Understanding Political Parties: Structure, Roles, and History
School
SUNY at Albany**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
RPOS 334
Subject
Political Science
Date
Dec 10, 2024
Pages
7
Uploaded by ChiefStar20552
Political Parties:-Organized groups that try to influence the government by electing their members to local, state,and national offices.Major Parties have 3 developed sections:Party in the electorate -People who associate with that party and vote for party members.a)In most states (31) voters can register with a party when registering to vote.b)Even if they cannot register with a party they can show support by voting for party candidates, signing petitions, putting up lawn signs or contributing $.(Votingis most common)-As the book notes, state committees have specific authority given by state law and other party functions like recruiting candidates.-DNC– The number of DNC reps sent by the states based on party support and population so larger, more liberal states have more representatives from state parties on the national committees. -RNC– has 3 representatives from every state party.(the chair, national committeeman and women)What actions do political parties take, and how would you rank them in importance?1.Recruit candidates to run for office2.Get candidates on ballot through petitioning3.Nominate candidates in state party conventions4.Register voters5.Fundraise to help their candidates6.GOTV7.Help strengthen weaker parts of the party8.Mail literature9.Put up signsWhat is a party system?A pattern of competition between or among parties that lasts for a period of years.-Party systems are often separated by realigning elections where the public shifts their support.6 party systems1st:The democratic-reupublicans had more strength in the south and western states.-Federalists were stronger in the northeast and urban areas.-The Federalist party became weaker during the party system and tended to be a party-in-government top heavy organization with both underdeveloped party organizations and party electorates in the states.-The Federalist wanted the national government to have control over interstate commerce and industrial enterprise
-The democratic republicans came from smaller towns and didn’t want merchants controlling everything.-Women and AFrican Americans couldn’t vote so there was a smaller voter percentage.One Party Rule and the End of the First Party System.-The Democratic Republicans were led by congressional members but had more party organization and a greater number of electorate supporters.-By 1820 the Federalists were a small sectional party that only ran candidates well in NEw England-In the election of 1824, the Democratic Republican party imploded into factions.-The four way race among Andrew Jackson, John Quicy Adams, WIlliam Crawford, and Henry Clay.Second Party System (1828-1860).Jackson Created the Democratic PArty- First modern party, with a party in government.-Working class white men entered the electorate after voting rights were expanded to men who didn’t own land.-Democrats fought off the Whigs and other sectional parties.-Whigs were the other major party during the 2nd Party system-The Whigs favored stronger national government while the Democrats favored more state rights.-This Whigs were the elite and the Democrats were working class.-The Jacksonian Democrats led to the expansion to suffrage for white men that didn’t own land-Dred Scott v Sandford helped strengthen the Republican party as a party against the expansion of slavery. The Republican party had strength in the northeast and midwest.-At the expense of the Whigs who grew weaker in the North, and some Northern Democrats also became Republicans in the mid to late 1850sThe 1860 Presidential Election-Slavery and succession split the Democratic party into Southern branch and Northern Branch.Third Party System 1860-1896Lincoln won the election bc of electoral votes and only won 39.8% of the popular vote.-Many white southerners were angry with the Republican Party because a number of hardline Republicans in Congress dictated harsh reconstruction policies for the south.-From the 1880s to early 1960s the South was Democratic—Southern politics in 3rd PArty System-From 1877 to 1910 Southern States disenfranchised African Americans — took away right to vote-In the 3rd party system there were a number of third parties that formed.-In the 1880s, the people’s party formed (also known as the populists)-This party rose to challenge the growing dominance of big business (railroads and bankers in particular.)The People’s Party and 1896 Presidential Election-Bye 1890s the People’s party became so powerful that the Democratic and Populists merged and ran William Jennigns Bryan in 1896.-The Republicans nominated uu Mckinley and raised a great deal of money possibly $7 million
4th Party System (1896-1932)Republicans are dominated by small and large businessmen in the North.-Some working class northern people were also republican especially in rural areas-The Republican Party was the stronger of the two parties nationally in the 4th system.-The Democratic party was dominated by large plantation owners and wealthy businessmen in the south through the first half of the party system.-The South was totally Democratic and the populists faded quickly.-The Progressive party became a splinter party of republicans. It wanted political and economic reform and favored government intervention. Republican in 4th party system--Laissez faire wing of the Republican party did not favor government intervention.-The republican party was split by progressives by 1920 and was split by wealth in the cities– and people of more moderate income in rural areas of the north.-Small business people in the countryside and big business around the cities generally dominated republican politics. 1924 Democratic National Convention--In 1924 convention the two sides fought over a plank in the party platform of whether to condemn the kkk.-The party was split on issues regarding race/discrimination-Northern democrats were immigrants while southern democrats advocated white supremacy and segregation and was dominated by large farmers and wealthy businessmenMany Progressive era reforms took place in the 4th party system--Many of these reforms were made to reduce power of political machines, most of them also had a big influence on parties, elections, and government.Political machines:-Political machines are a strong, usually local political organization, that dominates the government in a particular area or region.-In return for jobs, people in the party organization were expected to work to elect party candidates. -By the 1900s most of these machines were formed by working class people-The political machines were strong because they were capable of mobilizing large numbers of people to vote.-But at times, there was corruption like requiring people or corporations to pay bribes for government contracts.-machines helped integrate working class immigrants into American Society, got them jobs, helped them register to vote, and also had social gatherings where they could get to know people.A number of reforms were adopted that weakened the power of the machines-Civil service reform
