Term
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Definition
| Democracy rests on the fundamental ideal of the equal consideration of the needs and preferences of each citizen. |
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Term
| What is Political Participation? |
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Definition
| Political participation is the mechanism by which those need and preferences are communicated to political decision makers and by which pressure is brought to bear on them to respond. |
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Term
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Definition
| Organized groups that attempt to influence government policy by electing their members to important government offices. |
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Term
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Definition
| Organized group that attempt to influence elected officials and government policy. |
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Term
| Recognized that Articles of Confederation had major deficiencies |
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Definition
| Inability to act in a unified way to achieve national interests. |
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Term
| Shay’s Rebellion was final straw |
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Definition
| Illustrated the weakness of state and federal governments. Illustrated the dangers of “excessive democracy” |
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Term
| Needed a capable federal government that could pursue national interest |
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Definition
| Limited in its ability to violate rights and liberties of citizens. That could limit the dangers of “excessive democracy”. |
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Term
| Democracy was necessary to achieve and maintain liberty |
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Definition
| But democracy of the many could interfere with the liberty of the few |
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Term
| Solution to Articles of Confederation |
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Definition
| Constitution contained a series of institutional mechanisms aimed to minimize the dangers that the Articles of Confederation had. |
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Term
| Bicameral Legislature (House and Senate) |
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Definition
| Staggered terms of office. Different Constituencies. Different Modes of Election. |
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Term
| Selection of President via electoral college |
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Definition
| Rather than direct elections. |
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Term
| System of Checks and Balances |
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Definition
| Particularly between legislative and judicial branch (Bill of Rights) |
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Term
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Definition
| Failed to empower congress (and federal government) to more effectively regulate the economy. |
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Term
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Definition
| Failed to limit powers of judicial review and thus limit the ability of the judiciary to legislate. |
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Term
| Equal Representation in Senate |
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Definition
| Highly privileged minorities gained disproportionate power. |
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Term
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Definition
| Chosen by state legislatures to be less responsive to popular majorities. |
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Term
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Definition
| Insulated from popular majorities via electoral college |
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Term
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Definition
| Qualifications for suffrage were determined by the states |
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Term
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Definition
| Neither forbade slavery nor empowered congress to do so. |
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Term
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Definition
| More than any alternative. May or may not be more than half |
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Term
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Definition
| Whichever candidate receives a plurality of votes in a district represents the district. No matter how large or small the margin of victory or if he has won more than half the votes. |
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Term
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Definition
| Each district has multiple representatives and seats are allocated to each party in proportion to the number of votes they received. If you win 20% of the votes, you get 20% of the seats |
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Term
| Single Representative is more connected to constituency |
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Definition
| With proportional system, each representatives only claims to represent his supporters rather than the entire district. |
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Term
| Benefits of Winner Take All |
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Definition
| Voters are more likely to vote for candidate qualities and positions rather than party platforms |
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Term
| Promotes Two Party System and Moderation |
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Definition
| Difficult to win majority if you are a 3rd party – they effectively drop out. Candidates need to move toward the ideological center in order to win over voters in the middle |
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Term
| More representatives and more democratic. |
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Definition
| Even if you are a political minority, you will still be represented. |
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Term
| Winner Take All allows for candidate that gets less than majority of support among voters to represent entire district. |
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Definition
| i.e. 2000 Election – Gore had 2 million more votes |
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Term
| Winner Take All pushes parties to center which eliminates differences between them |
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Definition
| Voters become apathetic, turnout declines, and democracy suffers. |
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Term
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Definition
| Property owners and merchants (North). Feared excessive "democracy" Favored Strong National Government. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay |
