Evaluate the view that American parties remain signi cant
in US politics.
The theory of party decline has become signi cantly popular within US politics,
especially due to the publication of David Borders 1972 book ‘The Party’s
Over;The Failure of Politics in America’. This supported the idea that parties were
unable to respond e ectively to changing circumstances, and that they no longer
serve their original purpose. However, there are strong signs that parties are trying
to regain control and in uence. In this essay, I will be arguing that American parties
remain signi cant in US politics.
US parties are in decline due to the loss of in uence over candidate selection. In
1968, the Frazer McGovern commission recommended far greater transparency
over how states choose their delegates, giving all members, and the public, a say
in the selection. Traditionally, candidate selection was dominated by party bosses
as they had in uence over the selection of delegates to go to state party
conventions and national conventions. Furthermore, Justice Democrats have had a
huge impact over candidate selection. Justice Democrats nds and helps primary
challenges to incumbents it deems insu ciently progressive. Their signi cance is
especially prominent in 2018, when they backed Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and
Anyanna Pressley, who both beat Joe Crawly, who was a party insider, and
Micheal Capuano in the primaries. In addition to this, the Tea Party movement
challenged RINOS, house members and senators for their seats in congressional
primaries with candidates who were true conservatives, and as a result moved the
Republican Party further right. On the other hand, US parties remain signi cant as
parties have become more ideologically cohesive. Between 2013 and 2014, 92%
of the time Republicans voted with their party in the House of Representatives,
while Democrats voted in line with their party 94% of the time. In 2010, the Patient
Protection and A ordable Care Act passed 219-212 in the House, and passed
60-49 in the Senate but without a single Republican vote, highlighting an increase
in parties being ideologically cohesive. Furthermore, after the Cold War ended
there was Partisanship realignment within the Democratic Party, as before the fear
of communism within the US made Democrats remain moderate, but since 1990
the party has been able to move left without being labelled as communists. As
both parties have come more ideologically cohesive, a clearer divide has been
created on their issues and policies, enabling a more partisan public.
Furthermore, US parties are in a state of decline due to the Separation of Powers.
The ability to control politicians within the party by party patronage is reduced, and
politicians in Congress are ultimately reliant on their distinct electorate for re-
election. Unlike the UK system, there is not the possibility ion a 3-line whip as
members of Congress cannot serve on the executive at the same time. For
example, Joe Manchin is a US senator who cannot be whipped into line by
President Joe Biden as there is no prospect of him being rewarded for his loyalty
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