Chapter 9-political parties, elections and democracy Flashcards
What are the three maxims about party politics in Canada?
1-Canadian democracy does not depend on the existence of political parties
2-parties do not exist solely to campaign for office
3-parties are not the shapeless outdated elite driven organizations they are sometimes made out to be
What is a political party
Political party is a formal organization of politically minded citizens to unite under a common label and contest elections
Political entity that runs candidates in elections in an attempt to shape government policy and laws
What are the different functions of political parties?
-Aggregating interest- political parties operate as vessels that collect the many points of view on issues identified positions advocate best way forward
-Articulating interests-different points of view on issues
Selecting a leader
-Choosing candidates-recruit and run candidates for spot in the legislative assembly
-Promote government agenda
-Coordinate a legislative agenda
Lecture
What is a political party
-Smaller parties may seek influence
-natural result of extension a franchise and the adversarial nature of representative politics
-Central linking mechanism
Bidirectional political messaging
-class of politicians
Add onto the books definition
What are the three “coordination problems” modern parties have emerged and evolved to address?
- party in electorate (PIE) external coordination -supporters
Organize mass Electorate
Mass parties
Catch all parties
-party in organization(Po) networking –members
Connecting party masses to the party –elite
-Party in government(PIG) -International coordination- elites
Organizing elites within assemblies
“Cadre Parties” - still somewhat true in Canada
-party in campaigns- as election machine
Lecture
What are political party functions?
Structure The vote Integrate mobilize mass public Recruit political leaders Organized government Form public policy Aggregate interests (Anthony king) Interest articulation aggregation political integration, political socialization(Gabriel Almond)
What are the bases of political parties
1- institutions: electoral systems, Parliament, Federal provincial party systems2- sociological underpinnings: basis of support policy platforms reflect support diversity of society
3- competitive circumstances: shape resources, appeal, policies
What are elite or cadre parties??
Cadre or elite:
Loosely structured elite centred minimal organization outside of legislature
What are the 6 roles of political parties?
1- aggregate interests- Calex point of view on issues identify position and advocate best way forward
2-articulating interests- promote different Waze at looking at issues and encourages public discussions about government
3- selecting a litre- political parties are organizations that identify people who want to leave government and are selected
4- choosing candidates- political parties coordinate recruiting people who want to run in elections and be representatives in legislative assembly
5- run election campaigns- political parties field candidates who run under party banner provide resources, and policy platforms all to connect voters
6- coordinating a legislative agenda- political parties organize legislative affairs to ensure cohesion and not instability
What are some characteristics of elite parties?
Small political party run by people with a scribe social status
Concerned with organizing boats in legislature and appealing to mail the orders
Caucus made most decisions and those who ran the party had power over resources and privileges
Closed cadre of upper class
What led to the change of an upper class elite party to mass parties?
Inclusion of women and property limitations broadens the voter base emerged after World War I
both parties or phased out today
What is a mass party?
Highly developed organizations which aspire to unless large percentage of the votes as party members
Grassroots political party is characterized by efforts to sign up members emerged after World War I
Emphasis turn from organizing a lease to reforming society in leadership for mass parties about ideas not character of the leader(elite parties)
Mass parties link to quasi-political organizations like labour unions to business groups etc.
What is a catch all party (modern cadre)??
Describe some characteristics of this type of party
Competitive political party that prioritizes design effective public policy and election strategies
Find ways to win to improve society
Appealing to voters be plants
Adapting to preferences of majority
Charisma of party leader
Party priority to raise funds out side membership including government subsidies
Shift policies to appeal to majority without abandoning core ideologies
Predominance of the professional leadership groups but a high degree of accountability
Low member/voter ratio
Maintenance and structure of a mass party (vertical organization)
Reliance public subsidy for members for financial resources
Strong and brought orientation to the voter
What are some unusual characteristics of Canadian parties?
