Political Parties
Thomas Jefferson
"If I could not go to Heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all." lolz he was a democratic-republic
How independent voters choose
1. which of these two parties will better represent my ideals and interests?-- choose the party that offers the best option today 2. Am I better off now than four years ago? If not, she will vote against the president's party up and down the ballot
hard cider campaign
1840 campaign denotes the common practice of using food and drink to elicit electoral favor
Populist Party
1890s a variety of protest parties won the support of hundred of thousands of voters in the South and the West appealed mainly to small farmers and miners and urban workers 1892 presidential election: Democrats in effect adopted the Populist Party platform and nominated William Jennings Bryan (democrat with populist sympathies)
Barry Goldwater
1964, the Republican presidential candidate and author of the book the Conscience of a Conservative argued to reduce levels of taxation and spending, less govt. regulation of the economy, elimination of many federal social programs defeated by Lyndon Johnson but espoused major themes of the Republican Party
1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act
Whigs Party had all but disintegrated because of widening gulf of North and South by 1856 overturned the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Compromise of 1850, which together had hindered the expansion of slavery in the American territories gave each territory the right to decide whether to permit slavery opposition led to formation of Republican party as antislavery party favored homesteading, internal improvements, construction of transcontinental railroad, and protective tariffs, as well as containment of slavery; in 1860, republican nominee Abraham Lincoln was victorious
political caucus
a normally closed meeting of a political or legislative group to select candidates, plan strategy or make decisions regarding legislative matters
The National Convention
attended by delegates from each of the states; as a group, they nominate the party's presidential and vice-presidential candidates, draft the party's campaign platform for the presidential race, and approve changes in the rules and regulations governing party procedures
National Convention and Presidential Nomination
before WWII, presidential nominations occupied most of the time presidential candidates have essentially nominated themselves by winning enough delegate support in primary elections to win the official nomination on the first ballot convention itself has played little or no rule in selecting the candidates
Region
between the civil war and the 1960s, the "Solid South" was a Democratic bastion today much of the South as become solidly Republican in national elections-though more divided in state elections Democratic Party strength in the Northeast and the Far West midwest battle ground Republican agenda of social conservatism, low taxes, and high military spending appealing more to voters in the South and Mountain--related to the weakness of organized labor in these regions, as well as the dependence of the two regions on military programs supported by the Republicans Democratic agenda of social liberalism, high domestic spending appealing more in urban areas in the Northeast and Far west-function of continuing influence of organized labor in large cities, also region's largest populations of minority and elderly voters
65+
came of age during Great Depression and WWII respond favorably to the role played by Democrats
Youngest group of Americans
came of age during an era of political scandals that tainted both parties, more likely to identify as independents
50-64
came of political age during the Cold War, Vietnam and civil rights more likely to be Democrats
1980s
changes.... party leaders in Congress saw that they could do better in national elections if they could somehow redistribute campaign resources to close races and away from safe seats incumbents in these district built up personal electoral advantages which allowed these incumbents to vote in Congress less with the party and more with their districts might very well cross party lines on important votes
96 percent
during his first time in office, Barack Obama had the highest degree of support for a president since WWII with a majority of Congress supporting his position this percent of time
Getting out the Vote
election period begins immediately after the nominations step 1: voter registration; takes place all year round been supplemented by groups such as the League of Women Voters, unions, and chambers of commerce step 2: go to polling place, stand in line, and vote for the various candidates and referendums on the ballot? political parties , candidates and campaigning can make a big difference in persuading the eligible voters to vote it is costly for voters to participate and because many of the benefits that winning parties bestow are public goods, people will often free ride by enjoyed the benefits without incurring the costs of electing the party parties are not-for-profit groups raised million of dollars to devote to election organizing and advertising use new technologies to build networks of supporters and communicate through those networks "netroots" organizations of politics must maintain their independence from the political parties act as shadow appendages integral to campaign organization
Spheres in which Parties Operate
elections, political institutions and government
two-party system in America
electoral system is winner takes all which lends itself to a two-party system Democratic: center-left Republican: center-right maintain distinctiveness and still divide the electorate about equally why not have extremes? far-left party would divide the votes between Democrats and third party, and inevitably the Republicans would win most third parties decide to stay out because best they could do is be distant third voters who would normally want to vote for the third party get this and end up voting for the major party the prefer
Fundamentalist and born-again Christians
essential and enduring part of the Republican electoral coalition that Ronal Reagan constructed leading up to the 1980 election
Southern Democrats
faction of Democrats 1946 and 1968 eventually returned back into their original party or switched parties, as this party did in 1968
California, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii
far west states in which Democratic party has greatest strength
George Washington
farewell address warned "against the baneful effects of the spirit of party." yo, weren't you a federalist!
