American Government and Politics Today Essentials 2013

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CHAPTER 8

Polticial Parties

 LEARNING OUTCOMES
The seven learning outcomes below are designed to help improve your understanding of this
chapter. After reading this chapter, you should be able to:
 Learning Outcome 1: Define the term political party, and cite some of the major
activities of the parties.
 Learning Outcome 2: Explain how the history of U.S. political parties has resulted in
the two major parties that exist today.
 Learning Outcome 3: Summarize key economic and cultural positions taken by the two
major parties.
 Learning Outcome 4: Describe three faces of a party: the party-in-the-electorate, the
party organization, and the party-in-government.
 Learning Outcome 5: Give some of the reasons why the two-party system has endured
in America.
 Learning Outcome 6: Evaluate the impact of third parties on U.S. politics.
 Learning Outcome 7: Discuss some of the ways in which support for the parties can
change, and explain the increasing importance of independence.

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94 Chapter 8: Political Parties

 SUMMARY OVERVIEW
1. A political party is a group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate
the government, and determine public policy. Political parties recruit candidates for
public office, organize and run elections, present alternative policies to the voters,
assume responsibility for operating the government, and act as the opposition to the party
in power.
2. The evolution of our nation’s political parties can be divided into seven periods: (a) the
formation of political parties from 1789 to 1816; (b) the era of one-party rule from 1816
to 1828; (c) the period from Andrew Jackson’s presidency to the eve of the Civil War,
from 1828 to 1856; (d) the Civil War and post–Civil War period, from 1856 to 1896;
(e) the Republican ascendancy and progressive period, from 1896 to 1932; (f) the New
Deal period, from 1932 to about 1968; and (g) the modern period, from approximately
1968 to the present. Throughout most of the modern period, the parties have been closely
matched in strength.
3. Many of the differences between the two parties date from the time of Franklin D.
Roosevelt’s New Deal. The Democrats have advocated government action to help labor
and minorities, and the Republicans have championed self-reliance and limited
government. Today, cultural differences are at least as important as economic issues in
determining party allegiance.
4. A political party consists of three components: the party-in-the-electorate, the party
organization, and the party-in-government. Each party component maintains linkages to
the others to keep the party strong. Each level of the party—local, state, and national—
has considerable autonomy. The national party organization is responsible for holding the
national convention in presidential election years, writing the party platform, choosing
the national committee, and conducting party business.
5. The party-in-government comprises all of the elected and appointed officeholders of a
party. Increased ideological coherence in both major parties has resulted in growing
political polarization.
6. Two major parties have dominated the political landscape in the United States for almost
two centuries. The reasons for this include (a) the historical foundations of the system,
(b) political socialization and practical considerations, (c) the winner-take-all electoral
system, and (d) state and federal laws favoring the two-party system. For these reasons,
minor parties have found it extremely difficult to win elections.
7. Minor, or third, parties have emerged from time to time—sometimes as dissatisfied
splinter groups from within major parties—and have acted as barometers of change in the
political mood. Third parties can affect the political process (even if they do not win) if
major parties adopt their issues or if they determine which major party wins an election.
8. One mechanism of political change is realignment, in which major blocs of voters switch
allegiance from one party to another. Realignments were manifested in the elections of
1896 and 1932. Some scholars speak of dealignment—that is, the loss of strong party
attachments. In fact, the share of the voters who describe themselves as independents has
grown, and the share of self-identified Democrats has shrunk. Many independents
actually vote as if they were Democrats or Republicans, however. Demographic change
can also “tip” a district or state from one party to another.

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 Chapter 8: Political Parties 95

