Department
of Politics and Society
University of California, Irvine
Winter 1996
POLITICAL PARTIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Americans don't like politics much, and they are very skeptical about political
parties. Yet, most political scientists believe that politics can be a noble
realm of human activity and that strong political parties are an essential part
of a democratic order. This course identifies the origins of this paradox by
examining the development and nature of political parties in the USA. We will
give considerable attention to the roles that political parties are supposed
to fulfill, and to the question of whether they will be able to serve those
functions in the future. We will also discuss third parties and the various
obstacles to their success, and the relationship of interest groups and other
political organizations to the party system. You will leave the course with
a much better understanding of the somewhat complicated debates about what parties
are, and should be.
Readings:
A. James Reichley, The Life of the Parties: A History of American Political Parties
Howard Reiter, Parties and Elections in Corporate America (Second Edition)
Tip O'Neill with William Novak, Man of the House: The Life and Political Memoirs of Speaker Tip O'Neill
SCHEDULE OF LECTURES AND READINGS
HOW SHOULD WE STUDY POLITICAL PARTIES?
1. The Party Problem . . . in the U.S., and in Comparative Perspective
Reichley, Chapter 1; Reiter, Chapters 1-3.
THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE USA
2. The Constitutional Context for Party Development
Reichley, Chapter 2.
3. The Emergence of America's First Political Parties
Reichley, Chapters 3,4, and 5; Reiter, pp. 50-58,
4. The Republican Era, the Rise of the Machines, and the Progressive Response
Reichley, Chapters 6-11; Reiter, pp. 58-65; 78-83.
5. The New Deal Era and the Dawn of Realignment Theory
Reichley, Chapters 12-16; Reiter, pp. 65-73; O'Neill, pp. 1-246.
CONTEMPORARY PARTY POLITICS (OR THE ABSENCE THEREOF)
6. Party Reform and Contemporary Presidential Politics: Does the Party Matter?
Reichley, Chapter 17; Reiter, pp. 83-101; pp. 180-198; Chapter 11.
7. Changes in Campaign Finance and Organization: Have PACs Displaced the Parties?
Reichley, Chapter 18; Reiter, Chapters 7 and 8.
9. The State of Parties in the Electorate: Going, Going. . . Gone?
Reiter, Chapter 6.
10. Parties in the Contemporary Congress: A Revival of Partisanship?
Reiter, 198-208, Chapter 10, Chapter 12; O'Neill, pp. 247-454.
11. Realignment Theory at Century's End: Have the Republicans Finally Succeeded? Or a False Dawn?
Reiter, Chapter 13.
12. Recent Developments in State and Local Parties: Is There Still Life in the Party?
Reichley, Chapters 19 and 20.
13. Should American Parties Be Reformed . . . Yet One More Time?
Reichley, Chapter 21.