OBJECTIVES:

1.DEFINE A POLITICAL PARTY

2.DESCRIBE THE FUNCTIONS OF A PARTY

3.IDENTIFY THE REASONS WHY THE U.S. HAS A TWO-PARTY SYSTEM

4.UNDERSTAND MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS AND HOW THEY AFFECT THE FUNCTIONING OF A POLITICAL SYSTEM

Political Parties & What They Do

What is a party?

Political Party=Group of persons who seek to control government through winning elections & holding public office Some political parties are centered on principles,

others on elections U.S. parties are election-oriented

Elements that make up a party:

1. The Party Organization People who give time, money, effort to party Leaders, organizers, activists

2. The Party in Government Candidates & officeholders

3. The Party in the Electorate The voters

What parties do:

Link between government & the people

Best way for the “will of the people” to be known

Power brokers, compromisers, limit impact of extremists at both ends of political spectrum

What parties do:

Nominating Candidates—Select candidates & present them to voters

Informing & Activating Supporters—Campaigning for candidates, taking stands on current issues, & criticizing opponents

Attempt to form positions that will win the most voters, but also offend as few as possible

The Bonding Agent Function—Act as “bonding agent” to ensure candidates are qualified and of good character; prompts officeholders to perform well

What parties do:

Governing—Many ways government by party Officeholders often chosen on basis of party Congress & state legislatures organized along party

lines Positions associated with party==Speaker of the

House, Majority Leader, Minority Leaders, Whips Most appointments to executive office are based on

party

What parties do:

Watchdog Function—Watch over the conduct of the public’s business Especially true of party out of power Loyal opposition Work to regain positions Work to make party in power look bad

The two-party system:

Democrats & Republicans

Typically only these two parties have a reasonable chance of winning public office

Why does the U.S. a two-party system?

Historical basis—started with Federalists & Anti-Federalists Many Founders opposed “factions” or parties; main

reason parties are not mentioned in Constitution

Why does the U.S. a two-party system?

The Force of Tradition—Most people accept the two-party system b/c there has always been one

3rd party challengers have made little headwayThe Electoral System—Shape & details of

election process work against minor parties Winner-take-all elections, winner receives a plurality

(largest number of votes) Many look at vote for minor party candidate as “wasted

vote” Often times minor party candidates struggle to get name

on ballots

Why does the U.S. a two-party system?

The American Ideological Consensus—Most Americans have a general agreement on fundamental matters. Conditions that would spark several strong rival parties do not exist in the United States. Free of long-standing, bitter disputes; both parties

tend to be moderate

Multi-party systems

Feature of most European democracies and now many other democracies around the world, including Canada (see pie chart on p. 128)

Parties are often based on a particular interest, like economic class or religious belief

This system tends to produce a broader, more diverse representation of the electorate

Leads to coalitions, a temporary alliance of several groups

One-party systems

Dictatorships Essentially a “no-party” system

¼ of states in U.S. today One party consistently wins elections

Is Nebraska a one-party system?

Types of one-party systems

One Party Systems where only one party is allowed.

Example:

Dictatorships such as Stalinist Russia

Example:

Republican North and Democratic South until the 1950s.

Modified One-Party Systems where one party regularly wins most elections

Party Membership Patterns

Factors that can influence party membership:

Family Major events

Economic Status Religion

Occupation Age

Critical thinking

Do you think political parties are a valid source of information about candidates and their views? Why or why not?

Explain why a person might consider a vote for a minor-party candidate even knowing that the candidate is not likely to win?