American Political Parties

American Political Parties Professor: Jeff Grynaviski

Political Science 253/363 Office: Pick 528

Spring 2006 Email: grynaviski@uchicago.edu

Course Description.

This course is designed as an introduction to the nature and function of American political parties. Its central theme is the role that political parties play as intermediary institutions between the public and their elected officials.

The course is crudely divided into three topical areas. First, we examine the United States’ constitutional checks on the development of strong, ideologically cohesive national parties and how ambitious politicians have formed party organizations in response to those checks. Second, we investigate the relationship between political parties and the electorate, with a particular focus on how the activity of partisan elites impacts mass behavior and attitudes. Third, we study the role of parties in the organization of the national legislature.

For each topical area, readings and discussion will begin with classic arguments for or against the presence of ideological disciplined national parties. Subsequent assignments then examine the extent to which the American party system has lived up to the prescriptions of the classical theorists at different points in its history.

Please note that given the social scientific sensibilities of the instructor, many of the readings in the course are quite technical. A student unwilling to take the time to puzzle through statistical tables or basic formal (read: mathematical) political theory should find another course.

Evaluative Criteria. Your deliverables for the class are negotiable. Most students’ grades will be based on:

Class Attendance and Participation: 10% of your grade

Students are expected to be attentive listeners and active participants in discussion. Poor attendance and a lack of preparation for class will badly affect your grade.

2 short papers: each 30% of your grade

One approximately 1500 word paper will be due approximately one week after the end of the first two sections of the course. Papers should apply the key ideas and concepts from one of the topical areas to current events, American history, or a subject from some other course. A successful effort will clearly identify why their topic is important, succinctly present the theoretical perspective developed in the readings and class, and demonstrate the relevance of that theory to their case. Report your word count in the paper.

Due Dates: April 27^th and May 18^th in class

Final Examination: 30 % of your grade

Books. The following books should be available for purchase at the Seminary Coop.

John Aldrich, Why Parties? University of Chicago Press. 1995.

Cox and McCubbins, Setting the Agenda, Cambridge 2005

Morris Fiorina, Culture War? Pearson Longman 2005

Richard Hofstadter, The Idea of a Party System. University of California Press. 1990.

David Mayhew. Divided We Govern. Yale University Press. 1993.

Reading List (subject to change at the instructor’s discretion—Texts are available at the Seminary Coop, Regenstein reserve online or home.uchicago.edu/~grynav/app06.htm)

Topic One. A Constitution Against Parties

Hofstadter, The Idea of a Party System, Ch. 1 and 2

Madison, Federalist 10 and Federalist 51

Washington’s Farewell Address (Optional)

Grynaviski Text and Figures, Prelude and Chapter One.

Topic Two. Founding the Legislative First Parties—Federalists and Republicans

Aldrich, Why Parties? Ch. 1 - 3 (chapter 2 is tough sledding so take your time)

Hofstadter, The Idea of a Party System, Ch. 3 and 4

Topic Three. The First Mass Parties—Democrats, Whigs, and Republicans

Hofstadter. Chapters 5 and 6.

Aldrich, Why Parties? Aldrich Ch. 4 and 5.

Topic Four. The Contemporary American Party

Schlesinger, “The New American Political Party,” JOP 1985

Aldrich, Why Parties? Part III, Prologue and Chapter 6.

Party in the Electorate

Topic Five. Introduction to Party-in-the-Electorate

Lawrence Lowell. 1913. “Advertisement and Brokerage” and “The Falsification of Public Opinion.” In Public Opinion and Popular Government.

Downs, “The Development of Political Ideologies as Means of Getting Votes” and “The Statics and Dynamics of Party Ideologies.” In An Economic Theory of Democracy.

Bartels, 2000. “Partisanship and Voting Behavior, 1952-1996.” AJPS.

Grynaviski*, Chapters One (review), Two (skim) and Three

Topic Six. Theories of Party Identification

Campbell, et al. The American Voter. Selections TBA

Converse, “The Nature of Belief Systems in Mass Publics” Reserve

Key, “The Voice of the People: An Echo” and “Standpatters, Switchers, New Voters.” In The Responsible Electorate.

Fiorina, 1977. “An Outline for a Model of Party Choice,” AJPS pp. 601-625.

Niemi and Jennings, 1991. “Issues and Inheritance in the Formation of Party Identification.” AJPS pp. 970-988.

Grynaviski*, Chapters Four and Five.

Topic Seven. The Culture War and Voting Behavior

Fiorina, Culture War?

Fiorina. 1992. “An Era of Divided Government.” PSQ