POLITICAL PARTIES

CHAPTERS

22 & 23

POLITICAL PARTIES* POLITICAL PARTY

- group of people who share common political beliefs and ideology

- an organized group, seeking to control the gov't.... through the winning of elections and holding public office

- instituting their own policies and programs

* U.S. is basically a two-party system...represented by the Democratic and Republican parties, sometimes challenged by minor/independent/third parties.

HISTORY of (2) PARTY SYSTEM (595)

1. FEDERALIST PARTY( 595 )

- founded by Alexander Hamilton

Party of the rich.Favored a strong

national government.Policies favored "big

business”

NOTE: evolved into today's Republican Party.

HISTORY of (2) PARTY SYSTEM2. ANTI-FEDERALIST

PARTY ( 595 )- founded by Thomas

Jefferson

Party of the "common man"

Favored a limited-Natl. gov't....more power to the States.

Evolved into the Democratic Party

ORIGIN OF PARTY SYMBOLS

THOMAS NAST (Repub.) creator...no particular reason selected:A. Republican Party -

ElephantB. Democratic Party -

Donkey

Also: created the modern day image of Santa Claus... changed old European image of St. Nicholas from a thin-wispy fellow, to a round-jolly figure

The now-famous Democratic donkey was first associated with Democrat Andrew Jackson's 1828 presidential campaign. His opponents called him a jackass (a donkey), and Jackson decided to use the image of the strong-willed animal on his campaign posters. Later, cartoonist Thomas Nast used the Democratic donkey in newspaper cartoons and made the symbol famous.

Nast invented another famous symbol—the Republican elephant. In a cartoon that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1874, Nast drew a donkey clothed in lion's skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of those animals, the elephant, was labeled “The Republican Vote.” That's all it took for the elephant to become associated with the Republican Party.

Democrats today say the donkey is smart and brave, while Republicans say the elephant is strong and dignified.

FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES( 590 – 592 )

1. NOMINATING FUNCTION

The selection of candidates representing the respective parties.

Narrowing down the choices w/in the party through the Primary Election Process.

* 2008 PRESIDENTIAL candidatesDEMOCRATS

1. HILLARY CLINTON 7. BILL RICHARDSON 2. JOHN KERRY 8. MARK WARNER 3. JOHN EDWARDS 9. EVAN BAYH 4. JOE BIDEN 10. TOM VILSACK 5. WESLEY CLARK 11. BARACK OBAMA 6. RUSS FEINGOLD 12. THOMAS DASCHLE

REPUBLICANS1. CONDELEEZA RICE 8. GEORGE PATAKI 2. RUDY GIULIANI 9. MITT ROMNEY 3. JOHN MCCAIN 10. CHUCK HAGEL 4. JEB BUSH 11. HALEY BABOUR 5. NEWT GINGRICH 12. BILL OWENS 6. RICK SANTORUM 13. GEORGE ALLEN 7. BILL FRIST

FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

2. INFORMER FUNCTION / STIMULATOR FUNCTION

Political parties attempt to inform / notify the public about the candidate and his/her policies and programs.

“Stimulate" voter interest in the election campaign motivate voter turnout.

FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

3. BONDING AGENT FUNCTION Each party strives for a

"unified"/universal party effort... from the local level

("grass-roots“) to the Natl. level

Estab. common political objectives / goals.

1980-1988 R.Reagan: 1. reduction in size of gov't.

and govt. spending 2. military build-up to oppose

USSR

4-FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

1964-1968 LBJ: 1. Great Society

Program 2. War on Poverty

4-FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

1988-1992 Geo.Bush: 1. no new taxes

("read my lips") 2. thousand pts. of

light (?)

FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

4. WATCHDOG

FUNCTION Position held by the

"OUT" party (party out of power)... seeking to QUESTION / CRITICIZE the policies/programs/ideas of the "IN" party (party in power).