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Term
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Definition
| Small Farmers and Shop Keepers (South). Feared concentrated power of elites and return of monarchy. Favored strong state governments. Patrick Henry and George mason. |
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Term
| Representation: Anti-Federalists |
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Definition
| Representatives must have a deep understanding of the circumstances and desires of their constituents. (“Delegate”) Can only be achieved in small, homogenous republics such as the states. |
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Term
| Representation: Federalists |
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Definition
| Representatives are individuals possessing ability, experience and talent greater than their constituents. (“Trustee”). The benefits of representatives democracy over direct democracy. |
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Term
| Source of Tyranny: Anti-Federalists |
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Definition
| Tendency of all governments to become gradually more “aristocratic” in character as the few use their growing power to tyrannize the many. Critical of institutions that were not directly responsible to the people (Senate, President, and Judiciary) |
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Term
| Source of Tyranny: Federalists |
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Definition
| The real danger is the “Tyranny of the Majority” in which a popular majority would trample over the rights of others |
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Term
| How to Limit Government: Anti-Federalists |
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Definition
| Favored limiting national action to those powers specifically enumerated (as it pertains to its relationship with the states and people) This will prevent the national government from seizing all of the power held in the states and violating the rights of the people. |
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Term
| How to Limit Government: Federalists |
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Definition
| Favored granting national government broad powers that would face internal checks and controls (separation of power)The way to prevent the misuse of power is not to deprive the government of power but to establish controls on it. For this reason, they originally opposed the Bill of Rights as an unnecessary restriction on government power. |
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Term
| Importance of Liberty: Federalists |
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Definition
| Distrusted democracy and equality for what they could do to individual liberty. Democracy could degenerate into tyranny of majority. Feared that demands from those without property for a “leveling spirit” (economic and social equality) would lead to majority tyranny and infringe individual liberty. |
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Term
| However, liberty may itself lead to greater democracy and equality |
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Definition
| Liberty breeds democratic activity and participation. Liberty offers a chance at greater equality while tyranny always leads to greater inequality. |
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Term
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Definition
| Organized groups that attempt to influence government policy by electing their members to important government offices |
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Term
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Definition
| Organized group that attempt to influence elected officials and government policy |
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Term
| Political Parties and Interest Groups |
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Definition
| Same goals, but different means. |
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Term
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Definition
| citizens united by common interest, opposed to the rights/interests of other citizens, and/or opposed to the national interests. i.e. Political Party or Interest Group |
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Term
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Definition
| Instability of government. Disregard for Public Good and Tyranny of the Majority. Minority Factions, Overruled by Republican Principles of Majority Rule. Majority Faction, Majority rules enables them to pursue private interests at expense of public good and rights of other citizens |
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Term
| Factions and Political Parties |
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Definition
| Because Political Parties hold formal political power – they are probably a closer fit to the “Faction” definition than Interest Groups. |
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Term
| The propensity for faction is part of our human nature |
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Definition
| Result of differences of opinion which manifest themselves in formal divisions that predispose groups to oppress each other rather than cooperate. These differences of opinion need not be substantial |
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Term
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Definition
| It is our human nature to seek limited cooperation to more fully realize our interests. Whether distinctions are substantial or superficial is irrelevant – what is important is that there is a division that will allow us to pursue our private interests over common interests. |
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Term
| Most common distinction is distribution of property |
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Definition
| Division between the haves and have-nots. Division between creditors and debtors. Division between different property interest |
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Term
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Definition
| These different groups have different opinions and material interests |
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Term
| Removing the causes of faction |
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Definition
(a) Destroy liberty
(b) Homogenize the public. Neither option would be wise or practical |
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Term
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Definition
We cannot count of “enlightened statesmen” to keep biases in check in favor of public good. Solutions lies in a Large Republic
i.e. In proposed Federal Constitutional framework
i.e. an institutional solution |
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Term
| Public desire is filtered through a representative |
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Definition
Best Case - Representatives have the wisdom and patriotism to discern public good and ensure it is not sacrificed for factional gain.
