his program through Congress - E.g. Under Nancy Pelosi, Dems in HOR utilised congressional voting as opportune time to get their own policies noticed. - E.g. Dem-aligned votes have increased from 34% to 39% (2000-2008). - E.g. Rep-aligned votes increased between 1968 - 2008 and number of independent votes decreased from 30% to 29% (1968 - 2008).
History of Democratic Party Union: national gov of Lincoln, the 20 free states and 5 border states that supported it, industrialised, northeast. Confederacy: the 11 slave states that opposed the Union (the Confederacy), rural south.
- 1790s; emerged under Jefferson, organised around protection of agricultural interests. - Anti-federalists; this became bound up with slavery dividing northern/southern Dems. - 1860; Lincoln elected; southern Dems withdrew Union membership = civil war. - Dems = reliant on southern support, northern ethnic minority, Dems began affiliation with marginalised groups e.g. poor farmers.
History of Republican Party Progressive Party: third party formed by Roosevelt after he lost nomination for Republican party. Party went into decline in 1914 and was abandoned in 1916. Most Progressive members (including FDR) gravitated towards Republican party.
- 1850s; emerged in opposition to slavery. - Initially= radical party, support black voting rights. - Rep Civil War victory=South became solidly Dem. - Reps moderated their radical views to maintain electoral dominance. - 1880s; industry rise = industrial/business interests dominated party, associated with Protestantism and groups threatened by new immigration waves. - 1912; split Rep vote bc. Progressive Party rise.
Issues That Shaped the two Major Parties (3) Slavery
- 1857; Dredd Scott v Sandford ruled slavery couldn't be limited to southern states. - 1854; Rep party became anti-slavery, north. - Civil war. - Industrialisation, westward expansion, rise in immigration = Reps became party of north (big business, free enterprise, industrialists.) - South remained solidly Dem as party of the small farmers, urban workers, immigrants, catholics.
History of Republican Party Silent Conservative Majority: used by Nixon for his belief that majority Americans supported his policies and those showing opposition to US involvement in Vietnam War were only a noisy minority.
- 1916; Reps reunited along pro-business line. - 1929 - 1939; Great Depression opened way FDR's 'New Deal' (aim; help economic recovery from Great Depression) 1968; Rep Nixon victory by appealing to 'silent conservative majority' ( they were concerned with radicalism, law and order, implicitly of race). - South moved away from Dems, Rep n.eastern wing faded = Reps more coherent.
Issues That Shaped the two Major Parties (4) Economy
- 1920s/30s; Great Depression. - 1932 election; resurrection of Democratic party as party of big federal government with FDR's New Deal. - 1932 - 1964; Dems dominated - party of the 'New Deal coalition' (southern white conservatives, n.eastern liberals, city-dwellers, blue-collar workers, Catholics, Jews, ethnic minorities. - Reps = party of homogeneous groups, rural, midwest Plain states, WASPS.
Issues That Shaped the two Major Parties (5) Civil Rights
- 1954; Brown v Board of Education ruled segregated schooling unconstitutional; eroded solid south and 'New Deal coalition' for Dems. - Dems tended favour affirmative action. - Reps argued policy should be 'colour blind'. - Issue of black civil rights became an internal issue for Democrats during 2008 Dem presidential election nominees Obama and Clinton.
Major Parties and Ideological Debates: Democratic Party DLC = Democrat Leadership Council
- Debate between liberal Dems and New Dems. - 4 election defeats 1968-1988 seen as repudiation of old-style Dem ideology as candidates were all old-style liberals from North (e.g.Mondale). - 1 victory during this time; southerner Carter 1976. - Clinton formed (DLC) to reposition Party further to the centre. - Old-style Dems with roots in unionised labour still existed (Ted Kennedy, Paul Wellstone).
Implications of Polarisation
- Dems/Reps find it difficult detach selves from entrenched positions and unify, thus their solutions to nation's biggest problems are incompatible. - America's social revolution = homogeneity within parties and widened gaps between them; encourages politicians construct electoral coalitions. - Checks and balances system not equipped deal with extreme polarisation because opposing factions can block decision-making.
