Isabella Carter
Political parties are not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, which predates the party system. The two-party system is based on laws, party rules, and customs. Political factions or parties began to form during the struggle over the ratification of the federal Constitution of 1787. The Constitution of the Third Republic, enacted in 1962, specifically prescribed political parties. Article 7 Clause 1 specified the freedom to establish a political party and the multi-party system. The current Constitution, based on the direct presidential election system, has adopted provisions concerning political parties of the Third Republic's Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founding Fathers' views on political parties | The Founding Fathers did not originally intend for American politics to be partisan. |
| Formation of political parties | Political parties emerged through the rancorous debate over the shaping of the United States Constitution and the subsequent issues that followed based on interpretation of the Constitution. |
| First political parties | The Federalist Party, which supported the ratification of the Constitution, and the Anti-Administration party (Anti-Federalists), which opposed a powerful central government and later became the Democratic-Republican Party. |
| Constitution's provisions on political parties | The US Constitution does not mention political parties, but the Constitution of the Third Republic of South Korea, enacted in 1962, specifically prescribes political parties. |
| Court rulings on political parties | In United States v. Classic (1941) and Smith v. Allwright (1944), the Court ruled that the party primaries were subject to regulation and that African Americans could not be barred from participating. |
| Campaign financing | In Buckley v. Valeo (1976), the Supreme Court upheld the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act, which imposed contribution limits to political parties and made it illegal for parties to coordinate expenditures with candidates for public office. |
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What You'll Learn
- Political parties are not mentioned in the US Constitution
- The two-party system is based on laws, party rules, and custom
- The first political parties emerged during the struggle over ratification of the Constitution
- The Federalists wanted a strong central government
- The Anti-Federalists wanted states to supersede the national government
Political parties are not mentioned in the US Constitution
The U.S. Constitution does not mention political parties, as it predates the party system. The Founding Fathers did not intend for American politics to be partisan. In fact, in Federalist No. 9 and No. 10, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, respectively, wrote about the dangers of domestic political factions. The first U.S. President, George Washington, was not affiliated with any political party during his tenure.
Political factions or parties began to form during the struggle over the ratification of the federal Constitution of 1787. Friction between them increased as attention shifted from creating a new federal government to the question of how powerful that government would be. The Federalists, led by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, wanted a strong central government. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists, led by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, advocated for states' rights instead of centralized power. The Federalists coalesced around the commercial sector, while their opponents drew strength from those favoring an agrarian society.
The term "party" was not frequently used at the time, and those involved preferred to be known as "factions". Factions were considered divisive and not in line with the ideal of virtuous leaders who put aside self-interest for the common good. Despite this, political parties emerged through the rancorous debate over the shaping of the Constitution and subsequent issues that followed based on its interpretation.
The U.S. Constitution has since been amended several times to include provisions concerning political parties. The Constitution of the Second Republic, enacted in 1960, was the first to include such provisions, stating that political parties are protected by the state but could be dissolved if their activities disturbed the fundamental democratic order. The Constitution of the Third Republic, enacted in 1962, further prescribed political parties, specifying the freedom to establish a political party and the multi-party system.
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The two-party system is based on laws, party rules, and custom
The United States Constitution does not mention anything about the creation of political parties. Political parties emerged through the contentious debate over the formation of the Constitution and the subsequent issues that arose from its interpretation. The Founding Fathers did not intend for American politics to be partisan, and political factions were considered divisive and negative.
However, the two-party system that developed in the United States is based on laws, party rules, and custom. The two dominant parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, have changed their ideologies and bases of support over time, but have maintained their names. The Democrats, for example, have transformed from a post-Civil War agrarian, pro-states' rights, anti-civil rights, and pro-easy money coalition to a modern-day party with different priorities.
The two-party system is influenced by laws and regulations that govern political parties and their operations. For instance, the Supreme Court has ruled on cases involving the First Amendment rights of political parties, campaign financing, and ballot access. In the United States vs. Classic (1941) and Smith vs. Allwright (1944), the Court opened the door to government regulation of political parties by deciding that party primaries were subject to regulation. In Buckley vs. Valeo (1976), the Court upheld contribution limits to political parties and made it illegal for parties to coordinate expenditures with candidates.
Party rules also play a significant role in shaping the two-party system. Each party has its own rules and procedures that guide its internal operations, candidate selection, and policy platforms. These rules can vary between parties and may include procedures for caucusing, primaries, and party conventions.
