Author: University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Last saved by: jonnalabs
Company: Department of Political Science

American Government
POL 101: Forsberg
Topic 10.2: Political Parties	Spring 2005

Systems Analysis
Provides a framework with which to examine and describe political systems.
There are certain functions that every healthy political system must perform.
•	Input Functions
•	Output Functions
Researchers:
•	Gabriel Almond and David Easton
Input Functions
•	Political Socialization
•	Recruitment
•	Interest Aggregation
•	Interest Articulation
•	Political Communication
Output Functions
•	Rule Making
•	Rule Application
•	Rule Adjudication
Political Parties
Functions performed:
•	Recruitment
•	Interest Aggregation
•	Interest Articulation
Zoön Politikon?
Aristotle:	Man is a political animal.
Robert Dahl:	Citizens only interest themselves in politics when it directly touches their lives.

“The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle described man as a “political animal.” For Aristotle, participation in politics was essential to make people fully human. Political scientist Robert Dahl, however, argues that citizens are not by nature political animals. Rather, Dahl maintains that citizens tend not to participate in politics to any extent until issues directly touch their lives. Whether people are by nature “political” or not is of key importance to any discussion of political participation because much of the criticism of low levels of participation in the United States has at its core the belief that the system can be changed to bring about greater involvement.”	
	John Scheb II, Politics and Political Culture

Why is the answer important?

In a democracy…
Citizens are expected to:
•	
•	Voting
•	Running
•	Campaigns
•	Lobbying
•	Staying informed
•	Joining
•	Contributing
•	Litigating
•	Protesting
•	Media

Citizens are not allowed to:
•	
•	Rioting
•	Harassment
•	Bribery
•	Threats
•	Lawbreaking

The Hierarchy of Participation

Gladiatorial activities: Running for office, working in campaigns, etc.

Political activism: Becoming an active member of a political party or interest group. 

Spectator activities: The simplest kinds of political activities that demand a minimal amount of effort and a correspondingly low amount of political resources.

Apathy: Lack of interest in politics.
Voting Participation
Either:
•	Ratio of voters to voting-aged citizens.
•	Ratio of voters to those registered to vote.
Currently, about 70% are registered.
In 2000, less than 50% of voting-aged Americans voted.
Voting Participation (%VAP)

•	Guatemala 24%
•	Switzerland 38% 
•	Venezuela 50%
•	Mexico 59%
•	Finland 71%
•	Great Britain 77%
•	Turkey 80% 
•	Spain 80%
•	Belgium 85%
•	Italy 90%

General Trends
Increase Turnout:
•	
•	New Democracy
•	Mandatory Voting
•	Proportional Rep
•	Postal Voting
•	National Crisis
•	Easier Registration
•	Lessening Barriers
•	Competitive Parties
•	Tradition
•	Large Middle Class
•	Moderate Weather
•	Weekend Voting
•	Parliamentary
•	Absentee Voting
•	Election ‘Theme’

Election Themes
Social Movements
•	
•	Abolitionism
•	Agrarian Populism
•	Labor Movement
•	Civil Rights Mvmt
•	Women’s Mvmt
•	Balanced Budget
•	Anti-War
•	The Environment
•	Gay Rights
•	Christian Right
•	Pro-Life
•	Anti-Globalism

Political Parties
Great Britain
•	About 20 parties (10 in parliament)
•	Labor – 63%
•	Conservative – 25%
Italy
•	About 170 parties 
•	13 hold seats in Camera dei Deputati
•	11 hold seats in Senato della Repubblica
United States
Two Party System
•	Single-member districts
•	Winner take all system
Majority / Minority Parties
Divided Government
Party Evolution
1796:  The Beginning
•	Federalists
Washington, Adams, Hamilton
Strong Central Government
Executive over Legislative
•	Democratic-Republicans
Jefferson, Madison
Rights of States, Agrarian Culture
Legislature over Executive
1824:  Democratic-Republicans Split
•	National Republicans
John Quincy Adams
Upper-Class
•	Democratic-Republicans
Andrew Jackson
Working Class, West, South

1834:  Whigs and Democrats
•	Whigs
Wm. Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor
Business, Eastern Cities
•	Democrats
Jackson
Working Class, West, South
1854:  Birth of the Republicans
•	Republican
Lincoln, Johnson
Anti-Slavery, West, North
•	Democrat
Douglas, Buchanan
Popular Sovereignty, South
1929:  The Great Depression
•	Republican
Harding, Coolidge, Hoover
Business, Economic Liberalism, Popular Sovereignty, Agrarian Ideal, Northeast
•	Democrat
Roosevelt, Truman, Johnson
Social Programs, Strong Central Government, Urban People, South
Today:
•	Republican
Reagan, Bush
Business, Popular Sovereignty, Family Values, Midwest, South
•	Democrat
Carter, Clinton, Gore
Social Programs, Strong Government, Pluralism, Urban Centers
Third Parties
Usually impotent.  A few exceptions:
•	Progressive Party (1912)
“Bull Moose Party”
Theodore Roosevelt: 88EV, 27%PV
•	Independent Party (1992)
H. Ross Perot: 0EV, 19%PV
•	Green Party (2000)
Ralph Nader: 0EV, 2.7%
Questions
Is low turnout a good thing or a bad thing?
Do our two parties represent the US?
Why are third-parties so difficult to elect?
Why spend the time and effort to vote?
Does your vote really count?