party rule
has long made Americans suspicious of parties indeed, separation of powers was mean to blunt any attempts by a faction
parliamentary system
in not party wins a majority, the smaller parties can join with larger parties in a coalition systems then divvy up power based on the percentage of the vote won have to form coalitions in order to form government creates incentive for small parties to fracture off larger parties
Age
individuals from the same age cohort are likely to have experience similar set of events during the period when they formed their party loaylties
Stuart Rice
professor who developed a simple measure of party tracked by Congressional quarterly since the 1950s (but began in 1920s) party unity score 1950s-1970s: unity score around 70 percent since 1980s: regularly exceeded 90 percent
Ross Peo
ran in 1992 and 1996 as an independent folksy style in presidential debates garnered almost 19 percent of popular vote in 1992 election
George Wallace
received 10 percent of the vote in 1968
John Anderson
received 5 percent of the vote in 1980
1830s-1840s
time period in which the Democrats and the Whigs build party organizations through the elimination of property restrictions and other barriers to voting support for the new Whig Party was stronger in the Northeast with mercantile groups
To Deal with Problem of Ambition
very "brand names" they provide are often a significant electoral asset provide politicians (who share principles, causes and constituencies) with a basis for coordination, common cause, cooperation, and joint enterprise individual ambition threatens to undermine any bases for cooperation so regulate career advancement attending to to the post-career care of elected and appointed party officials do much to rescue coordination and cooperation and permit fellow partisans to pursue common causes where feasible primaries provide a context in which clashing electoral ambitions can be resolved political parties constitute organizations of relatively kindred spirits who try to capture some of those dividends by providing a structure in which ambition is not suppressed altogether but is not so destructive either
Maurice Duverger
wrote Political Parties any third-party movement that attempts to enter the American party system would likely fail to win, or worse, would improve the electoral fortunes of the party it most opposes number of successful parties is two electoral rules create strong pressures to maintain just two parties, distinctive in their plans for governing but expansive in the interests and ideas that they encompass
1995
year in which Republicans pledged to limit House committee chairs to three terms upheld in 2001
1972
year in which the Democratic National Convention adopted a new set of rules favored by the party's liberal wing--state delegations are required to include women and members of minority groups in rough proportion to those groups' representation among the party's membership in their state
Nomination by Convention
delegates to each party's national convention are chose by party members on a state-by-state basis; there is no single national delegate selection process
President and the Party
during midterm congressional elections, when the president is not on the ballot, voters hold the president's party accountable for current problems when economy does poorly, will punish the party of the president unlike parliamentary systems, like the UK, the heads of executive departments are not sitting members of the legislature with a few exceptions, heads of executive departments are people loyal to the president the president cannot introduce legislation and must rely on members of Congress to do so legislative initiatives are proposed as bills by fellow party members the U.S. House and senate reach out to individual legislators to try to persuade the member of Congress to support a particular bill Congress depends strongly on which party controls the House and Senate the president's legislative agenda succeeds most of the time when House and Senate have majorities that are the same party as the president normally win in excess of 80 percent of the time on bills if his party controls both House and Senate
National Convention and Establishing the Party's Platform
platforms are often dismissed as platitude-laden documents that are seldom ready by voters parties' presidential candidates make little use of the party's platforms in their campaigns: usually they prefer to develop and promote their own themes nonetheless, the platform should be understood as a "Treaty" in which the various party factions attending the convention state their terms for supporting the ticket
To Resolve Problems of Collective Choice in Government
political parties are also essential elements in the process of making policy shared or overlapping interests who, as a rule, will support one another's programs and initiatives permanent coalitions --> parties greatly facilitate the policy-making process if alliances had to be formed from scratch for each legislative proposal, govt. would slow to a crawl every president works closely with his party's leadership to make sure that the executive's agenda will be introduced party cohesion is not a given the public philosophy of the party and the need for action on a crucial issue
Nomination
the process by which political parties select their candidates for election to public office parties' most serious and difficult business can precede the election by many months, as it does when candidates for the presidency are eliminated through a grueling series of debates only one survivor --> party's nominee
Democrats and Republicans
the two major parties in the United States sustained third parties haven't been able to compete with Democrats and Republicans since 1850s for past 150 years, these two parties have elected every president and nearly every member of Congress and governor and state legislator in the U.S. independent candidates usually fail unless the person eventually attaches himself to one of the parties remarkably adept at accommodating a diverse set of interests and ideas each capture a range of ideological views while keeping successful third parties at bay
Howard Dean