(5) Compassionate Conservatives
- Popularised by Bush in campaign (2000). - Compassionate stance on issues of welfare/education. - Assistance to LEDCs.
History of Democratic Party Populism: Popular concerns of ordinary people.
- Populist conservatism under Reagan; united w/m.class. - 1990s Clinton years; repositioned Dems as centrists committed to economic management but his impeachment = era of partisan politics. - 2004; Internally divided on Iraq. - 2006; Iraq eroded Dem's defence. - 2007; called for Iraq troop withdrawal at a time of popular ange/anti-war = Dems win back control.
Polarisation of American Politics: Break up of the Solid South Southern Strategy; Republican policy to gain political support in the South by appealing to the racism against African Americans harbored by many southern white voters.
- 1960; 'Solid South' still intact and voted Dem ('Yellow Dog Democrats). - 1960 election; 99/106 HOR members = Dems. - 1964; south began support the conservative Rep candidate - Goldwater - he won Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina. - 1968; 5 southern states voted for ultra-conservative Dem (Wallace) rather than the Dem official, liberal candidate (Humphrey). - 1968; the Dem breakaway from the south prompted Nixon to launch his 'southern strategy' during his first term as president.
(4) Paleo Conservatives
- 'Old school' ideology. - Socially conservative. - Isolationists. - Protectionists. - This faction is fading from the party.
Third Parties: Third Party Status Paradox
- (2000): Nader's 2.7% for Green Party cost Al Gore the presidency. In Florida Bush won just 537 votes while Nader got nearly 10000 votes, exit polls show that if Nader had not been on ballot then half of Nader's votes would have been Gore votes and the other half probably wouldn't have even been voted.
Democratic Party Ideological Platform Today (2016 - amid election)
- Pro-choice. - For same sex marriage. - Pro-gun control. - Progressive and liberal in social views. - Economic intervention. - 'Doves' of foreign policy. Democrat voters tend to be; - Blue collar workers, city dwellers in 'blue states', intellectuals, majority of females (as of recent elections).
Major Parties and Ideological Debates: Republican Party 'Compassionate Conservatism': Term popularised by Bush during presidential campaign (2000) to denote a strand of conservative Republican philosophy which took a more compassionate view on issues such as welfare, education, immigration and poverty. Essentially a mixture of 'Rockefeller Republicanism' and 'Reagan Republicanism'.
- 1960s; ideological debate between conservatives (Goldwater) and moderates (Rockefeller). - 1976 election; moderates had upper hand as Ford won against Reagan. - 1980/1984 election; Reagan won both. - 1988 election; Reagan's VP, Bush won - was seen as putting moderates back in charge. - The first Bush represented 'eastern establishment' wing of party - giving key jobs to those of similar ideological perspective e.g. Sec of State James Baker.
Polarisation of American Politics: Break up of the Solid South
- 1972; Rep Nixon had won all 11 southern states. - 1980; Reagan won 10 of 11 southern states. - 1992; Reps won 7/11 southern states with a New England/Midwestern ticket (Bush and Quayle) against an all southern ticket (Clinton and Gore). - 1994; Reps controlled 64 HOR seats to the Dems 61, 13 Senate seats to Dems 9, 6 state governorships to the Dems 5. - States that had been solidly south (e.g. Texas, Georgia, Alabama) were becoming increasingly Republican.
History of Republican Party Contract With America: 10 policies e.g. (balanced budget) that Reps promised to bring to vote in first 100 days of new Congress if they won midterms and gained House control.
- 1980 - 1988; populist programme (reduced government, tax cuts, increased military spending.) - 1994; Gingrich re-captured Congress under 'contract with america' - But was hard to put into practice = allowed Clinton exploit public fear of Republican Congress. - Result; Reps split into anti-gov populists, pro-business internationalists, isolationists, moralists.
Polarisation of American Politics: America as a 50/50 nation (aka red v blue states) Rainbow Coalition: white, black, Asian, Hispanic voters.
