Political Parties

Political Parties Political Parties  Political Party – a team seeking to control the government apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election. Generalities  DEMOCRATS       REPUBLICANS            Lower SES Lower ed and Intellectuals Minorities Blue collar/union Coastal Urban Women Women Non-Christian Non church goer Soccer moms     Higher SES Above ave. ed (B.S./M.S.) WASPs White collar Rural/suburban Middle America Men Christian Regular church goer Libertarian Two – Dimensional View  The Nolan Chart  Emphasis on personal and economic freedom Pournelle Model   Created by sci-fi writer Jerry Pournelle Emphasis on Reason and Power of the State Who makes up the party?  3 groups:    Party-in-the-electorate – individuals who identify with the party (No commitment, easy come easy go) Party-as-an-organization – Party Activists/officials who keep the party running between elections; establish rules; bylaws and budgets; pursue electoral victory Party-in-government – elected officials become main spokespersons for the party and place issues on the agenda. They are becoming more independent of the party. Raising their own $ and conduct their own campaign. Parties as linkage  Parties translate inputs from the public into output from the policy makers. Tasks of Parties 1. Parties pick Policymakers  Nominations – caucuses, conventions, primaries (stamp of approval- bonding agent) 2. Parties run campaigns- help organize, raise $, plan strategy, & support candidates. Technology has made candidate more independent (McCain) Tasks of Parties 3. Parties give cues to voters  Party Image and principles help voters decide 4. Parties articulate policies – they advocate policy alternatives with the electorate & gov’t. 5. Parties coordinate policy-making – Party Platform (Gingrich ’95 – Contract w/ America) Political Parties  The Downs Model    Median Voter Model – a candidate must position himself at the median of a normal distribution of voters in order to maximize his chances of being elected Rational Choice Model – seeks to explain political processes and outcomes as a consequence of purposive behavior. Pick policies that are widely favored (moderates) Parties in the Electorate  Party Identification   Decline of major parties Straight-ticket to Split-ticket voting How parties run campaigns   Organization of American Political Parties Local Politics  Change from the Political Machine       Initiative Process Term Limits Open Primary Wealthy Candidates “Hired Guns” Special Interests Parties in government 1. Political parties have less control over elected officials. Presidents have less power as a party leader and members of Congress are less likely to be led either by the president or their own party leaders within Congress. 2. Party Platforms or promises are most often kept75%. Only 10% were ignored. Good predictors of party performance in office. 3. Presidents today often bypass party leaders and appeal directly to the voters via the media. Mass media technology has reduced influence of party machinery in favor of T.V. Parties today: Dealignment and renewal  People are moving away from both partiesindependent. This is “dealignment” or “party neutrality” a. Party loyalty has declined - 90% vote for “person” b. Party ideology is more important than traditional loyalties. (ex. Liberals vote Demo./Conservatives-Rep.) Parties have become more “ideologically differentiated.” c. Party organizations are more energetic and effective. High tech/Computerized fund raising and campaigning have strengthened party organs. Parties today cont. d. “Split-level parties” = vigorous party organs. With more money, bigger staff and more efficient organization, but weak following and less voter loyalty. e. Weakening of voter loyalty makes it more important to follow “rational choice theory” in order to appeal to independent voters Third Parties in American politics      Single Issue Parties- Greenback, Liberty, Free soil, Prohibition. Ideological Parties- Socialists, Communists, Libertarians Splinter Parties- Progressives 1912, States Rights 1948 Individual Personalities- Reform Party with Ross Perot 1992-96 Independent Party of John Anderson in 1980. Contributions of Third Parties A. Introduced reforms and new ideas – AntiMasons 1830, Populist Party 1892, and Progressive Party 1912. B. Tipped balance of power in 3-way race – Liberty 1844, Progressives 1912, Reform Party 1992. C. “Sent a message to Washington” – Warning of discontent States Rights Party in 1948, American Independents 1968 Contributions cont. d. Served as “safety valve” for disaffected voter bringing them back into electorate Green, Libertarian, Reform parties today. *NOTE: 3rd Parties have seldom won but they do offer the voter an alternative to the 2 major parties and they have introduced many reforms later supported by the Democrats and/or Republicans. The Responsible (Roeber) Party Model= Ideal! Not Real!     Parties must present distinct programs Party candidates must be committed to platform and party must have power to discipline. Majority party must implement program- minority party = “loyal opposition” offering an alternative Majority party must be held accountable and accept responsibility for performance in government. The Responsible Party Model= Ideal! Not Real! *NOTE: Unfortunately American Parties are too decentralized and fragmented to fit this model. Parties are losing power to independent office holders. Loyal opposition is more partisan political bickering which makes voters more cynical = reduced voter party loyalty. Individualism and gridlock 1. The loosely organized party system in U.S. provides no mechanism for party discipline (i.e. John Mc Cain) 2. The decentralized party system  limited government and “gridlock” in policy making. 3. Lack of party discipline  “buck passing” and “finger pointing” and lack of accountability. 4. Weak party leadership  splits within both parties making it harder to pass party programs. Weakened Parties and the Scope of Government 1.Lack of discipline and cohesion within parties  less scope of governmental activity than in Europe (i.e. Truman’s Medicare Proposal/ Clinton’s Healthcare) 2.Individual members of Congress seek “pork barrel” projects for their constituents = lack of budget discipline Scope of government 3.Other “linkage institutions” are replacing parties (i.e. media, elections, special interest groups)    a. Media- High tech campaigns, T.V., pollsters, political consultants links candidates with voters. b. Special Interest Groups – PACs raise money, lobby, and influence public opinion  influence policy agenda c. Elections – with more independent candidates parties have less power. * NOTE: Parties are still important in American Political Process but play diminished role.