Organization loose except perhaps the NDP
Constituency associations essential bit sporadic
Policy formation limited role for members
Membership cynical nonrepresentative campaign centric(leader or election)
Federal and provincial party systems somewhat distinct
Leadership selection- caucus convention primary
What are the 3 leadership election models?
Caucus model
Convention model
One member one vote
What are the key components of the structure of Canadian parties
National office- leader, national/executive/management committee
Caucus
National conventions -Biennial policy convention in leadership conventions
Standing policy committee-women,youth aboriginals
Local constituency associations-
Nominate, elect leaders, fight elections, develop policy
Provincial Party linkages- distinct party systems- attempted except ndp
Describe the caucus model for party leader selection
Participants- elected memebers mp’s
Selection procedure- behind closed doors competition between candidates
Ex. Liberals igfnatieff 2008
Bloc quebeqois bouchard 1990
Describe the convention in party leadership selection model
Participants- party activists (narrow) delegates to convention elected by party members
Selection procedures- party leadership convention, after months of campaigning Example - liberal 2016- dion
Pc mulrouny 1993
Describe the one member one vote party leadership selection model
Participants- party activists broad and party members
Selection procedures-votes cast by party members some voters cast at convention most electronically
Examples- pc harper 2004
Layton ndp 2010
What is the franchise model of Canadian parties
R.k Carty (“ The politics of Tecumeh Corners; 2002)
Challenge: build a nationwide electoral coalition
Geographic expand diverse interests
Smp/fptp electoral system
Solution: build electoral “franchises”, R and D marketing,branding, management, training, licensing
:Resources (capital personnel), specialization, delivery, consumer feedback
“Local autonomy for national discipline”
Relationships may be…
(A) symmetrical
(Con)federal
Stratarchic/oligarchic/autocratic, technocratic
What is a brokerage party?
Synonym for catchall party
Brokers competing regional demands
Difference between control party in the brokerage party is Brokerage parties try to explicitly reconcile the wide variety of regional interests in Canadian society eg liberals- brokering quebec with the rest of canada
Less common on provincial level
What is a major party?
Political party that has many supporters and large organizational infrastructure - significant daily presences
Leaders compete to be head of government or leader of opposition
What is a minor party?
Small pp w less support and infrastructure than major
Largely dormant until campaign pending
What is the left wing ideology
Higher taxes I’m rich and big business revenues want to strengthen social programs disadvantage provided with support Street you will probably example
Ndp, bloc, green
Describe right wing ideology
Reduce taxes to stimulate in growth private sector
Reduce size of government- taxes low and reduce government services
Build society more self-reliant and less dependent on state ex conservatives
What is the difference between traditional social Democrats and third way social democrats?
Traditional-branch of socialism committed to replacing capitalism with a more cooperative economic system
Third way - branch of socialism that accepts capitalism and aims to harness it to achieve equality of result
Eg NDP
What is the difference tween the welfare liberals and business liberals?
Welfare- seeks to acheive equality of opportunity in social
Business seeks to acheive equality of opportunity in economic terms
Eg LIberals
What is the difference between red Tories and blue Tories
Both old right conservatism!
Red- promotes preservation of social fabric and government institutions
Blue- promotes economic nationalism and smaller government
What is the difference between neoconservativism and neoliberalism?
Both new right conservatism!
