chapter 5 – political parties. what is a political party? a group of persons who seek to control...
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Chapter 5 – Political Parties
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What is a Political Party?
• A group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.
Major Party – a party that has a reasonable chance to win public office
Minor Party – any political party that does not have this chance
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Two Party System
• There are two major parties in the United States
• What are they called?
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What Do Parties Do?
• Nominate candidates – they pick the best from their party
• Inform and activate supporters – try to shape opinion
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What Do Parties Do?
• The “Bonding Agent” – Make sure candidates do a good job once elected
• Govern – Parties influence policy
• Act as Watchdog – criticize party in power
Mark Sanford
Harry Reid
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Why a Two-Party System?
• Historical Basis – The U.S. started with Federalists and Anti-federalists
• The Force of Tradition – society keeps doing what it is used to
• The Electoral System – The US uses single member districts
• The American Ideological Consensus – Americans share many of the same ideals so we do not need many parties
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Minor Parties in the US
• Minor party candidates have almost no chance of winning but they are still important
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Minor Party Importance
• Spoiler Role – pull votes from a major party– Example: Ralph Nader (Green Party) pulled
votes from Al Gore (Dem) in the 2000 presidential election against George W. Bush (Rep).
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George W. Bush47.87% Popular Vote271 Electoral Votes
Al Gore
48.38% Popular Vote
266 Electoral Votes
Ralph Nader
2.74% Popular Vote
0 Electoral Votes
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Minor Party Importance
• Role of critic and innovator – draw attention to controversial issues ignored by the major parties– Examples: Right to Life party, Ralph Nader
(Green Party)
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Multiparty Systems
• A system in which several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for, and actually win, public offices.
• Examples: Taiwan, Germany, Denmark, India, Indonesia, France, Kosovo and Israel
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Multiparty Systems
• Pro – This system can better represent the varying types of people
• Con – There is no majority so parties have to team up in groups called coalitions
• Example: Canada
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One Party Systems
• Often in a dictatorship• You have no choice what party to
belong to because there is only one• Examples: China, Cuba, Eritrea,
North Korea, Laos, Syria, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam
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How to Join
• You register as a party member when you register to vote
• If you choose not to be a member of any party, you are called an Independent
• You can change your party at any time
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What is Ideology?
• Ideology is basically the way you look at how the world works
• Ideologies tend to be grouped in the U.S. into 3 main categories
Liberal Moderate Conservative
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What is Ideology?
• There are other “fringe” ideologies present as well (not as common)– Socialist (far left)– Marxist (far far left)– Libertarian (far right)– Religious fundamentalist (far far right)
Liberal Moderate Conservative
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Liberal and Conservative
• People do not have to be strictly liberal on all issues, or conservative on all issues
• You can mix the two to form your own individual ideology
• We group them because certain viewpoints tend to naturally go together
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Liberal and Conservative
• Common Liberal Characteristics–Desire progressive change in
society
–Main values: Idealism, Equality, Fairness, Personal Freedom
–Examples: ACLU, Sierra Club, NAACP, NOW, labor unions, Dems.
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Liberal and Conservative
• Common Liberal Issue Stances– Pro-choice– Affirmative Action– Gun control– Progressive taxes (higher on rich)– Aid to the poor– Equal access to health care– Protecting the environment– Equal gay rights
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Liberal and Conservative• Common Conservative
Characteristics– Desire to keep things as they are,
maintain the status-quo, change should be cautious and slow
– Main values: Realism, Law and Order, Justice, Morality, Economic Freedom
– Examples: Christian Coalition, NRA, Americans for Tax Reform, Republicans
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Liberal and Conservative
• Common Conservative Issue Stances– Anti-abortion– Belief in private sector efficiency over the
government– Free gun ownership rights– Cutting taxes, less progressive taxation– Cutting regulations on businesses– Immigration control– Increased military spending– Support traditional marriage