Ch. 8: Political Parties

Battle between dems and reps for control over public offices

A team of men seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly-constituded office

1)party-in-the-electorate- individuals who see themselves as members, 2) party as organization- keep a natl office, employ staff, have budgets, keep party going between elections, 3)party in govt- the elected officials

Parties and politicians have goals that are more important than ideology, parties + voters rational, will seek best choice, pursues far-reaching goals

1) party loyalty down, 2) divided govt becoming more common (normally no more than 2 yrs of party rule)

Voters' perception of what reps or dems stand for

Citizen's self-proclaimed reference for 1 party or the other

Voting w/ 1 party for office and another party for other offices

Relies heavily on material inducements to win votes and govern, fallen off

Closed- can only vote for registered party
open- can choose party then vote
blanket- vote for anybody

Nominate and write platform; runs party between elections; day-to-day

Group of individuals w a common interest on which all parties depend

New issues emerge and coalitions break apart to form new ones, often has party realignment

Forged by dems in 1930s-60s; urban working class, ethnic groups, jews, poor, southerners, af. americans, intellectuals

1) promotion of a certain cause- can be a controversial issue or an ideological issue/ belief, 2) splinter parties- off-shoots of major parties, 3) extension of a popular individual