Periods ONE-PARTY DOMINATION:

A. DEMOCRATIC ERA (1800-1860)- Demo. party win 13 of 15 presidential elections- losing: 1840 Wm. Henry Harrison and 1848 Zachary Taylor

B. REPUBLICAN ERA (1860-1932)- Repub. party won 14 of 18 presidential elections- losing: 1884 & 1892 Grover Cleveland 1912 & 1916 Woodrow Wilson

 C. DEMOCRATIC ERA (1932-1980)

- Demo. party won 7 of 11 presidential elections- losing: 1952 & 1956 Dwight D. Eisenhower and

1968 & 1972 Richard M. Nixon

D. ??????????????????? (1980-2012)- 1980-1988 Ronald W. Reagan R- 1988 - 1992 George Herbert Walker BushR-1992-2000 William Clinton D-2000-2008 George W. Bush R-2008-2016 Barak H. Obama D-2016-2020 ???? R or D????

*MINOR – INDEPENDENT - THIRD PARTIES ( 596 – 597 )

Independent parties influence American politics by:

1. dividing-votes

2. sway elections

3. influencing policies of the two major parties.

*MINOR--INDEPENDENT--THIRD PARTIES

M-I-T Party Characteristics:A. regional popularityB. innovative ideas C. outstanding candidate

“ charisma “ !!!!!!!!! i.e.: Theodore Roosevelt-

former Repubublican "Bull Moose" party History Speechhttps://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do89pViPkvU

MINOR - INDEPENDENT - THIRD PARTIES

M-I-T Party failure due to:

A. lack of financial support ($$)

B. policies don't appeal to a large number of voters

C. (2) major parties steal key ideas and adopt them as their own

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES

1. T.V. ( $1.5 billion for T.V. in 2012)2. travel costs...and housing (hotel/motel)3. paid professional staff (camp. managers,

advisors, strategists, office managers, etc.)

4. newspaper ads ($10 - $100,000 for ads)5. office space/furniture6. posters/stickers/campaign buttons

SOURCE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS( 634 )

1. P.A.C.'s (Political Action Committees) -

groups of people who share common views on various interests. provide $ financial support for

candidates Spec. int. groups seeking a

"favorable vote” for their cause

NOTE: ? Are PAC's buying congressional votes/influence? ….disregarding the wishes of

the voting public? Key: most are protecting

economic interests

* SOURCE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS

PAC contribution limitations: (Per PAC/per Cand.) A. $5,000 Primary Election B. $5,000 General Election C. $10,000 TOTAL PER CAND.

PAC’S continued

after PAC's "max out" (gives the max. amt. $$$)

- limitations may be exceeded by BUNDLING Individual contributors combine amounts to

support a candidate or issue.

NO MONETARY LIMITS to Bundling

* SOURCE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS

Constant campaign fund-raising by legislators A) to retire old debts B) to build-up a "war chest" (nest egg)

* SOURCE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS

Campaign Reform Movement to change the method of financing political campaigns ...following the Watergate Scandal.

Federal Election Committee - function/duty is to review the source and amount of campaign contributions.

* SOURCE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS

2. individual contributions...limitations A. $1,000 to a single federal cand. B. $5,000 to a PAC/per yr. C. $20,000 to the Natl. committee of a Pol.

Party D. $25,000 total yrly.

SOURCE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS

3. candidates themselves...personal loans

4. Matching funds by the gov't. ...cand. must raise a min. amt. to receive gov't. funds

5. Fund-raising events-cand. "roasts"/dinners ($100 - $1,000 per plate), concerts, rallies, bake sales, etc.

Thursday, March 27

LT: What are the 3 qualifications to be able to vote?

EYES ON THE PRIZE: Emmitt Till --N.A.A.C.P. --Segregated (segregation) --Use of “n” word --Name some other slang (derogatory) names for

minorities in today’s society

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

LT: I can give one way a person can become a “candidate.”

Little Rock 9

1. Who were the Little Rock 9? 2. What happened in the film to the 9

students? 3. What was the outcome? (how many

graduated, what impact did they have on schools and who attended, etc.)

Registration: Some states require voters to register today. It is only a registration—your name and what party you want.