2006, the chairman of the DNC his failed but impressive presidential bid in 2004 launched him onto the national scene crafted a 50-state strategy for the 2006 midterm election to build party strength and recruit quality candidates in all 50 states Barack Obama's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns capitalized on this man's 50-state strategy
Problems that Political Parties Solve
1. collective action--outgrowth of elections in which a candidate for office must attract campaign funds, assemble a group of activists and workers, mobilize prospective voters and persuade them to vote for her 2. collective choice of policy give-and-take within a legislature and between the president can make or break policy success and thus electoral success 3. power sharing and competition among politicians politicians seek success for their organization and for themselves in seeking to further their own ambitions, politicians can act in ways that serve their own interests can undermine the collective aspiration reason that parties form? to serve the interests of politicians
Sixth Party System
1960s, conservative Republicans argued that me-tooism was a recipe for continual failure and sought to reposition the party as a genuine alternative to the Democrats Richard Nixon's "southern strategy" appealed strongly to disaffected white southerners and with the help of independent candidate and former Alabama governor George Wallace sparked shift of conception of the "party of Lincoln" 1980s: under the leadership of Ronald Reagan, Republicans added another important group to their coalition: religious conservatives who were offended by Democratic support of abortion rights as well as alleged Democratic disdain for traditional cultural and religious values Democratic Party maintained its support among unionized workers and upper-middle-class intellectuals and professional appealed strong to racial minorities 1965 Voting Rights Act increased the participation of black voters in South GOP appealed to social conservatives, the Democrats appealed strongly to Americans concerned about abortion rights, gay rights, feminism, environmentalism, and other progressive social causes result is a draw Democrats won the presidency 5/12 elections since passage of VRA and held at least one chamber of Congress most of the time stalemate masked dramatic changes New England, once the bedrock of the GOP, had not one republican US house member after 2008 election
new Democrat
1990s, what President Clinton called himself Democratic party sought to develop social programs designed to solidify the party's base among working class and poor voters and somewhat conservative economic programs aimed at attracting the votes of middle-class and upper-middle-class voters
Parties as institutions
American parties consist of extensive networks of politicians, interest groups, activists and donors, consultants and voters party Caucus in Congress has more influence over the policies pursued by parties than other party campaign finance committees may, for example, work with the congressional caucus to maximize the party's appeal to donors
Nominating Candidates
Article I, Section 4 delegates to the states the power to set the "Times, Places and Manner of Holding Elections reserve to Congress the power to make such laws if it chooses to do soCongress has occasionally passed laws regulating elections, congressional districting, and campaign practices President: 35+ y.o., natural-born citizens, resident of U>S. for 14+ years Senator: 30+ y.o., U.S. citizen for at least 9 years and a resident of the state s/he represents HoR: 25+ y.o., US citizen for 7 years, a resident of the state s/he represents
party activists
a partisan who contributes time, energy and effort to support a party and its candidates drawn from the ranks of the strong identifiers not only vote, but contribute their time, energy and effort to party affairs ring doorbells, stuff envelopes, attend meetings, and contribute money to the party cause
the National Committee
Democratic Party: Democratic National Committee (DNC) Republican Party: Republican National Committee (RNC) raise campaign funds, head off factional disputes within the party, and endeavor to enhance the party's media image since 1972, the size of staff and the amount of money raised have substantially increased for the party that controls the White House, national committee chair is appointed by the president adjunct to the White House staff devotes the bulk of its energy to the re-election campaign for other party, usually takes a broader view of the party's needs, raising money and performing other activities on behalf of the party's members seeks funds primarily for the presidential race
Group Basis of Parties
Democratic and Republican parties are America's only national parties only political organizations that draw support from most regions of the country and from Americans of every racial, economic, religious, and ethnic group while organized groups are important, so to are unorganized groups parties can appeal to different types of voters through distinct policy promises party aligns well on the group's pet issue -> group is likely to support that party (e.g. Cuban americans and their relationship with Castro led them to favor the Republican party, who were much tougher on Cuba) variety of group characteristics are associated with party ID (el.g. race, ethnicity, gender, religion, class, region, and age)
Party Machines as a Strategic Innoavtion
nineteenth and early 20th centuries, cities, counties and states had well-organized parties
Reagan Coalition
corporate political leaders, who wanted to minimized taxes; the Christian Coalition and other fundamental Christian groups that wanted changes in various social policies; and activists in western states who wanted open access to land (i.e. Sage Bush Rebellion)
Gender gap
a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men somewhat new in American politics, est. in 1980s in fact, women's vote in the 1920s, no difference in voting behavior between men and women women tended to be slightly more Republican, if anything modern gender gap emerged full-fledged in the 1980 presidential election and has ranged from a difference of 4 percentage points in 1992 to 11 percentage points in 1996 2012 election: 10-point gender gap
third parties
