Chapter 5

 In America we have what is called a two-party system  Only the Republicans or Democrats have a reasonable chance of winning in any given election  Some third parties come but they never have much support to last very long

 One party systems sometimes found in other countries like Soviet Union under Stalin or Germany’s Hitler in WWI.  Multi-party systems also exist today in places like Europe. In those systems several major and many lesser parties seriously compete for and win public offices  Examples includes Italy and present day Germany as well as many other European dmeocracies

 Group of people who seek to control government through the winning of elections and holding public office  Two major parties in American Politics  Democrats  Republicans

 A Famous cartoonist is credited with popularizing the party symbols  Look at page 127 in your book.  He drew the elephant to represent the Republican party  He also drew the donkey to represent the Democratic party  These still are the party symbols today!!

 Ideological- based on a particular set of beliefs socially, economically, and politically  Single issue-focus on only one public policy matter  Economic protest-parties that arise during periods of economic discontent  Splinter parties-those parties that split away from the major parties