04/18/23 Ch.5.1 1
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?
04/18/23 Ch.5.1 2
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
04/18/23 Ch.5.1 3
What is a political party?
•Democrats and GOP are not principle or issue oriented - they are election oriented - coalitions of diverse persons
04/18/23 Ch.5.1 4
• 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?
04/18/23 Ch.5.1 5
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
04/18/23 Ch.5.1 6
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
04/18/23 Ch.5.1 7
5 Functions of Political Parties
3. “Seal of Approval” Function
• “bonding agent” to ensure good performance
• screen for qualifications and character
04/18/23 Ch.5.1 8
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
04/18/23 Ch.5.1 9
5 Functions of Political Parties
5. Watchdog Function
• outs critique the ins
• “loyal opposition”
04/18/23 Ch.5.2 12
Reasons for the two party system
• History - Federalists & Anti-Federalists
• Tradition - we’ve always had two parties
04/18/23 Ch.5.2 13
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
04/18/23 Ch.5.2 14
- ideologically homogenous people in a pluralistic society - “middle-of-the-road” parties are similar- moderate - struggles of personalities rather than ideas
American Ideological Consensus
04/18/23 Ch.5.2 15
The multiparty system
• usually based on particular interest - economic class, religion, ideology
• produces unstable governments based on coalitions
04/18/23 Ch.5.2 16
The one-party system
• really a no-party system
• used to exist in some states, but less prominent now - “Solid South”
• Dictatorships, communism
04/18/23 Ch.5.2 17
Party Membership
• voluntary
• most states require declaration of party to vote in primary
04/18/23 Ch.5.2 18
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
04/18/23 Ch.5.3 20
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
04/18/23 Ch 5.4 22
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.
04/18/23 Ch 5.4 25
Minor Parties in the United States
1. ideological parties
2. single issue parties
3. economic protest parties
4. splinter parties
04/18/23 Ch 5.4 26
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
04/18/23 Ch 5.4 27
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
04/18/23 Ch 5.4 28
3. Economic protest parties
• arise during economic discontent
• no clear-cut ideological base
• focus on “enemies” (ex. monetary system)
04/18/23 Ch 5.4 29
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:
04/18/23 Ch 5.4 30
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
04/18/23 Ch 5.4 31
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
04/18/23 Ch 5.5 34
The Organization of Political Parties
Who is the leader of the Republican party?
Who is the leader of the Democrats?
04/18/23 ch 5.5 35
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
04/18/23 ch 5.5 36
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
04/18/23 ch 5.5 37
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
04/18/23 ch 5.5 39
4 Parts of the National party machinery
The National Convention
• nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates
• adopts party rules
• writes platform
04/18/23 ch 5.5 40
The National Committee
• Handles party business between conventions
• Republican National Committee and Democrat National Committee include representatives from each state
04/18/23 ch 5.5 41
The National Chairperson
• chosen by presidential candidate • focused on national convention and campaign• between elections, work on raising money, party unity, recruiting members
04/18/23 ch 5.5 43
The Congressional Campaign Committee (In Each House)
• Reelect incumbents
•Save seats of retirees
•Unseat other party
04/18/23 ch 5.5 44
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
04/18/23 ch 5.5 45
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?