a party that organizes to compete against the two major American political parties represented social and economic protests that were not given voice by the two major political parties e.g. populist party--centered in rural areas of the West and Midwest; Progressives, urban middle classes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries third-party and independent candidates together polled only 2.25 million votes gained no electoral votes for president arise at state and local levels NY: Liberal and Conservative parties have been on the ballot for decades 1998: Minnesota governor Jess Ventura two independents currently serve in the U.S. senate: Senator Bernie Sanders of VT and Senator Angus King of Maine NOTE: two major parties of today started as third parties and reinvent themselves ideologically, often incorporating ideas of other parties, which is why third-parties are often not viable long term limitation: electoral support to one or two regions e.g. progressive party with Henry Wallace got half of its votes from NY Americans assume tat only the candidates nominated by the two parties have an actual shot of being elected so don't waste time with third-party/independent candidates e.g. Ralph Nader did better in states where either Bush or Gore nearly certain to win, which meant that voters could vote for who they want without fear of increasing the chances of the least favorable candidate winning (because they correctly assumed their vote doesn't have an effect)
closed primary
a primary election in which only those voters who registered with the party a specified period before the primary election day can participate
open primary
a primary election in which voters can choose on the primary election day itself which party's primary to vote in allows each voter to consider candidates and issues before deciding whether to participate and in which party's contest to participate less conducive to strong political parties are more open than conventions or caucuses to new issues and new types of candidates
First Party System: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans
although Washington deplore partisan politics, two-party system emerged early in the history of the new Republic Federalists: northeastern mercantile led by Alexander Hamilton strength in New England supported protective tariffs to encourage manufacturers, the assumption of states' Revolutionary War debts, the creation of a national bank and resumption of commercial ties with England Democratic-Republicans: southern agrarian factions led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison organize primary base was in the South opposed these policies, favoring instead free trade, promotion of agrarian over commercial interests, friendship with France why have parties? to institutionalize existing voting blocs in Congress around a cohesive policy agenda ties to electorate were loose 1800: American electorate was small and deference was an important political factor voters generally expected to follow the lead of local political and religious leaders and community notables meetings where candidates were nominated were generally called caucuses before secret ballot, many voters were reluctant to defy the views of influential members of their organized political clubs election of 1800: Jefferson defeated the incumbent Federalist president, John Adams, and led the Democratic-Republicans to power over ensuing years, Federalists gradually weakened and disappeared altogether after the pro-British sympathies of some Federalist leaders during War of 1812
party identification
an individual's attachment to a particular political party, which might be based on issues, ideology, past experience or upbringing reflects a psychological attachment developed in childhood and adolescence rational component: rooted in evaluations of the performance of the parties in government, the policies they will pursue, and an individuals' interest and ideology strength of partisan tied in the US seems to have declined in the 1960s and 1970s, but party ID gives citizens a stake in election outcomes that goes beyond the race at hand why strong party identifies are more likely to go the polls and support the party with which they identify attachment to party does not guarantee voting for party's candidates strong do so almost always though race, religion, income and ideology seem to have greatest influence on American's party affiliations reflect the general tendency of groups-organized and unorganized-to sort into partisan camps
political party
an organized group that attempts to influence government by electing its members to office differs from an interest group on the basis of orientation seeks to control the entire government by electing its members, thereby controlling the government's personnel interest group is also concerned with election politicians but does not ordinarily sponsor candidates directly, and between elections they usually accept government and its personnel as givens and try to influence government policies through them benefit seekers, whereas parties are composed mainly of office seekers
Recruiting candidates
candidates must be found for thousands of state and local offices as well as for congressional seats recruiting season begins early, because the dates by which candidates must file for office come as early as January of the election year, though in some states they are as late as June 2006 and 2008: recruited a number of Iraq war veterans who became spokespeople for opposition to the war Tea Party movement: managed to recruit a very strong class of candidates biggest challenge? fail to recruit anyone to run for a seat House seat: $500,000-$1 million Senate seat: several million dollars often people are reluctant to leave their homes and families for the hectic life a member of Congress particularly difficult in an era when political campaigns often involve mudslinging and candidates must assume that their personal lives will be intensely scrutinized in the press
Ideal Candidate
charismatic, organized, knowledgeable, an excellent debater; have an unblemished record; and posses the ability and wherewithal to raise enough money to mount a serious campaign
1970s-1980s
congressional campaigns were built entirely from the ground up by each individual candidate those who were unusually good at raising money prevailed (had to be charismatic and SUPER organized!!!!)