Neoconservatism- promotes protection national values community safety and national security
Neoliberalism- favors less government intervention in economy
Defined the party system
Particular constellation of political parties guided by a unique framework of behaviour
Party systems change when” mass disenchantment at the ballot box”
Describe the dynamics of the first party system
1867 to 1917 ww1
Dominant politics: patronage and state building
Rotating power between liberals and conservatives
Constituency focus
Caucus parties
Leadership selection: caucus choice
Party finance: civil service in private capital- financially driven to sway voters
Media: party papers - controlled by elite
Describe the first transition from the first party system
1917-1921 Civil service reform Enfranchisement of women Expansion of west; rise of agrarian protest Class consciousness New parties: progressives, ccf
Describe the dynamics of the second party system
Dominant politics: brokerage and nation building - liberals and conservatives building bridges regionally
Regional focus
Ministerialist parties - ccf and progressives (layer social credit party) brought innovation to parry politics
Leadership selection: managed conventions - pressure on 2 main parties to change process from caucus conventions to open conventions
Finance: corporations
Media: Radio
Describe the second transition from the second party system
1957 to 1963 Quiet revolution in Quebec Ethnicity in the west and large cities Union movement New parties: ccf becomes ndp, creditistes in Quebec, social credit in AB
Describe the dynamics of the thirds party system
1963 to 1993 Dominant politics: Pan- Canadianism National focus Personal (leader centered) parties Leadership selection: open competition Finance: public funding and mass appeals Media: tv and polling Ndp,liberals, pc's use tv to build Technology helped ndp emerge as 3rd major party but never attained official opposition status in this 2 plus party system- 2 major competitors plus one
Describe the third transition from the third party system
1993- ___
“Crisis of representation”- women and ethnic groups
Rise of interest groups to compete in parties
Populist discontent; support for direct democracy
Charlottetown referendum 1992
Describe the dynamics of the fourth party system
1993 onward
‘93 election pivotal
Significant regional instability
Long period of multipartyism( 5 major parties competing for votes in various regions of the country)
Led to three minority government’s
Dominant Politics: constrained (federal) state; permanent election
Focus: wedge(issue) politics
Parties: dealignment of party system; electoral professional; Financial power of centre grows
Leadership: single-member vote
finance: reduction of public funds?
Media: Internet narrowcasting and privatization
Pc majority in 2011 NDP official opposition
Liberal fewest seats in history
Why was the transition of the fourth party system not like the others
Similarities to previous transitions: populist impulse results in internal reform
Accommodative pressures
New media emerging as important
Differences:
Parties face competition from within
New entrants more powerful
One of two traditional parties may not survive
What is unique about the Yukon government
It’s the only territory with partisan representation and were opposed to consensus government
What is a one party dominant system
Long rule by one party organization example PCs and social credit in Alberta
What is a two party brokerage system?
Close but largely non-idea logical competition between two longest running parties like PCs and liberals
What is polarized to party systems?
Close and pitched competition between two ideologically polarized parties example NDP’s and liberals in BC
What are 2 1/2 party systems
Two major competitors and a week are still relevant third-party ex. NDP. And PCs lead liberals in Manitoba
What are three party system
Take competition between three well-balanced parties for example liberals NDP’s in PCs in Ontario
What are integrated parties?
Federal government parties his behaviours and organization are interconnected
Ideologies similar teamwork share resources between federal and provincial units example liberals and Atlantic provinces
What are confederal parties?
Federal and provincial parties that operate autonomously from each other even though they have similar names- share the same label but don’t see Eye to eye
Ex. Federal liberals in PC liberals
BC Liberals are closer to federal conservatives
And
Provincial PCs strange relationship with federal conservative party who’s Constitution states it shall not establish provincial political parties
What is a truncated party
A federal or provincial political party that does not have a surreal early named party at the other level of government for example the Yukon party Saskatchewan party and Wildrose party - no federal party
Briefly describe the evolution of the liberal party
Brokerage party governed by Canada longer than any other party
Started as business liberals and evolved to welfare liberals
Pro Kubeck image and reluctance of free trade caused a splinter groups like the progressives
Progressives have the official opposition to conservatives
Most Progressives return liberal by 1925
What is a natural governing party
Single party who’s long-term dominance becomes institutionalized example liberals
Briefly describe the evolution of the conservative party
Traditionally called the Tories
Federle conservative party not officially affiliated with provincial pCs parties
Idea logical split some coalitions have occurred on different approaches to conservatism
Periodically formed to government of Canada
Mechanism to bring people frustrated by the Liberals together- Western provinces in rural areas
During negotiations of Meech Lake and Charlotte told records many PCs left the party to found the reform party 1987 or went to the block 1991
Give a brief description of the NDP’s evolution
Roots in and post World War I social Gospel movement led by JS woodworth
In equities of capitalism and effects of great depression lead to creation of CCF the Cooperative Commonwealth federation
1961- CCF united with organize labour and rebranded to the NDP
NDP more successful provincially then Federally- formed governments in Alberta BC Saskatchewan Manitoba Ontario and New Brunswick
What is a protest party
Party that galvanizes elector frustrations with major political parties
Briefly describe the evolution of the Green party
Elements of fiscal conservatism social progressivism and democratic idealism form the green party
To political changes brought them national attention
1- Canada elections act 2003 provided each political party state funding- money for each boat received equals per volt subsidy lead to incentive and gain votes in every district across Canada
2- environmental movement in Western societies would turn a surgeon support popular in critical acclaim like the inconvenient truth movie by Al gore
Dr. Anthony Sayers for groups of Canadian party election candidates what were they called?
