Why Two Parties?

Why Two Parties? A. Many people complain that the two dominant parties in America do not give them enough choices. In fact, at least two hundred fifty candidates filed petitions with the Federal Election Commission to run for president in 2008 as either third-party candidates. B. The Evolution of American Political Parties: Five Party Eras 1. Political machine means a strong party organization that maintained control by giving favors in return for votes. 2. Patronage that means a practice of providing jobs in exchange for political loyalty. 3. Civil service a merit- based system of employment and personnel management that replaced patronage. 4. New Deal coalition that mean constellation of social groups that became the core base of support for the Democratic Party after the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt. C. 1968 to Present 1. Democrats gained identifiers among the young, minorities,the middle class, the college educated,and moderates. D. Party Realignment 1. Depression by combining the party's traditional southern with democratic base with northern ethnic minorities and blacks who had been loyal to the Republican Party.

National Committees A. The national party chair presides over everyday operations of the national headquarters, monitors electoral races throughout the nation, helps set the party agenda and rules, and act something like a referee when there is a contested primary. B. Congressional and Senatorial Campaign Committees Each party maintains organizations to help its candidates win election or reelection to the two national legislative chambers. 1. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) 2. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) 3. Their Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) 4. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) C. States Committee 1. Each state organization has its own peculiarities, but most state parties are headed by state committees sometimes known as stat central committees drawn from county, congressional district, and municipal party officials and led by a state party chair. D. Local Party Organizations 1. The higher levels of party organization have an incentive to work with local parties, since the national parties ultimately rely heavily upon local personnel to get out the vote on Election Day.

Third Parties And Independent Candidacies A. Minor parties are far from absent in American polities. Perennial third parties, as minor parties are sometimes called, include the Libertarians, Socialist Workers, and more recently, the Green Party. Some third parties arise for a year or two and then disappear. B. Often they reflect a desire for changes in the political direction of the nation. Some third parties are splinter parties, parties that break away from one of the major parties. 1. Splinter parties means political parties that are formed as offshoots of major political parties, usually by dissenters. 2. Ideological parties that means minor parties organized around distinct ideological principles. 3. Single issue or candidate parties that means minor parties arising in electoral response to important issues not addressed by major party candidates or around a strong personality. C. Many candidates emerge for one or two election cycles and then disappear because of a lack of resources. D. In 2000, Ralph Nader captured 97,000 votes in the crucial state of Florida. Some believe his showing helped George