I. Roles of parties
A. Elect & support candidates
1. primary role of parties
2. parties provide money
and support to candidates
B. Inform the public
1. educate public on its
views and point out flaws in other parties
2. tell us what they have
done/will do
C. Carry the people's message
1. take up an issue the
public cares about
2. "grassroots movement:"
began by the people
a. local: community speed limits
b. state: lottery
c. national: Prohibition
D. Watchdogs of the Government
1. party out of power monitors
the government and holds it accountable
2. watching is done out
of self interest, so it must be examined for accuracy
E. Simplify Choices/Clarify Alternatives
1. 2 major parties give
us clear/distinct choices
2. explain issues to public
3. less effort from voters
F. Encourage cooperation b/t branches of government
1. "bridge the separation
of powers"
a. Republican President is more likely to work with a Republican-controlled
Congress to strive for common goals
2. it can work the other
way as well when there is divided government -- 1 party controls the Presidency
while another party controls all or
party of Congress
a. this can produce gridlock -- nothing getting done; no progress is made
II. Parties Today
A. Party loyalty is declining
1. Why?
a. people move more (parties lose touch)
b. technology (TB & Internet)
c. rise of special interest groups that focus voter attention on specific
issues rather than party beliefs
B. Weakness of US Parties
1. Constitutional Framework
(separation of powers)
a. to exert a great deal of control over government, parties need to control
both the Presidency and Congress
b. this in increasingly rare = divided government is more common now
2. Federalism
a. state governments also have a great deal of power, so parties need to
win governorships and control of state legislatures
3. Party Setup/Rules
a. parties have little control over candidates after the election
III. Evidence of Party Decline
A. Split ticket voting = voting for 1 party for
one office and another party for another office
1. voting for a Democrat
for Governor and a Republican for President
B. Divided government is more common
C. Rise of 3rd Party and Independent candidates