U.S. Government Chapter 5 – Section 1

Political Party

Political Spectrum

Single-member District

Partisanship

Plurality

Bipartisan

Consensus

Coalition

Pluralistic society

Section Objectives: Define a political party Describe the major functions of political

parties

6.4 – Understand how the philosophies of liberalism and conservatism correlate to the two major American political parties.

4.4 – Understand the major features of major forms of government in the world.

Political Party- group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.

Major Parties- Republicans and Democrats

Major function is to nominate or name candidates for public office.

Parties inform people, and inspire and activate their interests and participation in public affairs.

Pamphlets, signs, buttonsParties make sure that the candidate

is qualified.

Naming candidates for public office.

Parties select candidates and send them to voters.

Parties then work to help their candidates win elections.

Parties try to inspire voters.

They campaign, stand on issues, and criticize opponents.

Try to shape positions that will attract as many voters as possible.

Bond is an agreement that protects a person or company against loss caused by a third party.

Political parties act as a “bonding agent” to ensure the good performance of its candidates and officeholders.

United States is government by party.

Public officeholders are regularly chosen on the basis of party – which party they belong to.

Congress and State Legislatures are organized along party lines.

They conduct their business along the basis of partisanship.

• The executive and legislative branches have to work together regardless of party.

• Political Parties have played a significant role in the process of constitutional change.

Parties act as watchdogs over the conduct of the public’s business.

Party in Power- party that controls the executive branch of the government.

In your opinion, do political parties tend to unify, or divide, the American people?

Give details behind your opinion.

This country has a two party system. (a political system dominated by two major parties.)

We will look at why we have a two-party system.

Not one explanation alone offers wholly satisfactory explanation of why we have a two-party system

Taken together, however, they present a persuasive argument.

Taken together, however, they present a persuasive argument.

The framers were opposed to political parties. George Washington’s view of parties: In his

farewell address he warned people against, “Baneful effects of the spirit of the party”.

Constitution makes no mention.

First two political parties: Federalists and Anti-Federalists

In short, the U.S. has a two-party system because it began that way.

“Once established, human institutions are likely to become self-perpetuating.” 1

The fact that the nation began with a two party system, is a leading reason for the retention of a two party system.

People accept a two party system b/c they have never known different.

1. McClenaghan, W. Magruder's American Government. 129

Single-Member Districts- electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office.

Most elections are single member. The winning candidate are the ones who

receive a plurality, or the largest number of votes cast for the office.

Plurality need not be a majority, which is more than half of all votes cast.

Single-Member district patterns work to discourage minor parties.

Bipartisan- the two major parties find common ground and work together.

Non-major party candidates have made it to the ballot everywhere in only seven presidential elections.

• Although the U.S. is a pluralistic society (made up of many different cultures), Americans are an ideologically homogeneous people.• Americans share many of the same basic

beliefs. • (Examples: Civil right, Human rights,

• Throughout its history, American has not regularly been plagued by unbridgeable political division.

Both parties tend to be moderate, both built on compromise.

Multiparty- system which several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for, and actually win, public office.

Parties are based on a particular interest such as religion, economic class.

Coalition- temporary alliance of several groups who come together to form a working majority and so to control a government.

In nearly all dictatorships only one political party is allowed.

One-Party System = “no party system”

Each party contains a wide variety of voters.

African Am., Jews, and Catholics have more often voted Democrat.

White males, Protestant, and business community have been inclined to back the GOP (Republican Party).

Group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.

A. DemocratsB. Political Party C. Coalition

Group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.

A. DemocratsB. Political Party C. Coalition

Strong support of a party and its policy stands:

A. PartisanshipB. Interest GroupsC. Bipartisan

Strong support of a party and its policy stands:

A. PartisanshipB. Interest GroupsC. Bipartisan

Political party without a wide voter support in this country.

A. DemocratsB. UnderdogC. Minor Party

Political party without a wide voter support in this country.

A. DemocratsB. UnderdogC. Minor Party

Electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office.

A. Single-Member DistrictB. BipartisanC. Coalition

Electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office.

A. Single-Member DistrictB. BipartisanC. Coalition

Largest number of votes cast for the office.

A. MajorityB. PluralityC. Pluralistic Society

Largest number of votes cast for the office.

A. MajorityB. PluralityC. Pluralistic Society

Temporary alliance of several groups who come together to form a working majority and so to control a government.

A. CoalitionB. ConsensusC. Bipartisan

Temporary alliance of several groups who come together to form a working majority and so to control a government.

A. CoalitionB. ConsensusC. Bipartisan

U.S. Government Chapter 5 – Section 3

Ideological Parties

Single-issue Parties

Economic Protest Parties

Splinter Parties

Incumbent

Faction

Spoils sytem

Electorate

Sectionalism

Section Objectives: Identify the types of minor parties that have

been active in American politics. Understand why minor parties are important

despite the fact that none has ever won the presidency.

6.4 – Understand how the philosophies of liberalism and conservatism correlate to the two major American political parties.

