Political Parties

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Political Parties

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Political Parties

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“What do Political Parties Do?”

Political Parties

• Recruit Candidates
• Nominate & support ($$) candidates
• Educate the electorate
• Organize the government (Ex: Congress)
• Provide a label and set of ideas/philosophy

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Political Parties

Our book says that political parties have been declining in power since the 1960’s and that this “poses serious challenges for our representative democracy.” Explain.

Political Parties

• As centers of power, parties tended to bring in more people…. thereby expanding democracy.

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• However, a decline in party power has led to ideological warfare to attract members. Does this disunity mimics conditions similar to pre Civil War?

Political Parties

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“What factors influence one’s party

identification?”

Political Parties

• Family Tradition
• Ideology
• Education
• Income
• Occupation
• Race, ethnicity, gender, religion
• Region of the country
• Marital Status

Political Parties

• The Rise & Decline of Parties:

-Party Development: 1789 – 1800

-Democratic Domination: 1800-1860

-Republican Domination: 1860 – 1932

-Return of the Democrats: 1932-1968

- Divided Government: 1968 – present

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Political Parties

• Electoral Dealignment & Realignment

- Difference?

- What does this mean?

- Examples?

- Why does this happen?

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(Some Republican groups supported FDR in 1932. Which groups? Why?)

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Political Parties

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“POLITICAL PARTIES, ONCE STRONG IN THE U.S., ARE NOW INCREASINGLY WEAK.” EXPLAIN.

(EX: MORE INDEPENDENT VOTERS; MORE SPLIT-TICKET VOTING)

Political Parties

• Why?
• Campaign Finance Laws & Restrictions have weakened parties. (EXPLAIN!!)
• Direct Primaries have made it harder for parties to dictate who is nominated
• Delegate Selection has shifted power away from party regulars and towards the parties more ideological wings.

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Political Parties

• Explain the increase in split-ticket voting in the 20^th century. Is it significant?

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• Ballot design
• Creates more divided government…. Good for combatting impulsive decisons... Bad in that it creates gridlock.

Political Parties

• How did the Progressives weaken political parties?

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• Direct Primary
• Anti-Corruption campaigns
• Abolish patronage (Pendleton Act)
• Initiative, Referendum, Recall

Political Parties

• How do we determine a party’s power or strength

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“A powerful or strong party is one whose label is strong, whose organization can decide who will be the candidate, and whose leaders can dominate one or all of the branches of government.

Political Parties

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• Structure of the Political Parties

(i.e, how they’re organized)

(National, State, Local)

(How They Work – RNC v. DNC)

(Why People Join)

(Inclusive Changes ??)

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Structure & Organization of Political Parties

National Convention

• The national convention serves as the party's national voice. Party delegates meet in the summer of every fourth year to select the party's candidates for president and vice president. They are also responsible for writing and adopting the party's platform.

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National Committee

• The national committee manages the political party's business between conventions. They are responsible for selecting the convention site, establishing the rules of the convention, publishing and distributing party literature, and helping the party raise campaign contributions.

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National Chairperson

• The party's national committee, with the consent of the party's presidential nominee, elects the national chairperson. The chairperson is responsible for directing the work of the national committee from their national headquarters in Washington, D.C. The chairperson is involved in fundraising, recruiting new party members, encouraging unity within the party, and helping the party's presidential nominee win election.

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Political Parties

• “The U.S. has a strong 2 party system that makes it difficult for minor parties to exist.” Explain.

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Political Parties

• Winner take all system
• Don’t see the need…

- Embrace our free enterprise system

- Aren’t trying to restore a past leader or system

- “Separation of Church & State” prevents religious

wars/conflict

Political Parties

• Types of 3^rd parties include…..

- Ideological Parties

- One-Issue Parties

- Economic Protest Parties

- Factional Parties

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?? Examples ??

(Pg. 214)

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Political Parties

• Types of 3^rd parties include…..

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- Ideological Parties

(communist, socialist, etc…)

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- One-Issue Parties

(Free Soil, Green, etc..)

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- Economic Protest Parties

(Greenback, Populist, etc..)

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- Factional Parties

(Bull Moose, American Independent, etc..)

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Political Parties

Nominating a President

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• What it takes to become a presidential nominee? (The process?)

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~ The primary/caucus process…. ~

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? What is the Republican/Democrat challenge in 2016?