Political Parties

Political Parties

Definition

  • Organized efforts by office holders, candidates, activists, and voters to pursue common interests through the electoral process.

Goals of Political Parties

  1. Win elections for public office.

  2. Spread the party’s ideology and message on critical issues.

  3. Gain support from American voters.

  4. Elect candidates to govern based on party agenda.

Components of Political Parties

  • Consist of three related entities:

    • Office Holders: Organize and pursue policy objectives under the party label.

    • Workers and Activists: Form the party’s formal organization.

    • Voters: Individuals allied with the party.

The Organization of American Political Parties

Structure

  1. Formal Party Apparatus: Includes committees, headquarters, conventions, leaders, staff, and volunteers; operates primarily at the local level.

  2. Pyramid Structure: Broad support at the base, power concentrated at state and national levels.

National Parties

  • Meet every four years at the national convention to:

    • Determine presidential nominee.

    • Adopt party platform and rules.

  • Committees responsible for:

    • Daily operations, fundraising, and mobilizing voters.

    • DNC (Democratic National Committee) and RNC (Republican National Committee).

State Parties

  1. Serve as intermediaries between national and local levels.

  2. Involved in party building: voter registration, GOTV efforts.

  3. Comprise members from various counties or regions, operating within state laws.

County and Local Parties

  • Act as the grassroots level of the party, focusing on campaign support and community engagement.

  • Participation primarily voluntary.

The Republican Party

Ideology

  1. Advocates for limited government and fewer social welfare functions.

  2. Supports strong government roles in regulating moral values; restore traditional Christian values.

  3. Asserts a robust foreign policy, emphasizing military action post-9/11.

  4. Prefers decreased federal responsibility for the economy, favoring state control.

  5. Base includes small business owners, religious citizens, and upper-middle-class voters.

Platform Highlights

  • Abortion: Pro-life stance, supporting child protection.

  • Taxation: Proposes tax exemptions, reducing corporate taxes, eliminating federal death tax.

  • National Security: Prioritizes response readiness for bioterrorism.

  • Education: Advocates for innovations like year-round school and school vouchers.

The Democratic Party

Ideology

  1. The oldest political party in the U.S.

  2. Platforms resemble FDR’s New Deal, advocating for a government safety net.

  3. Extended to include rights for women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and environmental concerns.

  4. Promotes diplomacy over military action; reallocates funds towards domestic welfare.

  5. Base consists primarily of women, ethnic minorities, and working-class voters.

Platform Highlights

  • Abortion: Strong support for Roe v. Wade and women's choice.

  • Taxation: Aims to eliminate loopholes and tax cuts for higher-income families.

  • National Security: Focuses on ending wars and investing in intelligence.

  • Education: Aims for widespread access to quality education and affordable higher learning.

Success Factors for Political Parties

  1. Clear, distinct programs for governing.

  2. Commitment from candidates to the party’s agenda.

  3. Accountability for government performance by the majority party.

  4. The minority party must present its governance alternatives.

Political Understanding and Socialization

Political Socialization

  1. Process through which individuals acquire political orientations, influenced by various factors including family, media, and education.

  2. Tends to solidify as individuals age.

Agents of Political Socialization

  • Family: Primary influence, passing political ideologies through generations.

  • Mass Media: Replaces parents as a source of information, provides opinions and influences perceptions about government.

  • School: Formal institution promoting national loyalty and basic American values, shifts to critical thinking in college.

  • Religion: Varies per individual, with significant influence on social issue stands and party support.

Political Learning Over a Lifetime

  1. Political engagement is a continuous process, evolving beyond formal education.

  2. Involves learning how to vote, evaluate political issues, and choose political affiliations.