Worst Case - ”Men of factious tempers” will trick the electorate and eventually betray the interests of the people |
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Term
| Large Republic lowers probability of worst case |
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Definition
| Larger population means a greater probability of having virtuous politicians running for election and therefore increase probability that they will be elected. Larger constituency for each official means that factious politicians will have a more difficult time appealing to everyone |
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Term
| Benefits of Republic-Balance |
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Definition
| Too large a constituency means that officials will be unfamiliar with local conditions and interests. Too small a constituency means that officials will be to wedded to these local conditions and interests. We find happy balance in the distinctions between federal and state governments. |
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Term
| Benefits of Large Republics |
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Definition
| Smaller Republics – fewer distinct interest and factions means it is easier to capture majority and act upon those private interests. Larger Republics – More diverse interest and factions means that it is harder to capture majority and act upon those private interests. |
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Term
| Madison (in this essay and others) expresses fear of “excessive democracy” |
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Definition
| Republics are preferable to democracies because public passions are mitigated by wise and virtuous representatives. Implicitly – the public cannot be trusted to govern, we must rely on the American Aristocracy |
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Term
| Madison is implicitly articulating theory of “Pluralism” |
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Definition
| Existence of diverse and competing interests ensures that no one can dominate (they are forced to negotiate and compromise). System of checks and balances ensures that local factions cannot oppress the nation. |
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Term
| Our structure of government (strong federal system) has many benefits |
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Definition
| Supports independence, peace, safety, and liberty. Ensures collective and individual happiness |
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Term
| We should self-identify and take pride in being an American above other parochial distinctions. |
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Definition
| We have achieved our liberty and independence because of our unity and common efforts. Aside from these emotional appeals, we also share material interests in maintaining national unity. i.e. cross-regional trade. Greater means of defending ourselves from external threats |
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Term
| Warns that there will be those that will go to great lengths to obscure these benefits of unity and sew divisions |
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Definition
We should be wary of those who suggest a real difference in interests between geographic regions. i.e. “Sectionalism”. Political parties seek to gain adherence and one of the easiest way to do that is to “misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts.
i.e. They will argue that it is “us” against “them” |
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Term
| Danger is that our nation cannot be effective or sustainable with these divisions. |
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Definition
| “No alliance, however strict, between the parts can be an adequate substitute.” This is why our present constitution was such an improvement over the Articles of Confederation |
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Term
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Definition
| Sectional interests give rise to faction. These seek to replace the will of the nation with the will of the party. Regardless of how and why they are constituted, they will ultimately enable “unprincipled men to subvert the power of the people” and destroy the liberty which enabled them to reach power in the first place. i.e. Hitler, Mussolini, Emperor Palpatine… |
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Term
| Dangers of Parties (Generally) |
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Definition
| Party competition necessitates the domination of one faction over the other and a “spirit of revenge” Those who suffer at the hands of one party in power turn to the protection of an alternative party and devolve absolute power to its individual leader. In an effort to maintain this absolute power, the leader will destroy the liberty which enabled his elevation and threatens his permanent hold on power. The result is misery and despotism |
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Term
| Dangers of Parties (Generally) 2 |
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Definition
| Party politics distracts our representative bodies and weakens the execution of the public’s business. Manufactures false jealousies, threats, animosities. Foments disorder and insurrection. Party politics opens the door to foreign influence and corruption. Different parties have different preferences regarding our foreign relations |
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Term
| Parties as a check on Government? |
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Definition
Concedes that within certain limits, parties may be a useful check on the administration of government and encourage the spirit of liberty. This is particularly true of non-democratic governments. But in democratic governments, we must be concerned with the dangers of excess.
“A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent it bursting into a flame, lest instead of warming it should consume.” |
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Term
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Definition
| Washington seems to be restating the Federalist fear of “Excessive Democracy” Liberty is a virtue and is to be cherished – but we must not allow it to go to extremes and sew divisions in the population. i.e. Parochial interests and liberty must not be allowed to subvert the national interest and liberty. |
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Term
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Definition
| Partisan politics transformed the constitution. Framers did not foresee that in a democratic republic political parties are not only possible, but inevitable and desirable. “Democratic rights incorporated in the Bill of Rights made parties possible; the need to compete effectively made them inevitable; the ability to represent citizens who would otherwise not be adequately represented made them desirable.” |
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Term
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Definition
| Madison now trusted popular majorities more. Would have advocated to check majority rule less and facilitate it more. Parties are a natural offspring of freedom. But in combination with broad suffrage may create a conflict over property. Majority rule is less “imperfect” than minority rule |
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Term
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Definition
| “In every political society parties are unavoidable” Their dangers may be overcome by: Establishing political equality for all. Withholding unnecessary opportunities from a few to increase the inequality of property by immoderate and unmerited amount. Silent operation of law which would reduce extreme wealth and poverty (all without violating rights of property. Abstaining from measures which favor one interest at the expense of another. Making one party a check on another – so existence of parties is not prevented and their views not accommodated. |
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Term
| Problem of Social Choice in Government |
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Definition
| Parties make it possible for government to actually function – for politicians to cooperate |
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Term
| Problem of Collective Action in Voting |
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Definition
| Parties help to make voting “cheaper” for public |
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Term
| Problem of Political Ambition |
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Definition
| Parties help regulate competition for office – ensure that politicians will want to run for office |
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Term
| Parties regulate competition for elected office |
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Definition
–
If office is desirable you will have more aspirants for those positions than positions to give out.
