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Warm up:Our local school board is concerned about TAKS scores and saving money. There is a proposal to eliminate team sports likefootball, basketball and volleyball. Themoney saved will be redirected to activitiesthat reach more students.Do you support this?

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What is a political party?

•Group seeking to control gov’t by winning elections and holding office - joined by common beliefs - seek to influence public policy

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What is a political party?

•Democrats and GOP are not principle or issue oriented - they are election oriented - coalitions of diverse persons

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• make known the will of the people to the gov’t.• bring conflicting groups together

• modify and compromise conflicting views

• soften impact of extremists

What do parties do?

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1. Nominating Function• recruit and choose candidates• gather support

• almost exclusively a party function

• distinguishes parties from other political groups

5 Functions of Political Parties

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2. Informer-Stimulator Function• campaign for candidates

• take stands on issues

• criticize opponents

• “educate” through advertising, speeches, rallies and conventions

5 Functions of Political Parties

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5 Functions of Political Parties

3. “Seal of Approval” Function

• “bonding agent” to ensure good performance

• screen for qualifications and character

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5 Functions of Political Parties

4. Governmental Function• officeholders often chosen based on party• legislative business conducted on partisan basis• cooperation between legislative and executive branches • presidential election process

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5 Functions of Political Parties

5. Watchdog Function

• outs critique the ins

• “loyal opposition”

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Reasons for the two party system

• History - Federalists & Anti-Federalists

• Tradition - we’ve always had two parties

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Reasons for the two party system• electoral system - single-member districts promote it (plurality wins) - voting for minor party is a “wasted vote”• election laws (written by states) discourage non-major parties

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- ideologically homogenous people in a pluralistic society - “middle-of-the-road” parties are similar- moderate - struggles of personalities rather than ideas

American Ideological Consensus

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The multiparty system

• usually based on particular interest - economic class, religion, ideology

• produces unstable governments based on coalitions

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The one-party system

• really a no-party system

• used to exist in some states, but less prominent now - “Solid South”

• Dictatorships, communism

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Party Membership

• voluntary

• most states require declaration of party to vote in primary

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Party membership

cross section of society, but segments tend to align by party - Catholics, Jews, union members, minorities often vote for Democrats - White males, business owners, Protestants often back GOP

First Political Parties

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The Era of the Democrats, 1800-1860Begins w/ Thomas Jefferson

The Era of the Republicans, 1860-1932Begins w/ Abraham Lincoln

The Era of the Democrats, 1932-1968Begins w/ Franklin Roosevelt

The New Era, 1968-PresentBegins w/ Richard Nixon

4 Eras of Dominance of Two-Major Parties

Assignment

Complete Workbook

Chapter 5, Sect. 1-2

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Warm-up:What are some of the possible effects of a third-party candidate in a presidential election?

Evolution of the Democrat PartyAnti-Federalists Changes name w/ Thomas

Jefferson to Democratic-Republicans

Democrat Party-1828

Evolution of the Republican Party Federalists (ended w/ election of J.

Adams) Nat’l Republican (Whig) Party

Disbanded The Republican Party Combo of

Whig members and Anti-Slavery Democrats, founded in 1854.

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Minor Parties in the United States

1. ideological parties

2. single issue parties

3. economic protest parties

4. splinter parties

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1. Ideological Parties

• based on particular set of beliefs• most have some shade Marxism - Socialist, Socialist Labor, Socialist Worker, Communist• Libertarian - individualism and elimination of most government functions

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2. Single issue parties• emphasis on single public policy matter• Free Soil party opposed slavery• Right to Life party opposes abortion

• most fade with time or when major party adopts the key issues

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3. Economic protest parties

• arise during economic discontent

• no clear-cut ideological base

• focus on “enemies” (ex. monetary system)

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3. Economic protest parties

• Greenback party wanted free coinage of silver and regulation of railroads• Populist party wanted public ownership of railroads, lower tariffs

faded when conditions improved

Examples:

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4. splinter parties• Split away from one of the major parties b/co major minor parties• Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party • Some success at state and local level

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4 Key roles of minor parties

1. First to use nominating convention2. “Spoiler Role” 3. Critic and innovator - clear-cut stands on controversial issues - progressive income tax, pensions4. when their issues become popular they are taken over by one or both of the major parties

Journal Activity

Perfect Politician/Political Party Activity

Assignment

Complete Chapter 5

workbook pages

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The Organization of Political Parties

Who is the leader of the Republican party?

Who is the leader of the Democrats?

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The reality of political parties

• highly decentralized, fragmented

• no chain of command from national to State to local level

• State organizations loosely tie to national organization

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The role of the President

• President’s party is more united

• automatically the party leader• access to media, power to appoint• usually no clear leader of opposition party

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The Impact of Federalism

• major reason for decentralization

• government is decentralized, parties are decentralized to serve it

The role of the nominating process

primary function of partyprocess is within the

partyoften divisive

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4 Parts of the National party machinery

The National Convention

• nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates

• adopts party rules

• writes platform

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The National Committee

• Handles party business between conventions

• Republican National Committee and Democrat National Committee include representatives from each state

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The National Chairperson

• chosen by presidential candidate • focused on national convention and campaign• between elections, work on raising money, party unity, recruiting members

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The Congressional Campaign Committee (In Each House)

• Reelect incumbents

•Save seats of retirees

•Unseat other party

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State and local party machinery

The State Organization• mostly set by State law

• State central committee, chairperson (a front for gov, senator, or other)

• build party unity, raise money

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The Future of Political Parties

• Never very popular

• Period of decline since 1960

• More independents, split-ticket voting• PACs growing (Political Action Committees)

Review Essay (Choose 1) How has the US managed to maintain a

two-party system, and how have the two parties changed over time?

What role has the minor parties played in the decline of the two major political parties?

What is a political party and what are the functions it performs?