Development of United States Political Parties

I.    America's Five Party Systems

    A.    The First Party System (1788-1824)

    B.    The Second Party System (1828-1854)

    C.    The Third Party System (1856-1896)

    D.    The Fourth Party System (1896-1930)

    E.    The Fifth Party System (1932-??)

II.    Party Realignment or Dealignment

III.    The U.S. Two Party System

        A. Causes and Maintenance

            1. History, Custom and Tradition

            2. Electoral System

       B. Effects of the Two Party System

            1. Policies of Moderation

            2. Hard Times for Minor Parties

            3. Continuity of Government Policies - Incrementalism

            4. Simplified Voting

            5. Critical View of Parties as "Tweedledum" and "Tweedledee"            

      C. Characteristics

            1. Decentralization of Organization

            2. Open Membership

            3. Pragmatic Goals

            4. Parties as Brokers

      D.  Relationship Between Parties and Interest Groups

            1.  General:  Power of Each is Inverse and Direct in Relationship to the Other

            2.  Enduring Issues: Overall Costs, Funding Sources, and Competition
                    Increased Campaign Costs
                    PACs and Other Sources of Campaign Funds
                    Competitiveness in Elections

            3.  Today’s Paramount Issue: Perceived Loopholes in Current Law
                    Bundling (congressional opposition to reform)
                    Soft Money
                    Independent Expenditures
                    Issue Advocacy

            3.  Campaign Finance (2003 article)

            4. Iron Triangles and Issue Groups (Iron Triangle)

       E.  Current Policy Positions of Democrat & Republican Parties

IV.    Third Parties

    A.    Causes of Rise

        1.    Major Societal/Political Dislocations

        2.    Perceived Shortcomings of Major Parties

        3.    Personal Ambition of Charismatic Individuals

           B. Types

            1.    Ideological Parties:  Socialist; Communist; Libertarian; Green (basic principles)

            2.    One Issue Parties:  Free Soil; Prohibition

            3.    Economic Protest Parties:  Greenback

            4.    Factional Parties:  "Bull Moose"

     C. Impact on U.S. Politics

            1.    2004 Votes for 3rd party presidential candidates

            2.    Forcing Attention to Issues  

Key Websites

Ballot Access "News"

Electoral Systems

Party Divisions:  House of Representatives