Chapter 8- Political Parties Objective – Students will be able to answer questions regarding political parties. SECTION © 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc.

Party Structure American Government National Convention – meets every 4 years, nominates President National Committee – manages party affairs on daily basis Congressional campaign committee – supports party’s candidates National chair – manages daily work

Goal of a Political Party? American Government WIN ELECTIONS

Function of Parties American Government Connecting citizens to government (linkage institution) -Political Efficacy – citizen participation level and awareness of government decisions Run candidates for political office Inform the public – help voters decide who to vote for in elections Organizing government – coordinate government policy-making

Why 2 parties? Winner-take-all system American Government Winner-take-all system Winner receives a seat while loser receives nothing 3rd party usually joins one of other parties Opposite – Proportional Representation – % of votes is directly applied as the % of representatives

“Grass Roots” American Government “Grass Roots” – parties can also reach the voters personally and “get-out-the-vote” on a local level

Minor Parties Third Parties have played a role in politics Types American Government Third Parties have played a role in politics Types Individual personality – those dominated by one figure head (Ex. – 1912 Theodore Roosevelt – Bull-Moose, 1968 George Wallace – American Independent Party) Long-lasting goal or ideology – (Ex. – Abolitionists, Prohibitionists, Socialists)

Party Identification American Government Dealignment – weak membership, more “independents” or moderates – popular trend in the last 50 years Strait ticket voting – strong party membership, support all candidates for one party Ticket splitting – voting for candidates from multiple parties

Realignment? American Government “Gridlock” – Congress and Presidency controlled by different parties 2004 - Republican sweep of Congress and Presidency 2006 - split the Presidency and Congress 2008 – Democratic sweep 2010- Republicans take over the House 2012- split the Presidency and the Congress

Section Assessment Describe the functions of political parties. 2. Describe the reasons why we have a two party system in the United States.

Summary: In a paragraph, describe what you have learned today.