Parties and Elections -- A First Look
I. Elections and Legitimacy
A. Significance of Governmental Legitimacy
B. Seeking Legitimacy
1. Personal/Charismatic
2. Theological
3. Theoretical
4. Racial/Cultural
5. Historical
6. Popular Representation and Deliberative Democracy
II. Essential Functions of Political Parties
A. link citizenry and government
B. assists in legitimizing government
C. aggregrates political interests
D. develops proposed policies
3. Green Party
4. Constitution Party Platform
E. recruits political leaders
F. simplifies and clarifies voter choices
G. support candidates
H. organize government
I. helps make government accountable
III. Basic Party Elements
A. Three Dimensions of Parties
2. in government (Senate; House)
3. in electorate: "mass" v. "cadre" parties
V. U.S. Electoral System - Decentralization in extremis
A. Three Constituencies
1. national
2. state
3. local and regional
B. The Dilemma of Representation
1. Representatives as messengers/instructed delegates
2. Representatives as agents of parties
3. Representatives as free agents (The Burkean view)
C. Rules of the Game: Non-Neutral
1. registration
2. single member districts
3. electoral college
4. direct/indirect elections
5. issue voting
1. population based
2. Baker v. Carr (1962)
3. Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)
4. Mahan v. Howell (1973)
Key Web Sites
Directory of U.S. Political Parties
Google: Candidates and Campaigns
Vote Smart Links to Party Organizations
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball for 2008 Elections