Steven Tsay

Ap US gov
Chapter 8

Political competition in the United States has centered on two parties, a

pattern that is explained by the nature of Americas electoral system, political
institutions, and political culture
To win an electoral majority, candidates of the two major parties must appeal
to a diverse set of interests
U.S party organizations are decentralized and fragmented
The ability of Americas party organization to control nominations and
election to office is weak, which strengthens the candidates role
I) Party competition and majority rule: history of US parties
A) Linkage institutions- connecting citizens with government
B) Party competition narrows voters options, encouraging compromises
C) The first parties
i) Hamilton federalist and Jefferson republican blig gov-small gov commerce
v farmers country v state rights
ii) Andrew Jackson and grassroots parties
(a) Vote for citizens that dont have a party, represents the common man
(b) Whigs- view Jackson as a dictator, name after the political party in
England that resisted the monarch
(c) Slavery causes party split 1850
(a) Whig broke apart- republican party emerged as challenger
(b) Party realignments
(i) Emergence of divertive issues
(ii) Voters shift support
(iii)change partisan support
(iv)
result from deep and lasting change as opposed to a
single election outcome
(v) civil war- shift to republican
(vi)
1986- depression led republicans as dominant
(vii)
1930 democrats because of great depression
(viii)
Great effect because causes loyalties
II) Origin of modern day party alignment
A) As issue declines in importance, so do parties
B) Democratic party 1960 divided over Vietnam War and civil rights- ended after
the era of New Deal politics
C) Civil rights alienated conservatives in south- shift gradually to favor
republicans
D) Northern states more open, favor democrats, replacing moderate republicans
i) Republican party after 2000 presidency and majority form house
ii) Two party matched in terms of loyalties
(a) More polarized
III) Parties and the vote
A) Straight ticket- uniformly support party candidates
B) 1970 realignment- voter move away from party loyalties, vote is based
more on the issue than favors of the party itself
IV) Electoral and the party system

A) Two party system most of the time for U.S

B) Plurality ( single member-district) system of election
i) Two party system largely result of choosing by SMD
ii) Voting for minor party feels like wasting vote, so people generally
compromise and choose the lesser of two evils
iii) EU countries proportional representation
C) Politics and coalitions in two party system
i) Seek center, but not loose party Faithful
ii) Median vote to attract indecisive voters
(a) Who are usually targeted because of their importance in shifting a
election
D) Party coalitions
i) Groups and interest that support a party
ii) Very broad since there are only two- catch all parties
iii) Democrats- women> men, underdogs, Hispanics- more and more
important
iv) Republicans white middle to high class Americans, traditional values
E) Third and minor partoes
i) Peaked in 19th century, but now not really winning many things, usually
focus on one issue
(a) Free soil and prohibition party
(b) Usually splitter from major parties
V) Party organizations
A) Contesting of elections at national, state, and local levels
i) Nominees- share spoil of office.
(a) Primary election to deprive influence over nominations
(b) Primary election/ direct primary voters
(c) Closed primaries- only for party members who declared party affiliation
at the polls
(d) Open anyone can vote/join
ii) Weaken party organization- no longer have to be loyal, anyone with
requirements can join
B) Money need 5 million minimum
i) Hard money capped- giver directly to candidates