POLITICAL PARTIES

Parties are weaker than ever

POLITICAL PARTIES

Chapter 9 pgs.194-221

I. Three areas that a party exists

• Labeling: voters identify with the name democrat and republican. More independents.

• Set of leaders: Each party tries to run Congress and elect a President

• Organization: Parties recruit candidates. Today parties have little control over who gets nominated to office.

II. Parties and what they do

A. What is a party? Any group of people who seek to control the gov’t by winning elections. It’s a vital

link between people

and gov’t. It unites

us and brings

different interests

together.

Parties and what they do

B. Functions of Political Parties-what they do

1. Nominate candidates: takes many and

narrows them down to one. We don’t

have to keep up with but one.

B. Functions of political parties

2. Educate: The party must inform you of the issues so you can take a stand:abortion, Iraq, gay marriage.

3. Stimulate: The party has to get you active and involved:

parades, pep rallies

Functions of political parties (cont)

4. Bonding agent: The party guarantees that its candidate is qualified and the best person for the job. If they make it through the primaries one is qualified

Functions of political parties (cont)5. Governing: Government of the U.S. is

government by party. a. Congress is run by party (partisanship) b. Candidates are picked by party c. Presidential appointments are made by

party.

Functions of political parties

6. Acting as watchdog a. The out-party critici-

zes in-party b. Tries to catch the

in-party in mistakes to convince us to throw out the in-party.

III. Our Political Culture• Political parties play an unimportant role

in our day to day life.

• We keep political parties separate from other aspects of our lives. Our social, business, working and cultural lives are totally nonpartisan

IV. National party structure: Both parties are similar

• National Committee: One man, one woman from each state. It does four things. 1) arranges National Convention, 2) raises money, 3) drafts party platform, 4) Sets number of delegates.

• State organization: directs campaigns for state offices and serves as a central coordinating agency and fund raiser

• Precinct, Ward and City/County committees: this is where old time politics remains of knowing every voter in district and campaigning on a one to one basis. Called GRASSROOTS

IV. National party structure: Both parties are similar

A. Three basic elements1. The National Convention: every 4 years a. nominates the Pres. And V-Pres. b. Acts as a pep rally c. Adopts the party platform

3 basic elements of national party machinery

2. The National Committee: major responsibility is staging the national convention.

3. The National Chairperson: head of national party. Runs the day to day business of party. He promotes party unity, raises money, recruits new voters.

B. State and Local Party Organization

1. State organization: headed by state party chairman. Its job is to find candidates, money, unite party.

2. Local organization: organizes for local elections by precincts and wards (how cities are organized for local elections.)

National committee

State CommitteeFinds candidates and money

Local and grassroots organizationSets up cities for elections

Why are political parties decentralized or fragmented?

1. Role of the President: can bring the party together but can also cause state and local members to “run” from the President.

What causes decentalization of parties?

2. Impact of federalism: There are so many offices up for election in national, state and local governments, the parties are disconnected.

What causes decentalization of parties?(Cont.)

3. Role of nominating process: Its an intra-party fight that puts democrats against democrats and republicans against republicans. This naturally divides the party.

Future of Political Parties1. There has been a sharp decline in the

number of people who claim to be Republican or Democrat

2. Big increase in split-ticket voting (voting for candidates of different parties).

3. Direct primaries cause parties to not have control.

4. Internet and direct-mail weaken parties.

5. Single-issue organizations cause us to miss the big picture.

V. How the two parties differA. How two parties organized 1. Republican party became well-financed, highly

staffed. Organization devoted to finding and electing republican candidates.

2. Democrat party began changing rules on how presidential candidates are nominated that altered distribution of power in the party: a. McGovern Rules: increased proportion of women, young people, African Americans attending convention: less control by leaders . . . b. See rules pg.205 such as open delegate selection. . c. Role of Superdelegates: Made it easier for democrat party to control who wins convention nomination. (80% of Cong.) 14% of delegate seats are superdelegates.

How two parties differ (cont)

B. Present day

1. Republicans: More bureaucratized, computerized. Using mailing lists to reach voters in the 60’s and 70’s

2. Democrats: More factionalized, disorganized, not a money-raising machine in the 60’s and 70’s. After losing four out of 5 presidential elections, democrats began to copy republicans.

3. Today republicans closer to where the voters are than the democrats.

VI. Why two parties:A. Plurality system: Whoever gets the most

votes wins. Broad coalitions are formed by candidates to get the most votes. Means compromise before the elections.

1.Winner take all rule: Whoever wins plurality, wins all the electoral votes 2. Best example of plurality system.B. Two broad coalitions of public opinion in

country trying to get the same voters.C. Laws: Both parties in Congress have made it

very difficult for third parties to even get started.

VII. Role of third partiesA. So what good are third parties?

1. Spoiler: Can take votes away so major party loses. Examples, Nader, Roosevelt.

A. So what good are third parties? Cont.

2. Innovator: 3rd parties come up with new ideas. Unfortunately, if these ideas catch on, the two major parties pick them up and need for 3rd party dies. Exps: national conventions, income tax, environmental issues.

VIII. Why aren’t there more third parties

A. Dissident elements of a major party remain in the party when party agrees to their ideas. It may pull the party right or left but it is important to keep that group within the party.

B. Laws make it difficult for third parties to succeed. (Getting on ballot, receiving money.)D. Dim chance of success.

IX. Nominating a President

A.Two contrary forces 1. Wanting to win makes party nominate a

candidate who appeals to most voters. . . . 2. In order to keep dissidents in party a compromise candidate or platform is made that hurts party’s standing with voters

. Who votes for candidates in the primaries and caucuses? The activists, not the rank and file voter.

1. Advantages: factions stay within party. . . . . . 2. Disadvantages: Presidential candidates may not appeal to rank and file party members/voters

Nominating President (cont.)• Dilemma: Candidates must take a stance

to win the primaries/caucuses which then must be changed to win the votes of the general public.

• Why is this true?

1. Activists (More radical) vote in the primaries/caucuses. (Read page 179)

2. Rank and file (more moderate) vote in the general election.