State and Local Party Organizations
each party has a central committee in each state also have county committees and may even have state senate district committees, judicial district committees, and in larger cities, citywide party committees and local assembly district "ward" committees congressional district may also have party committees additionally, some cities will have precinct committees very active in recruiting candidates, conducting voter registration drives, and providing financial assistance to candidates federal election law have given local party organizations new life, permitting them to spend unlimited amounts of money on "party building" activities such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives limited in the amount of money in the amount of money they can spend on candidates, so transfer millions of dollars each year to the state and local organizations state and local parties spend these funds to promote the candidacies of national, state and local candidates American political parties have thus become more integrated and nationalized than ever before state and local party organizations have come to control large financial resources and play important roles in elections despite the collapse of the old patronage machiens
Ideology and Parties
each political party become ideologically more homogenous after the 1980s few liberal Republicans or conservative Democrats consequences: 1. party loyalty in Congress-had been weak 1950s-1970s, but became a potent force 1990s witnessed a dramatic resurgence of party-line voting in Congress ideology has replaced organization as the glue holding together each party's coalition in the long run, unrealistic basis ideological divisions plague both camps today's more ideologically motivated party activists give their leaders only very conditional backing and feel free to withhold support if they disagree with the leadership's goals and plans Republican congressional leaders have adopted a strategy of avoiding votes on issues that would split party price of unity based on ideology is inability to act today's issue oriented activists demand that politicians demonstrate strong commitments to moral principles and political causes in exchange for their support have pushed Democrats to the left and vice versa not holding out on promises? you're a sell out!!! no longer tweedledee-tweedledum party divisions like post WWII, now differ sharply on social, economic and foreign policy issues and are deeply divided over questions concerning taxation and govt. spending
1840
election in which Whigs won their first presidential election under General William Henry Harrison, a military hero known as Old Tippecanoe first time in American history that two parties competed for the presidency in EVERy state in the Union Whig campaign carefully avoided issues (b/c of factions in party) and emphasized the personal qualities and heroism of candidate invested heavily rallies and entertainment to win the HEARTS , not exactly the minds, of voters
Fourth Party System, 1896-1932
emergence of populist sentiments Republicans nominated conservative William McKinley northern and midwestern business made an all-out effort to defeat what it saw as a radical threat from the Populist-Democratic alliance Midwest, workers became convinced that the Populist-Democratic alliance threatened the industries that provided their jobs, while immigrants were frightened by the nativist rhetoric employed by some Populist orators and writers 36 years, Republicans were the nation's majority party, carrying 7 of 9 presidential elections; advocating low taxes, high tariffs and a minimum of govt. regulation Democrats far too weak to off much opposition
Institutional Reforms on the Progressives
excessive powers and abuses of party machines and their bosses led to one of the great reform movements in American history, so-called Progressive Era, motivated by a sincere desire to rid politics of corruption and improve the quality and efficiency of govt. BUT also, weakening or elimination of party organization would also mean that power could more readily be acquired and retained by the "best men" introduction of nonpartisan local elections eroded grassroots party organization extension of "merit systems" for administrative appointments stripped party organizations of their vitally important access to patronage and thus reduced party leaders' capacity to control the nomination of candidates taken together substantially weakened party organizations in the United States -> voter turnout declined precipitously gradually lost their organizational vitality and coherence and became less effective campaign tools elimination of the permanent mass organizations that had been the parties' principal campaign weapons
Progressive Republicans
faction of Republicans 1920s eventually returned back to the original party Women's organizations worked closely with the Progressive faction inside the Republican Party in the 1900s and 1910s in the struggle to gain the right to vote for women
Second Party System: Democrats and Whigs
from the collapse of Federalists (in 1812) until 1839s, American only had one political party intense factional conflict within the Democratic-Republican Party, esp. between supporters and opponents of Gen. Andrew Jackson (great war hero of War of 1812) 1 out of 5 significant candidates for president in 1824 and won the most popular vote and electoral votes, but a majority in neither, throwing the election into the HoR Jacksons' opponents united to deny him the presidency, but Jackson won election 1828 and 1832 greatly admired by nation's farms and its villages Jacksonians built political clubs and held mass rallies and parades, laying the groundwork for a new and more popular politics successor Martin Van Buren, organizational genius behind the Jacksonian movement, est. a central party committee Jacksonians also est. the state and national party conventions as form of nominating presidential candidates Jacksonians --> Democratic Party opponents esp. in New England states during the 1830s: Whigs formed as successor to Federalists (favored a national bank, a protective tariff, and federal sponsored internal improvements); diverse group, united more by opposition to the Democrats conflict between two parties revolved around personality as much as policies 1840s and 1850s: sharp divisions within parties over slavery--despite efforts of Henry Clay and Stephen A. Douglas
changing ideologies in two-party system
half a century ago, the Democrat's political strength lay in the South and Republicans in the north Democrats favored racial desegregation in the South, and Republicans wanted protectionist trade policies and dismantling of Social Security over the past 60 years, social and economic changes forced the parties to shift their policy orientations and to encompass different political coalitions era of GRADUAL CHANGE in party system as a creeping realignment central issues driving this? race! 1940s, Harry Truman and Hubert Humphrey pulled their party to embrace a new platform to end racial desegregation redefined the Democratic party SUDDEN CHANGE American civil war and economic depression of the 1890s and 1930s brought dramatic and lasting changes to the balance of power between the parties and to the principles and policies that the parties represent
committee system
