1. Political Parties

2. Parties and What They Do
What is a political party?
A group of persons who seek to control govt. thru the winning of elections and holding of public office
Two major parties in the U.S.
Democrats and Republicans

3. More specifically………
A political party is a group of persons who seek to control govt. in order to affect certain public policies and programs
Important: the two major
parties in the U.S. do not fit this
definition; they are election
oriented.

4. What Do Parties Really Do?
Political Parties Role:
Essential to representative govt.
Medium thru which policy and leadership choices are presented to voters
Link between government and its citizens
Bring conflicting groups together thru compromise

5. Major Functions of Political Parties
Nominate candidates to run for public offices
Informing and activating supporters
campaign for candidates
take stands on issues
criticize the opposition candidates
“educational process” : advertising material, speeches, rallies

6. 3) Bonding Agent
Parties ensure the “good” performance of its candidates and officeholders
4) Governing
Those who govern are chosen based on party
Partisanship: strong support of their party and its policy stands
Separation of powers agreement: political parties help the executive and legislative branches work together
5) Watchdog
“party in power “ controls the executive branch
other party criticizes the policies and behavior in an effort to sway public opinion

7. The Two-Party System How and why did it begin?
No mention of political parties in the Constitution. Washington warned the country against political factions and divisiveness.
Four major reasons:
Historical Basis
Force of Tradition
Electoral System
American Ideological Consensus

8. Historical Basis
Argument over the ratification of the Constitution gave rise to two factions:
Federalist: lead by Alexander Hamilton
Anti-Federalist: which became the Democratic-Republicans or the party of Thomas Jefferson

9. Force of Tradition
Once established, human institutions are likely to be self-perpetuating.
Why do most Americans accept the idea of a two-party system?
Because the institution has always existed!!!!!!!!!

10. Electoral System
Single member voting districts: contest in which only one candidate is elected to each office on the ballot
winner-take-all election
minor candidate vote is a “wasted vote”
Election laws: much of the legislation is written to discourage minor party candidates
Demo and Rep work together to make it difficult for minor parties and Independent candidates to get on ballots

11. American Ideological Consensus
Pluralistic society: a society consisting of several distinct cultures and groups
However, over time, the American people have come to share many of the same ideals, basic principles and patterns of belief or come to a consensus
Consensus: general agreement among various groups on fundamental matters
How has the Ideological Consensus made the two major parties look alike?
Both parties attempt to be “moderate”(take the middle), in an effort to reach the center of the voting population.

12. Multiparty Systems
Multiparty: system in which several major parties and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for, and actually win public offices
Ex. Many European Democracies (Italy)
Weakness
One party is often unable to win the support of the majority of the voters.
Coalition governments: temporary alliances of several groups who come together to form a working majority

13. One-Party System
Refer to most dictatorships in the world today and is really a “no-party” system (Ex. North Korea, China, Cuba)
Certain regions of the U.S and certain states have had periods where one-party dominated to such an extent that it was perceived to be under one-party control.

14. Two-Party System In America
Federalist
Party of Hamilton
“rich and well-born”
Strong central government
Economy based on manufacturing and trade
- Supporters were artisans, merchants, bankers
manufacturers and Eastern farmers
Liberal interpretation of the Constitution
Democratic-Republicans
Party of Jefferson
“common man”
Limited role for the central government
Economy based on agriculture
- Support came from the rural south and west
and were usually farmers
Strict interpretation of the Constitution

15. American Political Parties: Four Major Eras
Era of the Democrats ( )
Federalist Party disappears by 1816
President James Monroe=“Era of Good Feelings” ( )
Pres. Andrew Jackson=“Jacksonian America” ( )
Several changes to the political landscape under Jackson
voting rights for all male whites
larger bureaucracy
“spoils system” : jobs and favor for political support
However, a split occurs within the Democratic Party in the mid 1820’s.

16. Whig Party Considered the other major party from the mid 1830’s-1850’s
Led by Henry Clay (KY) and Daniel Webster (MA)
Drew support from eastern bankers, Industrialists and large southern plantations
Opposed Jackson and supported high tariffs (tax on imports)
Elected two presidents, both war hero’s (William Henry Harrison & Zachary Taylor)

17. B. Era of the Republicans, 1860-1932
Slavery issue divided the Democrats into North and South
Rise of the Republican Party:
Founded in 1854
Also called the GOP or “Grand Old Party”
Formed from former Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats
Election of Lincoln in 1860 began 75 years of dominating national politics
drew support from businesses, banks, farmers and newly freed African Americans

18. Era of Republicans, 1860-1932 Election of 1896:
Democratic Party attempted to rebuild after the Civil War and the Reconstruction period (“Solid South”)
Won the White House only twice during the remainder of the century (Grover Cleveland in 1884 and 1892)
Election of 1896:
battle between financial monopolies & railroads vs. small
business, farmers and labor unions
Republican William McKinley wins

19. Election of 1912: A Republican Split
Republicans nominate the Incumbent William Howard Taft over former President Teddy Roosevelt
Roosevelt forms the “Bull Moose” Progressive Party
Allows the Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win
Republicans take back the White House in 1920, 1924,
And 1928.

20. C. Return of the Democrats, 1932-1968
The Great Depression of the late 1920’s changed the political landscape and marked a shift in how Americans viewed the role of government.
Dem. Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) begins the first of his record four terms in 1932.
Democratic support came from southerners, labor unions, and big-city political organizations
Harry Truman completed
FDR’s 4th term and then won
a slim victory Gov. Dewey
of NY in 1948

21. Republican and WWII hero Dwight Eisenhower won in 1952 and 1956 over Adlai Stevenson 0f Illinois.
Senator John Kennedy (JFK) reclaimed
the White House in 1960 w/a narrow
victory over VP Richard Nixon.
Lyndon Johnson succeeded JFK after his
assassination an won in a landslide in 1964.

22. Start of A New Era
Civil Rights, the Vietnam War and social welfare issues hurt the Democratic party in the late 1960’s.
Republican Richard Nixon defeated VP Hubert Humphrey and 3rd Party candidate George Wallace in 1968.
Nixon is re-elected in 1972 but resigns in the wake of the Watergate scandal .
Democratic Gov. Jimmy Carter of GA defeats Gerald Ford in 1976

23. A worsening economy and the Iran Hostage Crisis leads to a landslide victory for Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980.
Republicans will control the White House until 1992 when Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton defeats Pres. George H.W. Bush.
Republican George W. Bush wins in 2000 and 2004 , and in doing so, becomes the second father/son tandem to serve as President.
Democrat Barack Obama becomes the first African-American elected President of the U.S. in 2008 and is currently serving his second term.

24. The Minor Parties Fall into four categories:
Ideological parties: based on a particular set of beliefs that center around social and economic issues (Ex. Libertarian, Socialist and Communist Parties)
- Libertarian Party: emphasize individualism and less government
Single-issue parties: focus on one public policy matter
Free Soil Party: opposed the spread of slavery on the mid 1800’s
American Party(“Know Nothings”): opposed Irish-Catholic immigration in the 1850’s

25. 3) Economic protest parties: developed due to economic hard-ships - focused attention on the monetary system, “Wall Street Banker”, the railroads (Greenback Party and the Populist Party of the late 1800’s) 4) Splinter parties: split within the major parties and formed around a “strong personality” - Progressive Party or “Bull Moose”-Teddy Roosevelt (1912) - States’ Rights Party or “Dixiecrats” – Strom Thurmond (1948) - American Independent Party- George Wallace (1968)