Political Parties

1. 11 Political Parties Brendan Smialowski/GettyImages

2. The Development of Political Parties, 1800–1824 11.1 • Ratification of the U.S. Constitution • Federalists supported strong central government • Election of 1800 • Washington warned against the evils of political parties. • Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republicans) versus John Adams (Federalist) • Jefferson became the first president elected as the nominee of a political party but was opposed to a party system. • Saw his party as temporary, to defeat Adams, and as a result his party never gained wide-spread popularity

3. Jacksonian Democracy, 1824–1860 11.1 • Federalists faded by 1820 • Era of Good Feeling • James Monroe (1817-1825) • Party competition was nearly non-existent at national level • Huge electorate growth & party development at state level • Whigs and Democrats • Gave the United States the first broadly-supported two-party system in the Western World

4. The Golden Age, 1860–1932 11.1 • Republicans replaced Whigs • Formed by anti-slavery activists • Party Stability • Characterized by the dominance of party organizations • Era from end of Reconstruction until reforms of the Progressive Era • Political Machines • Organizations that use tangible incentives such as jobs and favors to win loyalty among voters • Provided upward social mobility

5. The Modern Era (1900-1930) 11.1 • Elections and social services changes • Ballot printing, other elections duties handled by government instead of parties • Roosevelt's New Deal put social services in hands of government, not parties. • Candidate-centered politics • Shift to focus on candidates, their issues, and character rather than on party affiliation

6. Citizen Support & Party Realignment 11.1 • Party realignments • Dramatic shifts in partisan preference that drastically alter the political landscape • Existing party affiliations subject to upheaval • Critical elections • May polarize voters around new issues or personalities • 1. Jefferson against strong central govt (1800) • 2. Republicans anti-slavery (1860) • 3. Great Depression shift from Rep to Dem (1932) • Secular realignments • More gradual shifts in party coalitions • S. Dem states shifting towards Rep (late 1980’s-early 1990’s)

7. The National Party 11.2 • The national chairperson • Often selected by president or newly nominated presidential candidate • Chief fundraiser and spokesperson • The national committee • Coordinates national convention and presidential campaign • Democratic National Committee (DNC) • Republican National Committee (RNC)

8. The National Convention 11.2 • Every four years • Present a positive image of the candidate • Serve as pep rallies • Delegates • Formerly selected by party leaders, now often elected in primary elections and caucuses • Superdelegates • Allow Democratic Party some control

9. State and Local Parties 11.2 • Roots of the party • Virtually all government regulation of political parties is handled by the states. • Vast majority of party leadership positions are held at state and local level. • Precinct • Smallest voting unit • Fundamental building block of the party • State executive committee

10. Activities of American Political Parties 11.3 • Running Candidates for Office • Formulating and Promoting Policy • Organizing Government • Furthering Unity, Linkage, and Accountability

11. Running Candidates for Office 11.3 • Raising money • Well-developed networks of donors • Raise money and disseminate it to candidates • Mobilizing support and getting out the vote • Public opinion polls and tracking surveys • Create TV advertisements • "Get out the vote" Election Day activities

12. Formulating and Promoting Policy 11.3 • National Party Platform • Most visible instrument used to formulate, convey, and promote public policy • Each party develops a lengthy platform outlining its positions. • About two-thirds of the winning party's platform tends to be enacted. • About one-half of the losing party's platform tends to be enacted.

13. Organizing Government 11.3 • Parties in Congress • Party members in Congress select congressional leaders. • Those congressional leaders hold enormous power. • The presidential party • President is informal party leader • Parties in the federal courts • Parties in state government

14. The Formation and Role of Minor Parties 11.5 • Obstacles • Transitioning from social movement to party is difficult • Minor parties have had influence • Dixiecrats • Green Party

15. Barriers to Minor-Party Success 11.5 • Public Financing Rules for Campaigns • Two parties create financing rules at state and national level to protect themselves and prevent 3rd party runs. • Winner-take-all system • Party that receives at least one more vote wins the election

16. Causes of Polarization 11.6 • Geographic divide • "The United States of Canada" to the north • "Jesusland" to the south • Stereotypes of political identifiers • Republicans as NASCAR • Democrats as Starbucks • Wedge issues • "Guns, God, and gays" • Abortion, gay marriage

17. Consequences of Polarization 11.6 • Congress • Least productive in history • Lack of moderates, lower incentive to compromise • Consequences to electorate • Forcing moderate electorate to choose between extremes may increase voter apathy