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Political Parties

Explore the role of political parties in government, their functions, history, and influence on elections. Learn about the benefits and drawbacks of party politics and how they shape legislative coalitions.

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Political Parties

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  1. Political Parties

  2. What is a political party? • A team of people seeking to control government by winning elected office.

  3. Three incarnations of party? • Party as Organization • Office seekers • Benefit seekers • Party in the Electorate • Democrats, Republicans, and Independents • Party in Government • Party caucuses/conferences/Divided & unified government

  4. Why do we have political parties? What problems do they solve?

  5. Problems that political parties solve • Make legislating easier • Mobilize voters/Simplify voter decision-making • Regulate politicians’ ambition • Enforce collective responsibility

  6. Problems that political parties create • Can magnify and harden conflicts • Can oversimplify issues • Can seem to relieve citizens of hard work of self-education

  7. Electoral rules affect party strength • Parties as legislative coalitions 1788-1812 • The golden age of parties 1828-1912 • Declining parties/Rise of candidates 1912-1972 • Era of weak parties 1972-1994 • Homogeneous but diffuse parties 1994-2012…

  8. Parties as legislative coalitions • Federalists and Anti-Federalists in the first Congresses

  9. The golden age of parties 1828-1912 • Spoils system • No secret ballot • Politics as entertainment • Grass roots parties • High voter turnout

  10. Declining party strength: 1912-1972 • Australian ballot, secret ballot • Civil service reforms • Primary elections • Direct election of senators • Nonpartisan local elections • New Deal welfare state • More candidate-centered campaigns

  11. Era of weak parties 1972-1994 • TV • Campaign finance • Candidate centered elections • Rise in number of “independents” • Split ticket voting • Deep ideological divisions within parties • (Particularly the Democratic party!) • Weak party discipline in Congress

  12. Stronger parties? 1994-??? • Ideological realignment & polarization • Strong party discipline in Congress • Highly partisan, competitive presidential elections • Increased turnout • Parties act in coalitional environment

  13. Which side are you on? Democrats to the LEFT Republicans to the RIGHT

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