1. A Two-Party System
C.E.5

2. POLITICAL PARTIES WHAT ARE THEY

3. The Main Idea
Political parties play an important role in the American democratic process. Party supporters put their political ideas to work at all levels of government.

4. What is a political party?
A group of citizens with similar views on public issues who work to put their ideas into effective government action.

5. What is the role of political parties in the United States?
Way for large groups with similar ideas to get things done
Take positions on public issues and work to pass laws

6. What are the functions of political parties?
Recruiting and nominating candidates
Educating the electorate about campaign issues
Helping candidates win elections
Monitoring actions of office holders

7. What is the role of political parties in the United States?
Allows individuals to have a stronger voice within a group
Parties must compromise and work together

8. Similarities and Differences between political parties
Organize to win elections
Influence public opinion
Reflect both liberal and conservative views
Define themselves in a way that wins the majority support by appealing to the political center
Stated in party platforms and reflected in campaigning

9. Third-Parties Introduce new ideas and/or press for a particular issue
Often revolve around a political personality
(e.g., Theodore Roosevelt)

10. What is a One-party political system?
dictatorships or totalitarian governments; one group or person has power; people do not have essential freedoms

11. What is a Two-party political system?
create stable governments; allow for majority rule; voters have a choice

12. The Creation of the Democratic & Republican Parties
1854—Republican Party formed by antislavery groups; nominated Abraham Lincoln for president in 1860
1828—Andrew Jackson led the Democratic Party; determined the government should represent the “common people”

13. What are the differences between one- and two-party systems?
One-Party System
Two-Party System
Usually a totalitarian government
Usually an unlimited government
A government unrestrained by the people
Opposition parties illegal
Usually restrictive of civil and political rights
Usually forms a stable government
Usually a limited government
Composed of a diverse group of people who share similar political beliefs
Elections are based on a “winner take all” format
Usually civil and political rights are protected

14. Platform and Plank
Platform is a series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues
Planks are the individual portions of the platform.
For example, there is portion of the platform that deals with economic issues and specific plank would be taxes.

15. The platforms

18. Political Party Organization

19. The Main Idea
Political parties have workers and committees at the local, state, and national levels. The party nominates candidates for office and campaigns to get those candidates elected.

20. Organization of Political Party
National Chair person and committee
State Chairperson and State Committee
Local Chair person
City, Town, or County committee

21. What does a party do at the National level?
Each party has a national committee that has a chairperson. The role of the committee and chairperson is to help raise money for national elections and organize the party’s national convention.
Republican national chairperson: Ronna Romney McDaniel
Democratic national chairperson: Donna Brazile interim Chairperson

22. What is the national convention?
Every four years each political party nominate their candidates for President and Vice President.
They also prepare the platform at the convention
How do you become a delegate at the convention ?
You are chosen by local and state party leaders .
For example, Wake county will be choosing two delegates to go the Democratic Party Convention. They will vote on this on 4/16.

23. State and Local level organizations
Each state has a state level for their party.
For example, North Carolina has the NC Republic Party committee and the Democratic Party committee
Each city or county is divided into precincts which are geographic areas with a specific number of voters.
Everyone in the same precinct votes at the same polling place.

24. Nominating Candidates
One of the roles of a political party is to nominate candidates for elections. The primary way this is done is through a direct primary.

25. Direct Primaries
A direct primary is when voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general election.
The general election is when you choose which party wins.

26. Open v. Closed Primaries
Most states use a closed primary. A closed primary is when only declared party members are allowed to vote for that party’s nominees.
Open primary- this is when voters do not need to declare a party in order to vote for the parties nominees.

27. What does NC have? http://www.ncvoter.org/who-can-vote/