Star candidates
Party insiders
Local notables
Stopgap candidates
What is a star candidate
High-profile person involvement promoted by party centre and speak publicly on behalf of the party
Not celebrities but people who have held senior positions in business advocacy groups and not for profits
What are party insiders
Worked way up the party ranks over the years extremely well-connected internally especially with the party later
What are local notables
Well known in the electoral district in which people hope to run in Canada see more formidable then media suggests- maybe mayor counsellor or leader of community interest group
What are stopgap candidates
Candidacy uncontested and run in the writing were no active electoral district association name on the ballot for that party
No prospect of winning family support barely enough votes to break even
What are the three types of people affiliated with political parties?
Extra parliamentary wing- formally involved with the internal machinery at the party
Parliamentary wing- present party in the legislature
partisans- psychological attachment to party whether or not they have formal role
What is the extraparliamentary wing
Formalized parties have own constitution- name principles objectives
Common organizational structure
Constitution- guidelines for positions and finances etc.
What is party convention?
Official gathering of party delegates to decide on matters of policy and or leadership- vote on policies and select leader etc.
Party constitutions are intragal to how political parties take shape
What are the party principles of the conservatives
A belief in balance between fiscal accountability progressive social policy and individual rights and responsibilities
What are the party principles of the Liberals
Did you feed him responsibility and he didn’t get ready in the framework of a just society and political freedom in the framework of the meeting for participation but all persons
What are the party principles of the NDP
Building of a sustainable prosperity and society that shares its beliefs more fairly
What is a party member
Formally applied to be a member has paid a fee and expected to help advance partings objectives
Who does each parties extraparliamentary waiting consist of??
Party members and their delegates mostly volunteers
What is an electoral district association or EDA
Formal arm of party that engages grassroots members in electoral districts in which they live
NDP includes commissions in their structure
What are party leaders and what are their powers
Chief public official for the party head of political parties legislative wing
Powers include:
Authority to give info to elections Canada
Except/overall local nominations for a candidate to represent party in general or by elections
Signatory on official documents
What is the leadership review
Vote held a party convention on whether a leadership contest should be held
Leader only really requires a majority of votes to continue as a leader
In reality party leaders are expected to resign if they have less than two thirds endorsement from party delegates even if not in party Constitution
What are the weighted constituencies and hybrid models for electing political party leaders
Weighted constituencies-constituencies have points distributed to leadership candidates based on popular vote in constituency
Hybrid model- valances one member one vote model with representation of underrepresented groups
What is the parliamentary wing??
Parliamentary when consists of caucus
-all members of political party who hold a seat in the legislature and people who work for those public officials
Call kiss meets regularly in private
What is the official party status
Minimum number of elected members (12) party needs to question government in legislature and qualify for other resources and privileges
Number is lower for provincial legislature’s
What are partisans
Partisans or someone who identifies with and is a staunch supporter of a political party they are loyal to the party and may do parliamentary or extraparliamentary work for the party
Not all partisans will vote the way you think
When it comes to the first second and third party systems, how did political parties campaign?
First party system, consituency based
Second - regionally bases
Third- Pan canadian based
Fourth- specific groups
