Political Parties and their functions Fill in your outline with the words highlighted in RED.

Democratic Party Tends to be liberal Symbol is the Donkey

Republican Party Tends to be Conservative Symbol is the Elephant GOP -Grand Old Party

Political Parties Seek to control the government by winning elections Major Goal is to elect their members to governmental offices Tend to have the same beliefs and goals on major issues.

The party that controls the executive branch is known as the PARTY IN POWER. So who is the party in power right now? Party Identification Has decreased over the years. Most Americans are registering as independents

To join a Political Party: Personal Choice Volunteer Split ticket voting – voting for both parties in an election Strength of a party Straight ticket voting- voting for one party in an election Weaknesses of a Political Party

The Republican Party of Texas Which Texas Political Party am I?

The Democratic Party of Texas Which Texas Political Party am I?

Historical Basis for 2 parties Why a Two-Party System? Historical Basis for 2 parties We started with 2 parties Began with ratification of the Constitution. The Federalists and the Antifederalists. Tradition It’s custom and there is resistance to change. “If it ain’t broke; don’t fix it.”

Electoral System Ideological Election laws are designed to “discriminate” against 3rd parties. Ideological Because Americans agree on most fundamental issues, the conditions to create strong rival 3rd parties does not exist? Is this still true??? What about all the people in the middle???

The 2 Party Identification has decreased over the years

Who is more likely to vote… Democrat? Middle/lower income Less education Manual labor Women/younger Catholics/Jews Minorities NE states/inner cities Republican? Higher income More education Professional Men/older Protestants Whites South/Midwest/rural/ suburban 2008 EC Map

Functions of Political Parties

#1 ELECT Candidates Political Parties nominate people to office in hopes of promoting the values and agenda of the political party’s platform. The platform is the stated goals and values the political party wishes to see realized as government policy. Who did the Republican Party Nominate? Yes….there were more candidates running

#2 EDUCATE THE PUBLIC Political parties bring important issues to the publics attention. Each party publishes its positions Taxes pollution Energy Environment Unfortunately most Americans are not very well informed about candidates or their views

#3 Involve People in Politics Parties inform the people and inspire and activate their interest in active participation in public affairs by: A) Campaigning for Candidates B) Taking Stands on issues C) Criticizing Candidates of opposite positions Strongly and unequivocally support Roe v. Wade The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay. We oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right. Abortion is an intensely personal decision between a woman, her family, her doctor, and her clergy; there is no place for politicians or government to get in the way. We also recognize that health care and education help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and thereby also reduce the need for abortions. We strongly and unequivocally support a woman's decision to have a child by providing affordable health care and ensuring the availability of and access to programs that help women during pregnancy and after the birth of a child, including caring adoption programs. Source: 2012 Democratic Party Platform, Sep 4, 2012

#4 Dispensing Patronage Patronage- Favors given to reward party loyalty Jobs Contracts Appt to positions Allows the party in power to be sure there are loyal people in gov’t to carry out the party’s vision

#5 Operating Government Elected officials are members of a political party. They are chosen on the basis of party affiliation (membership), with the intent on promoting the party values through the institutions of government. Ex: Promotes a national Health care plan Ex: Withdrawing forces from overseas President Barack Obama (D) of Illinois

# 6 Watch Dog Function The Party OUT of power plays the watch dog role over the party in power. In this role the party out of power attempts to convince the voting public why the party in power should not be in power.

# 7Providing Stability When one party loses power in gov’t, the transfer of power takes place peacefully No revolutions occur after elections Losing party accepts the outcome