- 1996, 2000, 2004 elections; evidence of polarised electorate and America as 50/50 nation. - 2000 election; Dems/Reps had approx 49% popular vote, EC split 271 - 267, HOR split 221 - 212, Senate split 50/50. - 2004; Reps = slightly dominant; 51% popular vote, 286 EC, 55 Senate. - Pres election; only 3 states changed hands from 2000; New Mexico, New Hampshire, Iowa. - Result; America seen as 50/50 nation. - Red; more male, white, Protestant, wealthy, rural, conservative, main concerns in 2004 election were moral issues and terrorism. -Blue; more female, rainbow coalition, less wealthy, urban, liberal, main concerns in 2004 election were economy, jobs, Iraq.
History of Republican Party International Criminal Court (ICC); Court established to prosecute persons for most serious international crimes e.g. genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes. Neoconservative: radical Republicans
- 2002;Reps=party of patriotism & national security. - President used this new mandate to push through his decision to go to war with Iraq. - 2006; continuing presence of US troops in Iraq = unpopular = loss of both houses to Dems who were increasingly anti-war.
Third Parties: Third Party Status Paradox
- 2008: Missouri, Indiana, North Carolina results were affected by third parties e.g. in Missouri, McCain's winning margin was just over 1600 votes but Nader got nearly 18000 votes statewide and Barr got over 11000. - 2008 congressional races; Minnesota Independence Party candidate Barkley won over 15% of vote and played important part in the razor-thin defeat of Rep Sen. Norm Coleman.
(7) Blue Dog Democrats E.G. Mike Ross E.G. Henry Cuellar of Texas
- A coalition of over 50 moderate to conservative Democrats. - Work to compromise between major parties, mostly southern Democrats. - Are an important group for the swing vote.
(5) Conservative Democrats E.G. Ben Nelson; former senator of Nebraska E.G. Harry Gueller; representative for Texas - calls himself a centrist.
- A.K.A. DINO; (Democratic in name only), Yellow Dog Democrats, Dixie Coats, Boll Weevils. - Mixed views; generally more socially right and economically left. - Similar to liberal and moderate Democrats. - Mostly from South and border regions.
Polarisation of American Politics: Shades of Purple?
- Andrew Busch; "In some presentations, the red-blue divide is evoked to express the idea of a radially polarised society split between two conflicting ways of life". - Olympia Snowe of Maine; "Congress is becoming more like a parliamentary system, where everyone simply votes with their party, and those in charge employ every possible tactic to block the other side".
Polarisation of American Politics: Break up of the Solid South
- Break up of solid south = Reps/Dems becoming more ideologically distinct, a significant group of conservative voters had crossed to Reps from Dems - resulted in Rep party becoming more conservative and Dem party more homogenous and left wing. - Politicians switched sides too e.g. Phil Gramm. - Mid 1990s; Dem hold in south fully collapsed. - 2008; mild recovery; Dems won both Senate and presidential races in North Carolina and Virginia. - Dems lost solid south but gained solid n.east.
History of Republican Party Compassionate Conservatism: Strand of conservative Republican philosophy taking a compassionate view on issues e.g. welfare, education, immigration, poverty. Kyoto Treaty/Protocol: Treaty extending 1992 UNFCCC that commits State Parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Bush's 'compassionate conservatism' emerged = victory (2000). He ran as centrist/pledged bipartisanship but betrayed this, his administration became overtly religious, withdrew Kyoto Treaty support, declared ICC opposition. - 2001; 9/11 = Bush focus on 'war on terrorism' = highest approval ratings in US history = blank cheque for Bush, gave neoconservatives unprecedented influence in White House.
Organisational Structure of the Two Major Parties: Congressional Committees
- Congressional committee role; each party has committees in both houses of Congress that oversee policy and campaign.
Organisational Structure of the Two Major Parties: National Committees National Convention: meeting every 4 years by parties to select presidential and VP candidates and write a party platform.
- Dems/Reps have own national committees (DNC/RNC) which organise their respective party's National Conventions. - National committees not very powerful bc. parties are widely thought of as state-based and decentralised but tensions between national and state parties shows otherwise; E.G. 2008 Rep/Dem national committees agreed only Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, S.Carolina could hold primaries/caucuses before 5th feb but state parties of Michigan and Florida scheduled 15th and 29th january - so DNC voted to strip both parties of their national convention delegates.
