Political Science 1100, Introduction to American Politics, September 24, 2007

Why Do Political Parties Matter?

3. The Reality of American Political Parties: The Two Party System

    A. Why Do We Have A Two Party System?
 

1) History: We've Always Had Two

     Since the 1850s, the Democratic and Republican Parties have
     dominated American Politics

   

2) Party Identification: People Tend To Stick With One Party

 

 

3) Consensus on Basic Ideals

 


    B. Why Does The Two Party System Persist?
 

 

Single Member, Plurality Elections Make It Difficult for 3rd Parties

The rules make it hard for "Third" Parties to sustain electoral success


    C. Are the Parties Different?

 

      In some ways, yes

   

       In some ways, no

 

4. Is the Party Over? Two Case Studies

    A. The Democratic Party South Carolina and Strom Thurmond

 

    1) Before World War II, the "Solid" South voted overwhelmingly Democratic

 

    2) Civil Rights Split the Democrats

 

    3) By The 1970s, Southern Whites Vote Overwhelmingly
         for Republican Presidential Candidates

 

    B. Another Case Study: Vermont and James Jeffords

 

 

5. Parties Today

    Parties are coalitions - but cross-pressures have torn at the parties for many years.

   

A. Party in the electorate - we are more independent minded, and less attached to the parties

 

B. Party in Government 
   

        - weaker coalitions than in comparable nations

 
 

        - American candidates have little control over their candidates

 

        - Partisanship has been very strong in recent years.

 

C. Party Organization

 

     The parties have become more like political banks
                              that collect and disburse funds to candidates

 

 

 

WHO CARES about the decline of parties?

To Become President, Or Governor, Or A Legislator,

    You Still Have To Win Elections

    -- But Without Strong Parties To Help,

       Your Tactics For Winning Have To Include
 
 

1). The "Candidate-Centered" Campaign

You Have To Rely On Yourself To Win Elections
 
 

2). If You Go It Alone And Rely On Yourself,

You Have To Advertise Yourself To Potential Voters

(That's Because They Won't Rely On Party Labels

As Much)
 
 

3. If You Advertise Yourself, You Need To Use

Mass Media, Especially Television, And

 
        You Need To Use Up-To-Date Campaign Techniques
 
 

4). If You Need TV And Consultants, You Need Lots Of Cash
 
 

5). If You Need Lots Of Cash,

You'd Better Spend A Lot Of Time Raising Money

And Finding People Who Will Donate It.

 

Election Games and Strategies

1. WINNING THE PRESIDENCY

    You have to win two games: the nomination, and the general election

    These games have two different sets of rules
 
 

A. To Win The Nomination,
    You Have To Win A Majority of The Delegates
    To The Party's Nomination Convention
    in the Summer before the general election

 

To Win delegates, you have to do very well in the
  Primaries and Caucuses

 

Primaries and Caucuses are held on different days

 

 

Turnout In The Primaries Is Low

    - about 20% of voters
 

 

Turnout In Caucuses (like Iowa) is even lower.

 

 

Consequence: In Order To Win The Nomination, You Have To Win The Support Of Those Who Show Up in primaries and caucuses
 

These people tend To Be More Active In Their Party &
These tend to be people with very strong views - these tend to be "wingers" - that is, the more conservative Republicans, and the more liberal Demnocrats

 

Keys To Winning The Nomination:

- Organization, Money and "Momentum"

- Win Early And Often To Drive Out The Opposition
 
 

 

B. To win the General Election, you have to win 270 electoral votes

 

    What are electoral votes?

 

    How are a state's electoral votes determined?

 

    How do you win a state's electoral votes?

 

    Can you win a majority of the popular vote and lose the election?

 

    Who are the electors?