 CHAPTER OUTLINE
In the United States the voting population is nearly evenly divided among people who identify
themselves as Democrats, as Republicans, and as “independents” (voters who do not identify with
a political party). The number of independent voters has been gradually rising, though. Very few
people are actually “card-carrying” party members, however, because to become a member you
do not have to pay dues, pass an exam, or swear an oath of allegiance. The state of political
parties is a matter of constant concern for the media, which conduct polls to ascertain the public’s
party affiliation on a routine basis.
 What If … WE CHOSE CANDIDATES THROUGH BIPARTISAN
PRIMARY ELECTIONS?
With increasing polarization in American politics, the question arises, would a
“Top Two Candidate” primary increase voter participation? It would lessen the
power of the parties and encourage candidates to broaden their voter appeal.
However, major political parties may suffer. Political parties would be less
influential. While parties could endorse candidates, they would have less to say
about who those candidates are. What would happen to campaign spending?
Would it lead to more or less spending?
I. What Is a Political Party?
A political party is a group of political activists who organize to win elections, to
operate the government, and to determine public policy. This definition makes a
distinction between a political party and an interest group. Interest groups want to
influence public policy, but are not interested in controlling the government. This
definition also distinguishes parties from factions, which are groups or blocs in a
legislative or political party that are trying to obtain power or benefits. For a political
party to be successful, it must unite diverse groups that have different policy orientations.
These are the functions of political parties in the United States:
 Recruiting candidates for public office at all levels of government on the party
label. By attracting quality candidates the party enhances its chance of winning
the elective positions and controlling the government.
 Organizing and running elections is technically a government responsibility, but
the parties mobilize citizens to vote and participate.
 Presenting alternative policies to the electorate is an essential role. By
understanding the position of each party on the major issues, the voter has some
indication of the position of the party’s candidates.
 Accepting the responsibility for operating the government at all levels. This is
crucial to the functioning of the political process. Parties organize Congress (see
Chapter 10 for details on committee organization), affect how the president
selects individuals to serve in the executive branch (see Chapters 11 and 12 for
details), and affect how the president nominates federal judges (see Chapter 13
for details on the nomination process). Parties also perform these same functions
at the state and local levels of government.
 Acting as the organized opposition to the party in power is an essential role for a
party that does not control one or another branch of the government.

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96 Chapter 8: Political Parties

II. A History of Political Parties in the United States

The U.S. has a two-party system that has been around since about 1800. Political parties
did not exist when the Constitution was drafted and are not mentioned anywhere in the
Constitution. Yet, the debate on the ratification of the Constitution helped to give rise to
the first political parties.
A. The Formative Years: Federalists and Anti-Federalists
The two-party system can be said to have originated in the debate between
supporters of the Constitution (the Federalists) and those who thought the states
should be the locus of authority and advocated a Bill of Rights (the Anti-
Federalists). Under John Adams, the Federalist Party was the first party to control
the national government.
1. Federalists and Republicans. The Federalists led by John Adams
represented commercial interests, merchants, and large planters. The
Republicans led by Thomas Jefferson represented artisans and supported
states’ rights.
2. The One-Party Interlude. From 1800-1820 a majority of U.S. voters
regularly elected Jeffersonian Republicans. By 1816, the Federalist Party
had all but collapsed. James Monroe led “The Era of Good Feelings,”
from 1817–1825.
B. Democrats and Whigs
National Two-Party Rule followed the Era of Good Feelings. With the fiercely
contested election of 1824, the Republican Party split into the Democratic Party
(Jackson supporters) and the National Republicans (Adams supporters). The
National Republicans soon renamed themselves as the Whig Party.
C. The Civil War Crisis
In 1854, the northern Whigs united with antislavery Democrats and members of
the radical antislavery Free Soil Party to found the modern Republican Party.
D. The Post-Civil War Period
1. Cultural Politics. Cultural factors divided the parties. The Republican
ranks contained an aggressive evangelical Protestant element that was
hostile to Catholicism and favored moralistic initiatives such as banning
the sale of liquor. Democrats opposed a strong national government that
could impose coercive moralistic measures in the North and protect the
rights of the “freedmen” in the South.
2. The Triumph of the Republicans. The parties were very evenly
matched in strength, and the Republicans did not gain a decisive edge
until 1896 when, at the bottom of an economic depression, the
Democrats endorsed a pro-debtor populist platform (inflation) that
frightened Eastern workers. The Republicans won just in time to benefit
from the end of the depression, and so sealed their reputation as the party
of prosperity.
E. The Progressive Interlude
A temporary split in the Republican ranks allowed the Democrats to gain control
of the government under President Woodrow Wilson from 1912 to 1920. This
period is significant because under Wilson, the Democrats began to evolve away
from their former hostility to government action in the economy.

