Political Parties                                 Political Science Y103

I. Definition and Organization

        A.   Organized group of people who attempt to influence the

               government by electing people to control the government.

        B.  Developed as outgrowth of the electoral process.

       C.  Party Organization

            1.  National Party

               -National Convention

               -National Committee

                 RNC and DNC

http://www.rnc.org

http://www.democrats.org

               -Congressional Campaign Committee

          2.  State and Local

      -State Central Committee

      -Other Committees

         *County

         *State Senate District

         *Judicial District

         *Congressional District

         *Ward

         *Precinct

II. Two Party System

           A.    Origins

                   1.  Internal Mobilization

2.  External mobilization

          B.    Federalists and Dem-Rep.

1.  Role of government

2.  Alexander Hamilton vs. Thomas Jefferson

          C.  Democratic Party

     1.  Andrew Jackson

     2.  Dominant force

-Slavery split the party

-Controlled Congress

-1932-1992

    D.  Republican Party

1. Abraham Lincoln

a. Controlled Congress

-1860-1932

b. Great Depression ended

Domination

c. Won Congress in 1992

2. Political Parties Today

a. Similarities

b. Differences

3. Third Parties

III. Functions of Political parties

          A.   Nomination

          B.   Attract Voters

    C.   Influence Voters’ Choices

    D.   Parties and the Electorate

a. Party Identification

b. Group Affiliation

-Race

-Gender

-Class

-Ideology

-Region

   E.  Influence on National Government

             1.   Majority vs. Minority

             2.   Committee system

  Campaign Elections

 I.  Voting Rights

A. Voting Requirements

                   B.  Suffrage expansion

1. 15^th Amendment (1870)

2. 17^th Amendment (1913)

3. 19^th Amendment (1920)

4. 23^rd Amendment (1961)

5. 24^th Amendment (1964)

6. Voting Rights Act of 1965

7. 26^th Amendment (1971)

  II.  Voter Participation

                    A.  Who Votes?

                    B.   Who does not vote?

III.  Types of elections

           A.    Primary elections

1. Closed

2. Open

          B.    General Election

          C.    Referendum process

IV.  Electoral Districts

           A.    Redistricting Process

                             1.     10 years

                             2.    “one person, one vote”

3. Gerrymandering

V.  The Ballot

A.    Party-Column Ballot

B.    Split-Ticket Voting

C.    Straight-Ticket Voting

        -Coattail Effect

VI.  The Road To The White House

A.    Announce Candidacy

1.    “Toss my hat in the ring!”

2.     Timing and popularity

B.    Winning Party Delegates

1. Presidential Primaries

-36 Primaries in 1992

-Binding vs. Preference

-Proportional

-Winner take all

2. Caucus System (1800’s)

-Voters meet in precincts

and select delegates

-Open caucus

-Closed caucus

B. The Conventions (1831)

  1.  Conventions meet in large cities

                   -Chicago- 14 (Rep)  11 (Dem)

        2.  Opening

        3.  Rules & Platform

       4.   Nominations

       5.   Speeches

     E.    National Campaign

      1. Torture Trail

-Radio and TV

-Press Conference

-Debates

-Handshaking

-Travel

-Money-PAC

    F.  General Election Day

     1. Voters pick electors by choosing candidate

     2.  First Tuesday following the first Monday in November (2-8)

    G.  The Electoral College

     1.  Electors meet in State capitals Mon. following the

               2^nd Wed. in December

     2.  Votes are counted in a joint session of Congress

     3.   270/538 needed to win

   H.  Inauguration Day

1.  January 20th