Political Parties John N. Lee Florida State University Summer 2010 John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 1 / 18
Political Parties Political Party A coalition of people who seek to control the machinery of government by winning elections (KGK, 790). John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 2 / 18
Primary System Primary Election An election held before the general election in which voters decide which of a party s candidates will be the party s nominee for the general election (KGK, 791). 1 Closed Primary Only political party members can vote for that parties candidate (e.g. Republicans can not vote in the Democratic primary). 2 Open Primary Everyone can choose which political primary they will vote in. John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 3 / 18
Iowa Caucus First event regarding the choice of the political party s candidate for election. Caucus A closed meeting of a political or legislative group to choose candidates for office or to decide issues of policy (KGK, 783). How does it work? Republicans cast secret ballots, they are counted and then the results are reported. John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 4 / 18
Iowa Caucus Democrats are more complicated. 1 Instead of casting ballot, individuals are told to stand in sections of the room to which the caucus meets. 2 Once in groups members have 30 minutes to try and convince their neighbor group members to support their candidate. 3 After thirty minutes, the leaders go around and see which candidates have viable support (at least 15% of the people present). 4 Once unviable candidates are pointed out their supporters have 30 minutes to find a candidate they will support. 5 Then they count up the participants and report the results to the county, who then reports it to the state. John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 5 / 18
Following Iowa After Iowa New Hampshire is up next. Is it fair that two states exert such influence over the electoral process? Should other states be allowed to move their primaries up? Michigan and Florida (Jan 29) both tried this and were punished by both political parties in 2008. John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 6 / 18
How are Delegates Aggregated? Democrats Proportional Representation. If a candidate gets 50% of the votes they get 50% of the delegates. Republicans Some are winner take all (New York), some are district-level winner take all (California), and some are proportional representation (Massachusetts). John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 7 / 18
Superdelegates Superdelegate Delegates to the Democratic National Convention who can support any candidate that they choose (not bound by any state s primary/caucus results). Republicans have them too but they are not called superdelegates. In 2008 they make up 1 5 of the delegates at the Democratic National Convention. John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 8 / 18
Is it rational to vote? Expected Utility of Voting = (Utility of Voting)*(Probability of Being Deciding Vote) (Cost of Voting) EU V (Voting) = B P(D)-C (1) Where...EU V (Voting) is the Expected Utility of Voting, B is the Benefits of voting, P(D) is the probability of being the deciding vote, and C is the cost of voting. John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 9 / 18
Is it rational to vote? Some argue for the inclusion of the D-term. This represents the utility individuals garner from maintaining the democratic institutions being patriotic the general positive feeling of voting EU V (Voting) = B P(D)-C +D (2) Where...EU V (Voting) is the Expected Utility of Voting, B is the Benefits of voting, P(D) is the probability of being the deciding vote, C is the cost of voting, and D is the unmeasurable benefits of voting (e.g. patriotism, continuing democracy, etc). John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 10 / 18
Why are Parties Useful to Voters? Since we know that based on a strict rational choice perspective people should not rationally vote, how do political parties help overcome this problem? John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 11 / 18
Why are Parties Useful to Voters? Heuristics...guide in the investigation or solution of a problem. Cognitive Shortcut A mental device allowing citizens to make complex decisions based on a small amount of information (KGK, 783). 1 We can think of Political Parties as Cognitive Shortcuts if I know that candidate x is a democrat I know that they are most likely liberal on all policies they are confronted with. Thus, rather than having to ascertain information on all of their positions (e.g. global warming, health care reform, war, etc) I can immediately assume that because they are democratic they have liberal positions on these issues. John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 12 / 18
Party Platforms Party Platform A piece of writing which describes a political party s positions on various issues. John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 13 / 18
The Democratic Party Democrats are typically liberal. Liberal [A] proponent of a political ideology that favors extensive government action to redress social and economic inequalities and tolerates social behaviors that conservatives view as deviant (KGK, 788). John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 14 / 18
The Republican Party Republicans are typically Conservative Conservative [A] proponent of a political ideology that favors small or limited government, an unfettered free market, self-reliance, and traditional social norms (KGK, 784). John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 15 / 18
The Third Parties Types of Third Parties Splinter Parties Political parties which have split from larger political parties because of ideological disagreement. Can sometimes play a spoiler role. Ideologue Parties Political parties which have a unique political ideology. Single Issue Parties Political parties which are only campaign on one issue. Are often coopted by larger political parties once their issues prove popular. John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 16 / 18
Two Party System Two Party System A political system in which only two majority parties compete for all the elective offices (KGK, 793). Some argue this is bad. John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 17 / 18
Global Warming Global Warming The idea that global temperatures are increasing as a result of increased CO 2 emissions. What do you think? Is it real? What can be done? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpwa7vw-ome http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojabatjcugsfeature=fvw John N. Lee (Florida State University) Political Parties Summer 2010 18 / 18