1. U.S. Political Parties CP Political Systems

2. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings What is a political party? –Organization of people who share similar ideas about the way the country should be governed

3. Political Party Systems 3 Political Party Systems in the World 1.) One Party System: Political party and the government are the SAME Only 1 party, so no competing ideas Party membership based on lineage, wealth, military power, religious power Example: China (Communist Party)

4. Political Party Systems 2.) Multi-Party System: Three or more parties compete for control of the government –Common in Europe, Israel, Japan –Advantage : provides voters with many different choices and ideas –Disadvantage: difficult for one party to get majority of votes, which leads to a Coalition: EXAMPLE – Italy (50 different govts. since WWII) Daisy AllianceSunflower Alliance Italian Communist 500,000 votes 450,000 votes 200,000 votes Coalition

5. Political Party Systems 3. Two-Party System: Two parties compete with each other to run the government. –Party system of U.S.: Democrats and Republicans –Advantages: Continuity –Disadvantages: Minority parties (third parties) receive little attention – focus is on two main parties

6. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings George Washington against political parties  “parties serve their own interests”  “parties not beneficial to American people” Parties formed after his exit: 1.Democratic-Republicans 2. Federalists

7. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings Democratic- Republicans  Supported states rights  Supported economy based on agriculture  Power in hands of all people  Led by Thomas Jefferson

8. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings Federalists  Supported strong national govt.  Supported economy based on industry  Power in hands of wealthy and educated  Led by Alexander Hamilton

9. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings Federalists Breakup  Federalists gradually disappear – no political momentum  John Adams only party member to be elected President  Supporters formed new party: Whig Party (1834-1856)

10. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings Mid 1820’s: Democratic- Republicans breaking up Democratic Party formed to continue representing small farmers and working people

11. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings 1850’s: Democratic Party and Whig Party split over slavery –Pro-slavery voters form Democratic Party –Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats formed Republican Party

12. U.S Political Parties: Beginnings Republican Party  1860: Abe Lincoln becomes 1 st Republican President  Emerges as stronger of 2 parties after Civil War  1865-1931:Only 2 Democratic Presidents elected  Grover Cleveland  Woodrow Wilson

13. U.S. Political Parties: Characteristics Democratic Party –Tends to Attract  Working people (blue collar)  Liberals  Catholics  Minorities  Union Members  People in favor of govt. involvement in social policies

14. U.S. Political Parties: Characteristics Republican Party –Tends to attract  Businesspeople (white collar)  Protestants  Conservatives  Non-minorities  Non-union supporters  People against govt.involvement in social policies

15. Democrats: The Issues Abortion: –Pro Choice –Favors contraceptive education to prevent necessity of abortion

16. Democrats: The Issues Gay Rights: –Should be protected from workplace discrimination and hate crimes –Should be given equal work benefits like more traditional families –Largely oppose President Bush’s proposal to ban gay marriage through a Constitutional Amendment

17. Democrats: The Issues Gun Control: –Strong advocates for gun control –Supported both the Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban

18. Democrats: The Issues Education: –More funding for struggling schools is necessary –Tax money should not be used on religious schools

19. HOW ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE?

20. Republicans: The Issues Abortion: Pro-life; Anti-Choice –Prefers funding go towards marriage education and abstinence only campaigns –Have tried several times to pass statutes that would allow prosecution of acts that harm fetuses

21. Republicans: The Issues Gay Rights: –Against giving gays equal rights in the eyes of the law –“We do not believe sexual preference should be given special legal protection or standing in law” –Oppose idea of gay marriage; seek to define marriage as union between man and woman –Supports amendment to the Constitution defining marriage

22. Republicans: The Issues Gun Control: –Favors allowing the sale of firearms to proceed more easily, and with fewer safety precautions –Opposes any new gun-control laws –Fought the regulation and banning of assault weapons

23. Republicans: The Issues Education: –Support both the “No Child Left Behind” program and the school vouchers –Favor school vouchers because they think that by giving students more educational options, including religious schooling, a competitive market will be created Argue public schools will be forced to improve in order to retain students

24. How To Tell Em Apart Republicans usually wear hats. Ronald Reagan

25. How To Tell Em Apart Democrats usually don’t. Jimmy Carter

26. How To Tell Em Apart Democrats buy banned books. Bill Clinton

27. How To Tell Em Apart Republicans form censorship committees, and then read them. Barbara Bush

28. How To Tell Em Apart Democrats eat the fish they catch. FDR Fishing in Warms Springs, GA

29. How To Tell Em Apart Republicans hang them on their wall.

30. How To Tell Em Apart Republicans study the financial pages of the newspaper.

31. How To Tell Em Apart Democrats put them on the bottom of their bird cage.

32. How To Tell Em Apart On Saturday, Republicans head for the golf course, the yacht club, or the hunting lodge. President Dwight D. Eisenhower hunting President George W. Bush yachting and golfing.