Major Parties and Ideological Debates: Democratic Party
- Extent to which Clinton's attempt to reposition the party outlived his presidency; not a great deal. - Evidence; Al Gore run for pres (2000) - distanced himself from Clinton. - 2004; reversion to John Kerry style who identified with old-style Dems. - 2008; Obama according to 'National Journal' was the most liberal member of the US Senate.
History of Democratic Party Identity Politics; tendency for people of a particular religion, race, social background, to form exclusive political alliances, moving away from traditional broad-based party politics. Populism: Popular concerns of ordinary people.
- FDR's New Deal prompted Dems concern with intervention in social/economic issues = Dem vote expansion to encompass urban workers, unions, small farmers, intellectuals, poor southern whites. - 1960s; New Deal coalition began split - opened way for Nixon pursue 'Southern Strategy' (appealing to racism held by Southern whites). - Vietnam war; further divided party. - Associated with elite opinion/ 'identity politics'.
Issues That Shaped the two Major Parties (1) Form of Government
- Federalists vs Anti-Federalists. - 1787 Philadelphia Convention; signed federal constitution. - Party issues were blurred. - 'Era of good feelings'.
(2) Moderate Republicans E.G. John McCain E.G. Arnold Schwaznegger
- Fiscally conservative. - Socially liberal; more open to gay rights, abortion, gun control etc. - A.K.A. RINOs / 'compassionate conservatives'
Issues That Shaped the two Major Parties (6) Role of Federal Government
- For a third of a century, Dems stood for big federal gov programmes (New Deal, Fair Deal, New Fronteirs, Great Society) but Nixon decided to hand back power to states, 'era of big government is over' (Clinton). - Republican Bush (2001 - 2009) - rise in size/scale of federal government.
Issues That Shaped the two Major Parties (2) Democracy
- Founding Fathers established a form of democracy where one house would directly elected by people and president/Senate would be indirectly elected. - 1828 election ; Andrew Jackson took radical view of democracy in encouraging more participation. - Anti-federalists renamed as Democratic Party. - Became party of poor, immigrants, minorities.
(3) Religious Right E.G. Huckabee E.G. Ashcroft
- Fundamentalist protestants/evangelicals. - Socially conservative. - One of the most dominating factions in the party.
Polarisation of American Politics: Shades of Purple?
- Issues with red v blue debate; too simplistic, exaggerates polarisation. - Some states consistently vote same party (e.g. NY for Dems), in 2008 9 states that voted Bush (Rep) in 2004 now voted Obama (Dem).
Why US Parties are Weak in the US
- Lack party leadership. - Lack party manifestos; don't have clear and coherent ideology to rally behind. - Financing from corporations rather than parties, individual candidates raise money for their campaigns. - Candidate selection; each candidate runs own separate campaign, until McGovern - Fraser Commission party bosses chose candidates. - Lack mass membership.
(8) Libertarian Democrats E.G. Mike Gravel - former senator for Alaska
- Libertarians.
(4) Moderate Democrats E.G. Al Gore E.G. Bill Clinton E.G. Hillary Clinton
- Mixed political ideology. - More prone to support; military use (Iraq), reduction/reform of gov welfare, tax cuts - Dominant faction in 90s under Clinton. - Rep dominance in 80s/early 90s led to formation of DLCl to find new way get Dems back in White House. - Similar to Blair's New Labour.
(6) Religious Left E.G. Rev. Jesse Jackson E.G. Rev Al. Sharpton
- Mostly in tune with liberals and progressives but with some Bible readings.
(6) Social Conservatives E.G. Bush E.G. Sarah Pallin
- Oppose; abortion, same-sex marriage, illegal immigration, state church. - Support; gun rights, strong military, strong law enforcement.
(3) Labour Wing E.G. John Edwards; former senator for N.Carolina, 2004 VP candidate, 2008 Democrat party contender.
- Organised labour; critical part of Dem party since FDR's 'New Deal'. - Mostly associates with progressive Dems. - Have support from powerful PGs e.g. NEA. - Issues of interest to workers; social security, healthcare, minimum wage, fair trade.
Benefits of Polarisation
- Polarisation boosts participation; as voters become more deeply committed to left or right they also become more interested in the political process, greater turnout.
