The Nature and Functions of American Political Parties
Prepared for the Center for Civic Education Richard J. Hardy, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science Director of the Centennial Honors
College Western Illinois University August 1, 2012 No America
without democracy, no democracy without politics, no politics
without parties, no parties without compromise and moderation.
--Clinton Rossiter What Are Political Parties?
Topical Outline What Are Political Parties? A.Definition of
Political Parties B.Classification of Political Parties 1. By
Selection of Members 2. By Nature of Ideology 3. By Degree of
Centralization 4. By Degree of Party Discipline What is a Political
Party? Do You Think of Political Party Leaders? Do You Think of
Political Party Symbols? Do You Think of Political Party
Conventions? Do You Think of Political Campaigns? Do You Think of
Divisions in Congress? Do You Think of Political Parties
Positively?
Do You Think of Political Parties Negatively? Definition A
political party is group of people who run candidates for public
office under its banner. 1. By Selection of Members
Cadre Parties Mass Parties Cadre Party Cadre refers to a nucleus or
small core of indoctrinated leaders who promote ideological
interests. Examples:Socialist Workers Party, American Nazi Party,
Communist Party Mass Party Mass party refers to an organization
where anyone is encouraged and free to join.There are few if any
tests for membership. Examples:American Democratic and Republican
Parties 2.By Nature of Ideology Missionary Parties Broker Parties
Missionary Party Missionary party refers to a highly ideological
organization whose members must be recruited and converted to the
tenets or values of the organization. Examples:Prohibition Party,
Communist Party Missionary Parties want Converts! Broker Party A
Broker is someone who buys and sells on a commission.A broker party
is an organization that is less ideological and is willing to
modify its positions on issues in order to secure the most votes.
Examples:American Democratic and Republican Parties Interest Groups
Broker Parties Want VOTES! Ideology Ideology is a systematic set of
attitudes and opinions people use to justify their view of the
political world. There is no one ideology. Ideology is thought to
exist on a continuum from left to right on the political spectrum.
Lesson To win elections, candidates must play between the forty
yard lines of the political football field. 3. By Degree of
Centralization
Highly Centralized (Unitary) Highly Decentralized (Federal)
Centralized Power The American Democratic and Republican Parties
are perhaps the most DECENTRALIZED political parties in the world!
4. By Degree of Discipline
Strong Party Discipline Weak Party Discipline Strong Party
Discipline
Discipline refers to the degree of authority and power the leaders
hold over their rank and file members.Parties with strong party
discipline hold a great deal of leverage over party members.
Examples:British Labour and Conservative Parties Weak Party
Discipline Discipline refers to the degree of authority and power
the leaders hold over their rank and file members.Parties with weak
party discipline have relatively little leverage over party
members. Examples:American Democratic and Republican Parties
Democrats and Republicans
Mass Parties--virtually anyone can join Broker Parties--looking for
votes, not converts Decentralized Parties--power is widely
dispersed Weak Party Discipline--leaders exert few sanctions II.
What are the Functions of Political Parties?
Topical Outline II.What are the Functions of Political Parties?
A.Promote stability B.Recruit leaders C.Organize government D.Help
educate citizens E.Provide loyal opposition F.Spawn civic
engagement G.Simplify choices A.Promote Stability Major political
parties serve as a buffer to soften the class of extremism.They do
so by building coalitions and brokering compromises. B.Recruit
Leaders Modern governments need quality leaders.Political parties
serve as personnel agencies to identify, recruit and promote
competent public servants. C.Organize Government Without some
mechanism to organize the law-making process, legislative bodies
would be nearly impossible to function.Party leaders set
legislative priorities and help enact laws. D. Help Educate
Citizens
Parties help define issues and educate voters about their positions
on public policy. E. Provide Loyal Opposition
The party out of power serves as watchdog to keep the governing
party from abusing its authority. F. Spawn Civic Engagement
Parties help register voters and organize get-out-to-vote drives.
