2nd Test

Unit 8 Political Parties

Political Parties in Crisis?

Political party:

Parties Today and its Functions

1. run

2. seek

3. broad concerns

4. quasi-public organizations

Platform:

How parties engage individuals

• Linkage institutions:

• Policy agenda:

What political parties do

• Grassroots organizations

• volunteer

• contribute to campaigns financially

• run

Responsible Party Model: voters given clear choice

Three Faces of Parties

1. Electorate

2. Organization

3. Government

A. Party in the Electorate

• Party Identifier:

• Independent:

Republicans

• tend to be

• base

• Republican Agenda:

  • smaller national government; more state power

  • less social welfare

  • traditional moral values

  • pro-life

  • pro-business

Democrats

• tend to be

• base

• Democrat Agenda:

  • civil and equal rights

  • social welfare

  • immigration reform

  • gay and transgender rights

  • abortion rights

B. Party as an Organization

Party Organization:

• Theory

• Reality

  • most power in

National Party

a. National Convention:

b. National Committee:

c. National Chairperson:

State Party

• committees of each state effectively are the party

• intermediaries

• soft money:

  • parties could raise unlimited

County and Local Parties

• in major cities, ward and precinct committees dominate state party politics and policies

  • EX: NYC dominates NY

C. Party in Government

• Party that controls government has

• Coalition:

• Divided government:

• Truncated government:

Political Parties in US History

Political system (Era):

• Critical Election:

• Party Realignment:

Eras throughout history

1. 1796

2. 1828

3. 1860

4. 1932

New Party System

• Party Dealignment:

• Divided government

• Decreased party identification

• Ticket Splitting:

The Party’s Over

Party loyalty has DECREASED

1. no

2. government gives

3. voters choose

4. media gives

5. candidate-centered

6. campaign spending

   • Citizens United v. FEC

The Party’s just begun