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Political Parties

Definitions. Organizations that seek to control the govt by recruiting, nominating and electing members to public officeThree componentsParty in electorateParty as organizationParty in government. Role of Parties. Link people to governmentResponsible Party Model ? strong linkPick policymakersRun campaignsGive cues to votersAdvocate policiesCoordinate policymaking.

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Political Parties

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    1. Political Parties Role and importance Evolution Parties today

    2. Definitions Organizations that seek to control the govt by recruiting, nominating and electing members to public office Three components Party in electorate Party as organization Party in government

    3. Role of Parties Link people to government Responsible Party Model – strong link Pick policymakers Run campaigns Give cues to voters Advocate policies Coordinate policymaking

    4. History of Parties Not mentioned in Constitution Framers saw as divisive But, Framers created a system that needed some mechanism for selecting candidates and mobilizing political support Federalists and Anti-Federalists – seeds for development of parties

    5. Evolution of Party Systems 5 distinct party systems in which stability between 2 parties – one party dominates – Figure 9.2 Realignment – new issues emerge, party platforms change, voters establish new loyalties Transition from one party system to another

    6. First Party System 1796 – 1815 Federalists Hamilton, Wash Sec of Treas Strong federal govt Jeffersonian Republicans Jefferson, Wash Sec of State Feared strong central govt 1800 – Jefferson won presidency 1815-1828 – one party – “era of good feeling”

    7. Second Party System 1832 – 1860 Jeffersonian Republicans split Jacksonian Democrats – populists, common people Whigs – business interests, protective tariff, national bank, infrastructure Conflict over slavery caused rifts in northern and southern wings of parties Whig party disintegrated

    8. Third Party System 1860 – 1896 Republicans Abolitionists, Lincoln Business, middle class, newly enfranchised blacks Democrats White Southern, Catholics, urban, working class Political machines - immigrants After 1876, parties evenly matched Protest movements – Greenbacks & Populist

    9. Fourth Party System 1896-1932 Change within parties Republicans Conservative Dems joined McKinley Democrats Populist Party joined William Jennings Bryan – free coinage of silver

    10. Fifth Party System 1932 - ? Republicans Business oriented Democrats Urban, blue collar Immigrants Southerners

    11. Realignment or Dealignment? Realignment Reagan victories in 80 & 84 Republican dominance, move south But, Dems controlled Cong & state legis Dealignment No party dominant Rise in independents Rise in split-ticket voting

    12. Persistence of Two Party System Electoral Rules – single-member, winner-take-all Legal obstacles to third parties State laws to get on ballots Federal qualifications for federal funding Absence of ideological disagreements Lack of feudal past and strong labor movement Basic consensus – capitalism, protection of individual rights

    13. Party in Electorate Party Identification Informal affiliation Not formal membership Weak Parents’ Party ID still best predictor Roughly 1/3 Dem, 1/3 Rep, 1/3 Indep

    14. Demographic Trends (Fig 9.5 – p. 349) Republican Party’s Strength Men College Grads Incomes over $50K White Evangelical Protestants Democrat Party’s Strength Women Blacks W/out HS degree

    15. Partisan Values Role of Govt Compassion for less fortunate Corporate profit Attitudes toward politicians

    16. Party as Organization Loose alliances, decentralized Figure on p. 339 – local, state, national Which is stronger – base or pinnacle? State and local are becoming more organized and active National are stronger in fundraising which gives them leverage over state & local

    17. Party in Government Do parties take different positions on issues and then do members of that party vote in accordance with those positions? Effective link between electorate and government?

    18. Evidence Party Platforms – diffs on key issues Economy Abortion Health Care Reform Party Unity on votes in Congress Party = best predictor of cong’l vote Proportion of members of Cong voting with their party has been increasing since 1973

    19. Parties are in State of Flux Some evidence that they are strengthening selves and reasserting control over the electoral and governing processes Some evidence that candidate or personality centered politics is dominating If candidates and parties work together will strengthen party

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