Chapter 7
This chapter covered the political party as an organization, which, unlike interest groups or social movements, actually seeks to control the apparatuses of government by competing in elections with candidates under a single party label. After discussing the history of the American two party systems from its pre-party beginnings to the present- day conditions of the era of divided government, the chapter then moved into the presentation of the parties through their roles as party in the electorate, party in organization, and the party in government. The party in the electorate was detailed in two ways, first as a tri-partite group of partisans and independents and then as a bifurcated re-balanced partisanship that included most independents as closeted partisans. The party in organization was divided amongst local, state, and national parties that operate largely independently of one another. The heyday of the local organizations was during the time of patronage’s spoils system. State parties are run by the state central committee and engage in many in-kind services for candidates and incumbents during election cycles. The national parties are run by national committees and have resurged in American electoral politics in recent years because they have become candidate service organizations, especially regarding fund raising and dissemination.
Trends were identified relative to the basic constituencies of interest associated with each of the major parties, particularly since the time of the New Deal. These constituencies are differentiated along racial, ethnic, gender, religious, and class lines, with the Republicans seen as the party of the “haves” and the Democrats as the party of the “have-nots.” Lastly, the institutional blocks keeping minor parties out of the “game of electoral politics” were discussed in some detail, especially regarding the determinative role of our “first-past-the-post” electoral system in serving as a decisive bulwark to the two party system.
In September 2012, following the Republican National Convention, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman commented on ABC’s This Week that, “Republican candidates had to appeal to their base, which is by and large elderly white people arguing with empty chairs.” The notion that our political parties are racially aligned is not at all new. It’s an idea that has been stated by media pundits and presidents alike. We only have to recall President Lyndon B. Johnson’s ominous and ultimately accurate prediction that Southern voters would abandon the Democratic Party after he signed the Civil Rights Act, to understand the roots of Krugman’s argument.
Visit the websites of the Democratic (www.democrats.org) and the Republican (https://www.gop.com) parties paying special attention to the party platforms. Discuss with your classmates if there are differences in the platforms that could appeal to one racial group over another. Next consider the elected officials who belong to each party: Does each party have racial diversity? Does the 2012 Republican National Convention or the Democratic National Convention credibly challenge the notion of parties aligning with differing races?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/paul-krugman-republican-party-base_n_1870193.html
Directory of U.S. Political Parties
This site provides a list of American political parties, including their major figures, platforms, ideologies, and short histories.
The Democratic Party
The official website of the Democratic Party, it contains the agenda, platform, contact information, leadership, issues, policies, personalities, history, etc.
The Republican Party
The official website of the Republican Party, it contains the agenda, platform, contact information, leadership, issues, policies, personalities, history, etc.
The Green Party
Official website of the Green Party. It is an excellent comparative source because it provides links to other affiliated green parties
from around the world. It also showcases the party’s stances on environmental issues, promotes grassroots democracy initiatives, social
justice, and peace activities in foreign affairs.
The Libertarian Party
Official website of the Libertarian Party. It provides the history, positions on current controversies, overall platform and
organizational presence information for the party around the country. The site contains a blog, YouTube channel access point, and articles
promoting the Libertarian ethos as well as a donor site.
The American Tea Party Movement
The official site of the latest influential party movement in American politics.
Reform Party National Committee
This website provides information on the Reform Party. It shows its positions on current controversies, overall platform, and leadership
structure for the party. The site also has a donor feature.
Democratic Party videos
These videos contain a series of short speeches by leading Democratic office holders and party officials detailing the accomplishments of the Democratic Party in recent years. They are propaganda but have value in acquainting students with the perennial themes of the party as a party of the people. There are nine videos in all at this site.
This YouTube channel features weekly video addresses, campaign ads, and promotional ads.