–
Problem is that too much competition limits the ability of ambitious political actors to achieve their goals |
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Term
| Parties help to limit access to that competition |
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Definition
–
Create an orderly process by which access to competition is granted (i.e. Nomination)
–
Create institutional mechanisms that mitigate the dangers of within-party splits (i.e. Support for Party Candidate)
•
i.e. minimize danger that within-party competition will occur and result in success for opponents. |
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Term
| Duverger’s Law – Elections decided by plurality or majority rule yield a two-party system. |
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Definition
–
Voters don’t want to waste their votes
–
Political elites have an interest in reducing competition to just two choices |
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Term
| Higher probability that they will affiliate with a major party rather than a minor party |
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Definition
–
Major parties provide a higher probability of access to office now and in the future than minor parties |
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Term
| Probability of election is higher with a party than without |
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Definition
| Party members gain assistance in overcoming the two collective action problems facing electorate. |
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Term
| Political parties help defray those costs |
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Definition
–
Parties provide brand name which conveys information cheaply
–
Parties provide economies of scale to get out the vote
•
i.e. Candidates for different offices work together to get out the vote and defray the individual costs. |
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Term
| Politicians have incentives to help public overcome these collective action problems |
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Definition
| But solutions are expensive |
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Term
| Election requires the support and mobilization of the public. |
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Definition
–
Requires an informed public that knows its preferences
–
Requires a decision to actually vote
•
How do you get your supporters to vote and contribute to your campaign (money, energy, etc) rather than “Free-Ride”? |
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Term
| Parties are institutions designed to promote the achievement of collective choices |
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Definition
–
Without Parties, individual politicians may have different ranked preferences resulting from their diverse constituency and the will of the public as a whole.
•
We are likely to find in-transitive (cyclical) ranked preferences
•
Majority is not possible.
–
Parties help ensure that preferences among political actors are transitive and that a majority can be reached and maintained. |
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Term
| Parties help provide a voting majority for specific policy choices and help maintain those majorities over time. |
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Definition
–
Parties are enduring institutions who differ in some fundamental ways from one another.
–
Politicians (and voters ) remain loyal to these parties and the policies and values they emphasize. |
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Term
| Solving this Problem: Median Voter Theorem (Black 1958) |
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Definition
| if voter preferences can be arranged on a single dimension between two alternatives – a majority option is possible |
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Term
Arrow’s Theorem
Very complicated theory – but in short: |
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Definition
| When voters are faced with more than two alternatives and those alternatives cannot be collectively placed in non-cyclical ranked order – it is impossible to arrive at a majority favored outcome |
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Term
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Definition
–
“Transitive” Ranked preferences
•
A > B > C
•
Majority favored outcome is possible
–
“Intransitive” (Cyclical ) ranked preferences
•
A > B, B > C, C > A
•
Majority favored outcome is not possible.
–
i.e. Plurality elections rather than majority elections |
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Term
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Definition
| No method of choosing can guarantee that noncyclical social preferences can be obtained from noncyclical individual preferences |
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Term
| Achieve Cooperation – Prior Agreement |
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Definition
–
Institutional arrangements that provide a basis for binding commitments (Political Party)
–
Ensures that one player is not made to be the sucker for cooperating while the other defects.