4.4 – Understand the major features of major forms of government in the world.

Minor Party – Any one of the many political parties without wide voter support in the U.S.

1. Ideological Parties- based on a particular set of beliefs- a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters.

Libertarian Party emphasizes individualism and doing away with the present government’s functions and programs.

Others include: Constitution, Socialist, Socialist Labor, Socialist Workers, and Communist Party

2. Single-Issue Party -focus on only one public policy matter.

Free Soil Party opposed the spread of slavery

“Know Nothings” opposed Irish Catholic immigration.

Unites States Pirate Party- support the abolition of piracy laws.

3. Economic Protest Party - rooted in times of economic unrest, they proclaimed their disgust with major parties and demanded better times. Greenback Party appealed to struggling

farmers by calling for a free coinage of silver, federal regulation of railroads, an income tax, and labor legislation.

Populists demanded public ownership of railroads, telephone and telegraph companies, etc.

Splinter Parties - party that has split away from one of the major parties.

Most of the more important minor parties have been splinter parties.

Most splinter parties have formed around a strong personality. Examples include: (T. Roosevelt’s) “Bull

Moose” Progressive Party; (Henry Wallace’s) Progressive Party; (George Wallace’s) American Independent Party

Minor parties have still had an impact on American politics and on major parties.

It was a minor party that first used the national convention to nominate their presidential candidate in 1831. The Whigs and Democrats soon followed

suit.

Minor parties can sometimes play a “spoiler” role in major elections.

This happens when a minor party pulls away votes from a major party, which can affect the outcome of the election. This happened in 2000 with the Green Party.

-So where do political parties fall along the political spectrum?

On a sheet of paper (each person), list the results of your political quiz.

Did you more closely relate with a minor party or major party?

Did your results surprise you?

Want to find out where you fall along the political spectrum? http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz/quiz.p

hp (World’s Smallest Political Quiz)

http://www.isidewith.com/political-quiz (ISideWith.com)*

http://www.gotoquiz.com/politics/political-spectrum-quiz.html (GoToQuiz.com)

What does the boxing ring represent? Why are Bush and Gore standing next to one

another, facing Nader? What does the cartoonist think about Nader’s

chances against Bush and Gore? Give two details that support your conclusion.

Did the results of the 2000 election support or challenge the cartoonist’s view of Nader?

U.S. Government Chapter 5 – Section 5

Ward

Precinct

Split-ticket Voting

Section Objectives: Understand why major parties have a

decentralized structure Describe the national party machinery and how

parties are organized at the State and local level Identify the three components of the parties. Examine the future of the major parties.

6.4 – Understand how the philosophies of liberalism and conservatism correlate to the two major American political parties.

4.4 – Understand the major features of major forms of government in the world.

Political parties are decentralized – with no clear central leadership. Fragmented, disjointed, and often

plagued with internal conflict.

No chain-of-command running from national to local level Usually, they cooperate, but not always.

President (of the U.S) is automatically the party leader. Party in power usually more organized Party out of power has no obvious leader.

Nominating Process: Nominations are made within the party. Then fights are made within the same party. Democrat vs. Democrat

Handles the parties affairs. man and woman chairperson in each

state. Chairperson is the leader of the

national committee, and directs the work of the party’s headquarters.

Each party has a campaign committee in each house of Congress.

They make sure that seats given up by retiring officials remain in the party.

Party structure is usually set by state law.

At the state level, political parties are headed by a state chairperson.

At the local level, parties organization varies widely.

Ward- is a unit into which cities are often divided for the election of city council members.

Precinct- smallest unit of election administration.

1. The party organization- party leaders, activists, and “hangers-on”

2. The party in the electorate- Party loyalists who regularly vote for that party.

3. The party in government- officeholders who hold office in the ex., legs, or jud. Branches.

Weakened state of parties can be explained by: 1. drop in the number of voters. 2. Big increase in split-ticket voting-

voting for candidates of different parties for diff. offices at the same election.

3. Changes in party views. 4. Changes in technology of

campaigning for office.

Based on a particular set of beliefs- a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters.

A. PrecinctB. Ideological PartiesC. Economic Parties

Based on a particular set of beliefs- a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters.

A. PrecinctB. Ideological PartiesC. Economic Parties

Focus on only one public policy matter.

A. Splinter PartyB. Single Issue PartyC. Greenback Party

Focus on only one public policy matter.

A. Splinter PartyB. Single Issue PartyC. Greenback Party

Proclaimed their disgust with major parties and demanded better times.

A. Economic Protest PartyB. Splinter PartyC. Socialist Party

Proclaimed their disgust with major parties and demanded better times.

A. Economic Protest PartyB. Splinter PartyC. Socialist Party

Who is automatically the party leader?

A. Vice PresidentB. SpokespersonC. President

Who is automatically the party leader?

A. Vice PresidentB. SpokespersonC. President

Smallest unit of election administration.

A. WardB. PrecinctC. Town

Smallest unit of election administration.

A. WardB. PrecinctC. Town