Chapter 11 Notes: Political
Parties and Political Action
I.
The Two Party
System
A.
Public Policy
1.
How policy will
be developed affects who will be elected
2.
Political Parties
aim to influence public policy
B.
A Political Party
can be looked at
1.
As an
organization
2.
The party’s relationship with the electorate
3.
the party’s role
in government
C.
Common functions
of a political party
1.
nominating
candidates who can develop public policy
2.
running
successful campaigns
3.
developing a
positive image
4.
raising money
5.
articulating
issues during the campaign so that the electorate can identify with one
candidate
6.
coordinating in
the government the policies they supported during the campaign
7.
If not elected,
being a watchdog
II.
History
A.
The Federalists
v. The Democratic Republicans
1.
First election
with two parties 1796. John Adams
defeated
2.
With the help of
3.
In 1828, the
Democratic Republicans spilt into the Whigs led by Clay and Webster and the
Democrats led by Andrew Jackson.
B.
Four Periods of
Party Politics
1.
(1828- 1860)-
Democrats Dominate
2.
(1860-1932)-
Republican Era
3.
(1932-1968) – New
Deal and Democrats
4.
(1968-present)-
Divided Government
C.
Grand Old Party
1.
The Republican
Party
2.
Abraham Lincoln
the first Republican President
3.
Democrats were
and older party
4.
The Republicans
had the Whigs
5.
Populist Party-
third Party
6.
Reform movement
ended when the
D.
Party Realignment
1.
The shift in
party loyalty occurred in 1932
2.
3.
The growth of
social programs became part of the Democratic Platform
E.
The Vietnam War
1.
Brought the
Republicans back to power
2.
Have been unable to control Congress-divided
government
3.
Rise of the
Religious Right during
III.
Third Parties
A.
Have played a
major role in affecting elections
1.
Have little
chance of actually winning the election
2.
Ideological,
single-issue oriented, economically motivated, and personality driven.
B.
Populist Party
1.
Supported William
Jennings Bryan’s free silver movement
2.
Their reforms
included initiative, referendum, and recall were
adopted.
C.
The Bull Moose
Party
1.
Played political
spoiler in 1912
2.
Faded after their
presidential candidates were defeated
3.
similar to the
fate of the Progressive Party and the Prohibition Party
D.
Modern Third
Party
1.
Has revolved
around a political leader who couldn’t get nominated within his own party
2.
Ross Perot- most
well known
IV.
Party Dealignment
A.
The shift to a more neutral and ideological view of
party identification
B.
Example: shift of
southern Democrats to the Republican Party because it’s considered more
conservative
C.
Party Platform
will show the ideological differences between the parties
V.
Organization
A.
Hierarchical
B.
National
Convention
1.
Publicizes the
party’s position
2.
Highly scripted
now days
3.
made up of a
combination of state and national party leaders
4.
Chairperson
VI.
Future
A.
Voter turnout is
down
B.
Unconventional
participation- involves protest and civil disobedience
C.
Independents and
moderates are on the rise. Less people
identify with one party
D.
Highly unlikely
the two-party system will disappear