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Political Institutions and Parties in the American System

Explore the essential roles of Linkage Institutions – Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Mass Media – in connecting the people with the government. Learn about the functions and significance of Political Parties, including organizing mechanisms, unifying the electorate, and translating preferences into policies. Delve into the unique aspects of America's party system, such as its candidate-centered nature. Discover the importance of caucuses, party conventions, direct primaries, and open and closed primaries in shaping the democratic process. Gain insights into minor parties, major historical realignments, and key figures in American political history.

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Political Institutions and Parties in the American System

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  1. Linkage Institutions • Interest Groups • Political Parties • Mass Media • There are the three “institutions” that link the people and the government.

  2. Political Parties: The Purpose • An organizing mechanism that win elections and control government. • Organize the competition (within the party).

  3. Political Parties Continued.. • Unify the electorate to moderate conflicts: control of factions. • Organizes government by having party members in House and Senate, and through patronage. • Translate preferences into policy.

  4. Other Party systems. • Why is America’s party system different? • Not as strong. • Candidate centered, not party centered. • Do not always vote among parties, are not as loyal as other party systems.

  5. Caucus • Meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide a platform. • Iowa is a very popular caucus due to timing. Oftentimes helps determine who are likely presidential nominees.

  6. Party Convention • Party conventions made the nomination process more democratic and open to the public. • Party delegates voted on matters of policy and in some cases to select party candidates for public office.

  7. Direct Primaries • The most democratic. Gave people the decisions of who would be the party nominee.

  8. Open Primaries • Election where ANY voter may vote to choose a candidate.

  9. Closed Primary • Primary election in which only persons registered in that particular party may vote for a candidate.

  10. Examples • My website

  11. Two party system • Most other democracies have multi-party systems • “head of the nation “(president) and “head of the government” (PM)

  12. Proportional Representation

  13. Winner-take-all

  14. Minor Parties • Green Party • Libertarian Party • Socialist Party • Communist Party • Prohibition Party • Right to Life party

  15. Ralph Nader: Green Party

  16. Ross Perot: Reform Party

  17. Political Parties • Washington was “above” them and warned against them. • Hamilton: Federalists • Jefferson: Democratic-Republicans; eventually Democrats • Lincoln: Whigs to Republicans

  18. Realigning Elections

  19. Realigning Elections • Turning points in politics that redefines agendas and alignments of voters within parties

  20. Realignments • Andrew Jackson: His movements eventually formed the strong two-party system known today. DEMOCRATS.

  21. Abe Lincoln • Whigs to Republicans: Merchants, financiers, industrialists, workers and farmers. • Formed the “Grand Old Party “(GOP) • REPUBLICANS

  22. 1896-PRGRESSIVES • Worked on corruption and expended the electorate. Immigrants and Women

  23. FDR: New Deal • Depression • Laissez-faire questioned • Keynesian economics

  24. 2000 elections: Divided nation, divided government

  25. Continued • 50-50 tie in the Senate • Bush wins without majority of popular vote • Slim GOP lead in the House

  26. National Party Leadership • National Committee • National Chairs • Change with Presidents

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