–
You will win more over the long haul than if you act independently
–
You will gain more with a minimal coalition than a universal coalition |
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Term
| Political parties are collections of individuals who act collectedly to provide public goods |
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Definition
| Hence, they face a collective action problem (individually rational decisions result in Pareto inferior outcomes – Fail to Cooperate) |
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Term
| Problem of Collective Action: Olson |
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Definition
Mancur Olson – “Logic of Collective Action”
•
It is in your individual self-interest to attain the public good, but not to pay for it.
–
Public goods – “Jointness of supply” and “non-excludability”
–
Everybody assumes that someone else will pay for it and that they can “Free-Ride”
–
Eventually, nobody pays and the good is not produced.
•
Everyone loses (“Pareto Inferior” Outcome)
–
This becomes a bigger problem as the groups size increases.
•
Can be overcome by either Compulsion or providing Selective Incentives |
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Term
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Definition
“A series of problems that necessarily arise in elections and in governance make it possible for politicians to win more of what they seek to win, more often, and over a longer period by creating parties.” (28)
•
“The historical context determines when, and in what form, these theoretical possibilities actually arise” (28) |
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Term
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Definition
| Today, politicians can run a campaign without party support if necessary |
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Term
| Values and Ideas (“Civil Religious Eras”) |
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Definition
| Parties and politicians are forced to operate within the cultural context of what is deemed appropriate at a given time. |
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Term
| Institutional “Path Dependency” |
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Definition
–
“Critical Juncture” – Choice between alternatives
–
Once choice is made, it becomes more difficult to reverse course and deviate from equilibrium.
–
i.e. Two Party System – minimizes incentives to form a third party |
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Term
| Aldrich - Historical Context Matters |
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Definition
| These historical contexts determines when, and in what form, parties emerge to enhance the goals of political actors |
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Term
| Parties are designed to solve problems that other institutional arrangements are incapable of resolving |
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Definition
–
Politicians believe that these problems cannot be solved by any other means.
–
Politicians believe that these problems will adversely affect their chance of winning office |
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Term
| Parties are utilized if they further those goals |
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Definition
–
i.e. Politicians may distance themselves from the party when that party is currently unpopular
•
(Republicans during the 2008 General Elections)
–
i.e. Politicians may align themselves with the party when it is currently popular
•
(Republicans during 2002 Mid-term Elections) |
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Term
| Parties are a vehicle by which politicians may achieve a variety of goals |
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Definition
| Fenno (1973) – Career, policy, power, prestige, etc. |
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Term
| Aldrich-Who Forms Parties? |
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Definition
•
“Creature of the politicians, the ambitious office seeker and officeholder.”
–
“They have created and maintained, used or abused, reformed or ignored the political party when doing so has furthered their goals and ambitions.”
•
Political Parties are not created by the people or those outside the system
–
They are created by those within (“Endogenous”) |
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Term
| Actors are utility maximizers who adopt the most appropriate strategy to achieve goals (Rational Choice) |
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Definition
–
Primary goal is to win elections
–
All other goals are secondary because they cannot be achieved while out of office. |
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Term
| Political party is a vehicle used to win elections |
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Definition
They formulate policies to help win elections (rather than the other way around)
–
In a competitive party system, politicians and parties find it in their rational self-interest to be responsive to the public |
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Term
| Health of party system is judged according to the competitiveness of the two parties |
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Definition
Strong Party System – 1990s – Present
–
Weak Party System – Reconstruction, New Deal |
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Term
| Party diversity ensures moderation and compromise |
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Definition
–
i.e. New Deal Coalition
–
i.e. Republican Coalition of economic and social conservatives. |
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Term
| Both parties are united by fundamental values (“American Creed” or “Civil Religion”) |
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Definition
–
However, they differ in relative emphasis for these values and the means (policy) of achieving them.
