Unit 4: Electoral Process – “Players of the Game” Lecture & Discussion 1: Political Parties

Objective To identify and understand the role of political parties in the electoral process.

Do Now Analyze cartoon A in Politics and American Political Parties and respond to the prompts. What is the subject of the cartoon? What statement is made by the cartoonist? Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

A. Political Parties Definition political party: a group of persons who seek to influence government through the winning of elections and holding of public office major party: a political party that enjoys wide spread support

Beliefs of Major Parties “Democrats” “Republicans”  

A. Political Parties What Major Parties Do

What Major Parties Do Function Explanation Select Candidates nominate candidates for office

What Major Parties Do Function Explanation Mobilize Voters stimulate and inform the public about policy matters

What Major Parties Do Function Explanation “Seal of Approval” try to ensure the candidates are qualified and of good character

What Major Parties Do Function Explanation Facilitate Governance government is largely based and conducted in a partisan manner

What Major Parties Do Function Explanation Act as “Watchdog” the “loyal opposition” scrutinizes party in power

A. Political Parties National Party Organization national convention: a meeting of delegates every four years to nominate a presidential candidate and write the party platform national committee: delegates who manage party affairs between conventions (RNC/DNC) national chairperson: person responsible for day to day activities of the party

DNC Chair RNC Chair Tom Perez Ronna Romney McDaniel

A. Political Parties Decay of Major Parties parties as a label with which voters identify is in decline

A. Political Parties Decay of Major Parties parties as an organization that nominate candidates is weakening due to primaries

A. Political Parties Decay of Major Parties party leaders are losing authority in national convention to party activists and primary voters due to changes in delegate selection rules (proportional system)

B. The Two-Party System Definition two-party system: a political system in which the candidates of only the major parties have a reasonable chance to win national elections Democratic and Republican parties dominate politics in the United States

B. The Two-Party System Reasons for Two-Party System election law makes it difficult for minor parties to get on the ballot electoral process discourages minor parties due to plurality system and winner-take-all formats (no runoff elections as in Europe’s multi-party system) Ideological Consensus: Americans are a homogenous people who share many common beliefs despite political affiliations

C. Minor Parties Definition minor party: a political party that is not widely supported “third parties” have been a permanent feature of politics in United States

C. Minor Parties Types of Minor Parties ideological: party based on a comprehensive set of political, economic, and social beliefs most are built on some shade of Marxist thought, but not all such as Libertarians and Greens

C. Minor Parties Types of Minor Parties single-issue: party focused on one public policy matter; avoid other issues

C. Minor Parties Types of Minor Parties economic protest: party rooted in periods of economic discontent; tend to disappear as conditions improve supported by struggling farmers who preferred non-gold backed paper money which would raise prices and foster better business in 1880’s

C. Minor Parties Types of Minor Parties factional: party created by a split in a major party, usually over presidential candidate Bull Moose Progressive Party broke from the Republican Party in 1912 American Independent Party broke from Democratic Party in 1968

C. Minor Parties Role of Minor Parties spoiler: a minor party candidate can steal votes from major party candidates Did Green Party candidate Ralph Nader steal the election from Democratic Party candidate Al Gore in the 2000 election?

2000 General Election Results Candidates Popular Vote Percentage Electoral Vote George Bush 50,456,002 47.87% 271 Al Gore 50,997,897 48.38% 266 Ralph Nader 2,882,955 2.74%

2000 Florida Election Results Candidates Popular Vote Percentage Electoral Vote George Bush 2,912,790 49% 25 Al Gore 2,912,253 Ralph Nader 97,488 2%

Ralph Nader on 2000 Election https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAyNWXnTZ84

C. Minor Parties Role of Minor Parties critic: minor party candidates can take stands on controversial issues and perhaps push major parties to adopt their views innovator: minor parties offer alternative candidates to voters who are unhappy with the two-party system