C.9 Political PartiesC.9 Political Parties

Third PartiesThird Parties

These parties are referred to as third parties These parties are referred to as third parties because throughout history they have because throughout history they have challenged the two major parties.challenged the two major parties.

No third party has ever won a presidential No third party has ever won a presidential election.election.

Third parties can affect the outcome of Third parties can affect the outcome of presidential elections and discuss the issues presidential elections and discuss the issues that the two major parties are ignoring.that the two major parties are ignoring.

Third Parties continuedThird Parties continued

Some third parties are not interested in getting Some third parties are not interested in getting elected to office but rather to peak interest in elected to office but rather to peak interest in an economic, social, or moral issue.an economic, social, or moral issue.

An example of a single-issue party was the An example of a single-issue party was the Prohibitionist Party that was trying to persuade Prohibitionist Party that was trying to persuade the voters to agree with their idea of banning the voters to agree with their idea of banning alcohol.alcohol.

Third Parties continuedThird Parties continued

Single-issue parties do not last long.Single-issue parties do not last long. If the electorate moves on to a new issue or If the electorate moves on to a new issue or

one of the major parties adopts their issue the one of the major parties adopts their issue the single-issue party will cease to exist.single-issue party will cease to exist.

Ideological PartiesIdeological Parties

These parties are trying to change society in a These parties are trying to change society in a major way.major way.

The Libertarian Party wants to cut the size of The Libertarian Party wants to cut the size of the federal gov’t in order to increase individual the federal gov’t in order to increase individual freedoms.freedoms.

The Green Party opposes the power of The Green Party opposes the power of corporations and favors decision making at the corporations and favors decision making at the grassroots level.grassroots level.

Independent Candidates Independent Candidates

Third parties will form around a well-known Third parties will form around a well-known individual who cannot get support from one of the individual who cannot get support from one of the two major political parties.two major political parties.

Ross Perot ran in 1996 under the banner of the Ross Perot ran in 1996 under the banner of the Reform Party.Reform Party.

Independent candidates must get a certain number of Independent candidates must get a certain number of voter signatures to get their name on the ballot and voter signatures to get their name on the ballot and

they have a harder time raising money.they have a harder time raising money.

Other Party SystemsOther Party Systems

Two-party systems are actually rare.Two-party systems are actually rare. Most democracies have a multi-party systemMost democracies have a multi-party system Canada has 3 major parties, Germany has 5, Canada has 3 major parties, Germany has 5,

and Israel has more than 20.and Israel has more than 20.

One-party systemOne-party system

The party and the government are nearly the The party and the government are nearly the same thing.same thing.

The People’s Republic of China only has one The People’s Republic of China only has one party, the Communist Party.party, the Communist Party.

There are no elections because the Communist There are no elections because the Communist Party is the only party allowed to exist in their Party is the only party allowed to exist in their government.government.

Today’s Major Political PartiesToday’s Major Political Parties

A major difference between the Democrats and A major difference between the Democrats and Republicans is their belief in how much involvement Republicans is their belief in how much involvement the government should have in the lives of the government should have in the lives of Americans. Americans.

The Democrats tend to believe that the federal The Democrats tend to believe that the federal government should be more directly involved in government should be more directly involved in regulating the economy and in providing housing, regulating the economy and in providing housing, income, and education for low-income citizens.income, and education for low-income citizens.

Two major parties continuedTwo major parties continued

Republicans believe that if they help the Republicans believe that if they help the nation’s economy grow, low income families nation’s economy grow, low income families will have a better chance of finding jobs and will have a better chance of finding jobs and meeting their needs on their own.meeting their needs on their own.

They favor less regulation of the economy as They favor less regulation of the economy as the best way to promote growth of production.the best way to promote growth of production.

Two major political partiesTwo major political parties

Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between the two Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between the two major political parties.major political parties.

They tend to move towards the center during an election year. They tend to move towards the center during an election year. Candidates will start out either to the left(liberal) or to the Candidates will start out either to the left(liberal) or to the

right(conservative) and then as the race moves on, both right(conservative) and then as the race moves on, both candidates will move towards the center to catch the candidates will move towards the center to catch the independent and undecided voters. independent and undecided voters.

A way to tell the difference is to go to their websites and read A way to tell the difference is to go to their websites and read the party platforms. (dnc.org) (rnc.org)the party platforms. (dnc.org) (rnc.org)

A A platform platform is a series of statements expressing the parties, is a series of statements expressing the parties, principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues.principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues.

Review from 11.5Review from 11.5 Please answer the following questionsPlease answer the following questions 1. What is the purpose of a third party?1. What is the purpose of a third party? 2. Has a third party ever been elected to the presidency? 2. Has a third party ever been elected to the presidency? 3. What is a single-issue party?3. What is a single-issue party? 4. Are two-party systems the “norm”?4. Are two-party systems the “norm”? 5. What did George Washington warn against in his farewell address?5. What did George Washington warn against in his farewell address? 6. What issue did the Republican Party form around?6. What issue did the Republican Party form around? 7. When did the Democratic and Republican parties form?7. When did the Democratic and Republican parties form? 8. What is an example of a one-party system? Are they democratic? Why 8. What is an example of a one-party system? Are they democratic? Why

or Why not?or Why not? 9. What is one major difference b/w the Republicans and Democrats? 9. What is one major difference b/w the Republicans and Democrats?

Nominating Candidates: A party Nominating Candidates: A party rolerole

When you nominate a candidate for any state When you nominate a candidate for any state or federal office your first step is the or federal office your first step is the direct direct primaryprimary, which is an election in which voters , which is an election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in a choose candidates to represent each party in a general electiongeneral election..

There are two main forms of direct primary: There are two main forms of direct primary: open and closed primaries. open and closed primaries.

Closed PrimaryClosed Primary

Most states have a Most states have a closed primaryclosed primary, this is , this is when you are forced to declare your party when you are forced to declare your party before voting. If you are a democrat you vote before voting. If you are a democrat you vote in a democratic primary and vice versa.in a democratic primary and vice versa.

In an In an open primaryopen primary you do not have to you do not have to declare a party affiliation to vote. A democrat declare a party affiliation to vote. A democrat may vote in a republican primary and vice may vote in a republican primary and vice versa. versa.

Closed Primaries continuedClosed Primaries continued

Some critics of closed primaries say that it Some critics of closed primaries say that it does not permit a truly secret ballot, since does not permit a truly secret ballot, since voters must declare a party preference. voters must declare a party preference.

It also prevents unaffiliated voters from taking It also prevents unaffiliated voters from taking party in primary elections in most states.party in primary elections in most states.

Some benefits of closed primaries are that it Some benefits of closed primaries are that it helps to keep party members from one party helps to keep party members from one party crossing over into the other party’s primary to crossing over into the other party’s primary to try to promote weak candidates. try to promote weak candidates.

The North Carolina primaryThe North Carolina primary

We are a closed primary state but slightly We are a closed primary state but slightly open.open.

This is how it works: You must declare a party This is how it works: You must declare a party before voting in a primary but you are allowed before voting in a primary but you are allowed to register on the day of voting. to register on the day of voting.

Other Party rolesOther Party roles

Campaigning for candidatesCampaigning for candidates Informing citizensInforming citizens Carrying the people’s messageCarrying the people’s message Operating the governmentOperating the government Linking the different levels of governmentLinking the different levels of government Acting as a watchdogActing as a watchdog