in both houses, organized by the parties each party is assigned a quota of member for each committee, depending n the percentage of total seats held by the party leaders of the two parties must agree against who quote this member's committee assignment will count assignment of individual members is a party decision whoever advances up the committee ladder is party decision since the late nineteenth century, most advancement have been automatic (seniority system) during the 1970s, both parties reinstituted the practice of reviewing each chairmanship, voting anew every two years on whether each chair would be continued
party machine
in the late nineteenth and early 20th centuries, the local party organization that controlled local politics through patronage and the nomination process leaders were called bosses depended heavily on the patronage of the spoils system (party's power to control gov.t jobs) patronage worked as a selective benefit for anyone the party wished to attract to its side party and govt. were virtually interchangeable solved a collective action problem by using selecting incentives of patronage and nomination to maintain their organizations an diminish free riding many organizational aspects of party politics involve the ingenuity of rational politicians and leaders grappling with problems of coordination and collective action, as the rationality principle and the collective action principle suggest condemned as antidemocratic and corrupt served the interests of powerful business and did not help the working people
America's single-member plurality rule system
incorrect to assert (as some some scholars have maintained) that "x" guarantees that only two parties will compete for power in all regions of the country rather it depresses the number of parties likely to survive over long periods of time nothing magical about the number two
Religion
jews are among the Democratic Party's most loyal constituent groups and have been since the New Deal nearly 90 percent of all Jewish Americans describe themselves as Democrats percentage is declining among younger Jew Catholics WERE once a strongly pro-Democratic group, but have been shifting toward the Republican Party since the 1970s Protestants who are religiously liberal tend to identify as Democrats
national health insurance
key item on the Democratic Party's platform since 1940s in 2009, Obama created this system that guarantees all people access to health care
Facilitating Electoral Choice
likely to be only a handful of candidates who are well known to the voters, namely, some of the candidates for president, US Senate, US House, and governor without party labels, voters would be constantly confronted by a bewildering array of new names considerable difficulty making informed decisions parties lower the cost of information by presenting a recognizable "band name" voters to look at past experience with that party to determine who to vote for Democratic party: commitment to more extensive government regulation of the economy and a larger public sector (cemented in 1930); aggressive protection of civil rights and a secular approach to religion in public life (1960s and 1970s) loosely labeled liberal Republican Party: favors a limited government role in the economy and reduced government spending loosely labeled conservative even those who do not identify with one of the major parties derive value from party labels because acts as a shortcut for information about the candidates party labels simplify the decision parties make it easier to hold government accountable solve one of the most important collective action problems: collective responsibility if no parties,would be exceedingly difficult for voters to send a message to the govt. that they want govt. to go in a different direction parties lend coherence to government and meaning to elections benefit the politician each party draws on a distinct pool for activists and candidates; each successive election reinforcing the existing division between parties
1994, 2006, 2010
midterm elections in which the public decides to give control of Congress to the party opposing the president in order to rein in the executive
party system
more than just number of parties connotes the organization of the parties, the balance of power between and within party coalitions,the parties' social and institutional bases, and the issues and policies around which party competition is organized
number of major parties
most obvious feature of a party system
Government and Opposition
most parties originate inside the government United Kingdom term
40-50
number of races on which the $125 million of party committees' expenditures were concentrated 2012
George Washington Plunkitt of NYC's Tammany Hall
one of the most notorious machine leaders in American political history considered machine politics to be "patriotic" create and retain political influence, "you must study human nature and act according." needed such patronage to operate and thrive, and that if that patronage was withdrawn the parties would "go to pieces"
peak association
organizations of organizations e.g. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers
32 percent
percent of time that House supported Obama's initiatives in 2011
85 percent
percent of time that Senate supported Obama's initiatives in 2011
Speaker of the House
perhaps, the most powerful person in Congress, is essentially a party officer all members of the House take part in the election of this person, but the actual selection is made by the majority party majority party caucus presents a nominee to the entire House, its choice is invariably ratified in a straight-line party vote
To Facilitate Collective Action in the Electoral Process
parties and elections are so intertwined the American parties actually take their structure from the electoral process for every district where an election is held, there should be some kind of party unit--> provides brand name, resources (human and financial), the "buzz," and the link to the larger national organization stimulate commitment by voters activities facilitate collective action ultimately overcome the free riding that diminishes turnout in general election Republican Party: part of business interests, especially small business and peak associations; Italian immigrants; Cubans because Republicans took harder line against the Castro regime in the 1970s disaffection with liberal policies concerning school prayer, funding of religious schools, abortion and other social issues led fundamentalist to become Republican Democratic Party: labor unions, reformers that want to regulate the economy since the 1930s by the 1970s, led many newer women's groups, such as NOW to align themselves with Democrats; most hispanic groups when the party any of these groups supports wins, these interest groups grain influence over public policy an organized interest may suffer if the party it supports loses the election
Contemporary Party as Service Provider to Candidates
parties are more professional, better financed and better organized than ever before evolved into "Service organizations" which although they no longer hold a monopoly over campaigns, still provide services to candidates parties collect information, ranging from lists of likely supporters and donors in local areas to public opinion polls in states and legislative districts and they provide this information directly to their candidates teams of campaign organizers who provide assistance to local candidates who are in tight races but are understaffed target closest 50 or so House races and the closest 5-10 Senate races also provide tactical support consultants deployed to specific campaigns to assist with get-out-the-vote efforts, direct mail and the like
