POLS 2305-25: Ch. 9: Political Parties

Which 3rd party?

-Constitution party: abortion/religion -Green party: Medicare for all -Libertarian party: repeal of income tax. (Small gov.)

Party in gov.:

-Elected officials. Parties past, present, and future. AntiFederalists evolved into Republicans.

Pol. Parties engage in Pol. Activities

-Registering to vote -Door-to-door campaigns -Community meetings -Rallies/protests

Previously - Gallup

2004: Nader- 7% < 0.5 % of popular vote 2000: Nader- 6% = 3% of popular vote 2000: Buchanan - 3% = < 0.5% of popular vote 1996: Perot - 17% = 8% of popular vote 1992: Perot - 35% = 19% of popular vote (0 electoral votes. 1980: Anderson -23% = 7% of popular vote.

Party ID

2019: 28% Republican 30% Democratic 41% Independent

Poll: 7/1 - 7/8

21% won't back Trump or Clinton 13% wouldn't support Obama or Romney

Tend to vote for...:

47% Democrat 42% Republican *Almost 50-50

Pol. "Machines":

A political organization the recruits and controls its membership through the use of its governmental authority to Bristol benefits on its supporters and withhold them from its opponents. Negotiate Build alliances Recruit members Tammany Hall Machine

2016 - 2020 Party Platform Comparison

Big issues: Sanctity of Human Life Redefining marriage Religious liberty vs. LGBT Agenda Conscience rights in Healthcare God in government Supreme Court Education Sex education Transgender bathrooms in schools Social experiments in the military International Abortion and LGBT Agenda On Terrorism

Pol. Parties have a broad agenda; not specialized. Interest groups: specific

Big realignment of parties: civil war Broad agenda is located in Pol. Platforms. *2016 DNCC Philadelphia Rep. Platform 2016

Most other democracies have more than two "major" parties.

Canadian Parliament: (loser house) as of March 2020: Liberal party of Canada: 157 MPs Conservative party of Canada: 121 MPs New Democratic Party: 24 MPs Bloc Québécois: 32 MPs Green party of Canada: 3 MP

Ultimate authority is national convention, but between conventions, there is stuff that runs the day today operations. Only happen during presidential elections.

Chairs: Ronna McDaniel (Rep.) Tom Perez (Dem.)

Members may share common views

Democrats and Republicans do have differences on a variety of topics: -Ethos: Rep. (small gov.) -Ethos: Dem. (big gov.) *Protecting citizens through regulation. However, the 2 parties may share common views.

Faced with Trump and Clinton, Americans yearn for third choice.

Desire for third party persists this election year. Americans believing third Pol. Party is needed: 46% 2012 57% 2016 57% Third party needed 37% Parties do adequate job

There are many more minor, or "third" parties...

GOP was once a "third" party.

2016 'Third' Party candidates:

Gary Johnson / William Weld : 4.4m (3.27%) Jill Stein / Ajamu Baraka : 1.5m (1.06%) 2012: Gary Johnson received 1.1m votes (0.9% of popular vote). Jill Stein received 396k votes (0.3% of popular vote)

American party system

George Washington is encouraged US not to create Pol. Parties. James Madison: "No cure for the mischiefs of dividing through Pol. Parties.

Why on earth would you join a Pol. Party?

Just because you don't take an interest in politics doesn't mean it won't take an interest in you. -Pericles One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. -Plato

Party Structure:

Not a single organization; confederation of state/local groups. Tend to organize around levels of government: federal, state, local. County party is usually smallest unit; large cities also have parties.

Realignments:

Occur when new issues, combined with economic or political crises, mobilize new voters and persuade large numbers of them to re-examine their traditional partisan loyalties and permanently shift their support from one party to another.

What is a political party?

Organized groups that attempt to influence the government by electing their members to important government offices. -Republican (elephant) -Democrat (donkey) -Green Tea -Libertarian *Most people identify as independent

Duverger's Law:

Single-member districts and winner take all elections tend to favor the formation of two major parties.

What Parties do?

Socialization functions: educate public on issues, locus for political activity. Electoral function: Candidate emergence/recruitment, resource allocation, integrate interests and simplify choices, mobilizing voters. Governmental functions: organize government, sets public agenda, helps make gov. accountable. *You may receive contact from members of the party you belong to encouraging you to vote.

As voters who ID as "independent" increases, party strength declines.

US independents on the rise: 42% Independents 31% Democrats 25% Republicans

Party in the Electorate

WE are the party in the electorate.

Some say that they'll just sit the election out or that both parties are corrupt, but...

When you skip voting, it's not rebellion, it's surrender.