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 Chapter 8: Political Parties 97

F. The New Deal Era

The Great Depression shattered the working-class belief in Republican economic
competence. President Franklin Roosevelt completed the evolution of the
Democrats into a party of active government. (One characterization by a
sympathetic professor was, “Hamiltonian means, Jeffersonian ends.”)
Roosevelt’s “big tent” was big enough to welcome African Americans, an
unprecedented development.
G. An Era of Divided Government
Northern Democratic support for the civil rights movement tended to push
Southern conservatives out of the party. The unrest of the late 1960s (urban riots,
anti-Vietnam War protests) alienated other cultural conservatives from the
Democrats. These voters largely became Republicans, though the process was a
slow one lasting decades rather than an overnight revolution such as was seen in
1896 and 1932.
1. The Parties in Balance. In any event, the result has been a modern
nation very evenly divided between the two major parties. In the years
after 1968, the pattern was often a Republican president and a
Democratic Congress. Party labels can be misleading. Some southern
Democrats were conservatives who often voted with the Republicans.
2. Red State, Blue State. The extraordinarily close presidential election of
2000 focused attention on the supposed differences between so-called
Democratic “blue states” and Republican “red states.” The geographic
pattern of state support for the parties is the reverse of the pattern of
1896, neatly exemplifying the reversal of Democratic Party ideology
and support.
H. A Series of “Wave” Elections
Following the 2000 election, the Republicans had majorities in Congress for a
short while but the margin was narrow. Voters demonstrated their
dissatisfaction with their party’s performance through wave elections (support
for the other party.)
1. Wave Elections Sweep out the Republicans. In the 2008 elections, the
Democrats gained additional seats in the House and Senate and regained
the White House. The Democrats had a 60 seats majority in the Senate
for a brief moment until a special election to fill Ted Kennedy’s open
seat went in a surprise victory to the Republicans.
2. Democrats in Trouble. By 2010, the Republican Party seemed to have
regained the support they lost during the previous five years. The Gallop
Poll reported party identification when counting independents that leaned
towards one party or another was even at 40 percent for each party. The
Democrats lost their favored status with the electorate due to two factors.
They were now the party in charge during a sustained economic
downturn and independents turned away from the party due to the
expanding scope of government. In addition, the health-care debate
dominated the party’s agenda for nine months crowding out discussion of
the economic crisis.
3. Republican Overreach. The House members in 2011 had a large
contingent of Tea Party loyalists and many incumbent members aligned

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98 Chapter 8: Political Parties

themselves to maintain unity thus making the new Speaker John

Boehner’s job difficult.
III. The Two Major U.S. Parties Today
Despite allegations to the contrary, the major parties do have substantial differences, both
in their policies and in their constituents.
A. The Parties’ Core Constituents
Democrats receive disproportionate support not only from the least well-educated
voters but also from individuals with advanced degrees. The Jewish electorate,
Hispanics, and African Americans are strongly Democratic, while city dwellers
and women are somewhat more likely to be Democratic. Businesspersons are
much more likely to vote Republican than union members. White evangelical
Christians and rural people tend to be Republicans. Labor and minorities have
been Democratic core constituents since the days of the New Deal and their
social and economic positions tend to reflect this. Democrats are more likely to
approve of social-welfare spending and support government regulation of
business. Republicans are more supportive of the private marketplace, and
believe more strongly in an ethic of self-reliance and limited government.
 2012 Elections: PARTISAN TRENDS IN THE 2012 ELECTIONS
B. Core Economic Interests
During the Clinton and Bush administrations, it seemed that the major parties had
come to a consensus on the size of government. But with the arrival of the
Obama administration, the parties appeared to revert to their traditional positions
on the size of government.
C. Cultural Politics
Cultural politics have become more important in recent years as reasons why
people support one of the major parties.
1. Cultural Politics and Socioeconomic Status. In cultural politics, the
upper classes tend to be more liberal, a reversal of the pattern seen in
economic politics. In the years that preceded the Great Recession,
cultural values may have been unusually important in defining the beliefs
of the two major parties. The election of Barack Obama and a strongly
Democratic Congress in 2008 amplified the fears of the cultural
conservatives. One result was the Tea Party Movement that began
in 2009.
2. The Regional Factor in Cultural Politics. Wealthy states and regions
now appear more supportive of the Democrats and less, well-off regions
more supportive of the Republicans.
3. Cultural Divisions within the Democratic Party. The hard-fought race
for the Democratic presidential nominee between Hillary Clinton and
Barack Obama exposed cultural divisions within the Democratic Party.
4. Cultural Divisions among the Republicans. One wing of the
Republican Party represents the Religious Right while another wing is
more oriented toward economic issues and business concerns.
5. Moderate and Radical Republicans. After the election of Barack
Obama, division between the business-oriented Republicans and the
Religious Right became less important. Both factions were united against