brand loyatly
party ID in terms of market place choose a brand of automobile for its appearance or mechanical characteristics and stick with it out of LOYALTY, HABIT, and an UNWILLINGNESS TO REEXAMINE choice constantly may eventually switch if the old brand no longer serves their intersts
Nomination by Primary Election
party members select the party's nominees directly rather than selecting convention delegates who then select the nominees far from perfect replacement for conventions, because it is rare for more than 25 percent of enrolled voters to participate most states adopted this for Congress and state offices beginning of the twentieth century and 1950s-1970s states gradually adopted primaries candidates must win not one election, but two-the primary and the general institutions matter because they encourage or discourage particular types of candidates, as the institution principle suggests
Contemporary Party Organizations
party organizations exist at virtually every level of government organizations are usually committees made up of a number of active party members committee members are elected at a local party meeting or as part of the regular primary election e.g. Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee
National Convention and Establishing the Party's Rules
party rules can determine the relative influence of competing factions within the party and can increase or decrease the party's chance for electoral success
Era of Good Feeling
period of one-party politics indicates the absence of party competition Federalists until 1830s
Party Systems
political parties compete with each other for offices, policies and power control of govt. shapes the policies, ability of the parties to respond to the demands of the time and age fate of each party is inextricably linked to that of its major rival sense of stability, of equilibrium Democrats and Republicans will be the main parties in the next election and will tend to ideologically the same, Democrats aligning with unions and urban interests while Republicans will align more closely with corporations and rural areas stability of the party system in the US does not mean that the system is static also will have a tension between more moderate and more extreme interests moderates: pursue centrists policies to increase the support of the party conflicts worked out in state and national conventions those involved in the political struggle, ultimate goal to control govt. to gain the upper hand in the struggle with their opposing parties historical evolutions: parties change, but only a little leaders rose to power from within party ranks and thus represent the core principles and ideology of the party and have relied on the primary interest groups within the party in their ascent to power ain't gonna forget about where they came from realignment sometimes comes and sometimes suddenly
Pluralist view
political parties consist of coalitions of many organized groups a group can offer resources to the party party, in exchange, can pursue policies in line with what the groups want more disciplined the group and the more resources it can offer the more power it will have in the party
1970s
political parties were extremely weak and underfunded not capable of providing candidates with such support on a large scale
John Aldrich
political scientists who argued, unlike any political leader before him, Van Buren appreciated the possibilities for mass mobilization and the necessity of a well-oiled national organization to overcome free riding and other collective action problems institutional solutions to collective action problems, leaving as a historical legacy the blueprint for the modern mass-based political party
American Independent Party
polled nearly 10 million popular votes and 45 electoral votes for George Wallace in 1968 came from Deep South
Congressional Campaign Committees
raise funds for House and Senate elections House: National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Senate: National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) have professional staff devoted to raising and distributing funds, developing strategies, recruiting candidates, and conducting on-the-ground campaigns current chairs: Rep Steve Israel (D-NY) and Senator Michael Bennett (D-Colo.) on Democratic side; Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Senator Jerry Moran (D-Kans.) on the Republican Side focus on House and Senate seats
1990s-2000s
rise of party campaign organizations has altered the politics of swing districts parties have poured resources into most competitive seats in order to improve their chances of winning control of the legislature
Third Party System: Republicans and Democrats, 1860-1896
secession of the South had stripped the Democratic Party of many of its leaders and supporters, but the Democrats nevertheless remained politically competitive throughout the war and nearly won the 1864 presidential election due to war weariness on the part of the northern public sought to convert the South into a Republican bastion through Reconstruction, a program that enfranchised newly freed slaves while disenfranchising many white voters Reconstruction collapsed in the 1870s as a result of divisions within Republican Party in Congress and violent resistance to the program by southern whites former Confederal states regained full membership in the Union and full control of their internal affairs post-Civil War South was solidly Democratic from the end of the Civil War to the 1890s , the Republican Party remained the party of the North, with strong business and middle-class support, while the Democratic Party was the party of the South working-class and immigrant groups in the North Republicans campaigned by waving the "bloody shirt" of the Civil War and urging the supporters to "vote the way you shot." Democrats emphasized the issue of the tariff, which they claimed was ruinous to agricultural interests
Race and Ethnicity
since the 1930s and FDR's New Deal, African Americans have been overwhelmingly Democratic in their party ID more than 90 percent of African Americans identify themselves as Democrats approximately 25 percent of the Democratic party's support in presidential races comes from African Americans voters Mexican Americans are the single largest group historically aligned with the Democratic Party, as have Puerto Ricans and Central Americans Cuban Americans have voted heavily and identified as Republicans; however, over the past 5 years, Cubans have exhibited a rapid shift toward the Democratic Party why? generational differences, as younger Cuban Americans look to be as Democratic as other Hispanic and Latino groups Asian Americans tend to be divided as well Higher-income Asians tend to be as Republican as higher -income whites not clear how other asians (e.g. Thai, Indians) will go
September 2008
the month in which George W. Bush proposed a $700 billion intervention to unlock frozen markets sizable majority of Democratic votes in favor of the Republican president's plan competing presidential nominees, Obama and McCain voting against the bill argued that the plan would increase the size of government following day: Dow Jones dropped 777 points, losing almost one-tenth of it's value (in a single day!)
