POLITICAL PARTIESChapter 16

Brainstorming

Make a Chart listing what you know about each major political party in the United States

DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN

IssuesBeliefs

Major candidates

PARTIES AND PARTY SYSTEMS

Political Party: a group of people with broad common interests who organize to win elections, control government, and thereby influence government policies

The role that political parties play differs among various nations

ONE-PARTY SYSTEMS

- the party is the government- decisions of party leaders set government policy- political differences arise only within the party- only one party’s candidates on the ballotCuba, Vietnam, North Korea, China

Theocracy: government dominated by religion

Multiparty System

Nations allowing more than one political party, and usually there are many partiesFrance: 5 major partiesItaly: over 10 major parties

Ideology: basic belief about government

Coalition government: several parties combine forces to obtain a majority for governing

TWO-PARTY SYSTEM

Only about a dozen nations have systems in which two parties compete for power

United States:

Democrat PartyRepublican Party

GROWTH OF AMERICAN PARTIESFounders distrusted “factions”

Early America:FEDERALISTS: strong central government

DEMOCRAT-REPUBLICANS: believed states should have more power than central government

PARTIES BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR1828 Democratic-Republicans splitDEMOCRAT: Andrew JacksonWHIGS: other politicians

CIVIL WAR:DEMOCRAT: split (Northern / Southern)REPUBLICANS: Abraham Lincoln

Parties after the Civil WarREPUBLICAN

(most Presidents after Civil War)

DEMOCRAT(Cleveland, Wilson, FDR)

Today, a mixture of these two parties…

WHICH PARTY IS WHICH?

1. They are willing to raise taxes so that the government can provide needed services such as education and defense.

2. This party supports the expansion of business without government assistance or interference.

3. This party calls for the reduction of big government and cutting the budgets of those agencies that have grown too powerful.

4. This party controlled the presidency from the time of the Civil War until after the Stock Market crash, which signaled the start of the Great Depression.

5. This party expanded the role of the federal government in the lives of ordinary people and in the economy when programs were created to fight unemployment and bad business practices during the 1930s.

Which Party is Which?(con’t)6. This party's presidents were associated with every major

military conflict of the 20th century.7. This party called for respect for the environment, restrictions on

big business and its ability to pollute, and a restructuring of the economy to preserve natural resources.

8. Theodore Roosevelt formed this party to enter the 1912 presidential race since the nomination went to President Howard Taft. It was based on controlling the trusts and monopolies that had grown up as a result of the Industrial Revolution.

9. This party supports restrictions on large insurance companies and health management organizations so that the poor and middle class Americans receive adequate health care.

10. This party offered an alternate choice during the 1992 election when Ross Perot mounted a campaign against Bill Clinton and George Bush that gained 20 million popular votes but no electoral votes.

YOU TUBE VIDEOS

Democratic Videos Channel (Democrat Party)

Republican National Committee (rnc’s channel)

*****

Comparative Commercials!

The Role of Minor Parties

THIRD PARTY: any party other than the two major parties

Types:Single-issue party – focus on one issueIdeological party – focus on overall changeSplinter party – split off major party

Obstacles to Third Parties1. Great difficulties in getting on

ballots in all 50 states

2. Single-member districts: usually only one candidate wins (in contrast to proportional representation)

3. Financing: most reluctant to contribute

What is YOUR political party identification?

DEMOCRAT

REPUBLICAN

OTHER / THIRD PARTY

WHY??? – Survey…

Political Survey

SURVEY at least five people (due by March 2). The results will be anonymous. SIX QUESTIONS:1. What is your political party affiliation?2. Why do you belong to your party?3. Do you consider yourself conservative, moderate, or liberal? 4. Who are two of your political “heroes”?5. Have you or would you ever vote for someone of another party?6. Name three current elected officials.

POLITICAL SPECTRUM

Powerpoint

Youtube videos: “Political Spectrum” – “Political Ideology”

PARTY ORGANIZATION

Political Party must have a dedicated core of willing volunteers

Parties also use various professionals (like WHO? For WHAT?)

MEMBERSHIP & ORGANIZATION

Democrats and Republicans are organized into 50 state parties and thousands of local parties

How does one “join” a party? DECLARE PARTY PREFERENCE WHEN REGISTERING TO VOTE

Varying degrees of participation…

LOCAL PARTY ORGANIZATION

PRECINCT: basic local unit – voting district ranging in size from a few voters to more than 1,000

Precinct Captain: organizes party workers

Party County Chairperson(see CHART on page 459)

STATE PARTY ORGANIZATION

STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Democrat Party of KentuckyRepublican Party of Kentucky

Purpose: help elect party’s candidates for state government offices

NATIONAL PARTY ORGANIZATIONNational Convention: gathering of

party members and local and state party officials – meets every four years to nominate party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates

National Committee: large group composed of representatives from 50 state party organizations – runs the party

DNC & RNC

POLITICAL PARTY FUNCTIONS

1. Recruiting Candidates – elections2. Educating the Public – bring issues to

public’s attention3. Operating the government – running &

staffing government4. Dispensing patronage – favors /

rewards5. Loyal opposition – “watchdog”6. Reduction of conflict – encourages

compromise and working together

NOMINATING CANDIDATES

HOW CANDIDATES ARE SELECTED1. CAUCUSES: private meetings of

party leaders2. NOMINATING CONVENTIONS: public

meeting of party’s to choose candidates

3. PRIMARY ELECTIONS: primary to choose candidates (direct / open / closed)

PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS

Every 4 years, each major party gathers in summer to select a TICKET, candidates for president and vice president

Shift from caucuses to nominating conventions in American history

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

National Convention