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GOVT 312: Political Parties and Campaigns

GOVT 312: Political Parties and Campaigns. Lecture 1: Introduction. Class Web Page. http://elections.gmu.edu/ Professor McDonald’s web page that contains many election resources Follow links classes->govt312 to get to class webpage Class handouts including syllabus and class readings.

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GOVT 312: Political Parties and Campaigns

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  1. GOVT 312: Political Parties and Campaigns Lecture 1: Introduction

  2. Class Web Page http://elections.gmu.edu/ • Professor McDonald’s web page that contains many election resources • Follow links classes->govt312 to get to class webpage • Class handouts including syllabus and class readings

  3. What is a Political Party? Three components to a political party • Party as an organization • No mention in the U.S. constitution • “Institutionalized coalition” Aldrich • Political machines • Party in the electorate • Partisan attachment by voters • Parties select candidates to run in elections • Parties educate and motivate voters • Party in the government • Parties organize government to produce policy

  4. George Washington’s Farewell Address Washington’s warnings of Party… • It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. • It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another; foments occasionally riot and insurrection. • It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passion.

  5. George Washington’s Farewell Address Washington’s reply to the Federalist Papers… • There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. • This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged.

  6. George Washington’s Farewell Address Washington’s reply to the Federalist Papers… • The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism.... • From their natural tendency it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose; and there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion to mitigate and assuage it.

  7. George Washington’s Farewell Address • One of the expedients of party to acquire influence within particular districts is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts.

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