This research addresses the question of why, despite George WashingtonÆs warnings, political parties emerged in the United States so soon after the nationÆs establishment. Political parties are among the most researched yet elusive political institutions in the United States. Parties are not sanctioned in the U.S. Constitution as legitimate institutions of government, yet they have become a centerpiece of political life. In Western Europe, parties perform rather obvious functions in government. European parties are most distinctive as cadre organizations in which dues-paying members, staff, candidates and officeholders often interact in a face-to-face setting. The party-in-organization can be a powerful institution in promoting candidacies and disciplining its member and officeholders.
American parties are very different. With few exceptions, no more than two parties have dominated the political landscape throughout most of American history. AmericaÆs two-party system is relatively unusual in the universe of democratic societies. The constancy of two-party dominance in the United States has been attributed to a number of factors. Foremost among these are structural constraints. The absence of proportional representation in legislative bodies discourages the existence of minority parties. The winner-take-all rule and single-member districts codify proportional representation out of existence. A second set of factors may be cultural constraints. American political culture tends toward moderation and thus is not conducive to a multiparty system.
American parties as organizations provide only limited campaign resources and thus wield little influence over candidates and officeholders. Identification with American parties is a voluntary psychological commitment and entails no obligations. Nevertheless, candidates rarely win elective office without the endorsement of a major party, and party identification remains the single gre...