POLITICAL PARTY PLATFORMS: What Use Are They? - What’s the worth of them, anyway?

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Ophelia

Explores the purpose and value of American political party platforms, addressing skepticism that many voters and delegates do not read them. Outlines common criticisms such as unkept promises, inconsistency among planks, excessive length, boredom, hedging and double talk, and omission of crucial issues. Argues that platforms may still serve a vital democratic function beyond face value, then provides an initial definition of a platform as a set of statements and proposals, with historical context for how modern platforms developed.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

POLITICAL PARTY PLATFORMS: What Use Are They?

What's the worth of them, anyway?

BY WAY OF DEFINITION AND BACKGROUND

Vital Issues "A DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR BETTER INFORMED AMERICANS” Published by the CENTER FOR INFORMATION ON AMERICA WASHINGTON,CONNECTICUT Volume VI,Number 2 # POLITICAL PARTY PLATFORMS:What Use Are They? Party platforms are one of the easiest things in politicsabout which to get cynical. # What's the worth of them,anyway? In the first place,it's a fairly safe bet that many votersdon't read them. Except for a few planks on controversial issues,like civilrights,a large number probably are unfamiliar with what'sin them. That could go also for quite a few of the delegates to theNational Conventions who shouted "Aye!"for the platform'sadoption.In the uproar,excitement,and confusion,whatchance was there for a careful reading?Delegates are inclinedto take most of the planks on faith because the ResolutionsCommittee has O.K.'d them. These are some of the charges one hears against platforms: They make promises which can't possibly be kept. They're inconsistent.Planks in various parts of theplatform contradict what other planks say They're too long. They're boring. Except for a very few planks,both major party platformsare so alike that it would be hard to tell them apart exceptfor the fact that one is written in the usual tone of the"ins,"defending the Administration's record,the otherin the tone of the "outs,"pitching into it. They hedge and weasel concerning issues which shouldbe faced clearly and boldly. They leave out some of the most crucial issues. They're full of double talk and skillful dodging. For such reasons we may feel that party platforms just aren'tworth taking seriously.A description of platforms and plat-form writing which appeared in a leading newspaper backin 1924 still seems to sum things up:"Ordinarily the framingof a party platform is regarded as either a joke or a nuisance.As a rule it is a composite of conflicting views,artfully puttogether to deceive as many voters as possible." But we may be making a mistake if we dismiss platformsas inconsequential and serving little or no good purpose. Perhaps we're missing a point. In our democratic process of self-government,platformsmay have a broader function and greater usefulness thanappears at first glance. Since they deal with issues,they're themselves a vital issueworth looking into. Drawings by Stuart Judd,Jr. # BY WAY OF DEFINITION AND BACKGROUND A platform is a collection of statements as to political posi-tion and of proposals for political action.Each topic is aplank.The wording is apt to be general rather than specific. Platforms popped up early in our political history.But it took fifty years or so before they began developing thelook which we're familiar with today.When Thomas Jeffersonran for the Presidency in 1800,the platform he stood on wasconfined to a short statement of his beliefs and principles,expressed in the form of a resolution passed by the caucusor gathering of his fellow party members in Congress thathad put him up for office. As our national life grew more complex,more and morematters of concern to this or that group of voters and to votersin general began demanding attention. The first party platform that's considerably like what we'reused to today was written by the Democratic NominatingConvention of 1840.It contains a statement of party principlesalong with brief descriptions of promised policies if the partyis returned to office by the voters. Party platforms of this sort soon became standard equip-ment for campaigns and elections. A look at the way our two-party system developed helpsexplain the whys and wherefores of the platforms of thepresent and their grab-bag,everything included nature. American parties in their growth haven't followed theEuropean pattern which President Washington dreaded whenin his Farewell Address he warned us against "the banefuleffects of the spirit of party generally.”In Europe,partiestend to be ideological—that is,they back some specific the

FAQs

Why do many people view party platforms with cynicism?

Many voters are believed not to read platforms, and only controversial planks are treated as familiar. Common charges include promises that can’t be kept and language that hedges or dodges clear issues.

What criticisms are commonly made about party platforms?

Critics argue platforms are inconsistent, too long, boring, full of double talk, and they can omit crucial issues. Major-party platforms are also described as so similar that they differ mainly by how they defend or attack the administration.

How does the document define a political party platform?

A platform is defined as a collection of statements about political position and proposals for political action, where each topic is a plank and the wording is generally more general than specific.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Ophelia