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 Chapter 8: Political Parties 99

the Obama Administration. A new fault line developed however,

between the moderate conservatives and the more radical ones. The Tea
Party Movement tended to avoid issues like abortion and appeared to
more closely align with the Republican Party’s anti-government wing led
by Rush Limbaugh and Sara Palin.
IV. The Three Faces of a Party
Political parties in the United States can be said to be made up of three components. The
party-in-the-electorate comprises the people who identify with the party or who regularly
vote for the candidates of the party in general elections. Without the party-in-the-
electorate it would not be possible for the party to have electoral success. The party
organization is the second element, with the function of providing leadership and
structure for the party. The last element is the party-in-government. This includes the
elected and appointed officials who gained office under the label of the party. Once in
office these leaders organize to influence governmental policy toward the platform of
the party.
A. Party Organization
In theory, American political parties are structured like a pyramid, with the
national party organization at the top and the local party organization serving as
the base. This theoretical structure is not realistic. Rather, American political
parties tend to operate like a confederation, where the state parties have
significant autonomy and only loose connections to each other and to the
national committee.
1. The National Party Organization. Key concept: the national
convention, at which a party nominates presidential and vice-
presidential candidates, writes its party platform, and chooses a
national committee.
 Convention Delegates. The national party organization receives
the most publicity during the national convention. Convention
delegates typically have political views further from the center
than the supporters of the party in the electorate.
 The National Committee. Elected by the national convention,
this body serves as the party’s governing body until the
next convention.
 Picking a National Chairperson. This person is picked or
approved by the party’s presidential candidate. If the candidate
loses, however, the national committee may choose a
different chairperson.
 Which Side Are You On? ARE THE PARTIES BECOMING TOO
RADICAL?
Radicalism exists but it is not new. What is new is that the parties have become
even more polarized.
2. The State Party Organization. Each state also has a party organization.
There is a state chairperson and a state central committee. Like the
national party, each state party holds a state convention that may endorse
some candidates, depending on state law. A state party platform is
drafted to focus on state-level issues.
3. Local Party Machinery: The Grassroots.

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100 Chapter 8: Political Parties

 Patronage and City Machines. In the 1800s and early 1900s,

major cities typically had powerful political “machines” that
supplied welfare services and jobs to an immigrant-based or poor
clientele in return for votes. Such machines no longer exist; the
last patronage system died with Chicago’s Mayor Richard J.
Daley in 1976. A nonpartisan bureaucracy now provides
welfare services and government jobs are assigned through
competitive examinations.
 Local Party Organizations Today. Local organizations have
important functions, such as getting out the vote. The local party
organization differs in different regions of the country. In some
areas the party has little local organization while in other areas
there may be a very strong local organization that controls the
local governmental process. The national party has little control
over local organizations.
B. The Party-in-Government
Which party wins an election is important for a number of reasons. The majority
party can dominate committees in legislatures, decide appointments in the
executive branch, and set the political agenda.
1. Divided Government. The winning party has less control over the
government when divided government exists, with the executive and
legislative branches controlled by different parties. For example, after the
2006 elections, the Democrats were largely unable to pass any legislation
that did not meet with President Bush’s approval because they did not
have sufficient votes to override a presidential veto.
2. The Limits of Party Unity. Legislation often does not pass on party-line
votes. The reason in part is that candidates for the House and Senate
are not dependent on their party, but rather put together personal
campaign organizations.
3. Party Polarization. More and more, voting takes place strictly on party
lines. Discipline in the party caucuses has never been tighter because
there is very little overlap between the parties today. This was not always
the case. For much of the twentieth century, liberal Republicans and
extremely conservative Democrats were a real presence in the
nation’s politics.
4. Blocking Tactics. The Republicans under House Speaker Newt Gingrich
pioneered the tactic of blocking legislation with no effort to compromise
in the 1990s and have applied this obstructionist strategy again with
some success since the 2008 elections.
V. Why Has the Two-Party System Endured?
A. The Historical Foundations of the Two-Party System
Often, on major issues confronting the country there have been two clear sides.
This duality helped to initiate a two-party system and has maintained this system
through the present.
B. Political Socialization and Practical Considerations

