6/9/2015Ch.5.11 Warm up: Our local school board is concerned about TAKS scores and saving money. There is a proposal to eliminate team sports like football, basketball and volleyball. The money saved will be redirected to activities that reach more students. Do you support this?

6/9/2015Ch.5.12 What is a political party? Group seeking to control gov’t by winning elections and holding office - joined by common beliefs - seek to influence public policy

6/9/2015Ch.5.13 What is a political party? Democrats and GOP are not principle or issue oriented - they are election oriented - coalitions of diverse persons

6/9/2015Ch.5.14 make known the will of the people to the gov’t. bring conflicting groups together modify and compromise conflicting views soften impact of extremists What do parties do?

6/9/2015Ch Nominating Function recruit and choose candidates gather support almost exclusively a party function distinguishes parties from other political groups 5 Functions of Political Parties

6/9/2015Ch Informer-Stimulator Function campaign for candidates take stands on issues criticize opponents “educate” through advertising, speeches, rallies and conventions 5 Functions of Political Parties

6/9/2015Ch Functions of Political Parties 3. “Seal of Approval” Function “bonding agent” to ensure good performance screen for qualifications and character

6/9/2015Ch Functions of Political Parties 4. Governmental Function officeholders often chosen based on party legislative business conducted on partisan basis cooperation between legislative and executive branches presidential election process

6/9/2015Ch Functions of Political Parties 5. Watchdog Function outs critique the ins “loyal opposition”

6/9/2015Ch Reasons for the two party system History - Federalists & Anti-Federalists Tradition - we’ve always had two parties

6/9/2015Ch Reasons for the two party system electoral system - single-member districts promote it (plurality wins) - voting for minor party is a “wasted vote” election laws (written by states) discourage non-major parties

6/9/2015Ch ideologically homogenous people in a pluralistic society - “middle-of-the-road” parties are similar- moderate - struggles of personalities rather than ideas American Ideological Consensus

6/9/2015Ch The multiparty system usually based on particular interest - economic class, religion, ideology produces unstable governments based on coalitions

6/9/2015Ch The one-party system really a no-party system used to exist in some states, but less prominent now - “Solid South” Dictatorships, communism

6/9/2015Ch Party Membership voluntary most states require declaration of party to vote in primary

6/9/2015Ch Party membership cross section of society, but segments tend to align by party - Catholics, Jews, union members, minorities often vote for Democrats - White males, business owners, Protestants often back GOP

First Political Parties

6/9/2015Ch The Era of the Democrats, Begins w/ Thomas Jefferson The Era of the Republicans, Begins w/ Abraham Lincoln The Era of the Democrats, Begins w/ Franklin Roosevelt The New Era, 1968-Present Begins w/ Richard Nixon 4 Eras of Dominance of Two-Major Parties

Assignment Complete Workbook Chapter 5, Sect. 1-2

6/9/2015Ch Warm-up: What are some of the possible effects of a third-party candidate in a presidential election?

Evolution of the Democrat Party Anti-Federalists Changes name w/ Thomas Jefferson to Democratic- Republicans Democrat Party-1828

Evolution of the Republican Party Federalists (ended w/ election of J. Adams) Nat’l Republican (Whig) Party  Disbanded The Republican Party  Combo of Whig members and Anti-Slavery Democrats, founded in 1854.

6/9/2015Ch Minor Parties in the United States 1. ideological parties 2. single issue parties 3. economic protest parties 4. splinter parties

6/9/2015Ch Ideological Parties based on particular set of beliefs most have some shade Marxism - Socialist, Socialist Labor, Socialist Worker, Communist Libertarian - individualism and elimination of most government functions

6/9/2015Ch Single issue parties emphasis on single public policy matter Free Soil party opposed slavery Right to Life party opposes abortion most fade with time or when major party adopts the key issues

6/9/2015Ch Economic protest parties arise during economic discontent no clear-cut ideological base focus on “enemies” (ex. monetary system)

6/9/2015Ch Economic protest parties Greenback party wanted free coinage of silver and regulation of railroads Populist party wanted public ownership of railroads, lower tariffs  faded when conditions improved Examples:

6/9/2015Ch splinter parties Split away from one of the major parties b/co major minor parties Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party  Some success at state and local level

6/9/2015Ch Key roles of minor parties 1. First to use nominating convention 2. “Spoiler Role” 3. Critic and innovator - clear-cut stands on controversial issues - progressive income tax, pensions 4. when their issues become popular they are taken over by one or both of the major parties

Journal Activity Perfect Politician/Political Party Activity

Assignment Complete Chapter 5 workbook pages

6/9/2015Ch The Organization of Political Parties Who is the leader of the Republican party? Who is the leader of the Democrats?

6/9/2015ch The reality of political parties highly decentralized, fragmented no chain of command from national to State to local level State organizations loosely tie to national organization

6/9/2015ch The role of the President President’s party is more united automatically the party leader access to media, power to appoint usually no clear leader of opposition party

6/9/2015ch The Impact of Federalism major reason for decentralization government is decentralized, parties are decentralized to serve it

The role of the nominating process primary function of party process is within the party often divisive

6/9/2015ch Parts of the National party machinery The National Convention nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates adopts party rules writes platform

6/9/2015ch The National Committee Handles party business between conventions Republican National Committee and Democrat National Committee include representatives from each state

6/9/2015ch The National Chairperson chosen by presidential candidate focused on national convention and campaign between elections, work on raising money, party unity, recruiting members

6/9/2015ch The Congressional Campaign Committee (In Each House) Reelect incumbents Save seats of retirees Unseat other party

6/9/2015ch State and local party machinery The State Organization mostly set by State law State central committee, chairperson (a front for gov, senator, or other) build party unity, raise money

6/9/2015ch The Future of Political Parties Never very popular Period of decline since 1960 More independents, split-ticket voting PACs growing (Political Action Committees)

Review Essay (Choose 1) How has the US managed to maintain a two-party system, and how have the two parties changed over time? What role has the minor parties played in the decline of the two major political parties? What is a political party and what are the functions it performs?