Voter turnout in partisan elections, all things being equal, is
significantly higher than in non-partisan elections. G.Simplify
Choices Most voters do not have the time, resources or inclination
to study every candidate and issue.The parties help simplify their
choices. III. Why A Two-Party System?
Topical Outline III.Why A Two-Party System? A.Tradition B.Cultural
Consensus C.Economic Divisions D.Political Socialization E.Legal
Restrictions A.Tradition It seems the United States has nearly
always had a strong two-party system. It is part of our nations
history and tradition. Development of the Americas Two-Party System
B.Social Consensus If a nation can achieve a consensus on
fundamental values, then two parties are all that is needed to
resolve secondary issues. C.Economic Divisions Some believe our two
major political parties represent an economic division between the
so-called haves and have nots in American society. Development of
the Americas Two-Party System D. Political Socialization
The primary agent of partisan transmission is the family. Most
American families are either identify with or lean to either the
Democratic Party or the Republican Party. Few American children are
socialized to be anything else. E.Legal Restrictions Most legal
restrictions are imposed by the 50 state constitutions and
legislation. Historically, state governments have enacted laws that
favor the two major political parties. For most U.S. elections,
political candidates are elected from single-member districts where
the winner-takes all. Hypothetical State with 10Single-Member
Election Districts wherethe Winner Takes All
Results Democrats send 7 Representatives to Congress Republicans
send 3 Representatives to Congress Hypothetical State with 10
Representatives using Proportional Representation (PR) where seats
are apportioned, at large according to the popular vote. Results
Democrats = 50% of popular votes, 5 seats Republicans = 40% of
popular votes, 4 seats Communists = 10% of popular votes, 1 seat
Electoral College Map, 2008 IV. What Role do Third Parties Play in
American Politics?
Topical Outline IV.What Role do Third Parties Play in American
Politics? A.Serve as Political Safety Valves B.Are Political
Barometers of Change C.Are Source of Innovation D.Can Serve as
Spoilers Source: Richard J. Hardy. Government in America
Source:Richard J. Hardy.Government in America.Boston:Houghton
Mifflin, P. 275. A.Safety Valves Third or minor parties serve as
safety valves to allow disenchanted Americans to vent their anger
and blow off their political steam. B.Barometers of Change Third or
minor parties are often barometers of change.A strong electoral
showing by a third party sends a strong signal to the two major
parties.They spawn action. C.Source of Innovation Third or minor
parties are often often policy innovators.They often spawn ideas
that are eventually adopted by the two major parties. D.Can Serve
as Spoilers While third or minor parties may not win many votes,
they can influence elections by preventing one of the major parties
from scoring victory in close elections. V. What are the
Differences between Democrats and Republicans?
Topical Outline V.What are the Differences between Democrats and
Republicans? A.Differences in core membership B.Differences in
public policy Differences in Core Party Identifiers
Core Democratic support by race, religion, education, economic
status and geography. Core Republican support by race, religion,
education, economic status and geography. B. Differences in Public
Policy
Balancing Liberty (Freedom) with Equality. Balancing Liberty
(Freedom) with Security (Order/Authority) Equality Liberty Liberty
Security Equality Liberty Should the Government Increase Taxes on
the Wealthiest Americans? Liberals Conservatives Equality Liberty
Should the Government Increase Taxes on the Wealthiest Americans?
LiberalsYes ConservativesNo Liberals Conservatives Equality Liberty
Should the federal government guarantee all Americans health care?
LiberalsYes ConservativesNo Liberals Conservatives Liberty Security
Should the Congress extend provisions of the Patriot Act?
LiberalsNo ConservativesYes Liberals Conservatives Liberty Security
Should the government de-criminalize the use of marijuana?
LiberalsYes ConservativesNo Liberal Conservative Equality Liberty
Liberal Conservative Liberty Security All generalizations are
false, including this one. --Mark Twain VI. What Does the Future
Hold for Democrats and Republicans?
Topical Outline VI.What Does the Future Hold for Democrats and
Republicans?
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