How and Why Political Parties CHANGE [AP Gov Review, Unit 5 Topic 4 (5.4)]

Introduction

  • Overview of how political parties change and realign to reflect American attitudes and preferences.

  • Learning objective: Explain why and how political parties adapt.

Political Parties as Linkage Institutions

  • Political parties serve as linkage institutions to engage average citizens in politics.

  • Party platforms for Democrats and Republicans have evolved over time.

Changes in Party Interaction with Candidates

  • Shift from party-focused to candidate-focused political campaigns.

    • Historically, the party was paramount; now, the individual candidate holds more significance.

    • New media technology enables candidates to communicate directly with supporters, diminishing the party’s role in nominations.

  • Criticism of candidate-centered nominations:

    • Potential for factions or divisions within parties.

  • Benefits of candidates with strong followings:

    • Champion underrepresented opinions, increasing overall political engagement, regardless of nomination outcomes.

Evolution of Party Platforms

  • Political parties modify their platforms to appeal to broader electorates.

  • Change does not contradict party ideologies but emphasizes different priorities:

    • Example: Democrats' focus on social issues vs. Republicans' emphasis on traditional values.

  • Importance of coalitions, which are demographic groups voting as a block:

    • Parties target coalitions to strategically influence election outcomes.

    • Key issues raised by candidates signal the coalitions they aim to attract:

      • Example: Gun rights appeal mainly to conservative males.

      • Example: Immigration protections appeal to immigrant communities.

Structural Changes in Political Parties

  • Party Realignment:

    • Realignment occurs after significant electoral defeats;

    • Reflects the need to align priorities with the electorate’s views.

    • Example: Roosevelt’s Democratic victories during the Great Depression spurred Republican realignment in terms of policy focus.

    • Historical shift of Black Americans from the Republican to Democratic Party due to civil rights advocacy and poverty issues.

Changes in Campaign Finance Laws

  • Campaign finance laws and Supreme Court rulings have impacted funding practices since the 1970s.

  • Further discussion to come on this topic.

Advances in Communication and Data Management

  • Technological evolution enhances data collection and voter targeting:

    • Example: Mitt Romney's "Project Orca" aimed to track voter turnout in real time, though ultimately unsuccessful.

    • Example: Barack Obama's "Project Narwhal" effectively used demographics and psychographics to tailor messaging.

      • Demographics: External traits like race, age, gender.

      • Psychographics: Internal traits like personality and aspirations influencing voting behavior.

  • Overall impact:

    • Technological innovations are reshaping how parties mobilize voters and conduct campaigns.

Conclusion

  • Recognition of the ongoing transformation in political parties due to societal changes.

  • Importance of adapting to reflect constituents' evolving priorities and preferences to remain relevant.