Republican Party Ideological Platform Today (2016 - amid election)
- Pro-life. - Against same-sex marriage. - For weaker gun protection laws. - Commitment to free market economy. - Fiscally conservative (lower tax). - 'Hawks' of foreign policy. - Committed to states' rights. Republican voters tend to be; - Business/corporate sector, high income, white, from small/suburban red states, religious group members (often Protestant/Evangelical Christians).
(1) Neo-conservatives E.G. Dick Cheney E.G. Condoleeza Rice
- Promote an interventionist foreign policy (was dominant during Bush). - Distrust in IGOs e.g. UN and America First. - Heavy supporters of Iraq and Afgan War.
(1) Progressive Democrats E.G. Elizabeth Warren E.G. Barbara Lee
- Socially left wing; favour direct government action for social/economic equality (civil rights, universal healthcare). - Economically centrist; oppose heavy corporate influence in government, support fair trade. - Oppose Iraq and environmentalists (e.g. Greens). - Popular in metro areas outside of the south, popular with African Americans. - Many are descendants of the social revolution.
Major Parties and Ideological Debates: Republican Party
- The second Bush; initially sought to blur ideological issues with his 'compassionate conservatism', e.g. in domestic policy, diverse inclusion of conservative John Ashcroft and moderate Christine Todd Whitman. - But as Bush presidency unfolded, he looked more conservative than compassionate; he appointed conservative judges (Alito and Roberts).
Organisational Structure of the Two Major Parties: State-Level Organisation
- There are State Party Committees (headed by State Party chair) and State Party Conventions. - Below that are party committees at county/city/ward level. - State/local parties increasingly dominated by 'issue activists' (committed to one particular issue e.g. women's rights) and 'candidate activists' (enter politics through working on a candidate's campaign).
Alternative: One-Party
- Two major parties = Tweedledum and Tweedledee; ideologically indistinct. E.G. Dem pres Clinton declared "era of big government is over". E.G. Rep pres Bush added new executive department to Washington's bureaucratic labyrinth. - Mark Shields (1997): "As of today, the country has two Republican parties, separated by the issue of abortion". - One party system = more relevant to 90s.
(2) Liberal Democrats E.G. Obama historically was liberal Democrat but as a President he wasn't as his campaign was based on bipartisanship, healthcare and taxes.
-Traditional Democrat. - Favour civil liberties. - 'Doves' of foreign policy. - Dominated the party until Bill Clinton's 'New Democrats'.
Factions of Democratic Party
1. Blue Dog Democrats (moderate conservative) 2. Democrat Leadership (centrist) 3. The Left (progressives, liberals, union, socialist, christian lefts).
Third Party Difficulties
1. Electoral System; FPTP winner takes all makes difficult for national 3rd parties bc. have widespread/shallow support. However, regionals can still do well e.g. 1968 Wallace won 45 EC votes with 13% of vote.
Two Party System: Reasons for US two-party system
1. FPTP; makes difficult for national 3rd parties bc. their support is widespread but shallow so get fraction of vote in almost every state but in winner takes all system, they receive no reward, rather, 3rd party candidate lowers vote % parties need to win. 2. 2 major parties encompass wide ideological spectrum, (from Dem Sen. Barbara Boxer on left to Rep Congressman Ron Paul on right) doesn't leave room for other parties attract substantial support. 3. Primary elections make major parties more responsive to electorate - minimises need for protest voting, protest votes go to 3rd parties.
Ideology Factions of Republican Voters Republican concerns; 3Fs: family, faith, flag 3Gs: God, guns, gays
1. Mainstream Republicans (pragmatic conservatives). 2. Tea Party voters (deep mistrust in the establishment). 3. Christian conservatives / religious right. 4. Libertarians; disagree with Trump and cultural conservatives, agrees with free market. 5. Alt-Right; far right wing, white, against minorities, liberals and the establishment, anti-immigration.
Types of Third Parties
1. National: best known type e.g. Reform party, Green Party, Libertarian Party 2. Regional: e.g. Storm Thurmond's State's Rights Party (founded 1948). 3. Permanent: e.g. Green Party, Libertarian Party. 4. Temporary: e.g. Reform Party, American Independent Party. 5. Ideological: e.g. Socialist Party, Libertarian Party 6. Issue-Based: Green Party, Prohibition Party.
