Free Essays on Political Parties

When the Founders of the American republic wrote the U.S. Constitution in 1787, they did not envision a role for political parties in the governmental order. Indeed, they sought through various constitutional arrangements such as separation of powers, checks and balances, and indirect election of the President by an electoral college to insulate the new governmental order from political parties and factions. In spite of the Founders' intentions, the U.S. was the first nation to develop parties organized on a national basis and to transfer executive power from one faction to another via an election in 1800. The Emergence and Pervasiveness of Political Parties The development of political parties was closely linked to the extension of the suffrage as property owning qualifications for voting were lifted during the early 1800s. With a vastly expanded electorate, a means was required to mobilize masses of voters. Political parties became institutionalized to accomplish this essential task. Parties in America emerged as a part of this democratic revolution, and by the 1830s were a firmly established part of the political firmament. Today, the Republican and Democratic parties totally pervade the political process. Almost two-thirds of Americans consider themselves either Republicans or Democrats, and even those who say that they are independents normally have partisan leanings and exhibit high levels of partisan loyalty. For example, on average 71 percent of Democratic-leaning independents and 79 percent of Republican-leaning independents voted for their preferred party's presidential nominees in the last four presidential elections (1980-1992). It is estimated that only about nine percent of the Americans are "pure independents." The pervasiveness of partisan influences also extends to the party in government. The two major parties dominate the presidency, Congress, governorships, and state legislatures. Every president since 185... Free Essays on Political Parties Free Essays on Political Parties Political party is defined as â€Å"A group of office holders, candidates, activist, and voters who identify with a group label and seek to elect to public office individuals who run under that label.† (O’Connor 296) When referring to political parties George Washington, the first president of the United States, described it as the â€Å"fury of political parties†. In fact, George Washington felt so strongly against political parties that he felt a need to warn Americans stating: â€Å"Let me now take a more comprehensive view and warn you in most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally. This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.† (George Washington) George Washington was not alone in his fear of political parties, James Madison in Federalist # 10, warned Americans against factions and party politics, describing it as potentially â€Å"mortal disease†. (Federalist ) Hamilton claimed it was â€Å"an avenue to tyranny†.(Reichley 19) Despite the fear and dread of parties, political parties have become one of the most recognizable and essential part of American Politics. In the following pages, I will take a closer look at political parties, tracing its origins and progression, discussing the role parties played and play in American politics, focusing some attention on the different â€Å"third parties† in American history. ORIGINS OF POLITICAL PARTIES As I touched on earlier, our founding fathers did not have a particularly fond view of political parties. Why were these men, considered the elite in politics at the time, so opposed to the notion of political parties? One theory on the strong opposition is, they felt part... Free Essays on Political Parties When the Founders of the American republic wrote the U.S. Constitution in 1787, they did not envision a role for political parties in the governmental order. Indeed, they sought through various constitutional arrangements such as separation of powers, checks and balances, and indirect election of the President by an electoral college to insulate the new governmental order from political parties and factions. In spite of the Founders' intentions, the U.S. was the first nation to develop parties organized on a national basis and to transfer executive power from one faction to another via an election in 1800. The Emergence and Pervasiveness of Political Parties The development of political parties was closely linked to the extension of the suffrage as property owning qualifications for voting were lifted during the early 1800s. With a vastly expanded electorate, a means was required to mobilize masses of voters. Political parties became institutionalized to accomplish this essential task. Parties in America emerged as a part of this democratic revolution, and by the 1830s were a firmly established part of the political firmament. Today, the Republican and Democratic parties totally pervade the political process. Almost two-thirds of Americans consider themselves either Republicans or Democrats, and even those who say that they are independents normally have partisan leanings and exhibit high levels of partisan loyalty. For example, on average 71 percent of Democratic-leaning independents and 79 percent of Republican-leaning independents voted for their preferred party's presidential nominees in the last four presidential elections (1980-1992). It is estimated that only about nine percent of the Americans are "pure independents." The pervasiveness of partisan influences also extends to the party in government. The two major parties dominate the presidency, Congress, governorships, and state legislatures. Every president since 185...