•
i.e. Liberty and Equality (of opportunity) |
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Term
|
Definition
| Coalition of diverse members articulating a message that will appeal to majority of voters |
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Term
| Is this desirable or realistic? |
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Definition
–
More akin to Parliamentary Government
•
Because of “parliamentary supremacy”
–
Public may desire moderation rather than two stark choices
•
And…did we not create our institutions specifically to encourage debate, compromise, and moderation? |
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Term
| Not what parties are but rather what they should be (ideal type) |
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Definition
–
Make policy commitments to voters and work to achieve them (in and out of office)
–
Two parties differ sufficiently to provide a real choice to the electorate |
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Term
| Political Parties are a vehicle by which we may establish accountability for collective action |
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Definition
| Punish the party at the polls |
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Term
| Individual representatives are held accountable for their actions by their constituency |
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Definition
| But government policy is the result of the collective actions of the entire congress – How do we ensure accountability at that level? |
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Term
| E.E. Schattschneider (1942) – “Political parties created democracy, and…democracy is unthinkable save in terms of parties.” |
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Definition
| All democracies have political parties |
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Term
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Definition
–How strong and active should our federal government be?
–Last great unresolved constitutional question |
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Term
| The origins of our first political parties emerged in an effort to resolve these conflicts |
|
Definition
| –Rather than engaging in individual vote-trading and compromise, leaders sought to organize supporters |
|
|
Term
| Parties are institutions designed to promote the achievement of collective choices |
|
Definition
–Without Parties, individual politicians may have different ranked preferences resulting from their diverse constituency and the will of the public as a whole.
•We are likely to find in-transitive (cyclical) ranked preferences
•Majority is not possible.
–Parties help ensure that preferences among political actors are transitive and that a majority can be reached and maintained. |
|
|
Term
| Parties help provide a voting majority for specific policy choices and help maintain those majorities over time. |
|
Definition
–Parties are enduring institutions who differ in some fundamental ways from one another.
–Politicians (and voters ) remain loyal to these parties and the policies and values they emphasize. |
|
|
Term
| Two Solutions to Social Choice |
|
Definition
Political parties are collections of individuals who act
collectedly to provide public goods |
|
|
Term
Political parties are collections of individuals who act
collectedly to provide public goods. (Social Choice) |
|
Definition
– Hence, they face a collective action problem (individually
rational decisions result in Pareto inferior outcomes – Fail to
Cooperate) |
|
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Term
| Hamilton’s (Treasury Secretary) Fiscal Plan |
|
Definition
| –Should national government assume state debts from Revolutionary War? |
|
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Term
|
Definition
–Symbolic, Economic, and Political Ramifications
–North or South? |
|
|
Term
| The strength and reach of the federal government was left ambiguous in the constitution (perhaps purposely so) |
|
Definition
| –Fundamental division between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. |
|
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Term
| Resolution required policy outcomes that would illustrate the character of government |
|
Definition
–Political elites would have had preferences on the resolution of the Great Principle
–Political elites would have also had preferences regarding the specific policy outcomes adopted
•These outcomes set precedent for the Great Principle |
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|
Term
| These two sets of preferences would not necessarily line up with one another |
|
Definition
–i.e. could favor weak national government but vote for policy that would use strong government to benefit your parochial interests
–Therefore – Median Voter Theory cannot be utilized
•The conflict is multi-dimensional |
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|
Term
| Instability of temporary majority coalitions made it difficult to resolve individual issues along with the “Great Principle” |
|
Definition
–Any compromise or vote trade meant that neither side got its most preferred outcome
–It also meant uncertainty about the long-term consistency and clarity of principle |
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Term
| Leaders sought an institutional means to circumvent this social choice problem |
|
Definition
–Institutions would allow for resolution of these conflicts and overcome instability of majority rule
–Provide constraints and incentives such that members found it in their interests to vote according to great principle rather than on individual policy preferences. |
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Term
| In an effort to win policy victories consistently and establish undeniable precedents on the great principle, two groups emerge |
|
Definition
–“Federalists”
•Hamilton and Adams
•Favored Northern Capital, Assumption of Revolutionary War Debt and Stronger National Government
•Favored closer ties with Britain
–“Jeffersonian Republicans”
•Jefferson and Madison
•Favored Southern Capital, No Assumption of War Debt, and Weaker National Government
•Favored closer ties with France |
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|
Term
| These were not parties as understood today |
|
Definition
–Similar to “Party-In-Government”
•i.e. Organizing Politicians to achieve a common set of policy goals |
|
|
Term
| •“Federalists” emerged first behind their informal leader and spokesmen Hamilton |