33. How To Tell Em Apart Democrats get a haircut, wash the car, or go bowling. A younger Bill Clinton bowling

34. How To Tell Em Apart Republicans have guest rooms.

35. How To Tell Em Apart Democrats have spare rooms filled with old baby furniture.

36. How To Tell Em Apart Republicans hire exterminators

37. How To Tell Em Apart Democrats step on the bugs

38. How To Tell Em Apart Republicans sleep in twin beds – some even in separate rooms.

39. How To Tell Em Apart That is why there are more Democrats. The Kennedy Family

41. What Do Political Party Members Do?? Major function of each party is to get its candidate elected to office –Steps include 1.Party members nominate, or name the candidates they want to run for office 2004 Republican National Convention

42. What Do Political Party Members Do?? 2. Party starts an election campaign –An effort to gather support for its candidates and inform voters of the party’s stand on issues –Requires many party workers and volunteers to perform dozens of job that include : Raising funds Polling voters/making phone calls Drive voters to the polls Register voters John Kerry Campaigning

43. What Do Political Party Members Do? Presidential Election Campaigns

44. What Do Political Party Members Do? 3. Once a party’s candidate is elected, the party helps the candidate organize and manage the govt. –Example: When a President is elected, 100’s of job vacancies in govt. must be filled. Jobs usually filled by party members who have contributed time, energy and money to the campaign. –Patronage: giving jobs or special favors to party workers

45. Political Party Organization Political Parties are organized at every level: –Local Party Committee : Goal is to get candidates from party elected to local political office, like mayor, city councilman, school superintendent, etc… Mayor of Atlanta: Shirley Franklin Alvin Wilbanks: Superintendent of GCPS

46. Political Party Organization Political parties are organized at every level: –State Party Committee: Goal is to get candidates from party elected to state political office, like governor, attorney general, state legislator, etc… Georgia Governor: Sonny Perdue

47. Political Party Organization Political parties are organized at every level: –National Party Committee: Goal is to get candidates from party elected to national political office, like President, Senator, House Representative President of the U.S.: George W. Bush Georgia Senator: Saxby Chambliss Georgia Representative: John Linder

48. Third Parties What are Third Parties? –Parties representing minority opinions that challenge the Democrats and Republicans –Some successful Third Parties: Populist Party – 1890’s Progressive Party – split off from Rep. Part in 1912 Libertarian Party – third most popular party in U.S. today

49. Third Parties 3 Kinds of Third Parties –1. Parties Tied to a Single Issue:  Examples:  Prohibition Party: formed in 1872 to support banning of alcohol in the U.S.  U.S. Marijuana Party: formed to support the legalization of marijuana in the U.S.  Green Party: formed to protect the environment

50. Third Parties 3 Kinds of Third Parties –2. Parties Tied to a Political Belief  Examples:  Libertarian Party  The Third Party  Socialist Parties

51. Third Parties 3 Kinds of Third Parties –3. Parties Tied to a Single Candidate  Examples:  Reform Party – formed around Presidential candidate Ross Perot in 1996  American Independent Party – formed around Presidential candidate George Wallace in 1968

52. Third Parties America First Party American Heritage Party American Independent Party American Nazi Party Communist Party USA Constitution Party Family Values Party Grassroots Party Green Party Independence Party Labor Party Libertarian Party Light Party Natural Law Party The Third Party Worker’s World Party Peace and Freedom Party Prohibition Party Reform party The Revolution Socialist Party, USA Southern Independence Party U.S. Pacifist Party Veterans Party of America We the People Party Knights Party Libertarian National Socialist Green Party Pansexual Peace Party Pot Party Constitutional Action Party American Falangist Party U.S. Marijuana Party