1. US Political Parties
Chapter 5

2. What do parties do? Nominate Candidates Source of Information
Qualify candidates
Organize their members
Provide an organized platform
Police the government (watchdog)

3. 2-Party System 2 dominant parties Single member districts
Winner take all—Plurality vs. majority
Compromise/Consensus

4. Multiparty System Many parties share power Fragmented
Coalition instead of Consensus

5. Single Party
Dictatorship
No party system=no choice

6. US 2-Party Characteristics
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
Incumbents rule
Unified vs. Divided government
4 distinct eras (section 3)

7. Types of Minor Parties Ideological (D, R) Single issue
Economic Protest
Splinter
Public Interest
Minor parties are important in a 2 party system

8. (visual)

9. Minor Parties: Where would you fit the following? Communist Party
Free Soil Party
Greenback Party
Independent Party
Green Party

10. Minor Parties in the United States
Types of Minor Parties
Ideological Parties
Examples: Libertarian Party; Communist Party
Single-issue Parties
Example: Free Soil Party
Economic Protest Parties
Examples: The Greenback Party ( ); Populist Party (1890s)
Splinter Party
Example: TR’s “Bull Moose” Progressive Party (1912); Independent Party (1968)

11. Major Party Organization
President’s party is better organized (one leader to look to)
National Chairperson
National Committee
National Convention
Congressional Campaign Committee

12. 3 levels to the party National raises big money Has a large staff
Very influential
State has a small full time staff
Recruits for offices
Local is active a few months around election time
Part time
Small fundraising

13. 3 Components of the Party
Party organization—leaders, campaign workers
Party in the electorate—voters, $
Party in government—office holders, policy makers

14. The Future of US parties
Split ticket voting
More independent voters
Less need by candidates—media access, fundraising
Issue based voters
(General weakening of Parties)