|
Definition
| –He was able to create consistent voting majorities that allowed them to shape the outcome of the “Great Principle” Debate |
|
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Term
| •“Jeffersonian Republicans” realized that they needed to organize an opposition in response. |
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Definition
| They won the capital debate and temporary victory on assumption of debt…but were losing the most important battle on the Great Principle |
|
|
Term
| Political parties had come into existence |
|
Definition
–Politicians were divided into two recognizable alliances which cut across geographic divisions
–Partisan interests could be found in nearly all legislation under consideration
–Began to develop electoral strategies and partisan newspapers |
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Term
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Definition
| This organization provided incentives to keep politicians voting on the party line |
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Term
| Votes on issues important to development of parties should be different before and after the emergence of these parties |
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Definition
–Examined roll call voting in the House
–Party affiliation should be related to great principle dimension
–Party voting should increase in the latter congress
•Found tentative evidence for these hypotheses |
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Term
| Party organizations helped induce members to vote according to great principle rather than other considerations. |
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Definition
| –i.e. Conflict became one-dimensional which created opportunity to overcome social choice problems. (i.e. Median Voter) |
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Term
Mass Party
•Previously, Parties functioned almost entirely as “Parties-In-Government” |
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Definition
–They organized members to achieve policy goals
–Tool of “Natural Aristocracy” to realize prized principles
–They only modestly engaged in electoral politics |
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Term
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Definition
–Engaged the voting masses (at all levels) to secure victories on election day
–Still functioned as a “Party-In-Government” but now primarily focused on appropriating the “spoils of office” to ensure continued electoral support.
–i.e. Machine Politics |
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Term
| Democratic Party was the first national, mass-based party in history |
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Definition
| 1828 was the birth of party politics |
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Term
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Definition
–“Federalist” and “Jeffersonian Republicans”
–“Federalists” were the first to organize, but soon began to consistently lose elections following the emergence of “Jeffersonian Republicans” |
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Term
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Definition
| –“Federalists” favored closer ties to the British and after the war the party could not be sustained. |
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Term
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Definition
–Military hero of War of 1812
–Won plurality of popular vote in 1824 but lost in the electoral college |
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Term
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Definition
–Mobilized elite support and resources for Jackson’s presidential run in 1828
–Resources were used to create new electoral organization
–Electoral victories would provide spoils of office for supporters. |
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Term
| Founders of Democratic Party |
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Definition
| Jackson won presidency in 1828 on the back of a 20% increase in vote turnout. |
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Term
| Most choose to “free-ride” rather than vote |
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Definition
–Individual impact is limited and benefits of outcomes are public goods
–Decision to vote largely becomes a function of the intrinsic benefits derived from voting minus the costs |
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Term
| Political Parties Lower the Cost |
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Definition
–Logistic
•Transportation to polling sites, information on how to register and vote, etc.
–Decision Making
•Speeches and rallies helped a largely illiterate population become informed about the issues and candidates |
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Term
| Political Parties increase the intrinsic benefits |
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Definition
–Political campaigns and events were cheap entertainment and generated enthusiasm
–Benefits derived from being identified as a party supporter
•Social, Political, and Economic |
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Term
| 1824 Election – 26.5%...1828 Election – 56.3% |
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Definition
–Heightened interest in presidential politics
–Increased competitiveness of parties in many states
–Increased structuring of parties |
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Term
| i.e. Turnout increased because parties were now competitive in more states |
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Definition
–Increased interest in the competition
–Increased sense that individual votes matter
–Increased effort by parties to attract voters |
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Term
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Definition
–90% of states used popular voting to choose electoral college
–rather than electors being chosen by state legislature |
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Term
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Definition
| –Improved transportation and communication |
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Term
| Why Jackson? He lacked any real policy platform. |
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Definition
–Democratic Party would be held together by the loose principles generally articulated by the Jeffersonian Republicans during their founding.
