PS 101 Lecture 7: Political Parties

• School: University of Kentucky
• Department: Political Science
• Course: PS 101
• Professor: Stephen Voss

Document Summary

Cb (cid:894)8 july (cid:1006)(cid:1004)(cid:1005)(cid:1008)(cid:895): (cid:862)although a (cid:373)ajority of a(cid:373)eri(cid:272)a(cid:374)s hold (cid:374)egati(cid:448)e opi(cid:374)io(cid:374)s of (cid:271)oth parties, a(cid:374) o(cid:448)er(cid:449)hel(cid:373)i(cid:374)g (cid:373)ajority (cid:272)o(cid:374)ti(cid:374)ues to take o(cid:374)e side of the other(cid:863: most people think we need third party. As institutions: three levels of american political party organizations. County, precinct and ward organizations officers and committees, volunteer efforts: parties are not just a single institution. Types of politcal party in fractured us context. Party-in the-electorate (including party identification: tend not to change drastically. Balance of power has changed over time. Electoral side thus became much more important. Party-in-government used to be weak until recently: federalists vs democratic-republicans. Did not reach down to masses: democratic party. Very grassroots (which turned into what is divided down areas [local to national]: these parties dominated the system. Policy changes undermined parties: progressive meant something different back then, civil service (pendleton) hurts patronage, secret (australian) ballot prevents bullying, party primaries takes power from party leaders.