Political Parties Questions

Question

Describe the factors that have contributed to the overall weakening of political parties in America. How are parties weaker? How do they remain important? What are the advantages of a political system with weak political parties? What are the disadvantages?

Answer 1

There are two main factors that have contributed to the weakening of political parties in America: money and media. While campaigns have become more expensive, political candidates can, now, more easily than ever raise the money they need to mount a competitive campaign. It is easier to raise money on their own and establish political action committees (PACs) to help raise money and spend it on their behalf. Raising and spending money used to be something that was traditionally a power of political parties. Changes in media have also make political parties less important. It is easier for candidates to use various media outlets, especially social media outlets, to research voters.

Political parties, while less important than they once were, are still important in that they help voters connect with candidates. Candidate still generally conform to their party's platform. Democratic candidates generally share positions with the Democratic party and Republican candidates generally share the positions of the Republican party. If we, as voters, simply know if someone is a Democrat or a Republican, we can generally know where they stand on most issues simply be knowing where their parties stand on the issues.

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of our party system is the polarization that has occured. Our political leaders have become less and less likely to give up on their positions, and the positions of their parties, to work with candidates from the other party. This means that when we have divided government (i.e. different parties controlling different parts of government) it is very unlikely that much will get accomplished.