1. Electing Leaders: The Two-Party System

2. Role of Political Parties
Political Party- An organization made up of citizens who have similar ideas on public issues
Citizens are free to join any political party they wish- or none at all!
You are also free to switch political parties
Political parties are concerned with actions the government should take
Political parties give individuals a voice that can be heard

3. Role of Political Parties
Political parties nominate (select) candidates to run for public office
Candidates are the men and women who run for election for political offices at various levels of government
Most candidates belong to a political party
Very difficult to get elected to any office without belonging to a party

4. Role of Political Parties
Political parties take positions on public issues
Try and pass laws that favor their positions
Try to convince voters that their party offers the best programs
Important for political parties to compromise and work together in the interest of the public

5. The Origins of the Two-Party System
First indication political parties would exist in the U.S. debates over the Constitution between Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Anti-Federalists later became the Democratic-Republicans
Federalists strong central govt.
Democratic Republicans wanted to limit the powers of the central govt.
This worried President Washington
Warned in his farewell address that political parties were dangerous because they could divide the country

6. The Two Parties
Neither political party today can truly trace its roots back to the Federalists or Democratic-Republicans
Political parties have changed names and policy positions so much over the course of U.S. history
Republican party began in 1854 as the party that opposed slavery
Now much less diverse and opposed to policies that generally benefit minorities or lower class citizens
Modern Democratic party began during Great Depression when FDR’s New Deal significantly helped minorities and the middle class
Many white voters left the Democratic party in the wake of the Civil Rights Era also

7. Advantages of the Two-Party System
Democrats and Republicans have almost equal strength in U.S. politics
Governments with two-party systems are usually pretty stable
In multiparty systems it is difficult for one party to win the majority
Two or more parties must compromise and work together
Coalition- agreement between two or more political parties to work together to run the government

8. Third Parties Many third parties exist in the U.S.
At times they have had a huge influence on politics/elections
1912- Teddy Roosevelt formed the “Bull Moose”, or Progressive, Party
Roosevelt was not elected but took many votes away from Republican William Taft- allowed Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win the presidency

9. Third Parties
1992- Independent Ross Perot won an impressive 19% of the vote
2000- Ralph Nader won an impressive number of votes in Florida that otherwise might have been won by Al Gore
Third parties propose policies and ideas that Democrats and Republicans first oppose, but then later adopt

10. One Party Governments
One-party governments are usually represented by dictatorships or totalitarian regimes
Other political parties are usually outlawed
Examples: Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, modern North Korea
U.S. opposes these types of governments
One-party systems do not allow citizens freedom of speech and action

11. ? What is the definition of political parties?
What was the first indication political parties might exist in the U.S.?
Why did George Washington warn against the formation of political parties in his farewell address?
Why can’t the Democratic and Republican parties accurately trace their roots back to the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans?
How are one-party governments usually represented?