Political parties serve several functions including helping to unify the electorate, organize the government, and translate public preferences into policy. They also provide competition through elections and a loyal opposition. Parties nominate candidates through primary elections or party conventions and caucuses. The U.S. has a two-party system that tends toward stability through a winner-take-all approach, though minor parties still exist to represent single issues or ideological stances. Over time, the party system and voter preferences have undergone some realignment as new issues and coalitions emerge.

1. AP Government
Political Parties

2. Party Functions
Political Party
An organization that seeks political power by electing people to
office so that its positions and philosophy become public
policy
Unify the Electorate
Help Organize Government
Translate Preferences into Policy
Provide Loyal Opposition
Organize the Competition

3. The Nomination of Candidates
Closed Primary System
Only registered members of the
party are allowed to vote in the
primary
Open Primary System
Voters are allowed to
participate in the primary
election without declaring
membership in a party
Party Convention
A National meeting of party
delegates to vote on
matters of policy and in
some cases to select party
candidates for public office
Caucus
A meeting of party
delegates to vote on
matters of policy and in
some cases to select party
candidates for public office
These two are the most popular today

4. Party Systems
Multiparty
 Coalition government is
necessary
 Minor parties have an
incentive to persevere
 Proportional representation
 Governments tend toward
instability
Two party
• Winner-takes-all system
• “Wasted vote” syndrome
discourages minor parties
• Government tends toward
stability
• Policy change is incremental
Which system is better?

5. Minor Parties:
Persistence and Frustration
Ideological Parties:
Focused on a core set
of beliefs (Libertarian
Party)
Protest Parties:
Spring up in response to a
situation/law passed
(Reform Party)
Single-Issue Parties:
Focus on one idea
(Prohibition Party)
Splinter Parties:
Break away from the
larger party (Tea Party)
What role do they play in our system? Is this a wasted vote?

6. Minor Parties in the United States

7. Realigning Elections
1. Jacksonian Democrats and Whigs 1824 to 1850
2. Abraham Lincoln (1860): Post-Civil War
Republican Dominance (until 1896)

8. Realigning Elections
Roosevelt’s optimism and “can do” attitude in the
face of the Great Depression helped cement the New
Deal Democratic coalition that won him the
presidency
3. The New Deal Democratic Party (1932 to 1968)

9. Divided Government
Currently: Since 1953, divided government, with one
party controlling Congress and the other the White
House, has been in effect twice as long as one-party
control of both the legislative and executive branches

10. The 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008 Elections:
Into the New Century
 2000: 50-50 partisan tie in the Senate, slim Republican majority in
House and contested presidential vote count
 2002: President’s party gained seats in the House and Senate
 2004: Bush reelected and his party picked up seats in Senate
and House
 2006: Democrats win majority in both House and Senate
 2008: Democrats increase majority in House and Senate, and
win the presidency
 2013: Democrats control the presidency and the Senate
(barely); Republicans control the House

11. Party Identification

12. Party Identification
Using this data, characterize today’s electorate.

13. Results: Partisan Realignment and
Dealignment
 Voters have shown no consistent preference for one
party over the other
 Dealignment: Weakening of partisan preferences that
points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in
the number of independents.
 Still, two-thirds of all “independents” are really
partisans in their voting behavior/attitudes
◦ One-third consistently Democratic, one-third consistently lean
Republican, and one-third are independents

14. Party Identification

15. How Parties Raise and Spend Money
 Revenue
◦ Soft money
◦ Hard money
 Expenditures