Factions of Republican Party
1. Neo-conservatives 2. Moderate Republicans 3. Religious Right 4. Paleo Conservatives 5. Compassionate Conservatives 6. Social Conservatives
Polarisation of American Politics: Reasons for the 50/50 nation/red v blue state divide? 1950/60/70s = bipartisanship. Now; parties more ideologically cohesive - old 'coalition' parties disappearing - reasons...
1. Reagan; unlike previous presidents who governed as centrists (Eisenhower), he was more ideological thus drawing conservatives away from Dem party and pushing moderates out of Reps. 2. End of Cold War; ideologically similar bc. foreign policy consensus/unity in the face of Soviet Union threat - Soviet Union collapse = no need for consensus.
Evidence of Party Decline and Broder's theory / Arguments for Party Decline Split-ticket voting: voting for candidates of two or more parties for different offices in the same election. Independent voters: those who don't identify with either of the two major parties.
1. Selection of candidates; 1960s = selection by party bosses in 'smoke-filled-rooms', now they're largely chosen by ordinary voters in primaries. 2. Changes in campaigns; campaigns in TV era are less party-centred and more candidate or issue-centred. Voters tend cast ballots not for party but bc. they feel strongly attracted to candidate/issue. 3. Partisan Dealignment; voters cast ballot for candidate not party as whole, rise in issue-voting = rise split-ticket voting, rise independent voters.
Ideology Factions of Democrat Voters/ Voter Blocs
1. Staunch Liberals; believe in big change and revolution, protect environment. 2. Blue Collar; pessimistic, socially conservative, blame employment issues on immigrants (core function). 3. Bootstrap Optimists; protect safety they already have, financially strained, believe in meritocracy, often includes black/latino vote, lower turnout voters.
'Two broad coalitions with more ideological differences within them than between them.' To what extent is this still an accurate description of the Republican and Democrat party? (30 marks). - Intro; discuss historical ideologies of Dems/Reps and causes, then compare to their ideological stances today.
1. Still true; besides groups such as Tea Party/Blue Dog Dems, both parties can be internally split down the middle. - E.g. Dems; 'congressional' wing (southern voters and more so before when Dems were party of south), 'presidential' wing (n.east and west coast liberal), 1980s 'new Dems' (neoliberals sought win back support from South without losing its liberal following). - E.g. Reps; 'Wall Street' wing (fiscally conservative, socially liberal), 'Main Street' wing (fiscally conservative, and in some ways socially conservative, have support from small town, rural, religious Americans).
Evidence of Party Renewal / Arguments for Party Decline Super delegate: elected office holders given ex officio seats at Democratic National Convention.
1. Theories of party decline exaggerated; the death of the Rep party was reported in following Watergate and Nixon's resignation, but a Rep candidate was back in the White house just over 6 years later. Death of Dem party reported following leftward shift of party in 60s/70s/80s, but the New Democrat model of the Clinton-Gore ticket in 1992 resurrected the party.
Purpose of Political Parties
1. Win power. 2. Makes it easier to have checks and balances. 3. To create shared values and unity of ideology. 4. Accountability. 5. Represent electorate's ideologies and interests.
Third Party Difficulties
2. Disadvantaged by way they qualify for matching funds in pres election; major parties qualify by raising at least $5000 in $250 contributions accross at least 20 states but third parties qualify by winning at least 5% of popular vote - which isn't easily achievable (over last 50 years, only 3 candidates have done it; Wallace, Anderson, Perot).
Evidence of Party Renewal / Arguments for Party Decline
2. Parties have regained some control over presidential nomination process; 1980s Dems introduced 'super delegates' , by 200 these super delegates accounted for almost 20% of delegate votes at Dem National Convention, 2008 role of super delegates in Dem party was significant in awarding the presidential nomination to Obama not Clinton.
Polarisation of American Politics: Reasons for the 50/50 nation/red v blue state divide?
3. Clinton's Presidency (1993 - 2001); ran as 'New Dem' but presidency paradox bc. he brought up issues of 1960s over sex/women's role/nature of authority and morality.