–Political Actors from across sectional cleavages could join together without fear that a party platform would constrain their actions
–Ambiguity meant that you could campaign for whatever policies served you best among your own constituency
•i.e. reducing the costs of participating in collective action |
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Term
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Definition
He was a war hero and thus incredibly popular
–Those running for office under the same party label would benefit electorally
•i.e. selective incentives |
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Term
| National Alliance-Electoral coalition of various factions opposed to the incumbent Adam’s administration |
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Definition
–Northern Radicals (Van Buren) and Southern Interests (Jackson-Calhoun)
–Revival of original Jeffersonian-Republican alliance |
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Term
| Both stood to gain from winning office |
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Definition
| –Southern interests faced little risk to their own electoral prospects by joining this alliance |
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Term
| Prior Collective Action Problem-Parties can solve the collective action problem of mobilizing the electorate |
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Definition
–But…they first have to solve the collective action problem of getting political actors to join the party and commit the necessary resources
•Office seekers and holder
•Benefit seekers who have the resources |
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Term
| The "Caucus"-Organizational arm of this alliance |
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Definition
| –Raised revenues and coordinated electoral mobilization efforts |
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Term
| The "Caucus" Three Points |
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Definition
Takes time to build state-level organizations
Requires extensive resources which meant that high level benefit seekers had a critical influence in shaping policy
Resources were allocated according to “Strategic Parties Hypothesis” |
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Term
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Definition
Organized in states expected to be the most competitive
State organizations already existed to some degree
Potential benefits were large – thus increasing the stakes |
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Term
| Strategic Parties Hypothesis-Relatively small per capita costs add up to substantial sums in large campaigns |
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Definition
–arty can limit these costs by being strategic about where they invest their resources
i.e. Where resources will make a difference
•Tight race rather than landslides one way or the other
–Studies show that turnout tends to be highest in the closest elections – and it is at least partially attributable to the resources expended by parties |
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Term
| According to “Strategic Party Hypothesis”, organizational efforts were directed at non-alliance states that were competitive |
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Definition
| Results were massive increases in turnout and ultimate electoral victory for the Democrats |
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Term
| Organizing State Democratic Parties-Many state level party/faction organizations already existed. |
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Definition
Democratic leaders sought to minimize the collective action costs of creating state level organizations by combining (co-opting) what existed with their own vision
Party selectively choose which organizations were ripe for these efforts
i.e. which organizations had leaders, principles, and policy concerns that were amenable to this new party |
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Term
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Definition
Those who either already supported Jackson or opposed Adams
Those who stood to benefit from the election of Jackson
i.e. Members of the Alliance and Caucus |
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Term
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Definition
States that he carried in 1824 election
Expanding to other competitive states as needed |
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Term
| Expectations of Model-Coalition is large enough to win electoral vote majority |
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Definition
Base of coalition are those states where support for Jackson was expected
States that he carried in 1824 election
Expanding to other competitive states as needed |
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Term
| Expectations of Model-Composed of |
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Definition
Those who either already supported Jackson or opposed Adams
Those who stood to benefit from the election of Jackson
i.e. Members of the Alliance and Caucus |
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Term
| 2nd Party System was Competitive |
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Definition
Democrats and Whigs
Both were intersectional alliances
Divided on economic lines
Parties kept slavery from becoming a defining issue |
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Term
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Definition
Democrats became divided over sectional issues
Slavery became the defining issue
New Party System would divide North and South
Culminating in Civil War |
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Term
| Van Buren recognized that an intersectional alliance was a normative good. |
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Definition
Ensured that parties sought policy in the common interest rather than individual or sectional interest
Understood that slavery would be a nationally divisive issue that could tear country apart and this alliance would keep it from getting on the agenda |
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Term
| Intersectional Alliance and Slavery |
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Definition
| Both Parties understood this and took steps to maintain their alliances |
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Term
| How to keep slavery off the Agenda-South was perpetually in minority status |
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Definition
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Perpetual threat that non-slave majority could limit or terminate the practice.
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To prevent breakdown of intersectional alliance, the South would need some assurances |
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Term
| How to Keep Slavery Off the Agenda-Institutional Balance |
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Definition
South was given an effective and credible veto in the Senate (“Balance Rule”)
South was given a symbolic commitment and potential veto in the executive branch (“Balanced Tickets”) |
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