Chap 9

Chapter 7: Political Parties, Participation, and Elections

Overview of Political Parties

• Definition: Organized groups that attempt to influence government by electing members to office and promoting specific policies. They play a crucial role in the political landscape by helping to shape public policy and facilitating political participation among citizens.

• Founders' View: The Founders of the United States did not anticipate the rise of political parties, believing that they could lead to factionalism and divisiveness. Despite their warnings, political parties became an integral part of the American political system, evolving to meet the dynamic social and political needs of the nation.

Party Formation

• Internal Mobilization: Political conflicts, such as differing opinions on policies, can prompt government officials to seek popular support to maintain power or respond to constituent demands. This internal mobilization can result in the development of new factions or parties.

• External Mobilization: Politicians or groups outside of government can organize support to challenge the existing political order, aiming to win governmental power and influence policy without direct incumbency.

Parties and Elections: Recruiting Candidates

• Main Function: One of the primary functions of political parties is to recruit viable candidates for office, facilitating the electoral process.

• Ideal Candidate Traits: Successful candidates typically have a strong leadership record, the ability to raise campaign funds through various means (individual contributions, PACs), and a clear understanding of their constituents’ needs.

• Incumbent Challenges: Recruiting candidates can be particularly challenging when incumbents are seeking re-election, as potential challengers may hesitate to run against an established figure.

Parties and Elections: Nominations

• Nomination Process: The process by which candidates are selected to run for elective office varies widely among states. Most states utilize primary elections, which can be either open or closed, allowing party members or even independents to vote on their preferred candidates.

• Influence of Party Leaders: Party leaders and financial backers often play a significant role in the nomination process, influencing candidate selection based on alignment with party values and electability.

Parties and Elections: Mobilization

• General Election Strategy: Post-primary elections, parties engage in mobilizing voters to ensure high turnout, employing tactics such as voter registration drives and grassroots campaigns.

• Data Utilization: Political parties leverage extensive databases and predictive analytics for micro-targeting potential voters, tailoring their messages to increase engagement and turnout among specific demographics.

Parties Organize Power in Congress

• Congress Structure: Congress is organized along party lines, with majority and minority parties playing pivotal roles in leadership and legislative function. Each party forms committees to facilitate discussion and decision-making on various issues.

• Majority Party: Controls a greater number of seats in either the House or Senate, holding key leadership positions such as the House Speaker, and shaping legislative agendas.

• Minority Party: The party with fewer seats, which still plays a critical role in checks and balances and can influence legislation through negotiations and coalitions.

The American Two-Party System

• Definition: A political system where only two parties have realistic chances of competing effectively in elections. This system is dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties.

• Historical Context: Despite early warnings against partisan politics from the Founders, a two-party system evolved due to the need for broad coalitions and differing IDEOLOGICAL perspectives in governance.

Party Systems History

• Distinctive Party Systems: The U.S. has seen six distinctive party systems, each marked by realignments due to political, social, and economic changes in society.

  • The First Party System (1790s):

    • Federalists: Supported merchants, protective tariffs, and the establishment of a national bank.

    • Jeffersonian Republicans: Advocated for southern farmers, free trade, and maintained close relations with France.

  • The Second Party System (1830s):

    • Democrats: Gained support primarily from the South and West, advocating for free trade and common man policies.

    • Whigs: Predominantly found in the Northeast, united in their opposition to the Democratic Party and focused on modernization.

  • The Third Party System (Civil War Era):

    • Republicans: Emerged as a dominant force, particularly focused on Reconstruction and enfranchising freed slaves.

    • Democrats: Maintained competitiveness by restructuring as a regional party, primarily representing Southern interests.

  • The Fourth Party System (1890s):

    • Republicans: Championed business interests and low taxes, maintaining dominance in Northern states.

    • Democrats: Formed coalitions with Populists, advocating for the agricultural and labor classes.

  • The Fifth Party System (1930s):

    • Republicans: Presided over the nation during the onset of the Great Depression, struggling to maintain power.

    • Democrats: Under Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, broadened their support base significantly across diverse demographic groups.

  • The Sixth Party System (1960s):

    • Republicans: Sought to gain support from conservative white southerners, establishing a strong coalition.

    • Democrats: Retained support among minorities while appealing to the growing upper-middle-class professional demographic.

Electoral Realignments

• Definition: Periods of transition characterized by a significant shift in party allegiance among voters, leading to the replacement of the ruling party in response to emerging issues and crises.

• Five Historical Realignments: Each marked by distinct social crises or major political changes; current trends indicate increasing polarization between parties.

Third Parties Influence

• Role of Third Parties: Often arise to represent interests not adequately addressed by the major parties, pushing for reforms and policy discussions that can ultimately influence the platforms of the two main parties.

• Example: Ralph Nader's candidacy in 2000 garnered 3% of the vote, which some argue affected the electoral outcome by drawing votes away from Democratic candidate Al Gore.

Political Participation Trends

• Forms of Participation: In addition to traditional forms such as voting and campaigning, political engagement has increasingly found platforms through digital means, including social media and blogs, allowing for broader outreach and engagement among citizens.

• Low Voter Turnout: Despite progressive efforts to expand voting rights, voter turnout in the U.S. remains relatively low, averaging around 60% in presidential elections since the 1960s, indicative of persistent barriers in engagement and participation.

Voting Influences

• Socioeconomic Factors: Research shows that individuals with higher socioeconomic status are more likely to vote. Education plays a critical role, as those with higher levels of education are more inclined to participate in elections.

• Political Environment: Organizational mobilization efforts, especially in competitive districts, can significantly attract voters and enhance turnout rates.

• State Laws: Variability in state regulations surrounding voting can create barriers, particularly affecting younger and lower-income voters.

• Voter ID Laws: Implemented in 34 states, these laws can disproportionately impact minorities and economically disadvantaged groups, raising concerns about voter suppression.

Factors Affecting Vote Decisions

• Primary Influences: Various factors contribute to how voters decide whom to support:

  • Partisan Loyalty: Especially influential in races that are less visible to the general populace.

  • Policy Preferences: Voters tend to favor candidates whose policies align with their personal beliefs and issues that they are passionate about.

  • Candidate Qualities: Attributes such as race, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds can significantly influence voter perception and choices.

Election Types

• Primaries: This process serves to determine party candidates for the general election and can be classified as either closed (only party members can vote) or open (independents can vote).

• Caucuses: In contrast to primaries, caucuses involve local gatherings where party members discuss and select their preferred candidates, often requiring greater time commitment from participants.

• Direct Democracy: Initiatives, referendums, and recall elections empower voters to make direct decisions on specific issues or to remove elected officials from office, thus enhancing citizen involvement in governance.

The Electoral College System

• Function: In the U.S. presidential elections, voters select electors pledged to their preferred candidates rather than voting directly for candidates. The total of 538 electors is distributed among states based on their congressional representation, requiring 270 electoral votes to achieve victory.

Recent Elections

• 2016 Election: Donald Trump won the presidency through the electoral vote despite losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton, which raised concerns regarding electoral fairness and Russian interference in the election process.

• 2018 Midterms: Marked by significant Democratic gains in the House of Representatives, this election saw increased youth voter turnout, reflecting growing engagement in political issues among younger demographics.

Campaign Financing

• Individual Contributions: Legal limits are set on the amount individuals can contribute to candidates, fostering fairness in campaign financing.

• Political Action Committees: PACs collect and channel contributions from organizations and interest groups to support candidates aligned with their interests.

• Election Law: Eligibility for public funding is linked to a candidate's ability to raise grassroots contributions, with some candidates receiving matching funds to supplement their campaigns.