1. Splash Screen

2. Section 1-Main Idea Guide to Reading Big Idea Political and economic institutions evolve to help individuals and groups accomplish their goals.

3. Section 1-Key Terms Guide to Reading Content Vocabulary political party two-party systemtwo-party system third party platform plank

4. A.A B.B Section 1-Polling Question Do you think that political parties are good for American politics? A.Yes B.No

5. Section 1 Political Parties Political parties play a vital role in our democratic system.

6. Section 1 Political Parties (cont.) Political parties form to win elections and influence government.Political parties Historically, the United States has been dominated by a two-party system.two-party system Washington’s warning against forming political parties

7. Section 1 Political Parties (cont.) Jefferson and Hamilton’s differing viewpoints: –Jefferson supported limited federal government (Anti-Federalist) –Hamilton believed individual rights called for a strong national government (Federeralist)

8. Section 1 Third Parties Throughout American history, additional parties have arisen to influence politics.

9. Section 1 Third Parties (cont.) Third parties have competed in the nation’s two-party system.Third parties Leading Third-Party Presidential Candidates, 1948–2004

10. Section 1 Single-Issue parties: –Promote a social, economic, or moral issue –Prohibitionist Party formed to ban alcohol –Usually do not last long Third Parties (cont.) Leading Third-Party Presidential Candidates, 1948–2004

11. Section 1 Third Parties (cont.) Ideological parties: –Support a set of beliefs or political doctrine –Socialist Labor Party, Communist Party USA, and the Libertarian Party as examples Leading Third-Party Presidential Candidates, 1948–2004

12. Section 1 Third parties forming around independent candidates Two-party tradition and raising money as obstacles to third parties Third Parties (cont.) Leading Third-Party Presidential Candidates, 1948–2004

13. Section 1 Political parties in other countries Multiparty system: Third Parties (cont.) –Three or more parties compete for control of government –Parties often must work together –Politically unstable because of competing interests

14. Section 1 One-party system –Party and government nearly the same thing –Elections as empty exercise Third Parties (cont.)

15. Section 1 How the Parties Differ Political parties play a large role in the decisions made by government.

16. Section 1 How the Parties Differ (cont.) Republicans and Democrats largely differ on the way that government should be involved in the lives of Americans. Adoption of moderate and mainstream positions Party platform made up of planksplatformplanks

17. DFS Trans 1 a democrat

18. Section 2-Main Idea Guide to Reading Big Idea Political and economic institutions evolve to help individuals and groups accomplish their goals.

19. Section 2-Key Terms Guide to Reading Content Vocabulary national committeenational committee caucus precinct ward political machine direct primary closed primary open primary plurality majority petition

20. Section 2 Organization of Political Parties Democrats and Republicans are organized into 50 state parties and thousands of local parties that operate independently of the national organization.

21. Section 2 Organization of Political Parties (cont.) The two major parties are organized at the local, state, and national levels. Organization of Political Parties

22. Section 2 Organization of Political Parties (cont.) The national committee of each party:national committee –Made of representatives from every state –Raises funds for presidential elections –Organizes the party’s national convention –Run by a national party chairperson Organization of Political Parties

23. Section 2 National Convention: –Held once every four years –Party delegates nominate candidates for president and vice president Organization of Political Parties (cont.) Organization of Political Parties

24. Section 2 Party delegates: –Chosen through presidential primary elections and caucusescaucuses –Write the party platform Organization of Political Parties (cont.) Organization of Political Parties

25. Section 2 Campaign committees: –Made of members of Congress –Help elect party members and raise money Organization of Political Parties (cont.) Organization of Political Parties

26. Section 2 State organizations of a party: –Focus on electing party candidates to state offices –Work to elect party candidates for national offices Organization of Political Parties (cont.) Local organizations of a party consisting of city, town, and county committees Organization of Political Parties

27. Section 2 Precinct:Precinct Organization of Political Parties (cont.) –Geographic area containing a specific number of voters –Voters cast ballots at the same place –Run by precinct captains –Several geographically-connected precincts make up a wardward Organization of Political Parties

28. Section 2 Organization of Political Parties (cont.) County committees: –Counties are the largest political units within a state –County chairperson has political power –Precinct and ward leaders building the party at the “grassroots” level Organization of Political Parties

29. Section 2 Political machines:Political machines –Strong local party organizations –New York City’s Tammany Hall and “Boss” Tweed –Political machines serving useful purpose in the past –Political machines considered harmful today Organization of Political Parties (cont.) Organization of Political Parties

30. Section 2 Nominating Candidates Political parties nominate candidates to run for public office.

31. Section 2 Nominating Candidates (cont.) Political parties hold primaries to nominate candidates for office Direct primary:Direct primary –Voters chose candidates to represent each party in a general election –Two main forms are closed and open primaries (Michigan- open primary)

32. Section 2 Only declared members of a party allowed to vote for party’s nominee in a closed primaryclosed primary Voters need not declare their party preference to vote for party’s nominee in an open primaryopen primary Arguments for and against the closed primary Nominating Candidates (cont.)

33. Section 2 Nominating Candidates (cont.) Winning a primary: –Plurality of votesPlurality –Majority of votesMajority –Winner becomes party candidate in the general election Unaffiliated candidates added to ballots by petition petition

34. Section 2 Other Party Roles In addition to nominating candidates for office, political parties have many other responsibilities.

35. Section 2 Other Party Roles (cont.) Political parties perform many functions that allow citizens to communicate with the government.

36. Section 2 Functions of political parties: Other Party Roles (cont.) –Campaigning for candidates –Informing citizens –Carrying the people’s message –Operating the government –Acting as a watchdog –Linking the different levels of government

37. VS 1 What Is a Political Party? A political party is a group of individuals outside of government that organizes to win elections, to operate the government, and to determine policy.

38. VS 2 Political Parties Form Shortly after our nation began, two political parties formed. The basic difference between the two parties today is their beliefs in how much the government should be involved in Americans’ lives. In the United States, we have a two-party system, which means that two major parties—the Democrats and the Republicans—dominate national politics.

39. VS 3 Organization Each party has a national committee and congressional campaign committees. Each party also has 50 state committees and many local party organizations. In the past, some local party organizations became so powerful that their candidates won almost every election. These were known as political machines.