A guide to political parties, Part I

OK, boys and girls.  It is time for Professor Roy to present another political science lecture, this one in three parts.  Tonight I will discuss Parties of Legislative Origin and Partiers of Outside Origin.

Parties of Legislative Origin are those initially formed by groups in the legislature who want to increase their power and numbers.  These parties tend to be non-ideological and driven by electoral concerns.  The Federalists and Jefferson’s party fit this model.  The Pennsylvania Democratic and Republican Parties also conform mostly to this model.  The problem with these parties is that when winning becomes the only goal, the party may not mean much ideologically.

Parties of Outside Origin are formed by groups that try to get their members elected.  These parties demand that their representatives follow the ideology of the group.  The parties of outside origin often have problems with their legislators, since the legislators were elected by the entire district or constituency, not just the party.  The British Labor Party fits this model.  It constantly has disputes between its legislators, who moderate positions to win elections, and the party faithful, who demand that the legislators follow the party platform.

In the U.S. the Green Party would be a Party of Outside Origin.  The Green Party has a definite ideology, and it expects its candidates to follow that ideology.  Note that the Tea Party movement also began outside the legislature, and it too expects its candidates to follow its ideology.  When one strays, as Rubio did when he supported immigration reform, the members turn on him.

So, parties of legislative origin tend to be amorphous masses mainly interested in winning elections and willing to compromise on almost any issue, while parties of outside origin hold true to their ideology even at the expense of losing elections.

Tomorrow:  Mass parties vs. cadre parties.