POL SCI 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: First Party System, Party System, Wasted Vote
20 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Problem with voting for a 3rd party candidate: wasted vote , because not enough supporters. Lack of discipline allows for huge diversity. Major parties have more resources and organisation. Professional politicians (vs. early republic): elite representation used as a filter. The framers distrusted parties: (never mentioned in constitution) Separation of power meant to limit party influence. Washington in his farewell address (1797) warned of the baneful effects of the spirit of party. Hamilton thought parties had to be destroyed to facilitate consensus. Madison said factions are against common good, but inevitable. Usually, split between parties is caused by social/economic/cultural changes. Washington & hamilton (who organises federalists for legislative action to strengthen fed. govt. ) Jefferson & madison (who both coordinate selection of candidates and campaign efforts) Era of good feelings (1812-24, end of napoleonic wars) Third party system (founding of republican party in 1854 - 1894) Series of reforms aimed at spoil system/ govt corruption.
