POL 10100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Party System, Spoils System, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Document Summary
Decentralized- elected embers don"t have to follow party line work together or contribute resources: free to vote take positions and take office as they see fit. Six eras of party systems: first 1789-1828, second 1829-1856, third 1857-1896, fourth 1897-1932, fifth 1933-1968, sixth 1969- present. Parties emerged form disagreements between elected officials over basic policy question. Evolution of parties: where to put the capital, the need for a central bank, other financial and economic problems. Focus on how to win policy debates. Second party systems starts focusing on how to win elections. Spoils system- awards benefits to loyal party workers. Great depression realigns party system recent party systems. Accountability- someone needs to be held accountable if the president fails to do their job. Difficult for third parties to be included on the ballot: exceed minimum threshold in past election, collect signatures. Highlight issues ignored by major party candidates. National committee- principal party organization: party representatives from each state.