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 Chapter 8: Political Parties 101

For generations, all that has existed is a two-party system. If individuals are not
exposed to anything but a two-party system, they will not likely seek change to a
different type of system.
C. The Winner-Take-All Electoral System
This system elects the candidate who receives a plurality, not necessarily a
majority, of the votes. Candidates who finish second receive nothing.
1. Presidential Voting. In all but two states, the presidential candidate with
a plurality gets all the electoral votes of that state. This is the unit rule.
2. Popular Election of the Governors and the President. In most
European countries, the chief executive is a premier or prime minister
elected by the legislature. If there are three or more parties, two or more
can band together to elect a premier. In America, however, governors are
elected directly by the people and the people elect presidents indirectly.
There is no opportunity for negotiations between parties.
3. Proportional Representation. Many countries use proportional
representation in elections. Such a system allows a party to receive the
number of legislators equal to the percentage of the vote the party
received. If a party receives 19 percent of the vote it would then receive
19 percent of the seats in the legislature. As long as the United States
continues to use a winner-take-all electoral system, it is highly unlikely
that a minor party will be successful.
D. State and Federal Laws Favoring the Two Parties
This occurs because the two major parties are in control of the policy-making
process. As long as the Democrats and Republicans are in power at the state and
national levels they will continue to pass laws that favor the two-party system
and make it difficult for new parties to develop.
VI. The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics
Though minor parties rarely win elections, they have still had an impact on the American
political landscape.
A. Ideological Third Parties
Many third parties are long-lived organizations with strong ideological
foundations. A historical example is the Socialist Party, which existed from 1900
to 1972. The Socialists were never very popular in the United States. Recently,
the term socialist has gained currency as a conservative insult directed at
President Obama. The term socialist in this situation is misused. President
Obama is a liberal, which is a different political value system than socialism.
Current examples of third parties include the Libertarian Party and the
Green Party.
 Beyond Our Borders: THE REAL SOCIALISTS
In Western European nations, the left-of-center parties like the British Labour
Party come out of a socialist tradition. Despite their growing moderation,
substantial differences remain between the Western European socialists and
American liberals. Socialists champion a much stronger welfare state than
American liberals ever would.
B. Splinter Parties

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102 Chapter 8: Political Parties

Not all minor parties have been based on a different ideology from the major
parties. A few minor parties are formed when members of one of the two major
parties are dissatisfied with the leader of the major party, or the members are
dissatisfied with the platform of the major party. For example, the Bull Moose
Progressives splintered from the Republican Party to give their support to the
candidacy of Theodore Roosevelt over that of William Howard Taft.
C. The Impact of Minor Parties
No presidential candidate has been elected from a minor party. Very few
members of Congress have been elected on the label of a minor party. But minor
parties have had an impact in that they raise issues that the two major parties
must address. These parties also provide voters with another option.
1. Influencing the Major Parties. Minor parties can raise issues that major
parties then adopt. The Populist Party was an example. Many of its
policies were taken over by the Democrats in 1896 (which ultimately
hurt the Democrats rather than helping them). During its existence, the
Socialist Party advanced many proposals that were picked up by liberals
(and sometimes even by a bipartisan consensus).
2. Affecting the Outcome of an Election. Some claim that the candidacy
of Ralph Nader on the Green Party ticket hurt Democrat Al Gore’s
chances of winning the presidency, particularly given how close the
election was. Nader may have taken votes from Gore, thus giving George
W. Bush an edge.
VII. Mechanisms of Political Change
A. Realignment
Key term: Realignment, a process in which a substantial group of voter’s
switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the
political landscape.
1. Realignments in American Politics. Realignments do not have to result
in a dominant party. The realignment associated with the creation of the
modern Republicans eventually produced a country that was relatively
evenly divided between the parties. The same is true of the most
recent realignment in which conservative Democrats became
conservative Republicans.
2. Is Realignment Still Possible? Realignments followed from party
coalitions that included contradictory elements—both slave owners and
opponents of slavery (the Whigs), workers and their employers (the
Republicans after 1896), or both African Americans and segregationists
(the Democrats after 1932). It is almost inevitable that such coalitions
will break up.
B. Dealignment
Some argue that realignment has been replaced by dealignment—a major drop-
off in support for the parties.
1. Independent Voters. The number of independents has grown steadily
since the 1930s. Split ticket voting, voting for candidates of two or more
parties for different offices, is more common.

