162 CHAPTER 6|POLITICAL PARTIES
parties, the Republicans and the Democrats, come into confl ict over what
government should do and how to do it. But even within parties, groups of party
members (both in Washington and throughout the nation) often squabble over
what the party stands for. In this way confl ict in American politics occurs within
as well as between the Democratic and Republican parties—both in Congress
and throughout the nation. For example, the rise of the Tea Party movement as a
force within the Republican Party caused the party to confront confl icting points
of view and forge compromises among its members.
During the 110th Congress (2011–12), candidates who won with support from
Tea Party groups formed a Tea Party Caucus, comprising over 70 Republican
House and Senate members. These legislators were among the most vocal in
demanding cuts in federal spending; they were also the focus of intense lobbying
efforts by Republican Party leaders during negotiations over enacting the annual
federal budget, raising the federal debt limit, and crafting a defi cit-reduction
package. Many of the details of these packages were added in order to reach a
compromise between Tea Party members and other Republicans, and thereby
win enough Tea Party votes to enact the proposals.
The rise of the Tea Party movement and its impact in the 2010 and 2012
elections highlights the enduring confl ict in American politics over the proper
role of government in society. While Tea Party groups differ on the specifi cs,
in the main they are unifi ed around the goal of reducing the size of the federal
government and its regulation of individuals, groups, and corporations.
(Members do, however, disagree somewhat on other issues.) As we will see in
this chapter, the Tea Party movement is not generally considered a political
party, but it has played an important role in infl uencing the priorities of the
Republican Party.
In a broader perspective, American political parties have been at the center
of debates over the role of government ever since the Founding. By competing
for control of the presidency, House, and Senate, as well as state and local
offi ces, and by offering different visions of what government should do, parties
and their candidates embody some of the most fundamental confl icts that
underlie American politics. Parties help shape the way Americans think about
candidates, policies, and vote decisions. Parties also impact elections by
recruiting candidates, paying for campaign ads, and mobilizing supporters.
After elections, the winning party’s candidates implement their vision, while the
losers try to derail these efforts and develop an alternative vision that will attract
support in the next election. In so doing, parties unify and mobilize disparate
groups, simplify the choices that voters face, and bring effi ciency and coherence
to government policy making. The Tea Party organizations, for all their impact on
American politics, have fulfi lled some—but not all—of this job description.
Why do parties play these roles in American politics? The rise of the Tea Party
organizations, along with periodic confl icts within the Democratic and Republican
parties, illustrates that the question “Why parties?”^1 does not have an obvious
answer. Although American political parties often have an impact on elections and
policy, the same organizations can seem inept and irrelevant in other situations.
A good answer to “Why parties?” must explain this variation. Why are American
political parties sometimes powerful and sometimes powerless? The answer
developed in this chapter rests on the notion that the political process matters:
understanding what parties do (and cannot do) requires an appreciation of how
they are organized, as well as the rules and regulations that shape the behavior of
party leaders, politicians, and citizens.CHAPTER goals
Show how American
political parties and party
systems have evolved over
time.
¾ PAGES 163–69
Describe the main
characteristics of American
parties as organizations, in
the government, and in the
electorate.
¾ PAGES 169–75
Explain the important
functions that parties
perform in the political
system.
¾ PAGES 175–83
Consider the role of
minor parties in a system
dominated by two major
parties.
¾ PAGES 183–86