 Group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and holding public office. ◦ Republicans and Democrats are election oriented:  Party organization-give time, money and skills to party  Party in government-people who hold office  Party in electorate-vote for your candidate no matter what issue  Essential: Power brokers- encourage compromise/unity and soften extremism

 Nominate candidates- exclusively a party function  Inform and activate supporters- campaigning for candidates, taking stands on current issues and criticizing opposing candidatescriticizingcandidates  Bonding agent- ensure good performance of candidates Bonding agent  Governing- government by party (partisanship)  Watchdog function- party out of power criticizes the policies and behavior of the party in power Watchdog function

 Historical Basis- Federalists v. Anti-Federalists  Force of Tradition- have had one..so will always have one  The Electoral system-single member districts- “wasted vote”, bipartisan state legislatures make laws if third parties can get on ballot or not. Plurality v. Majority  American Ideological consensus-many Americans share the same ideals, the same basic principles and the same patterns of beliefs

 Based on a particular interest, economic class, economic class, religious belief, sectional attachment or political ideology- often leads to instability in government and a coalition.  One Party  Two-party ◦ Coalition

 In a dictatorship, only one party allowed to exist  Within the United States, there is a variation of a one-party system in about ¼ of states ◦ Typical “red” or “blue” states ◦ Nebraska is typically “red”

 First Parties: Federalists and Anti-Federalists  Federalists- Alexander Hamilton- build a stronger government  Anti-Federalists or Jeffersonian Democrats or Democratic Republicans or Democrats- Thomas Jefferson  3 rd Parties ◦ Single member districts ◦ Bipartisanship  Today-neither party

 Democrats ◦ by 1820’s had split into factions- National Republicans (later Whigs)  Republicans  Democrats  present- Republicans won 7/11 elections  TIMELINE  Definitions to know: ◦ Incumbent, factions, electorate, and sectionalism

 4 types of minor parties: ◦ Ideological parties: Based on a particular set of beliefs- political, economic or social matters- Socialist party, Communist party. Very seldom do they get the votes, but they are around for a long time. ◦ Single-Issue Parties: focus on one public policy matter. Free Soil Party, American party. Most have faded into history

◦ Economic Protest Parties: rooted in periods of economic discontent. Greenback party- 1870’s- free coinage of silver, regulation of railroads, an income tax and labor legislation. ◦ Splinter Parties: split away from one of the major parties.

 Why are minor parties important?  Spoiler role  Influence the platform of major parties  Innovator- national convention, women’s suffrage, income tax, etc..  “Loyal opposition”-a minority party who’s opposition to the party in power is bounded by interests for the country

 President’s party is almost always more solid and better organized than others  Due to the amount of offices we elect politicians to across all levels (National, State, Local), major parties become more decentralized  Nominating process helps decentralize ◦ Intraparty nominations ◦ Nomination can cause divisive decisions

 National Convention: meets in the late summer to nominate a candidate for the presidency, party’s rules and platform National Convention  National Committee: Republicans and Democrats both have varying amounts of individuals that sit on their committees. Most work is for the convention every four years.  National Chairperson: chosen to a four year term by the national committee at a meeting right after the convention. Helps direct the national convention and the campaign  Congressional Campaign Committees

 State Organization ◦ Most states’ parties are decentralized ◦ Parties headed by central committee, State chairperson ◦ Members usually represent counties  Local Organization ◦ Vary widely in organization ◦ Ward- a unit into which cities are often divided for the election of city council members ◦ Precinct- the smallest unit of election administration