Questions raised in studying electoral systems in other countries and the nature of parties 

• There are many differences between electoral systems in the US and in Europe
  • The US has a fixed schedule of elections;
    • European countries have flexible schedules.
  • The US elects national, state, and local officials at one time;
    • national elections in Europe are usually for seats in parliament only.
  • The US elects members to congress from single-member districts;
    • outside of Britain and France, European countries elect slates of party candidates from multimember districts.
  • The US system emphasizes majority representation;
    • outside Britain and France, European systems emphasize proportional representation.
  • The US system downplays the importance of party in voting choice
    • European systems play up the importance of party in voting choice
• There are many differences between the party systems in the US and in Europe
  • The US has a two party system
    • Only Britain even approaches a two-party system; most countries have multiple parties with genuine political importance.

What is the relationship of political parties to democratic government?

• Most political scientists link political parties to democracy
  • Political parties created democracy
  • Modern democracy is unthinkable save in terms of parties
• What is a political party?
  • There are two basic and contrary elements in definitions of a party:
    • Edmund Burke: a body of like-minded people united on a common principle.
    • Anthony Downs: Teams of elites competing for political office 
  • These elements conflict in all political parties, but to different degrees at different times:
    • The Democratic Party in the 1970s stressed liberals values over winning elections.
    • The Republican Party in the 1990s stressed conservative values over winning elections.
  • A minimalist definition:
    • An organization that sponors candidates for political office under the organization's name.
    • The NRA and NOW endorse and support candidates
    • but does not run them under the NRA or the NOW labels on the ballot
    • It these groups did that, they would cross the line separating an interest group from a party.
• Why does the US have a two-party system? 
  • Due to electoral laws.
  • Due to political socialization.
  • Due to presidential government
    • The presidency is the ultimate prize in national politics
      • A majority of electoral votes is required to win the presidency
      • These electoral votes are decided by plurality rule in states
        • Thus, each of the 50 states acts as a "single member district"
        • Contending forces tend to coalese into two parties to win.
    • Third parties have little or no chance to win the ultimate prize.

The issue of party reform in American politics

• The need for reform: Bill of indictments
  • Two parties don't provide enough choice
    • How many would you need?
      • Three?
        • There are no party systems in the world with 3 parties of comparable size.
        • Britain and Germany, at 2.5 parties, are closest to this concept.
      • Four?
        • A worker's party (Democrats)?
        • A business party (Republicans)?
        • A black party?
        • An evangelical party?
      • More than four?
    • To change the number of parties, one would have to change our Constitutional structure of government.
  • Our parties are Tweedledee and Tweedledum--they don't differ in their policies.
    • This argument is patently false.
  • There is too much money in politics.
    • The problem doesn't lie with the parties, but with the candidates.
    • Softmoney is not a problem, but a solution.
  • Party campaigns have gotten too long.
    • Speed up planetary motion.
• The case against the need for reform
  • The US has had democratic government and a two party system for nearly 150 years.
  • If it's not broke, don't fix it.