Political ParticipationLEQ: How are political views formed?

UEQ: How do citizens influence government?

EATs3.1

Political IdeologyPolitical Parties

Two-Party SystemThird Parties

Party Platforms

Political Participation

POTUS Party?

Do you know the political affiliations of the modern presidents?

What is the purpose of political parties?

How do you know which political party to join?

Beliefs/Issues?

The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all. -- John F. Kennedy

(1917-1963)

Social Issues:

•Abortion

•Legalization of drugs

•Death Penalty

•Gun Rights

•Same-Sex Marriage

•Video Game Violence

Economic Issues:

•Health Care

•Taxes

•Social Security

•National Debt

•Bailouts

•Environmental Protection

Political Ideology

LEFT Center RIGHT

Liberty (freedom) versus Security (control)(Theme in Politics/Government)

Political Ideologies1. Liberalism

2. Conservatism

3. Libertarianism

4. Statism

5. Moderates (Centrists)

IdeologiesLiberalism: A set of beliefs that positive government action can improve the welfare of individuals. Tolerance for diversity and social change.

Freedom (left) Social Issues – Control (right) in Economy

AKA = Liberals, Democrats

Conservatism: A set of beliefs that include a limited role of national government in solving problems. Support traditional values and lifestyles, cautious about change.

Control (right) Social Issues – Freedom (left) in Economy

AKA = Conservatives, Republicans, GOP

Moderate: prefer a "middle ground" regarding government control of the economy and personal behavior.

Both Republicans and Democrats can by Moderates.

Political Ideology

ConservativeDefinition:

StatistDefinition:

LibertarianDefinition:

LiberalDefinition:

Govt. Control(Zero Freedom) Economic Issues

Social

I ssues

Freedom

Moderate

(Centrist)

Freedom

Take the World’s Smallest Political Quiz!hongovmaris.wikispaces.com

Where do you fall on the political map?

Plot yourself on your graph!

What are Political Parties?

A political party is an organization of citizens who wish to influence and control government by getting their members (who believe the way they do) elected to office. Political parties:

express the voice of citizens

inform citizens; make it easier to vote

involve citizens in the democratic political process.

recruit and nominate candidates

raise $

support campaigns

provide organization in government

political parties set goals for the government

advocate issues

write party platform and position statements (planks).

are “watchdogs” (keep other parties accountable)

Political Parties

“If I could not go to heaven but with a party [political], I would not go there at all”

--T. Jefferson

Brief Party HistoryFederalist party – Washington, Adams, Hamilton (1789-1800), supported strong central gov.; opposed by Anti-Federalists.

Democratic-Republican party, Thomas Jefferson (1800s-1834), opposed strong national gov. and supported states’ rights. Became Democratic party 1828 (Jackson).

Whig party (1834) opposed democrats and specifically “king Andrew” (royal tyranny). Harrison and Taylor.

Republican party born in 1854 by members opposed to slavery. Lincoln first Republican President in 1860. Republican party dominated until 1930s, FDR, Democrat.

Republican and Democratic parties prevail since 1854.

1870,ThomasNast

Harper's Weekly in 1874

"The Third-Term Panic."

Third PartiesThird Parties also form to support a cause or candidate

Influence elections by winning votes, press issues, often don’t receive as much financial support.

Few third-party candidates get elected to office

Examples:Tea PartyGreen Party (Ralph Nader)Reform Party (Ross Perot received 19% of pres. Vote in 92)LibertarianConstitution Party“Bull Moose” (Theodore Roosevelt, 1912)ProgressiveSocialist (Eugene Debs)Free Soil

Party Organization

Both parties have local, state, and national organizations.

http://www.gop.com/ RNChttp://www.democrats.org/ DNChttp://www.pagop.org/ Statehttp://www.padems.com/home Statehttp://yorkgop.com/ Localhttp://www.yorkdems.org/ Local

Free Membership (register to vote)

Party Platforms

http://2012election.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004483

2012 Democratic National Party Platform

A party platform refers to a political party's formal statement of its basic principles, objectives, and positions on major issues.

Which parties have the most members???

Two-Party SystemU.S. Politics

Red or Blue - Why?

A Republican or Democrat has won the Presidency since 1860.

There are 2 independents out of 535 in the 113th Congress.

There is only 1 Independent Governor (30 R – 20 D).

PA Government, Third Parties?

Compare the # of political parties in the U.S. with other Countries:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2101.html#sw

Voting Systems

Plurality/Majority Systems: U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, India. In the UK, they call it the “First Past the Post” system. The winner (even if only be 1 vote, wins the district or all electors/delegates.)

Proportional Representation Systems: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Parties compete and get percentage of seats based on votes (if 100 seats; 20% get 20 seats, etc.).

Other Mixed Systems

Why a Two-Party System?

1. Winner Take All PoliticsVoting system that rewards candidates with a majority or plurality (more than anyone else) of votes.discourages “spoiler” vote on other candidates not likely to winAlternative is “proportional representation” (5% of votes = 5% of seats in legislative body)

2. Duality of political issuesTwo sides to major conflicts (Fed/Anti-Fed, life/choice) two-sided debates = no room for third [party] point of view

3. Tradition– Republicans (GOP) and Democrats already make up majority of

government members and leadership. States control rules for elections.

– Winner-Take-All politics perpetuates the Two-Party System

Proportional Representation

Two-Party SystemAdvantages/Disadvanta

ges • There are a few advantages of the American two-party

system:– Stability: Two-party systems are more stable than

multiparty systems – Moderation: The two parties must appeal to the

middle to win elections, so the parties tend to be moderate.

– Ease: Voters have only to decide between two parties.

– Direct Relationship with Representatives

• But there are also a few disadvantages to our system, including the following:– Lack of choice: Both parties tend to be very similar,

limiting voters’ options. – Less democratic: A percentage of people will always

feel marginalized by the system (Spoiler Vote).

ResourcesVideo: Brief History of Political Parties

http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/gallery/partyaffiliation2008/

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/political-parties

http://www.theadvocates.org/