Third Party Difficulties
3. Disadvantaged by the states' ballot access laws regulating how third party candidates qualify to get their name on ballot e.g. Tennessee requires just 25 signatures but in NY a certain number of signatures in every county is needed, in California 1% of electorate's signatures needed.
Evidence of Party Renewal / Arguments for Party Decline
3. Parties have modernised their national party structures and networks ; Reps introduced Brock reforms which strengthened standing of Rep National Committee , in 1990s Dem National Committee chair Charles Manatt did much the same for Dems in developing computerised direct-mail facilities and a permanent HQ in Washington.
Polarisation of American Politics: Reasons for the 50/50 nation/red v blue state divide?
4. Bush's Presidency (2001-2009); ran as 'uniter not a divider' but circumstances changed this, e.g. disrupted Florida recount made him divisive, 9/11 made him 'Uniter-in-Chief', after attack had bipartisan support, but unpopular because Iraq.
Evidence of Party Decline and Broder's theory / Arguments for Party Decline
4. Candidate's endorsement by senior party officials is one of key determinants of performance in in primary contests (e.g. Obama's 2008 endorsement by Sen. Ted Kennedy). 5. Policy development is undertaken by think-tanks such as 'libertarian Heritage Foundation' for Reps or by 'Economic Policy Institute' for Dems rather than by the parties themselves.
Third Party Difficulties
4. Lack resources; hard qualify matching funds, must spend own money on ballot access petitions rather than on real campaigning and people are reluctant to give money to parties they know are going to lose = catch 22 situation.
Evidence of Party Renewal / Arguments for Party Decline
4. Phenomenon of 'soft money' in 1980s/90s was attempt to overcome negative effects of matching funds going directly to candidates rather than to parties, soft money provided way for national parties to enhance their role in national campaigns. 2002 Bipartisanship Campaign Reform Act limited role of parties by limiting their ability to spend 'soft money'.
Ideology Factions of Democrat Voters/ Voter Blocs
4. Younger Independents; young, pro-gay rights, liberal, white. 5. Southern and Rural; compromise, only small minority of voters. 6. Suburban; non-elite, uncomfortable with racism and far left activism, agrees with social justice. 7. Coastal Elites; technology sector, higher incomes, pro-trade, pro-business.
Third Party Difficulties
5. Lack media coverage; news programmes don't think they're newsworthy, they cannot afford television commercials, usually are barred from state and national televised debates e.g. Nader was excluded.
Evidence of Party Renewal / Arguments for Party Decline
5. Nationalising of electoral campaigns; Republicans campaigned around 'Contract with America' (Gingrich), Democrats campaigned around 'Six for 06' agenda which accompanied their re-taking control of both houses of Congress after 12 years as a minority.
Polarisation of American Politics: Reasons for the 50/50 nation/red v blue state divide?
5. Technology; 'New Media' replaces 'Old Media' as shaper of public opinion = enables ideological soul mates, more effective communication, electorate to simply log on to website etc. that merely reinforces pre-existing views unlike previously when would be exposed to spectrum of comment - results in less civil political debate and heightened partisanship.
Ideology Factions of Republican Voters
6. Cultural Protectionist Bloc; resentment of political correctness and diversity, emphasise law and order, hostility to Black Lives Matter, oppose political compromise, agree with Trump, pro-guns, anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage. 7. Optimist Bloc; for open trade, low regulation, low tax, shrinking government, immigration reform. 8. Pessimist Bloc; anti-trade, anti-immigrant, anti-establishment, blue collar, less educated, white. 9. Interventionists; agree with defense spending, neo-conservative view.
Third Party Difficulties
6. Lack well-known/well-qualified candidates; Anderson (1980) had to settle for fromer Governor of Wisconsin Patrick Lucey as running mate.
Third Party Difficulties
7. The two major parties portray third parties as extremist - many of them are. Reps smeared pro-segregationist George Wallace with slogan; 'If you liked Hitler, you'll love Wallace].
