Chapter 5Political Parties

““Political Parties”Political Parties” What is a party?What is a party?

A group of persons who seek to A group of persons who seek to control government through control government through winning an electionwinning an election

Most are made up of people Most are made up of people who are committed to a who are committed to a common causecommon cause

The Democratic and Republican The Democratic and Republican parties are coalitions represent parties are coalitions represent the two major parties todaythe two major parties today

5 Functions of Parties The Nominating FunctionThe Nominating Function The Informer-Stimulator The Informer-Stimulator

FunctionFunction The “Seal of Approval” The “Seal of Approval”

FunctionFunction The Governmental The Governmental

FunctionFunction The Watchdog FunctionThe Watchdog Function

5 functions5 functions

Nominate--Nominate--name candidatename candidate for poli. office for poli. office Informer-Stimulator--make people Informer-Stimulator--make people

interestedinterested in politics in politics ““Seal of Approval”--what the party wants Seal of Approval”--what the party wants

the candidate to look likethe candidate to look like Government--helps provide Government--helps provide leadershipleadership Watchdog--critics of peopleWatchdog--critics of people

The Two-Party System: ReasonsThe Two-Party System: Reasons The Historical BasisThe Historical Basis

-The Framers of the Constitution were opposed to -The Framers of the Constitution were opposed to political parties. political parties. - -Who were the first two parties in history? Who were the first two parties in history?

a.Federalistsa.Federalists b.Anti-Federalistsb.Anti-Federalists The Force of TraditionThe Force of Tradition

-Most Americans support the two-party system -Most Americans support the two-party system because it has always existed. because it has always existed. -Minor parties have therefore made little headway.-Minor parties have therefore made little headway.

Two-Party System: Reasons Two-Party System: Reasons cont.cont. The Electoral SystemThe Electoral System

- Single-member districts preserve the two-party - Single-member districts preserve the two-party system--winner-take all. system--winner-take all. - State election laws are deliberately - State election laws are deliberately written to discourage minor parties.written to discourage minor parties.

The American Ideological ConsensusThe American Ideological Consensus - Although the United States is - Although the United States is a pluralistica pluralistic society, Americans tend to agree on society, Americans tend to agree on fundamentalfundamental issues. issues. - America’s major political parties tend to take - America’s major political parties tend to take moderatemoderate stands in order to attract the largest stands in order to attract the largest possible number of voters.possible number of voters.

New PartiesNew Parties

Ideological—Ideological—Libertarian (set of Libertarian (set of beliefs)beliefs)

single-issue--Right to single-issue--Right to LifeLife

Economic Protest Economic Protest (Populist party)(Populist party)

Splinter - Bull Splinter - Bull Moose--split away Moose--split away from the major partiesfrom the major parties

National ConventionNational Convention

Parties Voice--summer time before an Parties Voice--summer time before an election to nominate their pick for the election to nominate their pick for the Presidential CandidatePresidential Candidate