1. THIS MORNING:
1. Political parties in theory
1. Some propositions.
2. The advantages of a "strong" responsible party system



2. PROPOSITIONS ABOUT POLITICAL PARTIES:
1. First, note this paradox:
1. On the one hand, Americans by and large distrust political parties.
1. This distrust is part of the political culture that we discussed earlier in the year.
2. Bits of evidence: nearly half of the voters call themselves "independent"; slogan "Voter for the person, not the party" is taken as gospel.
2. On the other hand, one can argue that strong political parties are essential for representative democracy.
1. They are instruments for accountability and governance.
2. In fact, the stronger the party system, the stronger the democracy.
3. Weak parties have contributed to the stalemate that (many argue) characterizes American national government.
4. The absence of strong parties explains why Americans are frustrated and cynical about politics.
5. Weak parties especially disadvantage middle and lower classes.



3. "STRONG PARTY SYSTEM" ON PAPER:
1. Why are parties potentially useful for popular control of democracy? The characteristics of a strong or disciplined party system:
2. Political party functions:
1. Organize elections and educate and mobilize the voters (e.g., create excitement, encourage turnout, etc.)
2. Offer meaningful choices by presenting a philosophy of government and a general program of action.
3. Hence offer voters a meaningful choice by clearly spelling out a platform
4. Recruit, train, and support legislative members committed to the party's general philosophy and program.
5. Governance: If it wins the party runs government roughly according to its platform and can thus be held accountable for the consequences.
3. The organization of a strong party
1. Leader and "lieutenants"
2. Legislative members
3. Party activists and workers
4. "Party in the electorate"
5. "Discipline": legislative members are required to support leaders and platform after debate and discussion.
1. Instruments of control: nomination, funding and support; favors
6. Because a strong party "disciplines" legislative members voters can be reasonably certain that it will govern according to the platform.
7. Moreover, it can enact policy in a timely fashion.
8. "Shadow government": the "loyal" opposition waits in the wings offering the electorate an alternative program. It too has control over legislative members.
1. Thus it offers a meaningful choice to the governing party.



4. APPROXIMATIONS OF STRONG PARTIES IN AMERICA:
1. Is a strong party system desirable? possible? Consider two episodes in recent American political history.
2. The first Reagan administration
1. Reagan economic policy and the 1980 elections.
1. Republican capture the White House, the Senate, and practically speaking had control of the House. Hence government was nearly unified.
2. The Reagan platform and reconciliation vote in the summer of 1981.
3. Recession in 1981-1982
4. The Democratic response and the 1982 election.
3. Newt Gingrich and the "Contract with America"



5. NEXT TIME:
1. Further analysis of recent political history
2. American political parties in practice.
3. Reading:
1. Squire and others, Dynamics of Democracy, Chapter 7 (finish) and Chapter 9 (start).
1. Skim pages 279-283. Read the material on "dealignment" carefully. Dealignment is one of the most important facts about American politics.
2. For your information: some political party sites United States
   • Democratic National Committee
   • Republican National Committee
   • Republican Homepage
   • Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
   • Libertarian Party
   • State Republican parties
   • Republican Web Central
3. British Political Parties
   • The Conservative Party
   • The Labour Party
   • The Liberal Democratic Party

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