State and Local Parties

5 Main Conceptions
Political Machine Ideological Parties Solidary Groups Sponsored Parties Personal Following

Political Machines
Offers tangible incentives to get people to serve the party (Corruption more likely.). The main goal is very simply, control.
This benefits the party leaders. If they are able to exert control, they are able to maintain the status quo.

After World War II, many of the political machines faded away.

Ideological Parties
The goal is to pursue ideological ends
Turning those goals into public policy

Ideology ranks above electoral success.

Seeing those goals come to fruition is the point.

Solidary Groups
Emerge after the collapse of political machines The patronage system is gone, but members of the party still enjoy the process; because of the solidary incentives gained from continued participation. In other words, there is something to be said about the networking opportunities and social benefits won.

Sponsored Parties
Organizations run the parties
Detroit and the United Autoworkers Minnesota and the Democratic Farm-Labor Party.

Personal Following
Person or family with a following A charismatic political entrepreneur.
The Kennedys for example Or the Bushes

How does this play out regionally?

Well, from the period following the Civil War and Reconstruction, the South was a one party Democratic region for the most part. If there was electoral competition it was in the Democratic primary
There just wasn't any Republican infrastructure in place.

We've seen the GOP dwindle in the northeast, for example.

But that isn't the case today.

What happened?

Secular vs. Critical Realignments

Critical: African Americans immediately shift or most likely register with the Democratic Party after passage. Secular: But for whites in the South that switch was not immediate.
As we've discussed it took a longer period to play out; nearly an entire generation.

Civil Rights
The passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1965 brought about a fundamental shift across the South. And that shift occurred largely along racial lines. That split underscores one additional point about realignments.

But why are there only 2 parties?

Plurality system: First one past the post (the most votes wins) Runoff system (France): more than one round. Proportional system (Germany): breeds more than two parties.

Duverger's Law
Plurality system = 2 parties Everything else = Multiple parties The Exception?
Strong regional parties (ie: Quebec, Canada)

And What About Minor Parties?

Ideological Parties: Green, Reform, Socialist, Communist, Libertarian Factional Parties (break off from major parties): Bull Moose Party/Progressive Republican, Dixiecrats, Tea Party Single Issue Parties: Prohibition Party, Women's Party