Political SystemParties, Elections, Local Government

Political Parties

American politics is based upon the

Two-Party System.

Other parties (“third” parties) are free to

participate; however, the system is set up in

such a way as to make it difficult for third

parties to be successful.

• Single Issue

• Winner-Take-All System

• Ballot Access Laws

• Rules for Participation in Debates

Barriers to Third Party Success

Third parties must differentiate themselves

from the two major parties in order to be

appealing to the public.

So they typically try to gain traction1 by

focusing on a single important issue – for

example, environmental protection, fiscal

responsibility, etc.

1traction – the extent to which a product, idea, etc., gains

popularity or acceptance

Third Parties – Single Issue

If the issue is important enough, one or both

of the main political parties may attempt to

absorb the issue into their own platform1,

stealing the thunder2 of the third party.

1 the declared policy and beliefs of a political party or group

2 steal someone’s thunder – to preempt someone else’s

presentation or attempt to impress in order to win attention or

praise for oneself

Third Parties – Single Issue

In American elections, the candidate with the

largest number of votes wins, even if the

margin of victory is extremely narrow or the

proportion of votes received is not a majority.

Some countries have run-off elections if no

candidate receives a majority of votes.

America does not use this method at the

national level.

Winner-Take-All System

Nationally, ballot access laws are the major

challenge to third party candidacies.

There are multiple criteria for candidates to

appear on a state’s ballot. Most importantly, a

candidate must get a certain number of

voter’s from each state to sign a petition1 in

support of the candidate.

1Petition – a formal written request, typically signed by many people,

appealing to authority with respect to a particular cause

Ballot Access Laws

Rules for participating in presidential debates

have changed over time.

Currently, debate participants must receive at

least 15% in pre-debate opinion polls before

they are allowed to participate in debates.

Rules for Participation in Debates

The symbol of the Democratic Party is a

donkey.

The Democratic Party

Also called the GOP (Grand Old Party), the

Republican Party is symbolized by an

elephant.

The Republican Party

• Grew out of the “Anti-Federalists” who appeared

after 1787 – when the Constitution was written.

• Led by small farmers.

• Supported states’ rights, farmers, and workers.

• Changed to Democratic-Republicans in 1791.

• Changed to “Democrat” in 1828.

• The leading party before the Civil War.

The Democratic Party – Origin

• Founded in 1854.

• The party of the northern states that opposed

slavery.

• Abraham Lincoln was the Republican candidate

for president in 1860.

• The Civil War broke out shortly a few months after

he was elected.

The Republican Party – Origin

• Today’s Democrats try to position themselves as

caring for the common person.

• Consequently, they favor many government

programs to help – which costs lots of money.

• This money comes from higher taxes.

• The Democratic Party tries to bring together

people from many different social backgrounds.

• Most people consider this party to be Liberal.

The Democratic Party – Today

• The Republican Party is viewed as supporting

employers and businesses, and a strong military.

• Smaller government, less regulation, and lower

taxes are important themes for Republicans.

• The party believes in self-reliance rather than

reliance on the government.

• This party is more traditional concerning social

issues, and is considered Conservative.

The Republican Party – Today

Choosing the Candidates

Candidates for office are chosen by each party in a

Primary Election (or simply “Primary”), usually in

spring of the election year.

A Primary is a preliminary election to select

candidates for the various state and national offices.

The Election Process

Each state has its own rules for primaries.

Citizens must register to vote. People typically

register as Republican or Democrat, although they

can declare themselves “Independent”.

The Election Process

A primary can be closed, meaning citizens can vote

only for candidates belonging to the party for which

he / she has registered.

In open primaries, voters can choose candidates

from any party.

Most states have closed primaries. Open primaries

can create some interesting dynamics.

The Election Process

Running for political office takes a lot of time and

money.

Money is required for advertising, as well as hiring

workers to support the candidate’s effort.

Consequently, most candidates – especially for

national offices – tend to be “better off” financially.

The Election Process

For example, the median net worth of members of

the 112th Congress (2010-2011) was $913,000,

which is roughly 9 times greater than the median net

worth of all U.S. households.

The Election Process

Eligibility to vote in the U.S. is determined by both

federal and state law.

Only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote.

Most states do not allow convicted felons to vote.

Requirements for Voting

The voting age is 18 years old.

However, some states allow 17-year olds to vote in

primaries if they will turn 18 by the time of the

general election.

Voters must be registered to vote, usually a set

number of days before the election.

Requirements for Voting

Women in the USA did not have the right to vote

until 1920, when the 19th Amendment to the U.S.

Constitution was passed, guaranteeing the right.

The effort to gain the right to vote for women was

call the “Suffrage Movement”. The word “suffrage”

comes from a Middle English word meaning

“intercessory prayers”.

Women & Voting

The president and vice-president are elected on a

nationwide scale.

All other national leaders are appointed (other than

senators and representatives), usually by the

president. Some must be approved by the Senate.

The president serves a 4-year term. He may be

reelected to an additional 4-year term. (Limited by

the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.)

Election of the President

Election Year for the president is always an even-numbered

year (e.g. 2004, 2008, 2012).

Although they are chosen during the primary season

(springtime), candidates don’t become officially nominated

until the parties’ conventions (August or September).

National election day is the Tuesday after the first Monday in

November. (It can fall between November 2 and 8.) It is not a

holiday in most states. Consequently, most people vote either

before going to work or after work.

Election Day

Technically, the President and Vice-President are

not elected directly by the voters.

Instead, they are elected by "electors” (the Electoral

College – not a school !) who are chosen by popular

vote on a state-by-state basis.

Electors are apportioned (divided and allocated) to

each state and the District of Columbia.

Electoral College

The number of electors in each state is equal to the

number of members of Congress to which the state

is entitled.

There are 538 electors, based on there being 435

representatives and 100 senators, plus the three

electors from the District of Columbia.

Electoral College

Electors are pledged to particular presidential and

vice presidential candidates, though unpledged

electors are possible (but rare).

In all states, except Maine and Nebraska, electors

are elected on a "winner-take-all" basis. That is, the

presidential candidate who wins the most votes in a

state earns all the electors of the state, and the loser

earns none.

Electoral College

The candidate who receives an absolute majority of

electoral votes (currently 270) for the offices of

President or Vice President is elected to that office.

Because of this system, it is possible for a candidate

to win the popular vote, but lose the electoral vote.

This has happened three times in U.S. history, most

recently in 2000 when George W. Bush lost the

popular vote to Al Gore, but won 271 electoral votes.

Electoral College

State governments are modeled after the federal

government in most ways – state constitution, three

branches, senators and representatives, etc.

The head of each state is called the governor.

The duties of governors vary in each state,

depending on the constitution for that state.

State Government

Cities are headed by a “mayor” and various other

city officials.

Multiple cities are joined together to form a “county”,

which also has various leaders.

County functions – law enforcement, maintenance of

public roads and parks, recording some types of

legal documents.

Local Government

Final Examination

Week 18

Monday, June 242:00 – 3:45 PM

Building G, Room 201

The test will be comprehensive, consisting of 50 multiple choice questions –

the same style as on the quizzes.