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Overview of Political Parties and Elections

Political parties organize to control government through elections by selecting candidates, getting them elected, and staffing government positions once in office. The main political parties in the US evolved from the Federalists/Anti-Federalists and Democrats/Whigs to today's dominant Democrats and Republicans. These parties differ in the regions and voter groups they appeal to most. Over time, roughly every 30 years, a political realignment occurs as new issues emerge that change party strengths. While the US system favors two major parties, rules like single-member districts and plurality voting reinforce this dynamic. Voters use cues like party identification and candidate characteristics to decide elections, which establish who can vote and how votes translate to representation. Campaign financing has increasingly relied on

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Whit Freeman
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71 views4 pages

Overview of Political Parties and Elections

Political parties organize to control government through elections by selecting candidates, getting them elected, and staffing government positions once in office. The main political parties in the US evolved from the Federalists/Anti-Federalists and Democrats/Whigs to today's dominant Democrats and Republicans. These parties differ in the regions and voter groups they appeal to most. Over time, roughly every 30 years, a political realignment occurs as new issues emerge that change party strengths. While the US system favors two major parties, rules like single-member districts and plurality voting reinforce this dynamic. Voters use cues like party identification and candidate characteristics to decide elections, which establish who can vote and how votes translate to representation. Campaign financing has increasingly relied on

Uploaded by

Whit Freeman
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Political Parties and Elections

A refresher lecture

Political Parties
Definition: Groups organized to control government through elections
Select candidates
Recruit Nominate

Elect candidates
Get out the vote (GOTV) Facilitate choice

Organize and staff government


Congress: majority/minority; Executive: appointments

Political Parties
AntiAnti-Federalists DemocraticDemocraticRepublicans (Jefferson) Democrats (Jackson)
Common man Minorities, Workers

Federalists Whigs (Clay, Calhoun) Republicans (Lincoln)


Commercial Business, Socially Conservative

Political Parties
Current Party Strength by Region
2010 party identification by state

Democrats: Democrats: Northeast, Great Lakes, West Republicans: Republicans: South, Upper Midwest, Plains BUT...BOTH are competitive in MANY areas...

Realignment
New Party System approximately every 30 yrs 1800: Origin of Parties (D-R) (D 1828: Popular Participation (D) (D 1860: Slavery, North/South (R) (R 1896: Economics, Regional (R) (R 1932: New Deal, Government (D) (D 1960s?
50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1952 1972 1992 2010

Dem. Ind.

Sources: 19521952-1992, National Election Survey; 2008, Gallup

Rep.

Minor Parties
Third Parties
Interests not addressed by major parties

Why only two major parties?


Natural formation Shared basic beliefs Perception that 3rd parties cant win. And...

Rules
SMDP: Single-member-districts, Plurality elections Single-memberState ballot rules (federalism)

Elections
Voting Cues
Party Identification
Socialization

Issues
Manipulation?

Candidate characteristics
Background, demographics Personality

Elections
Who can vote? Historically: expanding suffrage
Originally: propertied white males 15th Amendment (1870): African-American males African19th Amendment (1920): females Voting Rights Act (1965): outlaws voting discrimination 26th Amendment (1971): 18-year-olds 18-yearMotorMotor-voter Act (1993): registration

Elections
What do votes mean?
Primary, General, Recall, Electoral College (indirect) Rules can affect outcomes: Voting rules
Votes 40 30 20 Choice A> B> C> 2nd D> C> D> 3rd C> D> B> 4th B A A A Plurality A=? B=? C=? D=? Majority A=? B=?

10 D> B> C> > means is preferred to

Different rules, different winners!

Money
Parties were once people-based peopleThey are now capital-intensive capitalPolling, Media, Mail, Phones, Web, Public Relations

These require MONEY


Limits make fund-raising harder fundIndividuals and PACs are limited Candidates own money and independent spending are not limited Public funding of presidential campaigns

Campaign Finance
Reform
1970s: major contribution limits, public funding 2002: Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)
Bans national soft money; Restricts issue ads money;

Issue ad loopholes?
NonNon-profit 527 groups

Citizens United v. FEC (2010): Corp. spending


Money in politics: fairness? End lecture

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