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Political Parties
What are political parties?
Definition: voluntary associations of people who seek to control the government through common principles based on peaceful and legal actions, such as the winning of elections.
The #1 focus of political parties is to get their candidates elected to office.
Roles of Political Parties
Party in the electorate› All of the people who associate themselves with one
of the political parties Party in government
› All of the appointed and elected officials at the national, state, and local levels who represent the party as members
Party in organization› People within the party organization who work to
maintain the strength of the party between elections
Party Systems
One-Party System› Only one party exists, and voters have no real choice of candidates;
result- dictatorial gov. Two-Party System
› Several political parties, but only two major parties dominate elections
› Enhances government stability and holds government responsible by appealing to people
› How does the electoral college encourage a two-party system? Multi-Party System
› Several major parties compete in elections, and the minor parties have a good chance of winning
› Rarely results in a clear majority of the vote
What Do Political Parties Do?
Recruit candidates› Find qualified candidates interested in running for
office Nominate & support candidates for office
› Help raise money & run campaigns Educate the electorate
› Inform voters about candidates & encourage voting Organize in the government
› Organize as a party to control Congress and appointments
Party Functions
Action Party Function
The Republican Party revises its website regularly
The Democratic Party ordered 1 million bumper stickers before a presidential election
When George Bush was elected President, he appointed members of his political party to his cabinet
Party leaders meet with local business leaders to survey interest in running for local political office
The Democratic party raised 5 million dollars to support their candidates in the mid-term election
Party Identification & Membership
Party membership is voluntary, and based on identification
Most people choose a political party based on a set of beliefs
Several factors may also influence party identification› Ideology, education, income, occupation,
race/ethnicity, gender, religion, family tradition, region of the country, marital status
The Two-Party Tradition in America
The Constitution did not mention political parties Federalist #10 warned of “factions” Washington warned against “the baneful effects
of the spirit of the party” Began with the federalists and anti-federalists
when ratifying the Constitution
Factors Contributing to the Two-Party Tradition
Historical roots› British heritage, federalist & anti-federalist views
Electoral system› One winner per office
Election laws› Makes it difficult for minor parties to get on the ballot
Democrats vs. Republicans
HOMEWORK… Create a timeline outlining the development of political parties
in the United States Must include summaries of:
› Rise of Political Parties: Party Development (1789-1800)› Democratic Domination (1800-1860)› Republican Domination (1860-1932)› Return of Democrats (1932-1968)› Divided Government (1968-present)
Be sure to reference leaders & events that helped shape each era Each era should be at least a paragraph/5 bullets long Submit either on computer paper or poster board YOU MUST USE REFERENCES & DOCUMENT THEM!
Alignment
Electoral Dealignment› When significant numbers of voters no longer support
a particular political party Electoral Realignment
› When voting patterns shift and new groups of party supporters are formed
Third or Minor Parties
More successful at getting their candidates elected to the state and local levels
No minor candidate has ever been elected as President
Have historically been instrumental in providing important reforms eventually adopted by major parties› Considered success for minor parties
Types of Third Parties
Ideological:
Example:
Splinter:
Example:
Single Issue:
Example:
Protest:
Example
Structure of Political Parties
Must have an effective organization to accomplish its goals
Both major parties are fragmented & decentralized
The party of the President is normally more united than the opposition
Organization of Political Parties
National Convention› Meets every four years to nominate a candidate for Presidency, based on
the results of the primary elections National Committee
› Maintains the day-to-day operations of the party between national conventions
National Chairperson› Responsible for managing the national committee
Congressional Campaign Committee› Members of both houses of Congress that work to insure re-election of
their party members State & Local Organization
› State & local levels of the national committee
Future of Political Parties
Uncertain, but in recent decades have declined Possible attributes to the decline:
› Third-party challenges› Loss of support by party loyalists› Increase in split-ticket voting› Lack of perceived differences between parties› Party reforms› Methods of campaigning