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 Chapter 8: Political Parties 103

2. Not-So-Independent Voters. Many “independents” really do prefer one

or another of the two parties. For some time, about one-third of
independents typically voted Democratic, one-third typically voted
Republican and the remaining third consisted of independents, known as
swing voters, who would swing their support from one party to
another. Today, only about 10 percent of the public is truly independent
with the remaining electorate leaning evenly towards the Republicans or
the Democrats.
C. Tipping
1. Tipping in Massachusetts and California. If one ethnic group grows
more rapidly than another, it can “tip” a state from one party to the other.
The famous example is Massachusetts, where in 1928 the Democratic
Irish finally outnumbered the Republican Yankees. California appears to
have recently tipped to the Democrats due to an increase in the Hispanic
and Asian population.
 Politics and the Parties: THE IMPORTANCE OF
INDEPENDENT VOTERS
A Gallup poll places only 10 percent of respondents in the independent column.
Therefore, winning the independent vote could mean a tremendous effort to
change the votes of a handful of people. The return of the independents played a
significant role in the 2008 presidential election. Why did they swing? Some
believe that independents carry both liberal and conservative value systems in
their heads and either value system may be triggered depending on the
circumstances at the time.
2. Tipping in the Twenty-First Century? A growing Hispanic population,
which historically vote Democratic, has pushed several southwestern
states, such as Nevada and Colorado into the Democratic column, while
upscale urban voters in the suburbs of Washington, DC helped Obama
carry the traditionally Republican state of Virginia.
 Why Should You Care About … POLITICAL PARTIES?
Why should you care about political parties? The individual voter can easily
become involved in the nomination of delegates to attend a state or national
convention. A voter can sign petitions for delegates, attend a party’s caucus, or
collect signatures to become a delegate. The political power exercised by
convention delegates goes beyond voting and can have implications for other
offices, such as a university Board of Regents.
 E-mocracy: POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE INTERNET
Those who use the Internet for information on the political parties should do so
with some caution. Even official party sites are filled with misinformation about
the other party. This feature includes links to the major parties.

 LECTURE LAUNCHERS
1. Do democratic governments need political parties?
2. Would proportional representation for the House of Representatives be a good idea?

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104 Chapter 8: Political Parties

3. Why does the United States have only two major parties?
4. Is party identification a major factor for voters in presidential elections?
5. Why is it difficult for independent candidates or minor party candidates to get elected
to Congress?
6. What types of factors influence one’s party identification? If you consider yourself to be
a “party identifier,” why do you identify with your party?
7. What is meant by “moving to the right” or “becoming more progressive”?
8. What role did third parties play in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections?
9. Are cultural politics as important as economic politics?

 IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES
1. Bring in a third party platform and have students compare and contrast with the platforms
of the two major parties.
2. Study the Electoral College map for 2012 and analyze which states went to which
candidate and argue why.
3. Examine the political positions of the two major parties in the 2012 election to determine
reasons for the presidential victory.
4. Examine what the text says about who belongs to each political party and see if it bears
out in the voter demographics of the 2012 election.
5. How important was the vote of each of the racial minorities to the victory or defeat of the
two major parties.

 KEY TERMS
dealignment A decline in party loyalties that reduces long-term party commitment.
Democratic Party One of the two major American political parties evolving out of the
Republican Party of Thomas Jefferson.
divided government A situation in which one major political party controls the presidency and
the other controls one or more chambers of Congress, or in which one party controls a
state governorship and the other controls part or all of the state legislature.
electoral college A group of persons, called electors, who are selected by the voters in each state.
This group officially elects the president and the vice president of the United States.
faction A group or bloc in a legislature or political party that is trying to obtain power
or benefits.
GOP A nickname for the Republican Party; stands for “grand old party.”
independent A voter or candidate who does not identify with a political party.
national committee A standing committee of a national political party established to direct and
coordinate party activities between national party conventions.

