Political Parties Chapter 5

Parties and What They Do Section 1 Parties and What They Do

What is a Party? A political party is… a group of persons who seek to control the government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office. a group of persons, joined together on the basis of certain principles, who seek to control government in order to secure the adoption of certain policies and programs.

Elements of Parties Parties are made up of three elements The party organization (people who run the party) The party in government (members of party who hold or run for office) The party in the electorate (individual citizens who hold membership in a political party)

Parties and Democracy The link between the people and their government. (some would argue they are the principle means by which the will of the people is made known to government.) Political parties are “power brokers” (encourage compromise between competing interests and help to unify the American people) Soften the impact of extremists at both ends of the political spectrum.

What Parties Do Nominating Candidates Parties find, recruit, and help candidates win elections Informing and Activating Supporters Campaigning, policy stands, criticizing opponents. (parties seek to win elections) The “Bonding Agent” Function ensures the qualifications and character of candidates and officeholders. Governing Partisanship and Compromise The “Watchdog” Function Criticizing the party in power.

The Two-Party System Republicans and Democrats dominate politics in the United States. Only the Republicans and Democrats have a reasonable chance of winning elections.

Reasons for the Two Party System Historical Basis of Two Party System Framers were opposed to political parties Ratification leads to the Federalists and Anti-Federalists Tradition and the Two Party System Over time parties have reinforced their importance The Electoral System Single-member districts (plurality and winner take all features) Dominant parties work to keep out minor parties in elections Ideological Consensus While America is pluralistic there is broad consensus on most important issues. Both parties, therefore, tend to be moderate.

The Political Spectrum Moderate Conservative Liberal Revolutionary Reactionary Revolutionary/Radical: Favors extreme change to create an altered or entirely new system. Liberal: Believes that government must take action to change economic, political, and ideological policies thought to be unfair. Moderate: Hold beliefs that fall between liberal and conservative views, usually including some of both. Conservative: Seeks to keep in place the economic, political, and social structures of society. Reactionary: Favors extreme change to restore society to an earlier, more conservative state of affairs.

Multiparty Systems A system where multiple major and minor parties compete for and win public offices. Parties are typically based on particular interests Tend to produce broader, more diverse representation. Can lead to instability. Parties must forge a coalition to govern.

One-Party Systems Present in many forms of dictatorship. The party in power eliminates or limits the ability to govern of all other parties. Fascism In some ways, portions of the U.S. are one-party systems – the second party is unable to win office.

Liberal v. Conservative in the United States

“LEFT” In GENERAL, liberals support… Making political change Government intervention Using taxes to support government programs that benefit society Government regulation of business to protect the worker/consumer Extending civil rights to minorities Using government to reduce inequality “RIGHT” In GENERAL, Conservatives… Oppose making political change. Oppose government intervention. Favor tax cuts to stimulate the economy. Oppose government intervention in the economy, but favor it in matters of lifestyle. See equality as leading to mediocrity and the leveling of society.

Protection of individual rights. Freedom of expression A unionized workforce to protect the rights of workers Minimum wage standards Acting Through The United Nations in International Affairs Spreading democracy and protecting human rights through humanitarianism. Favor government action to promote patriotism Support the freedom of employers to set their workers’ wages. Acting Unilaterally in International Affairs Spreading democracy and protecting human rights through military intervention.