Third Party Difficulties
8. Even when third parties do well in pre-election polls and win votes on election day, the major parties often adopt the third parties' key policies e.g. Rep Nixon launched 'Southern Strategy' to woo Wallace voters (1972). However, it is important to question aims of third parties e.g. Wallace didn't necessarily aim to win presidency but to have significant effect on policy debate - in this sense they were victorious.
Big Tent Politics / Catch All Parties
A political party representing a huge base of the electorate and varying ideologies within factions.
Ideology
Body of ideas reflecting social needs/aspirations of an individual/group/class/culture. Set of ideological beliefs/doctrines that form economic, social, political systems.
Party Decline
David Broder 1972: 'The Party is Over' - Parties in retreat in area they traditionally dominated def: theory popular in last three decades of 20th century, that political parties were in decline in terms of membership, functions ad importance both in elections and Congress.
Theories of Polarisation: The politicians themselves are polarised.
Elected officials are divided ideologically but the electorate are not, so is unrepresentative.
Origins of Political Parties
Federalists; suppor centralised government, represented commercial interests of the north. Anti-Federalists; support decentralised government, state power, represent agricultural/ land-owning interests of south.
Theories of Polarisation: The electorate are polarised.
Polarisation isn't restricted to party lines, rather reflects the division in popular opinion - there is no disconnect between electorate and elected, polarisation is not a result of representation failure but a result of successful representation.
Third Parties: Third Party Status Paradox
However, US doesn't have national, permanent, third parties that regularly win sizeable proportion of votes, this is because status of third parties is a paradox; they're unimportant and important. Unimportant bc. don't get much of vote, important bc. in 5/9 elections (1968 - 2000), third parties played important role:
Alternative: Four Party System
Idea that Dem and Rep parties have become ideologically divided within with distinct liberal and moderate wings, so no longer to see them as two separate parties.
Major Parties and Ideology
Liberal: View seeking change to political, economic, social status quo in favour of the well-being, rights and liberties of the individual (especially those disadvantaged by society. Conservative: View seeking defend political, economic and social status quo - therefore tends oppose changes in institutions/ structures of society.
Political Party Def: An organised group with similar aims and opinions, that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office.
Party paradox; political system where two major parties are relatively unimportant yet dominate political scene. Parties have no place in Constitution; Founding Fathers thought parties corrupt groups pursuing own agendas rather than for general good. Relatively state-based Not as important as in UK; main party functions performed by e.g PGs, media, candidate centered organisations.
Two Party System Def: party system in which two major parties regularly win at least 80% votes in general elections, regularly win at least 90% seats in legislature and alternately control executive.
US arguably now has 2 party system; - In 11 presidential elections (1968 - 2008), Dems and Reps had more than 80% popular vote, in 7 of these their combined vote exceeded 95%. - January 2009 - all 5o state governors = Dem or Rep.
Alternative: 50 Party / 100 Party System
US essentially has 50 Rep parties/ 50 Dem parties. - Parties = undisciplined, decentralised, no party leader, state-based, no national policy programme (accept perhaps every 4 years when they unite in presidential campaign). - This is consequence of federalism and a country where every election is state-based run largely under state laws by state officials. - This party system considers factions, diversity of opinion, nature of federalism.
UK Synoptic Links
US: Party organisation; decentralised, limited power vested in national party leadership and organisation UK: Party organisation; centralised, but regional and local parties are now more autonomous. US: Party platforms; relatively unimportant and are not seen as list of specific commitments. UK: Party platforms; manifestos relatively important seen as contract between party/voters. US: Parties operate in 2 party system. UK: Two major parties dominate but third parties play significant role.
Despite factions, they're usually able to unite against the Rep agenda, and when in power they can unite in order to write legislation on behalf of everyone.
Was not the case for Affordable Care Act; varied views within Dem party; Blue Dog Democrats want privatised insurance and minimal reform costs vs left wing wanted more Gov involvement. This allowed Reps gain upper hand and the final bill was very much compromised in favour of Reps.
Partisanship
def: State of affairs where members of one party group in opposition to other parties, high levels of party discipline, frequent party-line voting, little cooperation. Bipartisanship: Cooperation between main parties.
Party Renewal
def: theory which suggests that parties, far from being in decline, are increasingly important in elections, in fundraising and in Congress.