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 Chapter 8: Political Parties 105

national convention The meeting held every four years by each major party to select
presidential and vice-presidential candidates, write a platform, choose a national
committee, and conduct party business.
party identification Linking oneself to a particular political party.
party-in-government All of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a
political party.
party-in-the-electorate Those members of the general public who identify with a political party
or who express a preference for one party over another.
party organization The formal structure and leadership of a political party, including election
committees; local, state, and national executives; and paid professional staff.
party platform A document drawn up at each national convention, outlining the policies,
positions, and principles of the party.
patronage The rewarding of faithful party workers and followers with government employment
or contracts.
plurality A number of votes cast for a candidate that is greater than the number of votes for any
other candidate but not necessarily a majority.
political party A group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the
government, and determine public policy.
realignment A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance,
producing a long-term change in the political landscape.
Republican Party One of the two major American political parties. It emerged in the 1850s as
an antislavery party and consisted of former northern Whigs and antislavery Democrats.
reverse-income effect A tendency for wealthier states or regions to favor the Democrats and for
less wealthy states or regions to favor the Republicans. The effect appears paradoxical
because it reverses traditional patterns of support.
splinter party A new party formed by a dissident faction within a major political party. Often,
splinter parties have emerged when a particular personality was at odds with the
major party.
split-ticket voting Voting for candidates of two or more parties for different offices, such as
voting for a Republican presidential candidate and a Democratic congressional candidate.
state central committee The principal organized structure of each political party within each
state. This committee is responsible for carrying out policy decisions of the party’s
state convention.
straight-ticket voting Voting exclusively for the candidates of one party.
swing voters Voters who frequently swing their support from one party to another.
third party A political party other than the two major political parties (Republican
and Democratic).
tipping A phenomenon that occurs when a group that is becoming more numerous over time
grows large enough to change the political balance in a district, state, or country.
two-party system A political system in which only two parties have a reasonable chance
of winning.

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106 Chapter 8: Political Parties

Whig Party A major party in the United States during the first half of the nineteenth century,
formally established in 1836. The Whig Party was anti-Jackson and represented a variety
of regional interests.

 WEB LINKS
Democratic Party platform: (http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=78283)
Electoral College Information for 2012—also shows Red/Blue states 2012:
(http://www.270towin.com/)
Green Party Platform: (http://www.gp.org/committees/platform/2010/index.php)
2012 Green Party Presidential Candidate: (http://www.p2012.org/candidates/candsgrn.html)
Information on the 2012 political party conventions:
(http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-party-conventions/)
Libertarian Party Platform: (http://www.lp.org/platform)
2012 Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate: (http://www.p2012.org/candidates/candslib.html)
2008 Red/Blue States: (http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2008/)
Republican Party Platform: (http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=78545)

 INSTRUCTOR RESOURCES
Alterman, Eric, and Kevin Mattson. The Cause: The Fight for American Liberalism from
Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama. New York: Viking Adult, 2012. PRINT. Alterman, the
principal author of this history of American liberalism, is a journalism professor at Brooklyn
College and a self-professed ardent liberal. Alterman believes that liberal Democrats can succeed
when they emphasize economics.
Dalton, Russell J. The Apartisan American: Dealignment and Changing Electoral Politics.
Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2012. PRINT. In this study of the independent voter, Dalton, a
political science professor at University of California Irvine, reviews decades of polling data.
Dochuk, Darren. From Bible Belt to Sunbelt: Plain-Folk Religion, Grassroots Politics, and the
Rise of Evangelical Conservatism. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 2010. PRINT. Dochuk uses
new research to describe the impact of evangelicals on the conservative movement from the Barry
Goldwater years to the time of Ronald Reagan. The book won the Allan Nevins prize awarded by
the Society of American Historians.
Ellis, Christopher, and James A. Stimson. Ideology in America. New York: Cambridge UP,
2012. PRINT. In principle, Americans are more likely to advocate conservatism than liberalism.
When it comes to what the government actually does, however, liberal policies tend to be more
popular. In this work, two professors of political science analyze this paradox.

MEDIA RESOURCES
The American President—This 1995 film stars Michael Douglas as a president who must
balance partisanship and friendship (Republicans in Congress promise to approve the president’s
crime bill only if he modifies an environmental plan sponsored by his liberal girlfriend).

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 Chapter 8: Political Parties 107

A Third Choice—This award-winning 2011 PBS documentary provides a colorful look at the
history of third parties and how they changed America.

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