 |
American Government 4/e Thomas E. Patterson | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Learning Center |
 |
|||||
|
American Government 4/e Thomas E. Patterson | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Learning Center |
|
|||||
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Introduction
Political parties’ competition: The foundation of public influence on government
Develop broad policy and leadership choices
Party’s goal: "Create a majority by bringing together diverse individuals"
Party: Try to get candidates elected under a common label
America’s two-party system vs. a multiparty system
Two parties appeal to many of same interests
European parties: Offer a clearer set of policy choices (France, England)
Two parties can offer clear choices at certain times or particular issues
The chapter’s main points:
Party competition enables voting majorities to influence government
Historically, political competition has centered on two parties
Republican and Democratic coalitions are very broad
Each major party stresses moderate and somewhat overlapping policies
Party Competition and Majority Rule
The party system’s main function: The organization of political conflict
Parties: Popular majorities and self-government
Origins of the American Party System
The First Parties: Hamilton (Federalists) vs. Jefferson (Republicans)
Monroe’s Era of Good Feeling
Andrew Jackson and Grassroots Parties
Whig party: Coalition of those who opposed the Democrats
Slavery issue: Republicans under Lincoln in 1860 (Collapse of party system)
Republicans versus Democrats: Realignments and the Enduring Party System
Party realignment: Disruptions in existing political order—four elements:
Emergence of divisive issues
Voters shift strongly in favor of one party
A major change in policy by stronger party
Enduring change in party coalitions (advantage of dominant party)
The Civil War Realignment (GOP dominant, Democrats and "Solid South")
The 1890s Realignment—GOP gained advantage due to economic depression
The Great Depression and the 1930s Realignment
Hoover and stock market crash, subsequent depression (1929)
FDR and long period of Democratic dominance
Democrats seen as party of common people, GOP party of wealthy/business
First-time voters in 1930s identified with Democrats
A New Realignment?
Democratic party became divided over Vietnam, Watergate
1994 GOP sweep had earmarks of a realignment; GOP setback in 1996
The Dealignment Thesis
Dealignment: A movement of voters away from party loyalties
More split-ticket voting, rise of independent voters, less straight-ticket voting
Parties were weakened by splits over civil rights, Vietnam, other issues
Predicted scenario: Shifting support for the parties
Electoral and Party Systems
The Single-Member-District System of Election (Discourages minor parties)
Proportional representation—Encourages minor parties
Green/Free Democrats in Germany: 5 percent of vote, 5 percent of seats
In American system, German parties would have won nothing
U.S. president—can be elected without a popular vote majority
Clinton: Elected with only a 43 percent plurality in 1992
In France there must be a runoff between two minority candidates
Minor parties: Difficulty with funding, getting candidates’ names on ballots
Minor Parties (more than a thousand in the nation’s history)
Mainly advocate positions neglected by major parties
Increase major parties’ responsiveness (Perot)
Single-Issue Parties (Right-to-Life Party, Prohibition Party)
Ideological Parties (Socialist Workers, Libertarian)
Populist Party one of strongest (1892, anger of small farmers)
Factional Parties (Bull Moose of T. Roosevelt in 1912, 1948 Dixiecrats, and George Wallace’s American Independent Party in 1968)
Independent Candidates: Independents with money (Perot in 1992) can seek high office
Policies and Coalitions in the Two-Party System
Seeking the Center, Usually
The two parties stay close to center of political spectrum (shifts are costly)
Political activists may fragment center although they are usually pragmatic
Clear choices: FDR in 1932, LBJ in 1964, Reagan in 1980
Crucial role of public opinion
Party Coalitions (groups and interests supportive of a party)
European parties: Left parties look for working-class voters
American parties: Broad range of interest
Main policy differences—over national government’s role
Democrats have supported greater governmental involvement
Democrats draw support form blacks, poor, Jews, city dwellers
Republicans—support from white, middle-class Protestants
Republicans—attracted voters who want less government, lower taxes,
traditional values
Regionally: Democrats strong in Northeast, GOP in South/Mountain states
Democrats fare better in New England than in South (GOP reverse)
Internal fissures: Democrats meeting black-white Southerner demands
GOP—fundamentalist Christians
Popular Influence and America’s Two-Party System
Do the two parties provide a real choice (European socialism vs. U.S. private enterprise)?
Leftist critics: America’s major parties are tools of upper-class interests
But "a competitive opposition party is the public’s best protection" against
unresponsive government
American’s parties do offer the public a real choice, even if not sharply defined
MHHE Home | About MHHE | Help Desk | Legal Policies and Info | Order Info | What's New | Get Involved
