Political parties in the united states

chapter 5

Section 1Parties & What they do

What do we have today?

Political party - group of people who seek to control gov’t through winning elections & holding public office

sometimes with common principles

Two main parties:

Third Parties:

“One big party”

See “One Big Party” handouts/ worksheets

from iCivics (Retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor)

Who makes up Parties

Party Organization - they are the leaders, workers, volunteers, donators

Party in Gov’t - candidates & officeholders

both elected & appointed

Party in the Electorate - millions of people who relate, join, and vote to support it

Section 2

• Two Party System in American History

Two Party System - US• Historical Basis – from our 1st days, US has

always had 2 main political parties

• Tradition – people get “used” to supporting “their” party

• Electoral System – Single Member Plurality Elections – most elections pick a single officeholder

• Ideological Consensus – mostly moderate views

US - our 1st partiesgrew out of Washington’s own Cabinet

ironic as he personally was against parties

Federalists - Alexander Hamilton (Treasury)

wealthy, big business, strong gov’t

Democratic-Republicans - Thomas Jefferson (state)

farmers, laborers, small gov’t, states

Era of the Democrats1800-1860

“era of good feeling” - only D-R’s

D-R’s became known as just Democrats

opposition - Federalists then Whigs

essentially grew out of a faction of D-R party

won 13 of 15 presidential elections

Era of the Republicans1860 - 1932

gained control especially during Reconstruction Era

From Abraham Lincoln in 1860 until FDR’s victory held White House for all but 16 years

2 “interludes” worthy of note - Cleveland’s split terms & Wilson’s victory with split party

Republicans split w/ Progressive Party

Return of Democrats

1932 - 1968

FDR’s four elections started era

impact from Great Depression & WWII

only exception was Eisenhower’s 2 terms

Era of Divided Gov’t1968 - present

Since Nixon’s election, presidential power has gone back and forth between Republicans and Democrats

Control of Congress has also shifted between the two parties on a regular basis

Today:

Sec. 3 - Minor Partiessome come and go within the span of a few years, while others endure for decades

3 types:

1.Ideological Parties: based on a particular set of political beliefs, will offer full platforms - tend shift more left or right

2.Single-Issue parties: focus on one point, typically short-lived especially if issue is addressed

Types Con’t…

• 3. Economic Protest Parties: during periods of economic hardship, demands for relief, disappear as economy recovers

• 4. Splinter Parties - groups that split off the major parties, usually over disagreement on a major issue or Presidential nominee

Minor parties can…

Minor parties can have a significant impact on politics even w/o electoral success

sometimes even played “spoiler”

can force the major parties to address their issues

4 - Party Organizationboth Rep & Dem have full-time national headquarters, w/ large staffs & multi-million dollar budgets

However there is no chain of command from national party thru states to local level

decentralized on purpose

President is always head of that party

otherwise, can have various “leaders”

Party Functions

guide candidates through nominating process and then nominees through the campaign

w/ $$ from donors, the party organizations help fund candidates’ campaigns

provide assistance with advertising, polling

influence the political views of candidates at federal, state & local levels

National PartyNational Convention - has ultimate power; meets every 4 years to nominate presidential candidate

also makes party’s rules & platform

National Committee - composed of delegates from states - manages affairs between conventions

National Chairperson - picked by the just nominated candidate at Nat’l Convention - manages daily work for the party

More...

Congressional Campaign Committees - people who work to help incumbents get re-elected & attempt to keep “open seats” in the party

separate ones for Senate & House

State Organization

State central committee w/ state chairperson

usually comprised of members from counties & picked during the primaries

functions to further party’s interests, assist w/ campaigns & $$, promote unity

Local Organizationsvary greatly!!

generally determined by Congressional Districts, state legislative districts

further divided into wards & smaller units called precincts

cities may also have blocks

can be active groups or mostly inactive except for pre-election months