1. American Political Parties
RIXIE
Unit 3, Chapter 8

2. Warm-up: What message is being conveyed by this political cartoon
Warm-up: What message is being conveyed by this political cartoon? What are your thoughts on the 2-party system?

3. What is a political party?
A team of people trying to control government bodies by gaining office in fair and free elections
Major goal?
WIN!!!
What is a political party?

4. Party in the electorate
Party as an organization
Party in government
The “3-Headed Giant”

5. What do parties do? Serve as a linkage institution Key Functions:
Recruit/pick candidates
Run campaigns
Give voters cues/”get out the vote”
Articulate policies to choose from
Coordinate policymaking/influence gov’t
What do parties do?

6. Party Eras: Bring on the history!!!!
Periods of time with one party getting most votes and therefore the power
Starts with a critical election
New issues may divide the voters
Causes a realignment
Majority party usually gets displaced
Party Eras: Bring on the history!!!!

7. Party Eras in American History
Time Period
Description of dominant party: Name, leaders, supporters, & key issues
Description of competing party:
Name, leaders, supporters, & key issues
1968-Present

8. You (along with several others in the class) will be assigned one of 6 party eras we will learn about.
We will watch a Crash Course video, during which you should pay careful attention when your assigned party era is discussed, jotting down as many notes as you can.
After the video, you will meet with your fellow group members, compare notes, and consult the textbook (p ) for clarification.
Next, you will fill in your part of the chart with clear & significant information (decide as a group what to include!).
Then, we will have 5 rounds of 5 minutes each. During each round, you will find someone from another group and exchange information on your chart. Repeat until the chart is complete!
Party Eras Assignment

9. Rational Choice Theory:
Tries to explain actions of voters & politicians
Assumes individuals act in their own self- interest
Two assumptions of this theory:
Voters want gov’t to adopt policies they favor.
Parties want to win office.
The Downs Model

10. The party that figures out what voters want will have success
Parties have to stand out from each other, but also appeal to both their core supporters & moderates
What does this mean?

11. Party in the Electorate
Formal membership not required
To be a member, you just have to identify your preference for that party
Many vote completely based on party
Others do “ticket splitting”
Vote with one party for one office and the other for another office
Party in the Electorate

12. Party in the Organization
American political parties are decentralized and fragmented.
Party in the Organization

13. Party in the Organization
Local organizations:
How has the role changed with reforms after the patronage/party machine era?
Party in the Organization

14. Party in the Organization
State organizations:
What is their main job?
Types of primaries?
Party in the Organization

15. Party in the Organization
National organization:
Know the vocab!
National convention
National committee
National chairperson
Party in the Organization

16. Actual government officials, usually elected
More officials, more influence
Candidates make promises to get in office
Some are broken, but most are kept
Party in Government