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Chapter 8- Political Parties
Objective – Students will be able to answer questions regarding political parties. SECTION © 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc.
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Party Structure American Government National Convention – meets every 4 years, nominates President National Committee – manages party affairs on daily basis Congressional campaign committee – supports party’s candidates National chair – manages daily work
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Goal of a Political Party?
American Government WIN ELECTIONS
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Function of Parties American Government Connecting citizens to government (linkage institution) -Political Efficacy – citizen participation level and awareness of government decisions Run candidates for political office Inform the public – help voters decide who to vote for in elections Organizing government – coordinate government policy-making
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Why 2 parties? Winner-take-all system
American Government Winner-take-all system Winner receives a seat while loser receives nothing 3rd party usually joins one of other parties Opposite – Proportional Representation – % of votes is directly applied as the % of representatives
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“Grass Roots” American Government “Grass Roots” – parties can also reach the voters personally and “get-out-the-vote” on a local level
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Minor Parties Third Parties have played a role in politics Types
American Government Third Parties have played a role in politics Types Individual personality – those dominated by one figure head (Ex. – 1912 Theodore Roosevelt – Bull-Moose, 1968 George Wallace – American Independent Party) Long-lasting goal or ideology – (Ex. – Abolitionists, Prohibitionists, Socialists)
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Party Identification American Government Dealignment – weak membership, more “independents” or moderates – popular trend in the last 50 years Strait ticket voting – strong party membership, support all candidates for one party Ticket splitting – voting for candidates from multiple parties
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Realignment? American Government “Gridlock” – Congress and Presidency controlled by different parties Republican sweep of Congress and Presidency split the Presidency and Congress 2008 – Democratic sweep 2010- Republicans take over the House 2012- split the Presidency and the Congress
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Section Assessment Describe the functions of political parties.
2. Describe the reasons why we have a two party system in the United States.
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Summary: In a paragraph, describe what you have learned today.
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