-Civil service reform reduced the number of government jobs significantly by the 1940s-An increase in civil service jobs reduced the number of political appointments.-The new deal and great society programs.-Government created social programs like social welfare benefits through government agencies.-People relied on political parties less for retirement jobs or when they are out of work, they receive unemployment compensation not government jobs.-Nonpartisan elections-Machines favored partisan elections-In nonpartisan elections it would be more difficult for people to know the machines' choice of candidates. Because just names were used, no party identification appears on the ballot.-Competitive bidding laws-Require that governments receive bids for contracts so that the machine could not just hand contracts to its favored local businesses. Governments would usually accept the lowest bidder.-Direct primary laws-In the 1800s political parties nominated candidates at party conventions and in back room meetings that only party leaders and activists could attend.-Party voters did not have a say.-Direct primary laws adopted by the states allowed people to petition to get people on the ballot for primary elections.-Nominations would still be dominated by political parties that had a large number of workers but it created some intra party competition.-17th amendment-The 17th amendment to the constitution took away the biggest political appointment.-Senators are no longer appointed by state legislatures– voters elected senators.-New Deal and Great Society programs-Government leaders at state, national, and local levels provide social welfare benefits through government agencies.-People rely on political parties less for retirement jobs or when they are out of work theyreceive unemployment compensation not government jobs.-No one reform destroyed the machines although civil service reform may have been themost important.5th Party System (1932-1968)-In 1932 there was a realigning election. A realigning election occurs when a large number of voters shift their allegiance among the parties, or create new ones.-Roosevelt won the election with 472 of the electoral votes. A large shift of voters made this happen along with the addition of new voters, most of whom were recent immigrants who chosethe Democratic Party. Some who had voted republican in the north began to associate with democrats too.-During the Great Depression the democrats became the majority party and displaced republicans in most urban areas of the North and controlled the south.
-Part of the 4th party system remained Northern liberal democrats favored govt spending to improve the economy and help aid the poor and greater corporation regulation.-Split developed in the democratic party in 1938-Southern dems split off and joined with conservative republicans to stop new deal policy making.-Southern dems were more conservative than northern dems and would vote for republicans to block liberal legislation-The Democratic party was split on issues concerning race Beginning of the 6th Party System--From mid 1960s-1990s the south gradually realigned over a period of decades from a section of the country dominated by democrats to one dominated by republicans. -The 6th party formed the modern Republican and Democratiuc party-in 1960sto 1990s very religious Christians became more republican.-White working class voters who associated with the democrats in the 1930- mid 1960s period began to associate more with republicans-Those who favored the women’s, anti war, and environmental movements tended to be more democratic.-by the 1990s gays and lesbians associated more with the Democratic party. -The democratic party gained strength in the Northeast and west coast agreed on social issues, and dominated the party nationally with electorate followers and party in government.-The republican party moved more to the right after the 1980 election and presidency of Reghan.-It became a party that embraced economic conservatism and social conservatism.-4 sections of republican party1)Business wing of the party is economically conservative but tends to be moderate on social issues.2)Social conservative ing (against abortion, gay marriage, for traditional family values.) 3)Military wing– favors strong national defense and unilateral military action abroad.4)Libertarian wing- favors less government regulation and taxation of the economy,5)Isolationist– Favors less foreign aid, skeptical of military spending.Why are super pacs unlikely to replace or weaken political parties?-Political Action Committess(PACS) can contribute to candidate campaigns–$5000 per election-There's a limit on contributions to pacs, parties, and candidate campaigns to prevent the wealthy from dominating politics. -Pacs and super pacs also pay a higher media rates within 60 days of a general election than candidate campaigns doCitizens United v.FEC: Any corporate or nonprofit group can spend unlimited amounts of moneyto advocate a candidate in election-Super PACS cannot give money to candidate campaigns but they can spend loads of money on advertising.-Contributions to PACS is limited but contribution from Super PACS is unlimmtied
Nominating Presidents:-So we went from the party in government (congressional caucus)choosing candidates to state party organizations choosing candidates.-It's easier for candidates to run as Independents rather than create a third party. Creating a third party is less likely to gain voter support because of the two dominant political parties. Third Parties also are not funded by the dominant two parties and would require the person to fund their campaign theirself. What do we learn from the NYS Political Calendar?-Dates when paperwork for offices and petitions must be filed-Specified number of petition signatures a candidate must have to qualify for ballot access-Has dates when primary election and general election datesGeneral elections- First tuesday, after the first Monday, in November-In general elections voters elect people to government officesPrimary Elections- Elections where political parties nominate for particular offices (Congress and state and local government offices.Special Elections- When a HOR seat is vacant, a special election date ios set by the governorRecall Elections- Some state and local governments allow for voters to petition to recall elected officials.This allows voters to vote on whether to remove an official from office.-Recalls only exist at state and local levelRunoff Elections: When no candidate receives a majority of the vote in a general election, an additional election is held. Occurs 3-6 weeks after the general election.Retention Election- Election for elected positions that want to rerun at the end of their term.-If the judge or justice is not retained then the governor will appoint a new judge(with senate consent) i