Where do political parties exist?: Where do political parties exist?
As a label, in voters’ minds As an organization, recruiting and campaigning for candidates As a set of leaders, organizing and trying to control legislative and executive branches US parties have become weaker in all three arenas but still serve to link the voters to the political process (‘linkage institution’) Slide5: How U.S. political parties differ from those of other Western nations Less control over nominations: primary elections Less control over campaigns: candidates get funds independently c. Less control of elected members Slide6: 3 Major Causes of these differences a. Decentralization of federal system b. Regulation of parties by state and federal laws c. Separation of legislative and executive powers Slide7: 1. Founding (1789-1820) Parties created and constituted loose caucuses of political notables in various localities – with New England strongly Federalist (followers of Hamilton) and much of the South Republican (followers of Jefferson) Political participation was limit
