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Unit 4: Section 6: Political parties - Coggle Diagram
Unit 4: Section 6: Political parties
Main political parties
Why do we form political parties
To facilitate collective action – easier for groups of interests to form and promote action
To facilitate policy making
To unite people from diverse places
To provide structure for politicians ambition, promoting talent and capabilities for top jobs
What are the functions of political parties in the USA
Recruit candidates
Nominate candidates for election – e.g. via the primary system
Mobilise voters, get out the vote – e.g. raise money, direct mail, email, voter registration drives
Parties determine who the speaker is, and the composition of committees, and the leadership of committees, and who the chairs of committees are, and the agenda of the House
Why parties are not as important in the US:
Organisation
Fundraising
Communication
Policy formulation
All done by PACS, pressure groups, candidates, media
Political party:
a team of politicians, activists and voters whose goal is to win control of government via elections
Varying ideas:
Military
Gun control
Abortion rights
Why are the parties indistinct?
Republicans and Democrats reflect/adapt to their local area
‘Do you think there are important differences in what republicans and democrats stand for?’
1971 – 44% NO, 46% YES
2008 – 21% NO, 78% YES
Evidence of a two party system:
Popular vote - in the last 7 presidential elections, Republican / Democrats have won more than 80% of the popular vote.
Congressional seats - after 2020, Republicans & Democrats controlled 533 of the 535 seats in Congress.
Executive branch control - every president since 1853 has been either Republicans & Democrats.
State government - by 2017, 49 of the 50 state governors were either Republicans & Democrat
Does the US have a two party system?
Yes
Democrats and Republicans dominate the popular vote in elections
They also control nearly all seats in Congress
They alternately control the White House
They control state governments
Leadership in Congress is organised and controlled by the two major parties
No
The two major parties are little more than coalitions of their respective 50 state parties - thus giving the USA a ‘50-party-system’
Some states are virtually one-party states e.g. Massachusetts [D]; Wyoming [R]
Third parties have played a significant role in some elections e.g. 1992, 2000
Many voters are self-described ‘independents’
Party Organisation
Federalism creates something more like 100 parties with 2 common names
Two national parties really means 50 state versions of each party
Attempts to make a National Agenda are therefore limited and very notable – e.g. 1994 and the Republicans ‘Contract with America’, or 2006 when the Democrats tried to make the Congressional elections a referendum on George W. Bush
Comparing Republican and Democrat
Philosophy
D: Liberal, left-leaning
R: Conservative, right-leaning
Economic ideas
D: Minimum wages and progressive taxation, i.e., higher tax rates for higher income brackets. Born out of anti-federalist ideals but evolved over time to favour more government regulation.
R: Believe taxes shouldn't be increased for anyone (including the wealthy) and that wages should be set by the free market
Social and human ideas
D: Based on community and social responsibility
R: Based on individual rights and justice
Stance on military issues
D: Decreased spending
R: Increased spending
Third parties
Third party:
American political parties other than the two dominant parties. Sometimes the phrase "minor party" is used instead. Third parties are most often encountered when they nominate presidential candidates
1992: Ross Perot: Texan Industrialist
Registered intention to run via mainstream TV appearance
Never in political office but involved in public life/domain
18.9% popular vote, 0 electoral college votes
Forward party:
Centrist party founded by former Democratic 2020 presidential and 2021 New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang.
formed as a political action committee (PAC) on October 5, 2021. The PAC intends to seek recognition from the Federal Election Commission as a political party to achieve its stated goal of providing an alternative to the two major U.S. political parties
Goals:
reduction of partisan polarisation
implementing electoral reforms
Failure of third parties
Electoral System – ‘winner takes all system’ means that it difficult for any third party/independent. Cannot win a concentrated majority in a long established two-party system. Example: Perot 1992
Requirements for election: Difficult to be placed on ballot – Example: 1.5 million signatures required for Nader 2004. In 2000 election did not appear on ballot in 7 states under Green Party nomination
Requirements for Funding – 5% of public vote in proceeding election to qualify – states/government do not ‘make it easy’. Example: Perot had to fund his own election campaign/rely on grass root organisations. Nader did not qualify as did not receive enough % of public vote in 2000 for 2004 lection.
Media attention/ Presidential debate – Example 15%: requirement of Public Vote undertaken by 5 polling organisations to take part in televised Presidential debate. Reach electorate/public – only once under Perot 1992
Nature of many parties? Single issue / little broad appeal.
Successes of third parties
Successful on local levels – made impact in certain areas. Example: Kansas/Populist party
Brought issues to the forefront despite not actually getting elected – women's suffrage, labour laws, Perot budget deficit & dissatisfactio
True alternative – ideologies & views
Abraham Lincoln was a Third Party President.