POLITICAL PARTIES Terms and Conditions

What is a party?  A group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.

Major Parties v. Minor Parties Major: Republican and Democratic Minor: a party that is not widely supported  Various in number and classification  Usually short-lived  May include parties that have broken off of one of the major parties (Splinter parties)  Single-issue parties, such as Green party or the Marijuana party

Political Party Development Federalists Republicans Democratic-Republicans Democrats

The Three Components of the Party 1. The party organization 2. The party in the electorate 3. The party in government

1. The party organization  Party leaders  Activists  People who donate money, time, and skills

2. The party in the electorate  All those who loyally and regularly vote straight-ticket  Those who consider themselves party members and usually vote for that party

The party in the government  Officeholders in all levels of government who were elected in a particular party

Political Party Spectrum We use a ruler to measure distances We use the political spectrum to measure political groups RadicalLiberalModerateConservativeReactionary

Definitions of Political Spectrum  Radical  These people want a COMPLETE CHANGE IN SOCIETY  Violence to achieve goals is justified  Liberal  These people like change for the sake of change  Usually they will work within the system

Definitions of Political Spectrum  Moderate  Most Americans fit here  Are not against change but do not want drastic changes  Conservative  These people like the status quo (don’t rock the boat)  See our greatness in the past  Reactionary  These people don’t like today’s society  Want to go back to the “good old” days

Generalizations of Democrats  Minorities  Jewish  Catholics  Intellectuals  Labor (workers)  City Dwellers  Southerners  Generally moderate to liberal in view

Generalizations of Republicans  White-Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP)  Businessmen  Professionals  Suburbs  Rural  Generally conservative to moderate in view