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Can you list three important contributions political parties make to the American political system?

Political parties are often seen as the source of conflict in our country on political issues.Despite this perception, we have had political parties since the very early years.List and justify three important contributions political parties make to the American political system.

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1. Parties play a key role in engaging and mobilizing the electorate in the political process. There are three main reasons a person becomes active in politics: First, they get something in return – a financial, social or purposive benefit. Second, they have the ability and resources to participate. Finally, they are asked to participate. This can apply to just voting for president every four years or becoming politically active to a much greater extent. Political parties can help educate a person on why they should care about an election by offering a social benefit and making the financial and purposive benefits clear. Parties can assist those who don’t otherwise have the money, time or skills to participate. One example would be offering form letters for a person to sign and send to their congressperson, saving them time and allowing them to communicate with their elected official even if that person lacks the necessary writing skills. They also provide rides to the polls and help with registering to vote. Just as importantly, parties actively ask people to get involved in the political process through direct mailings, commercials, signs and personal contact. Parties help simplify the electorate’s voting decisions by giving the voters a brand to associate with a candidate and/or issue. That lowers the information gathering cost and provides the electorate with a great deal of information without the voter having to obtain information specific to that particular candidate or that particular issue. Parties also simplify the process for voters by limiting the number of candidates that are involved in a particular election. In short, voters engaging and participating in the electoral process is essential in a democracy. Parties lower the cost of voting, raise the perceived reward and magnify the perception of the importance of a citizens’ vote in determining an elections outcome. The most important thing a party does is to actually make governance in a democracy work. The United States’ system federalism and the Constitutions separation of powers and make it difficult for officials in differing fragments of the government to work cohesively. The differing rules and demands of each institution can often lead to conflict and an inability to govern effectively. Parties help bridge that divide so policies can be collaborated on and implemented. Studies have shown that the absence of two competitive parties, government tends to cater to the interests of the elite, long-term policy goals are not as likely to be carried out and demagoguery and localism become more prevalent. Aldrich demonstrated that the a competitive two party system leads to a citizenry holding views more in line with those of a healthy democracy. No institution other than parties serves as an intermediary between the electorate and their elected officials. And no other institution besides parties can mobilize sheer numbers against the organized minorities who hold other political resources. It is also important that parties exist because they help ensure our elected officials are accountable for their decisions while in office. Because parties do not want one member to taint the party brand or deviate from what the party’s platform, they can use incentives such as leadership positions, chairmanships, and help running for reelection. Without parties, yes, politicians would still want to be reelected but far less incentive would exist for them to actually “reward the public.” Parties are also necessary in order to solve the collective action problem. Members of congress simply pursuing their own self-interest can lead to a pareto inferior outcome. Parties helps solve this problem by creating a institutional reputation that facilitates trust and coordination among members of congress so a pareto superior outcome – where nobody loses and at least one gains – can be achieved. This is especially important when one considers bills that calls for a spending or earmarks. When parties fail to function, that can lead legislators to “universalism” where each member of congress has no reason not to pursue their own self-interests Parties originally formed in part because legislators had a need to reach an equilibrium outcome, or “the interests, concerns, or values of a polity that remains faithful to democratic values…”. This is called the social choice theory. This reduces uncertainty and can ensure a benefit for each member, it helps policymakers reach a state of equilibrium and avoids the cyclical voting that would take place without the presence of parties. In an ideal world, legislators would reach a preference induced equilibrium, meaning that if each legislator voted solely based on their own self-interests, a working majority would be formed. However, that is frequently not the case and a structure induced equilibrium is needed to form that majority. When other structures fail to induce equilibrium, parties are the last resort for attaining it. In order for government, especially the legislature to function, parties are oftentimes necessary to the formation of a majority consensus, which is needed in order for policies to be agreed upon and implemented. Parties are often the last way members of congress attempt to reach a workable majority. When all other methods of prove ineffective, parties help ensure a majority can be reached.