Quick Survey n Do you agree or disagree

Quick Survey n Do you agree or disagree with the following: n n n Parties do more to confuse the issues than to provide a clear choice on issues. The best way to vote is to pick a candidate regardless of party label. It would be better if we put no party labels on the ballot at all.

The Definition of Party n n organizations that recruit and sponsor candidates for public office under the organization's name. The aim of parties is to establish control of government at a particular level.

Functions of Parties n n n organized critique of the party in power a choice of leaders and programs recruit and nominate electoral candidates Provide cues to voters Mobilize voters

Characteristics of the American Party System n n n Federalism highly fragmented and localism – parties most elections are at local level 50 state party organizations governed by state, not national, laws National party only during presidential elections New Deal Coalition- farmers, labor, blacks, and south?

The Democratic Parties n n n n Democratic National Committee Senate Democratic caucus, House Democratic Caucus NY Democratic Party NY Assembly Democratic Caucus NY Senate Democratic Caucus Saratoga County Democratic party Saratoga Springs Democratic party

Nominating Candidates

Primary & General Elections Primary Election Intraparty, nomination General Election Interparty, election Democratic Primary Republican Primary General Election

Two Party Duopoly

How Many Political Parties?

Why 2 Parties? Duverger’s Law: Plurality Rule 2 Parties Proportional Representation Multiple Parties Why? 1) Psychological Effect 2) Mechanical Effect 2000 Election Dem 48. 3% Rep 48. 0% Green 2. 6% Reform. 4% Note: FEC, ballot access laws, party funding rules, debate criteria etc. …

2 Party System-Why n United States n n Electoral system Winner take all Ballot access laws/campaign finance system France- 2 rounds n n First round, all parties participate Runoff election between 2 top parties

Single Member Simple Plurality n SMSP System n n Proportional System n n GOP 40% Winner Dem 35% Green 25% 40% seats GOP, 35% Dem, 25% Green SM majority system, runoff elections n 2 nd election between GOP and Dem candidate

Societal Consensus n United States--Less ideological/religious cleavages n n n Separation of church and state Desirability of capitalism, free markets France n n n Desirability of revolution Desirability of capitalism Desirability of religion Desirability of centralization; Paris v. Regions Communists v. Socialists RPR v. Free Republic v. National Front

Third Parties n Third parties rarely last n n Electoral system- wasted votes Main parties absorb issues n n Perot and budget deficits Nader and campaign finance reform?

Evolution of Parties n Up until 1952, parties dominate American politics n n n Party workers mobilize voters Dominate citizen’s conceptions of politics But are weakening in face of progressive reforms

Demise of Parties n n Civil service reform Nonpartisan local elections, reliance on “experts” The new “intelligent” and “independent” voter Changes in technology

Rise of Consultants n n n Polling – Al D’Amato Direct Mail fundraising TV advertising Change from politics dominated by parties to one dominated by technology and consultants Capital not labor intensive

Rise of Consultants n n Polling Direct Mail fundraising TV advertising Capital intensive

Party Identification - Democratic dominance gives way to Independents - More split-ticket voting and divided government

Declining Party Identification

Who are the Partisans? Democrats • Minorities esp. blacks • Least and most educated • Lowest income • Northeast • Single and female • Unionized • Jewish and nonreligious • Liberal Republicans • White • Higher incomes • Married with children • South • Male • Protestant and religious • Conservative

Emerging Democratic Majority n economic, demographic, and ideological changes favor national Democratic majority