Fifth Party System: the New Deal Coalition, 1932-1968
soon after Republican candidate Herbert Hoover won the 1928 presidential election, the nation's economy collapsed unprecedented economic hardship--i.e. Great Depression Republic Party had not done enough to promote economic recovery 1932, Americans elected FDR and a solidly democratic Congress under the auspicies of which the size and reach of America's national government was substantially increased economic management and social welfare FDR sough to expand political base rebuilt the party around a nucleus of unionized workers, upper-middle-class intellectuals and professionals, southern farmers, Jews, Catholics, and northern African Americans Democrats became the nation's majority party for 36 years! strained during the 1960s by conflicts of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society initiative, civil rights, and the Vietnam War many aspect of Great Society designed to fight poverty and racial discrimination programs touched off battles between local Democratic political machines and the national administration that split the Democratic coalition civil rights initially divided northern Democrats also experienced a split with blue-collar workers tending to vote Republican struggle over Vietnam War divided the Democrats strongly opposing the Johnson administration's decision to sen dUS forces to fight in Southeast Asia Republican party returned to power in 1968 with election of Richard Nixon
Political Parties
teams of politicians, activists, and voters whose goal is to win control of government by accumulating the resourced needed to run political campaigns, esp. manpower and money; and by pursuing a policy agenda that can appeal to large numbers of voters and secure electoral majorities divided government has been the norm in American national and state politics, esp. over the last 50 years our inability to imagine democracy without parties is a reflection of a law of democratic politics: parties form to solve key problems of rationality and collective action in a democracy they give clear choices to voters, making it easier for voters to hold government accountable ease the transition from elections to govt. parties LINK elections to governing choice between the parties=choice of government choosing to change government means voting against the party that currently holds the presidency and Congress greater simplicity in two-party system; simplifies vote choice opportunity for third party is very limited parties are not benevolent: recognize that these problems represent opportunities to secure elected office, to influence public policy, even to make a profit for activists, party is a potential way to pull the policies of government in a direction more favorable to the party's views regulations on campaign contributions and government contracting, sunshine laws, and federal advisory rules, even civil-0service reforms have all come through efforts to prevent party bosses and interest groups from taking advantage of their power have invariably found new resources to draw on very strong party organization and periods of relative party weakness American politics characterized by relatively strong party organizations
ideological gap
this has been exacerbated by two factors: 1. each party's dependence on ideologically motivated activists Democratic political candidates depend on liberal activists to organize and finance their campaigns Republican political candidates rely on support of conservative activists, in particular religious fundamentalists 2.the changes in the presidential nominating system that were introduced during the 1970s took place in response to Democratic Party's defeat in 1968 guided by the so-called McGovern-Fraser Commission on party reform, changed rules governing Democratic presidential nomination to reduce the power of party officials and party professionals while increasing the role of issue-oriented activists national convention delegates to be chosen in primaries and caucuses rather than by each state party's central committee presidential nominating processes are strongly influenced by precisely the sorts of grassroots activists who are often inclined to to oppose centrist or pragmatic politicians in favor of those appearing to manifest ideological purity
to form de novo
to fracture off larger parties (by smaller parties)
Influencing National Government
two major parties can be seen as "big tents" trying to bing in as many groups and ideas a possible prevents effective national third parties from emerging and guarantees that the Democrats and Republicans vie for control of Congress political coalitions that party leaders assemble determine what interests and social groups align with the parties active government intervention in the economy Democratic party pushes for aggressive expansion and protection of civil rights, for women and racial minorities Republican party = laissez-faire economics and a minimal government role in the economy Ronald Reagan built a coalition in the 1970s that paired this vision of limited government intervention in the economy with expanded role for religion in society may seem like contradictory ideas Conservatism maintains a respect for social and political order, speaking for a stronger role for social organizations in society, esp. religion American parties have scrambled these traditional views mixed and matched different ideas as new issues have emerged and as leaders within the parties have seized opportunities New Deal coalition that FDR assembled consisted of Progressive Republicans; old-line Democrats, esp. in the South; and urban political machines this peculiar coalition gave rise to the political philosophy and public policies pursued under the New Deal constrained what Roosevelt could do on some issues (i.e. he could not push for expanding civil rights) party leaders can play the role of policy entrepreneurs, seeking ideas and programs that will explain their party's base of support while eroding that of the opposition e.g. Bush recommended a number of proposals designed to help latinos secure U.S. residence and employment while Democrats proposed education, social service programs and immigration reform designed to appeal to Latino families 2008: Obama won 66 percent of Latino vote, while in 2012 won 70 percent of latino vote
Class
upper-income Americans are considerably more likely to affiliate with the Republicans, whereas very lower-income Americans are far more likely to identify with the Democrats Republicans support cutting taxes and social spending Democrats, however, favor increased social spending, even if this requires increasing taxes--position consistent with the interests of the less affluent Americans relatively affluent individuals who work in the public sector tend to affiliate with the Democrats such individuals likely to appreciate the Democratic Party's support for an expanded role of government and high levels of public spending Outside the South, voters with less than a college education have declined in their support of Democratic presidential candidates by only 1 percentage point in the last 50 years
