Political Science American Government and Politics

Chapter 8 Political Parties

8-1

What is a political party?

• a group of activists who organize to win elections, to operate the government and to determine public policy

8-2

Functions of Political Parties in the United States

• Recruiting candidates for public office• Organizing and running elections• Presenting alternative policies to the

electorate• Accepting responsibility for operating the

government• Acting as the organized opposition to the

party in power

8-3

Parties in U.S. History

• 1789-1812 – the creation of parties• 1816-1824 – the era of one party rule• 1828-1860 – two era of national two party

rule• 1864-1892 – the post Civil War period• 1896-1928 – the Progressive era• 1932- present – the modern era

8-4

American Political Parties since 1789

8-5

The Three Faces of Party• Party-in-the Electorate – members of the general

public who identify with a political party or who express a preference for one party over the other

• Party Organization – the formal structure and leadership of a political party, including election committees; local, state and national executives and paid professional staff

• Party-in-Government – all of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a political party

8-6

The Theoretical Structure of the American Political Party

8-7 A Theoretical Structure of the American Political Party

8-8

Which Party Is Better?

8-9

Why Do We Have a Two-Party System?

• historical foundations of the system– sectional politics– class politics

• self-perpetuation of parties• commonality of views among Americans• the winner-take all electoral system• state and federal laws favoring the two

party system

8-10

Minor Parties in the United States

• most successful minor parties have been splinter parties, parties that broke from a major party– Examples

• Bull Moose Progressives (from the Republicans0

8-10b

Minor Parties in the United States (cont.)

– the Dixiecrats (States Rights) Party (from the Democrats)

• often, minor parties’ platforms are adopted by major parties

• sometimes minor party candidates can have an impact on the outcome of an election

8-11

Party Identification from 1937 to 1998