Political Parties

I. Functions of Political Parties:

  1. Nominate candidates for public office ensuring minimum qualifications.

  2. structure and simplifying voting choice by reducing the number of candidates running for election.

  3. propose alternative government programs

  4. coordinate the actions of government officials, helping to bridge the separation of powers.

  5. organize the government.

II. American Party Systems

  1. An era of party control or dominance of government; on average lasting from 40 to 60 years.

  2. Critical elections are elections which produced a sharp change in existing party loyalty; critical elections bring about lasting electoral realignment.

    1. Election of 1860: Republican party was dominant in the North and the Democratic Party in the South.
    2. ection of 1896: Republicns became more closely allied with industrial and business interests in the East and Midwest
      3. .
    3. Election of 1932: Democrats forged a national majority out of urban workers (blue collar), middle-class liberals, European immigrants, and southerners

  3. Consensus on Fundamental Issue (e.g., government management of the economy).

  4. Change in the electorate

    1. Expansion of the electorate (e.g., immigration)
    2. Contraction of the electorate (e.g., restriction on voting following the Civil War

III. Nominations

  1. Conventions and Caucus
  2. Direct Primary
    1. Closed
    2. Open
    3. Blanket
    4. Nonkpartisan or "wide open"
  3. Variations in the direct primary by state