1. Political Parties

2. Objective Monday 2/6
Analyze the origins, development, and role of Political Parties

3. Warm Up 2/6
Brainstorm:
What comes to mind when you hear “Political Parties?”

4. Political Parties
Group of people who seek to control government through the winning of elections/public office
6 main political parties in US
2 mainly dominate national politics:
Democrats and Republicans

5. 5 Purposes of Political Parties
Nominate Candidates

6. Purposes 2. Informing and Activating Supporters
Get Americans involved in political system
Biased info. Based on getting votes

7. Purposes 3. “Bonding Agent” Bond: agreement
Seek qualified candidates because the party wants votes/power

8. Purposes
4. Governing
Work in different branches to create Constitutional and legislative change
Reliant upon partisanship
Strong support for party and its policy stances

9. Purposes
5. “Watchdog”
Party out of power will keep an eye on party in power

10. The Two-Party System
The nation’s first two parties: Federalists and Anti- Federalists

11. The Electoral System Key Terms
Single-Member Districts: “Winner takes all” elections
Plurality: The winning candidate receives the largest number of votes
Bipartisan: When the parties find common ground and work together
Pluralistic Society: Several distinct cultures, ethnicities, races, religions, etc. that compete for and share in the exercise for political power (ex. US)
Consensus: A general agreement

12. Other Political Systems
-Multiparty Systems (ex. Europe and India)
-Coalition: Temporary alliance of several groups who come together to form a working majority and so to control a government
-One-Party System = “No Party System” (ex. Stalin/Dictatorship)

13. The Two-Party System in US History
Youtube Video