2. The Nature and Functions of American Political Parties

3. “No America without democracy, no democracy without politics, no politics without parties, no parties without compromise and moderation.”
--Clinton Rossiter

4. Topical Outline What Are Political Parties?
A. Definition of Political Parties
B. Classification of Political Parties
C. What do Political Parties do?

5. What is a Political Party?

6. Do You Think of Political Party Leaders?

7. Do You Think of Political Party Symbols?

8. Do You Think of Political Party Conventions?

9. Do You Think of Political Campaigns?

10. Do You Think of Divisions in Congress?

11. Do You Think of Political Parties Positively?
Do You Think of Political Parties Negatively?

12. No Holds Barred
Politics is the effort to control or influence the conduct and policies of government.
There are 2 major political parties in the U.S. –
Democratic
and Republican.

13. What is a……

14. Someone Say Party??
-A political party is a group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, and determine public policy.
-A political party is group of people who run candidates for public office under its banner.
-A political party is an Organization of people who share similar ideas about the way the country should be governed
How do you join a political party?
simply declare yourself a member!!

15. Political Party Systems
3 Political Party Systems in the World

16. Political Party Systems
3 Political Party Systems in the World
1.) One Party System: Political party and the government are the SAME
Only 1 party, so no competing ideas
Party membership based on lineage, wealth, military power, religious power
Example: China (Communist Party)

17. Political Party Systems
2.) Multi-Party System: Three or more parties compete for control of the government
Common in Europe, Israel, Japan
Advantage: provides voters with many choices and ideas
Disadvantage: difficult for one party to get majority of votes
EXAMPLE – Italy (50 different govts. since WWII)
Daisy Alliance Sunflower Alliance Italian Communist
500,000 votes ,000 votes ,000 votes

18. Political Party Systems
3. Two-Party System: Two parties compete with each other to run the government.
Party system of U.S.: Democrats and Republicans
Advantages: Consistency
Disadvantages: Few Choices, Minority parties (third parties) receive little attention – focus is on two main parties

19. Why A Two-Party System? A. Tradition C. Economic Divisions
It seems the United States has nearly always had a strong two-party system.
It is part of our nation’s history and tradition.
B. Social Consensus
If a nation can achieve a “consensus” on fundamental values, then two parties are all that is needed to resolve secondary issues.
C. Economic Divisions
Some believe our two major political parties represent an economic division between the so-called “haves” and “have nots” in American society.

20. What Do Political Parties Do??
2004 Republican National
Convention

21. Platform
a political party’s statement of programs and policies it will pursue once its candidates are in office.

22. Planks
An individual policy within a political party’s platform

23. What Do Political Party Members Do??
Major function of each party is to get its candidate elected to office
Steps include
Party members nominate, or name the candidates they want to run for office
2004 Republican National
Convention

24. What Do Political Party Members Do??
2. Party starts an election campaign
An effort to gather support for its candidates and inform voters of the party’s stand on issues
Requires many party workers and volunteers to perform dozens of job that include:
Raising funds
Polling voters/making phone calls
Drive voters to the polls
Register voters
John Kerry Campaigning

25. What Do Political Party Members Do?
Presidential Election Campaigns

26. Campaigns
In order to win an election, a candidate must have an effective campaign (strategy for winning/process of running for office).
Campaigns are supported by political action committees (PACS) – contribute money to campaigns of candidates they support

27. Canvassing
When volunteers go door-to-door in neighborhoods or station themselves in public places for the purpose of encouraging citizens to vote for their candidate.

28. What Do Political Party Members Do?
3. Once a party’s candidate is elected, the party helps the candidate organize and manage the govt.
Example: When a President is elected, 100’s of job vacancies in govt. must be filled. Jobs usually filled by party members who have contributed time, energy and money to the campaign.
Patronage: giving jobs or special favors to party workers

29. Political Party Organization
Political Parties are organized at every level:
Local Party Committee : Goal is to get candidates from party elected to local political office, like mayor, city councilman, school superintendent, etc…
State Party Committee: Goal is to get candidates from party elected to state political office, like governor, attorney general, state legislator, etc…
National Party Committee: Goal is to get candidates from party elected to national political office, like President, Senator, House Representative

30. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings
George Washington’s “Farewell Address” warns against political parties
“parties serve their own interests”
“parties not beneficial to American people”
Parties formed immediately after his exit:
Democratically-Republicans
2. Federalists

31. Third Parties
There are other parties besides the Democrats and the Republicans in the USA
All smaller parties are called Third Parties

32. Important 3rd Parties of the Past
Some third parties have had an impact in this country
Populists-popular in the 1890s, agrarian, pro-labor, anti-elite, city, bank, gold, railroad
Progressives-effected the 1912 presidential election by taking votes from the republicans and allowing Woodrow Wilson to win the election for the democrats
Libertarian Party- Socially Liberal, Economically Conservative

33. Third Parties Third Parties arise for 1 of 3 reasons:
Single–issue parties: try to get a single idea passed. Once they do, they fade away. EX: Prohibition Party, Green Party
Ideological parties: focus on changing the country in some way. EX: Socialist Party, Libertarian Party
Independent candidates: arise around a strong individual. EX: The Reform Party (created for H. Ross Perot)

34. Third Parties cont Obstacles
Third party candidates must obtain a large number of voter signatures to be placed on the ballot
Trouble raising enough money

35. Third Parties
Third parties very rarely ever win an election but can influence it in two ways:
bring attention to issues usually adopted by major parties
“spoiler” role

36. Third Parties America First Party American Heritage Party
American Independent Party
American Nazi Party
Communist Party USA
Constitution Party
Family Values Party
Grassroots Party
American Falangist Party
U.S. Marijuana Party
Green Party
Independence Party
Labor Party
Libertarian Party
Natural Law Party
The Third Party
Worker’s World Party
We the People Party
Knights Party
Libertarian National Socialist Party
Constitutional Action Party
Peace and Freedom Party
Prohibition Party
Reform party
The Revolution
Socialist Party, USA
Southern Independence Party
U.S. Pacifist Party
Veterans Party of America
Pansexual Peace Party
Pot Party

38. Where You Can Find Them Republicans Democrats South Midwest
Sm. Businesses
Sm. Towns (Rural)
Bible Belt
Democrats
West Coast
East Coast
Minorities
Lg. Cities (Urban)

39. Is our country red??

40. or blue??

41. Source: Richard J. Hardy. Government in America
Source: Richard J. Hardy. Government in America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, P. 275.

42. V. What are the Differences between Democrats and Republicans?
Topical Outline
V. What are the Differences between Democrats and Republicans?
A. Differences in public policy
B. Differences in core membership

43. National Convention
National meeting held by the major political parties every four years which consists of delegates (representatives) from each state and US territories that meet to nominate (choose) candidates for president and vie president, as well as draft the party’s platform.

44. Parties Want VOTES! Majority Vote Plurality Vote
When a party must win the majority of votes cast in order to win the election (more than half of the votes)
Plurality Vote
When a party does not need to win a majority of votes; it simply needs to win more than the other parties in order to be victorious in an election and hold the most influence.

45. Political Party Organization
Democratic State Senator:
Andy Manar
President of the U.S.:
Barack Obama
Illinois Senator:
Dick Durbin

46. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings
Democratic-Republicans
Supported states rights
Supported economy based on agriculture
Power in hands of all people
Led by Thomas Jefferson

47. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings
Federalists
Supported strong national govt.
Supported economy based on industry
Power in hands of wealthy and educated
Led by Alexander Hamilton

48. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings
Federalists Breakup
Federalists gradually disappear – no political momentum
John Adams only party member to be elected President
Supporters formed new party: Whig Party ( )

49. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings
Mid 1820’s: Democratic-Republicans breaking up
Democratic Party formed to continue representing small farmers and working people

50. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings
1850’s: Democratic Party and Whig Party split over slavery
Pro-slavery voters form Democratic Party
Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats formed Republican Party

51. U.S Political Parties: Beginnings
Republican Party
1860: Abe Lincoln becomes 1st Republican President
Emerges as stronger of 2 parties after Civil War
:Only 2 Democratic Presidents elected
Grover Cleveland
Woodrow Wilson

52. Democrats 1828 formed in support of Andrew Jackson
Stressed their ties to the common people
Whigs split to compete with Democrats
Democrats and Whigs remained the two major political parties until the 1850s