Up until recent years, all states had a registration system that could require you to do any of the following:1.Take a test (Alabama Literacy Test—on desk used

until ‘65)2.Pay a fee (poll tax—banned by 24th amendment

1964)3.Meet a requirement: “white primary”

“grandfather clause”

Voting Rights Act of 1965: Can not use literacy tests, voting examiners put in place, federal officers can register people to vote and can oversee elections.

Tuesday April 1LT: I can explain two ways African Americans were kept fromvoting.

Wednesday, April 2

LT: I can identify when to go to the polls to vote for a candidate.

TODAY: NOTES—primary elections, election process, date to vote

HOMEWORK: Read pages 635-637 and complete the 2 reading checks (pg 635 and 637 + vocabulary on board in room)

METHODS OF NOMINATION ( 605 - 606 )

1. SELF-ANNOUNCEMENT- a person simply announces he/she wishes to "run"... also used

by a candidate who fails to receive a party nomination ...i.e.:A. George Wallace (1968) Amer. Independent Party

- lost Democratic nomination to H HumphreyB. Eugene Mc Carthy (1976) Independent Party

-lost Democratic nomination to Jimmy CarterC. John Anderson (1980) Independent Party

-lost Republican nomination to Ronald Reagan

2. CAUCUS (closed meeting)- party leadership/"party bosses" meet to select a candidate

that will represent the party in the upcoming election- negative aspect" tends to EXCLUDE voter preference and

other party members

3. NOMINATION BY PETITION- candidates may be placed on the ballot by securing a

required number of signatures on a petition- mainly used at local levels of politics

4. DIRECT PRIMARY- each party holds a "PRELIMINARY ELECTION" to select the candidate who will represent the party.

(2) TYPES OF DIRECT PRIMARIES

A. CLOSED PRIMARY**South Dakota - voters must register with a specific party... Repub. – Demo. - Ind. - only registered members may vote in the respective primaries (D -R)

NOTE: INDEPENDENTS are excluded from closed primaries 

B. OPEN PRIMARY  - party membership/affiliation is not a factor - voters may vote in either primary...regardless of party affiliation

* “ SUPER TUESDAY “ - Multiple states hold their primaries on the same day - designed to give a political boost / momentum / natl. exposure...

SUPER TUESDAY - FEBRUARY 5, 2008 / 21 STATES(early primaries/caucuses lead to an early selection of candidates)

February 5 Connecticut primary X X

February 5 Delaware primary X X

February 5 Georgia primary X X

February 5 Idaho caucus X -

February 5 Illinois primary X X

February 5 Kansas primary X -

February 5 Massachusetts primary X X

February 5 Minnesota caucus X X

February 5 Missouri primary X X

February 5 New Jersey primary X X

February 5 New Mexico caucus X -

February 5 New York primary X X

February 5 North Dakota caucus X X

February 5 Oklahoma primary X X

February 5 Tennessee primary X X

February 5 Utah primary X X

THE ELECTORAL PROCESS

* In the U.S. there are more than 1/2 million elected officials/public officeholders (federal-state-local)...requiring a large number of elections.

• ELECTORAL PROCESS (2-steps)

1. nomination of candidates – each pol.party selects candidates

2. election of officeholders - the people/voters cast ballots and select officeholders

* ELECTION DAY:FIRST TUES... following the FIRST MON in NOVEMBER of the EVEN NUMBERED YEARS.

- Presidential, Congressional, and most State/local elections are held.

NOTE: exceptions-local elections (city/county)

Friday, March 28, 2014

LT: What causes people to NOTto VOTE.

1. Who were the Little Rock 9?2. What was important about what they did?3. What was the outcome of Little Rock?

• NON – VOTING

- As a rule..."the lesser the office, the smaller the participation“ i.e.,: more people vote in a Presidential election than in an

"off-year" election (non-pres. election) governor's race, state elections, city/county elections.