Additionally, the two-party system is influenced by customs and traditions that have developed over time. For example, the custom of voters aligning with one of the two major parties, even if they consider themselves independents, contributes to the dominance of the two-party system. The tradition of voters caucusing with one of the two major parties in Congress, regardless of their official party affiliation, further strengthens the two-party structure.
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The first political parties emerged during the struggle over ratification of the Constitution
The US Constitution of 1787 was the result of a convention called by leading nationalists George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin. The convention was held in response to the need for a new constitution to replace the old one from the Congress of the Confederation.
James Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution", was the most prominent figure in the convention. Madison, a Federalist in 1787–1788, later opposed the Federalist Party and, along with Thomas Jefferson, established the Jeffersonian-Republican Party in 1792–93.
During the struggle over ratification of the Constitution, supporters of the new constitution called themselves Federalists and dubbed their opponents Anti-Federalists. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, wanted a strong central government, while the Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas Jefferson, advocated for states' rights instead of centralized power. The Federalists coalesced around the commercial sector of the country, while the Anti-Federalists drew their strength from those favoring an agrarian society.
The Federalists won the intense debate on ratification, and the Constitution was ratified. The Anti-Federalists' argument influenced the drafting and eventual passage of the Bill of Rights, which the Federalists agreed to add to the Constitution. The emergence of these factions during the struggle over ratification laid the foundation for the political divisions that solidified once the new government was in place.
It is important to note that the framers of the Constitution did not want or expect political parties to emerge, as they considered them divisive. However, during the presidency of George Washington, factions soon formed around dominant personalities.
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The Federalists wanted a strong central government
The Federalists, led by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, wanted a strong central government. They believed that a strong central government was necessary for the nation to thrive and to safeguard the liberty and independence that the American Revolution had created. They saw their most important role as defending the social gains of the Revolution. The Federalists were well-organised, well-funded, and had the support of many talented leaders of the era, including the only two national-level celebrities of the period, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.
The Federalists' desire for a strong central government was in contrast to the Anti-Federalists, led by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who advocated for states' rights instead of centralized power. The Anti-Federalists believed that strong centralized authority would inevitably lead to an abuse of power, and that power should be divided to prevent this.
The Federalists' support for a strong central government is reflected in their name, which implies a commitment to a loose, decentralized system of government. However, this name was chosen to avoid the "nationalist" label, which would have been a political liability in the 1780s.
The Federalists' views on government influenced the creation of the US Constitution, with Federalist leaders such as James Madison and Alexander Hamilton contributing to the Federalist Papers, which laid out the ideology of the Federalists during the creation of the Constitution. Madison, often credited as the "Father of the Constitution", established the Jeffersonian-Republican Party with Thomas Jefferson and later succeeded him as President of the United States.
While the initial Constitution of 1787 did not specify provisions concerning political parties, the subsequent Constitutions of the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Republics enacted in 1960, 1962, and 1980 respectively, included provisions related to political parties, reflecting the ongoing evolution of political party structures in the country.
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The Anti-Federalists wanted states to supersede the national government
The Anti-Federalists were a loose coalition of popular politicians, including Patrick Henry, who opposed the strong central government envisioned in the US Constitution of 1787. They advocated for a more decentralized form of government with greater protections for individual rights and stronger representation for the states. They believed that a large central government would not serve the interests of small towns and rural areas, instead favouring the urban interests that most Federalist delegates aligned with.
Anti-Federalists feared that the national government would be too powerful and thus threaten individual liberties, given the absence of a bill of rights. They believed that the Constitution, as written, would be oppressive, and that it provided insufficient rights in the courts. They also believed that the national government would be too far removed from the people and, therefore, unresponsive to the needs of localities.
Anti-Federalists wanted a weak central government, with almost all executive power left to the country's authorities. They sought short term limits for officeholders, direct elections of government officials, and accountability by officeholders to popular majorities. They also wanted to strengthen individual liberties and ensure states' rights.
The political split between Anti-Federalists and Federalists began in the summer of 1787, when 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia to draw up a new plan of government. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, wanted a strong central government. The Anti-Federalists' influence helped lead to the enactment of the Bill of Rights, which assuaged critics and ensured the Constitution was successfully ratified.
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Frequently asked questions
The United States of America.
The US Constitution does not mention political parties. Political parties emerged through the rancorous debate over the shaping of the Constitution and the subsequent issues that followed based on interpretation of the Constitution.
The initial US Constitution established in 1787 did not specify provisions concerning political parties. The Constitution of the Second Republic enacted in 1960 established provisions concerning political parties for the first time in US constitutional history. The Constitution of the Third Republic, enacted in 1962, specifically prescribed political parties.
