4 5 14 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 Political Participation Political Parties Introduction Political parties are made up of Electorate the people Government Organization committee chairs etc Historical party eras are realignments which are always 2 sided Know the characteristics of today s party era Political Parties Political parties seek to control the government by gaining office through elections They want to win 2004 Bush 2008 Obama more voter turnout bc it s easier to see differences There s more contrast btw candidates 2012 Obama The Downs Model Rational choice theory Assumes that people do what s best for them while weighing their options Downs Model Teams of men and women seek to control gov t through gaining office in a constitutional election Through voting voters increase the chances that policies they favor will be adopted Parties want to win elected offices so that they can influence elections Tasks of Parties Pick Candidates Run Campaigns Give Cues to Voters through media Articulate Policies Organize Policymaking Political parties are linkage institutions 7 How Parties Influence Policy Opinions Parties provide signals mental short cuts for party identifiers We rely on news for these short cuts and this information This is part of how people choose their views on politicies Contributes to uninformed voting and policy views We have limited information about politics Components of Parties Parties can be thought of in three parts electorate organization and government The Party in the Electorate Voters who identify with a political party Party identification person s political party preference Ticket splitting voting for offices individually for multiple parties Independents are more likely to do this This is why any state could technically be a swing state Straight ticket choose one party for all offices 10 11 12 Graph Party Identification 1952 2012 Republicans minority party Table Party Leaners Local Party Organizations Grass Roots Organizations locals working for a party Very important in presidential primaries Think of the people who call you on the phone Local Parties Party Machines Political party organizations that rely on material incentives to win elections Patronage When a job promotion or contract is given for political reasons Used by party machines Think of the wealthy and their connections No longer commonly occurring Due to growing reforms party machines and local organizations are becoming weaker 13 State Party Organizations State parties make a difference in presidential elections Primaries or caucuses Delegate selection procedures vary by state Texas two step democratic party selection process Selection process varies more from state to state in the Republican Party 14 Texas Party Organization Precincts Multiple in each county Precinct chair voted on by precinct party organizer Precinct convention 1st Tuesday in March even numbered years 2008 this convention was evening of primary day or the caucus portion of the Democratic selection process Select delegates and Adopt resolutions for county convention Precinct country state 15 Texas Party Organization County County chair head of county executive committee all precinct chairs Puts together primary ballot Tallies votes from mail in ballots and ballots cast in precincts from primaries for local office County conventions take place the last Saturday in March after precinct conventions Representatives vote to resolve issues Decide who will attend State Convention 16 Texas Party Organization State State convention June Select state chair and representatives Select electoral college members Select representatives for National convention 64 member state executive committee Each party selects 1 man and 1 woman Republican s select from congressional districts Democrats select from state senate districts National convention representatives selected 17 National Party Organization National Convention party representatives meet every 4 years to write presidential ticket Open 24 hrs a day to accept your President and Vice President have formal send off Agree to party platform National Committee Keeps the party running when it isn t meeting In charge fundraising efforts 18 The Party in Government The more issues members agree on the stronger the party Parties can provide funding in a close race Coalition Individuals who share a common interest i e Political parties Parties have platforms Politicians have promises and usually carry out these promises when elected in gov t Candidates try to give us an image of who they are Compelling life stories Barack Obama parents separated mother remarried mixed race worked his way up 19 Graph Party Polarization over Time Washington today is polarized Many southern democrats are now republicans There s more agreement within parties less between them 20 Graph The Vanishing Middle There are now very few moderate voters and very few independents 21 Graph More Recent Partisanship Barack Obama is right about in the middle of where the democratic party lies in terms of political partisanship 22 23 Graph Partisan Key Votes Party in Government Today Current President is a Democrat 113th Congress House Republicans Republican 232 Democrat 201 Senate Democrats Republican 45 Democrat 53 Independent 2 24 Parties in American History Party Eras when most votes are for the party in power Critical Election New issues and coalitions surface Massive historical periods change in voting politics Depression Typically occurs during after crisis e g Civil War Great Party Realignment Shift in power between minority and majority parties i e If the Republican party were to win the next Presidential election 25 Party Eras The First Party System 1796 1824 Federalists first party Jacksonian Democrats v Whigs 1828 1856 Whigs opposed Democrats The Two Republican Eras 1860 1928 Republicans antislavery party Jackson founded modern Democratic party 26 The Progressive Era Republicans in power due to 1894 Depression The New Deal Coalition 1932 1964 Established by Democrats relied upon working class ethnic groups Catholics and Jews the poor Southerners Power is transferred through elections During 2nd Republican Era 1896 1916 Progressives tried to weaken party machines making patronage and voting corruption illegal You cannot show your support for any party while voting outwardly show support for anything issue on the ballot Did so by advocating the direct primary the secret ballot civil service reform direct election of