Reasons for non-voting:

1. APATHY ( "lack of interest“ )- makes no difference who wins...things won't change

2. voters who are ill or physically unable3. Absenteeism - absent on election day... obtain Absentee Ballot4. overcrowding at the polls5. inclement/bad weather...reduces voter turnout

Friday: Right to vote 15, 19, 26

VOTERS and VOTER BEHAVIOR

* SUFFRAGE - to vote- is a potential right not a civil right...a privilege belonging to

those who qualify.NOTE: Voting in elections provides the electorate (people)

an opportunity to influence govt. policies programs.

* VOTING QUALIFICATIONS (imposed by ALL States) ( 617 )

1. Citizenship - must be a legal citizen of the U.S. - aliens may not vote or hold office

2. Residence - voters must qualify as a resident of a State- qualification periods: 30-60-90 days some

States 0-15 days

3. Age-18 yrs and older as set fourth by the 26th Amend. (1971)

( 617 )

NOTE: Some States require: REGISTRATION (PERIODIC / PERMANENT) (617) - a list of qualified/eligible voters...to prevent "fraudulent voting"

Registration: Some states require voters to register today. It is only a registration—your name and what party you want.

Up until recent years, all states had a registration system that could require you to do any of the following:1.Take a test (Alabama Literacy Test—on desk used

until ‘65)2.Pay a fee (poll tax—banned by 24th amendment

1964)3.Meet a requirement: “white primary”

“grandfather clause”

Voting Rights Act of 1965: Can not use literacy tests, voting examiners put in place, federal officers can register people to vote and can oversee elections.

* National Voter Registration Act of 1993 - “ Motor Voter ” Registration - passed by Congress to increase the number of

registered voters... increase voter participation - voter registration at the DMV (Dept. of Motor Vehicles)

Constitutional Amendments - regarding "suffrage" / voting:

A. 15th AMEND (1870) - prohibits the denial of voting rights based upon race, color or previous servitude

Little Rock 9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTbCGf3x-FwB. 19th AMEND (1920) - women gained voting rights

C. 26th AMEND (1971) - estab. minimum voting age of 18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVB2AlVpt0IEmitt Till

MARKETING THE CANDIDATE ( 622 - 624 )- In the U.S. over 500,000 candidates are elected to various

local - state - federal offices.

- Harry S. Truman (1948) - last presidential campaign without the use of television... “ Whistle Stop ” campaign, using the railroad to personally reach the electorate… Truman defeated Thomas Dewey.

• TELEVISION has had a dramatic influence on voter choice…at all levels of politics (L-S-F)

- The use of television to promote and project a favorable image of a candidate or negative image of one’s opponent.

- Kennedy vs. Nixon - first televised debate... by 1960 (9 of 10) homes had TV.

1. ATTACK ADS (“ mudslinging ” ): creating a questionable or negative feeling.

2. SOUND BITES: Editing Audio / video clips of a candidate that may take a statement out of context, thus creating an unfavorable feeling / image

• “ DAISY “ ad : LBJ commercial (1964) - aired only once, depicted a little girl plucking a flower... counting down to a nuclear bomb blast. - Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) was branded an extremist when he

stated… nuclear bombs were “. . . just another weapon.”

- “Soft Money” (undeclared source) is used to purchase TV time.

* Info-mercials - 20-30 minute blocks of time, used to target a specific audience

• Talk-Show appearances - seeking free exposure to expand the electorate.

• Internet / E-mail - the wave of the future, info being sent to personal computers of the electorate.

- candidate biographies - contribution ($) exposure- position papers -

NOTE: future trend . . . to put the candidates themselves back into political ads, making them more accountable.

THURSDAY, APRIL 3

LT: I can mark a ballot based on my choices (after understandingthe patterns that people use to make decisions on candidates)

LT: I can explain the electoral college system of voting.

Today: notes, possible electoral college film

• BALLOTS

1. OFFICE-GROUP Ballot- candidates are listed/grouped together according to the office

being sought

2. PARTY - COLUMN Ballot - candidates are listed VERTICALLY under his/her respective party - may lead to "STRAIGHT - TICKET" voting... selecting all one party.

