C.9 Political Parties

Third Parties These parties are referred to as third parties because throughout history they have challenged the two major parties. These parties are referred to as third parties because throughout history they have challenged the two major parties. No third party has ever won a presidential election. No third party has ever won a presidential election. Third parties can affect the outcome of presidential elections and discuss the issues that the two major parties are ignoring. Third parties can affect the outcome of presidential elections and discuss the issues that the two major parties are ignoring.

Third Parties continued Some third parties are not interested in getting elected to office but rather to peak interest in an economic, social, or moral issue. Some third parties are not interested in getting elected to office but rather to peak interest in an economic, social, or moral issue. An example of a single-issue party was the Prohibitionist Party that was trying to persuade the voters to agree with their idea of banning alcohol. An example of a single-issue party was the Prohibitionist Party that was trying to persuade the voters to agree with their idea of banning alcohol.

Third Parties continued Single-issue parties do not last long. Single-issue parties do not last long. If the electorate moves on to a new issue or one of the major parties adopts their issue the single-issue party will cease to exist. If the electorate moves on to a new issue or one of the major parties adopts their issue the single-issue party will cease to exist.

Ideological Parties These parties are trying to change society in a major way. These parties are trying to change society in a major way. The Libertarian Party wants to cut the size of the federal gov’t in order to increase individual freedoms. The Libertarian Party wants to cut the size of the federal gov’t in order to increase individual freedoms. The Green Party opposes the power of corporations and favors decision making at the grassroots level. The Green Party opposes the power of corporations and favors decision making at the grassroots level.

Independent Candidates Third parties will form around a well-known individual who cannot get support from one of the two major political parties. Third parties will form around a well-known individual who cannot get support from one of the two major political parties. Ross Perot ran in 1996 under the banner of the Reform Party. Ross Perot ran in 1996 under the banner of the Reform Party. Independent candidates must get a certain number of voter signatures to get their name on the ballot and they have a harder time raising money. Independent candidates must get a certain number of voter signatures to get their name on the ballot and they have a harder time raising money.

Other Party Systems Two-party systems are actually rare. Two-party systems are actually rare. Most democracies have a multi-party system Most democracies have a multi-party system Canada has 3 major parties, Germany has 5, and Israel has more than 20. Canada has 3 major parties, Germany has 5, and Israel has more than 20.

One-party system The party and the government are nearly the same thing. The party and the government are nearly the same thing. The People’s Republic of China only has one party, the Communist Party. The People’s Republic of China only has one party, the Communist Party. There are no elections because the Communist Party is the only party allowed to exist in their government. There are no elections because the Communist Party is the only party allowed to exist in their government.

Today’s Major Political Parties A major difference between the Democrats and Republicans is their belief in how much involvement the government should have in the lives of Americans. A major difference between the Democrats and Republicans is their belief in how much involvement the government should have in the lives of Americans. The Democrats tend to believe that the federal government should be more directly involved in regulating the economy and in providing housing, income, and education for low-income citizens. The Democrats tend to believe that the federal government should be more directly involved in regulating the economy and in providing housing, income, and education for low-income citizens.

Two major parties continued Republicans believe that if they help the nation’s economy grow, low income families will have a better chance of finding jobs and meeting their needs on their own. Republicans believe that if they help the nation’s economy grow, low income families will have a better chance of finding jobs and meeting their needs on their own. They favor less regulation of the economy as the best way to promote growth of production. They favor less regulation of the economy as the best way to promote growth of production.

Two major political parties Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between the two major political parties. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between the two major political parties. They tend to move towards the center during an election year. They tend to move towards the center during an election year. Candidates will start out either to the left(liberal) or to the right(conservative) and then as the race moves on, both candidates will move towards the center to catch the independent and undecided voters. Candidates will start out either to the left(liberal) or to the right(conservative) and then as the race moves on, both candidates will move towards the center to catch the independent and undecided voters. A way to tell the difference is to go to their websites and read the party platforms. (dnc.org) (rnc.org) A way to tell the difference is to go to their websites and read the party platforms. (dnc.org) (rnc.org) A platform is a series of statements expressing the parties, principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues. A platform is a series of statements expressing the parties, principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues.

Review from 11.5 Please answer the following questions Please answer the following questions 1. What is the purpose of a third party? 1. What is the purpose of a third party? 2. Has a third party ever been elected to the presidency? 2. Has a third party ever been elected to the presidency? 3. What is a single-issue party? 3. What is a single-issue party? 4. Are two-party systems the “norm”? 4. Are two-party systems the “norm”? 5. What did George Washington warn against in his farewell address? 5. What did George Washington warn against in his farewell address? 6. What issue did the Republican Party form around? 6. What issue did the Republican Party form around? 7. When did the Democratic and Republican parties form? 7. When did the Democratic and Republican parties form? 8. What is an example of a one-party system? Are they democratic? Why or Why not? 8. What is an example of a one-party system? Are they democratic? Why or Why not? 9. What is one major difference b/w the Republicans and Democrats? 9. What is one major difference b/w the Republicans and Democrats?

Nominating Candidates: A party role When you nominate a candidate for any state or federal office your first step is the direct primary, which is an election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general election. When you nominate a candidate for any state or federal office your first step is the direct primary, which is an election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general election. There are two main forms of direct primary: open and closed primaries. There are two main forms of direct primary: open and closed primaries.

Closed Primary Most states have a closed primary, this is when you are forced to declare your party before voting. If you are a democrat you vote in a democratic primary and vice versa. Most states have a closed primary, this is when you are forced to declare your party before voting. If you are a democrat you vote in a democratic primary and vice versa. In an open primary you do not have to declare a party affiliation to vote. A democrat may vote in a republican primary and vice versa. In an open primary you do not have to declare a party affiliation to vote. A democrat may vote in a republican primary and vice versa.

Closed Primaries continued Some critics of closed primaries say that it does not permit a truly secret ballot, since voters must declare a party preference. Some critics of closed primaries say that it does not permit a truly secret ballot, since voters must declare a party preference. It also prevents unaffiliated voters from taking party in primary elections in most states. It also prevents unaffiliated voters from taking party in primary elections in most states. Some benefits of closed primaries are that it helps to keep party members from one party crossing over into the other party’s primary to try to promote weak candidates. Some benefits of closed primaries are that it helps to keep party members from one party crossing over into the other party’s primary to try to promote weak candidates.

The North Carolina primary We are a closed primary state but slightly open. We are a closed primary state but slightly open. This is how it works: You must declare a party before voting in a primary but you are allowed to register on the day of voting. This is how it works: You must declare a party before voting in a primary but you are allowed to register on the day of voting.

Other Party roles Campaigning for candidates Campaigning for candidates Informing citizens Informing citizens Carrying the people’s message Carrying the people’s message Operating the government Operating the government Linking the different levels of government Linking the different levels of government Acting as a watchdog Acting as a watchdog