Political Parties and Voting Behavior

Political Parties: Definition and Functions

• Definition:

  • Political parties are coalitions of people united to win control of the government and implement policies.
  • The Republican Party is currently the governing party due to holding the presidency and controlling both houses of Congress.
  • The Democratic Party is the opposition party because they are not in control of the government.

• Functions of Political Parties:

  • Nominate candidates.
  • Elect candidates to public office.
  • Win elections (most important function).
  • Organize government.
  • Implement policies. Candidates run on a platform, outlining what they plan to do if elected.

Two Dominant Political Parties

• The two dominant political parties today are the Democratic and Republican parties.
• The first two political parties ever established were:
  • Federalist Party (1791) by Alexander Hamilton.
  • Anti-Federalist Party (1787) by Thomas Jefferson.

Partisanship

• Partisanship is the identification with or support of a political party or cause.

Suffrage

• Suffrage is the right to vote, essential for supporting political parties.
• Women's suffrage was established in 1920, granting women the right to vote.

Historical Perspectives on Political Parties

• George Washington believed political parties were damaging to the United States due to division and partisanship.
• Others argue that parties are controlled by interest groups and big money, influencing their votes.

Proportional Representation vs. Plurality System

• Proportional Representation:

  • Used in many democratic countries.
  • Political parties are represented in government based on the number of seats they win in an election.
  • Example: Israel, which often has coalition governments formed by multiple parties.

• Plurality System:

  • Used in the United States.
  • The candidate with the majority of votes wins the election, regardless of the percentage, as long as it's the largest share when there are more than two candidates.

DuVerger’s Law

• DuVerger's Law states that plurality vote rules in single-member districts result in a two-party system.

Two-Party System

• A two-party system, like in the U.S., means only two political parties have realistic opportunities to compete and win elections because of money, influence, and voter perception that voting for a third party is a wasted vote.

Evolution of Party Systems in the U.S.

• Federalist Party:

  • Created by Alexander Hamilton.
  • Represented New England merchants.
  • Supported protective tariffs (taxes on imported goods) and the creation of a national bank.

• Anti-Federalist Party (Jeffersonian Republicans):

  • Established by Thomas Jefferson.
  • Represented southern farmers.
  • Supported free trade and state rights, with a close relationship with France.

• Second Party System (1830s):

  • Groups opposing Andrew Jackson formed the Whig Party.
  • Jackson's supporters became the Democratic Party.
  • Democrats supported strong support from the South and West and favored free trade.

• Whig Party:

  • Opposed Andrew Jackson.
  • Strong in the Northeast and among merchants.
  • United more by opposition to Democrats than by policy.
  • Emphasized candidates’ personal qualities and campaign rallies.

• Civil War Era:

  • Those deeply opposed to slavery formed the Republican Party.
  • Most Whigs joined the Republican Party.
  • Republicans led Reconstruction efforts in the South after the Civil War.

• Republican Party:

  • Sought to grant voting rights to formerly enslaved people via the 15th Amendment (for black men).
  • After Reconstruction, the Democratic Party became the party of the South, supporting the slave trade and aligning with Southern states.

Modern Political Dynamics

• The New Deal by FDR shifted party affiliations, solidifying the Democratic Congress.
• LBJ's Great Society continued many of FDR's programs.

Qualifications for Office

• President of the United States:

  • Must be 35 years old.
  • Must be a natural-born U.S. citizen.
  • Must have lived in the U.S. for 14 consecutive years.

• House of Representatives:

  • Must be 25 years old.
  • Must be a citizen for 7 consecutive years.
  • Must live in the district they are running for.

• Senate:

  • Must be 30 years old.
  • Must be a citizen for 9 years.
  • Must live in the state they are running for.

• The qualifications for Vice President are the same as for President.

Presidential Line of Succession

• President
• Vice President
• Speaker of the House
• President Pro Tempore of the Senate
• Secretary of State

Voting Demographics and Patterns

• Socioeconomic Status:

  • People with college degrees tend to vote more often than those without.
  • Wealthier individuals tend to vote more often than middle-class and poorer individuals.

• Age:

  • The most reliable voting age group is 65 and over.

• Religion:

  • Bible-toting, deeply religious conservatives tend to vote Republican.
  • Black Americans tend to be conservative but mostly vote Democrat.

• Race:

  • Latinos are not a monolithic group; their voting patterns depend on location.

• Gender Gap:

  • Women tend to vote Democrat, focusing on social issues and household concerns.
  • Men tend to vote Republican, focusing on issues like Second Amendment rights.

Voting Identification

• Many states require voting identification.
• Controversy exists over whether this constitutes voter suppression.
• Driver's licenses often need a specific code (e.g., a star) to be valid for voting and flying.

Types of Political Participation

• Traditional Political Participation:

  • Includes voting, campaign contributions, face-to-face activities, volunteering, and making phone calls.

• Digital Political Participation:

  • Involves activities designed to influence politics using the Internet and social media.

Voter Turnout

• Turnout is the percentage of eligible individuals who actually voted in an election.