• ELECTORAL TERMS

1. COATTAIL EFFECT- strong nat'l. candidate with wide support attracts votes/voters

to help candidates of his/her party in an election

2. INCUMBENT- person currently holding a public office

3. LAME DUCK- politician "serving out" a term after losing an election OR

being ineligible to run for re-election

ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

(538) TOTAL ELECTORS / VOTES.

Reflects the total sum of:(H) 435

(S) 100

(D of C) 3

270 of 538 needed to win the Pres. and V.P.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM Each state has the equivalent number of electors / votes as

they have members in Congress...thus it is important for a cand. to win the "big" states…(Ca).

Electoral Coll. Sys. is a "WINNER-TAKE-ALL" sys....winner of popular vote receives all of that State’s Electoral votes.

Note: the exceptions to the W-T-A… NE & ME both states use a combination of W-T-A (2 – popular vote)

and district votes.

* ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM ( 636 )

-Thom. Jefferson and the FRAMERS of the Constit. created the Electoral Coll. Sys. with the belief that the average citizen was not informed enough to make a wise decision regarding the Presidential selection.

ELECTORS CREATED A BUFFER ZONE to compensate for the lack of information conveyed to the masses.

- (538) TOTAL ELECTORS / VOTES

- 270 of 538 needed to win the Pres. and V.P.- Each state has the equivalent number of

electors / votes as they members in Congress... thus it is important for a cand. to win the "big" states

- Electoral Coll. Sys. is a “ WINNER-TAKE-ALL " sys... winner of popular vote receives all of that Stateselectoral votes.

- Electoral Coll. Sys. / (3) step process:

A) NOV - GENERAL ELECTION, winner of popular vote takes all elect. votes w / in that State... at this point a "PRESIDENT-ELECT" is declared

B) DEC - ELECTORS (prominent/committed party members) go to their state capitals to cast their votes -(1)Pres/(1)V.P... no Constitutional or Fed law that requires electors to vote for the winner of the popular vote... "FREE AGENTS"

- Electors vote on the first Monday after the second Wed. in Dec.

C) JAN - electoral votes sent to Wash, D.C. to be counted before a joint session of Congress...and the official winner is declared

NOTE: if no cand. receives the necessary 270 votes:A) House of Reps. selects the Pres.B) Senate selects the V.P.

- Pres and V.P. sworn in approx. Jan.20

PUBLIC OPINION POLLS ( 628 ) - polls are used to get an indication of the views/feelings on the issues - to "take the public pulse" - to forecast election results

NOTE: STRAW VOTE - concerned with reaching the largest number of people possible

NOTE: CROSS-SECTION of society must be polled to obtain a wide variety of views

"SELECTIVE DISTRIBUTION" i.e.: 1 . age 4. occupation2. gender 5. socio-economic status3. race/ethnic groups 6. geographic location

PUBLIC OPINION

• PUBLIC OPINION - a view/common idea shared by a significant number of the population

- FACTORS/SOURCES THAT INFLUENCE PUBLIC OPINION

1. family 6. party affiliation 2. age 7. mass media (tv-newspapers) 3. gender (m-f) 8. peers/social contacts 4. socio-economic status (u-m-l) 9. church/religion

5. race/ethnic groups 10. school/educational level

* OPINION LEADER- any person who has influence over the opinion(s) of others- assuming a leadership role

A. expert/expertise in a given field or areaB. celebrity or well-known person

PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES used by PRESSURE GROUPS / LOBBYIST ( 626 )

- to create a particular belief....good or bad

1. PLAIN FOLKS - pretend to be one of the common people...one of the group

2. BANDWAGON - follow the crowd....be with the majority

3. GLITTERING GENERALITIES - use of broad and vague statements... saying nothing of "concrete value“

4. NAME CALLING - do NOT discuss the facts/issues... just give a bad name. (mudslinging)

5. TESTIMONIAL - use of a celebrity to endorse your cause.....

6. CARD STACKING - present only one-side of an issue... through the distortion and juggling of facts

7. TRANSFER - use of "Symbols" (Uncle Sam, eagle, etc.) to make an unrelated association.