Political PartiesPolitical Parties

What’s a party?What’s a party?

American GovernmentAmerican Government defines it as “a group defines it as “a group of office holders, of office holders, candidates, activists, candidates, activists, and voters who identify and voters who identify with a group label and with a group label and seek to elect to public seek to elect to public office individuals who office individuals who run under that label” run under that label” (449).(449).

Three groups who make up Three groups who make up the partythe party

1.1. The office holders The office holders and candidates and candidates who run under the who run under the party banner.party banner.

2. The workers and activists who staff the formal organization.

3.3. The voters who The voters who consider consider themselves a part themselves a part of the party.of the party.

Roles of the partiesRoles of the parties1. Mobilize support and gather strength – give offi

ce holders a chance to develop policy and then gain supporters

2.2. Stability – they offer continuity during Stability – they offer continuity during changechange

3.3. Unity – connect people from different Unity – connect people from different backgrounds and political units competing backgrounds and political units competing for power (i.e., the state and the fed)for power (i.e., the state and the fed)

4.4. Access – provide a means of Access – provide a means of communication between office holder and communication between office holder and voter.voter.

5.5. Accountability – office holders have to Accountability – office holders have to address party members at ralliesaddress party members at rallies

6.6. Competition – two parties, close races, Competition – two parties, close races, what fun!what fun!

7.7. Filter – act as a means for processing Filter – act as a means for processing information for both candidate and voterinformation for both candidate and voter

8.8. Platform development – help create Platform development – help create national philosophy and goalsnational philosophy and goals

Types of systemsTypes of systems1.1. One-partyism – a system in One-partyism – a system in

which one party dominates which one party dominates and wins nearly all and wins nearly all elections (this has elections (this has happened in the U.S., happened in the U.S., typically in regional cases).typically in regional cases).

2.2. Dual-party – the current Dual-party – the current system in the U.S.system in the U.S.

3.3. Third-partyism – when a Third-partyism – when a third party surfaces to third party surfaces to challenge in a typical dual-challenge in a typical dual-party system (once again, party system (once again, has happened in the U.S. has happened in the U.S. on occasion).on occasion).

Republicans v. Democrats in the 21st Century

• Size of National Government– Dem= Support a strong central govt. Look to it to solve a wide

variety of problems.– Rep= Limit size of national govt., and give more power to the

states.• Taxes

– Dem= Tax cuts for poor. Wealthy taxed more.– Rep=Broad based tax cuts to encourage economic growth.

• Regulation of Business– Dem=Regulate business to protect consumers, workers and

environment.– Rep=Limited govt. involvement.

Republicans v. Democrats in the 21st Century

• Social Issues– Dem=Support abortion rights and gun control

laws. Oppose prayer in school.– Rep=Favor prayer in school, but oppose

abortion and gun control laws.• Minimum Wage

– Dem=Favor increases in minimum wage to support poor famililies.

– Rep=Oppose minimum wage increases. Too much govt. involvement in economy.

The Third Party The Third Party

Why third parties stay Why third parties stay smallsmall

1.1. Most states have laws that Most states have laws that force third party candidates to force third party candidates to gather thousands of gather thousands of signatures before getting on signatures before getting on the ballot.the ballot.

2.2. Democrats and Republicans Democrats and Republicans don’t want “the pie divided don’t want “the pie divided into more pieces”into more pieces”

3.3. Public provides more funds to Public provides more funds to the two major partiesthe two major parties

4.4. Media gives more coverage to Media gives more coverage to standard candidatesstandard candidates

The Parties and the The Parties and the PeoplePeople

Potential voters are the Potential voters are the “most significant” element “most significant” element of the party system as of the party system as they provide the they provide the foundation.foundation.

Party identification – the Party identification – the philosophy a person philosophy a person adopts and uses to adopts and uses to process political process political information and explain information and explain himself to othershimself to others

Party labels lend Party labels lend themselves to conflict themselves to conflict between othersbetween others

Don’t tell me you’re a Republican!

You better not be a Democrat!

DemRep

What influences party What influences party identity?identity?

What do you What do you think?think?

Who votes which way?Who votes which way?

DemocratsDemocratsWomenWomenAfrican-AmericansAfrican-AmericansHispanicsHispanicsYoung peopleYoung peopleBlue-collar workersBlue-collar workersUnion membersUnion membersCatholicsCatholicsJewish peopleJewish peopleDivorceesDivorceesWidowsWidowsLiberalsLiberals

RepublicansRepublicansMenMenExecutivesExecutivesProfessionalsProfessionalsWhite-collar workersWhite-collar workersRetireesRetireesStay-at-home momsStay-at-home momsProtestantsProtestantsMarried couplesMarried couplesConservativesConservatives

Which are you?

2008-How People Voted2008-How People Voted

Let’s go campaigning!Let’s go campaigning!