1. Political Ideology & Voting
Chapter 5 Sections 2 & 4
Chapter 6 Sections 1 & 4

2. Two Party System – system of government that sees two major political parties dominating power (USA)
Multiparty System – a system where several major and many lesser parties compete for and actually win public offices. (Great Britain)
One Party System – government run by a dictatorship…only party in existence is that of the dictator. (Cuba)
Types of party systems

3. “America has a two party system because it has a two party system”
Electoral System – many states make it difficult for a minority party to get on a ballot.
Ideological Consensus- Americans share many of the same basic principles.
Why a Two Party System?

4. Minority Parties

5. Types of Minority Parties
Ideological Parties
Single-Issue
Parties
Economic Protest
Parties
Splinter Parties
Types of Minority Parties

6. Based on a particular set of beliefs – such as comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters
Examples – Socialist, Communist, and Libertarian Parties.
Ideological Parties

7. Single-Issue Parties Generally focus on one public-policy matter.
Generally short lived… die when their issue dies.
Examples – Know Nothings
Single-Issue Parties

8. Economic Protest Parties
No clear-cut ideological base
General discontent with the major parties.
Rooted in times of economic hardship.
Example – Greenback Party, Populist Party
Die when the economy rebounds.
Economic Protest Parties

9. Splinter Parties Occur when a group breaks away from a majority party.
General the most effective minority parties.
Examples – Progressive Party aka Bull Moose Party, Green Party
Splinter Parties

10. Importance of Minority Parties
Role of Spoiler
Innovation of ideas – minority parties are quick to tackle controversial issues.
Downside – when minority party issues gain popular support the majority parties absorb the issue(s) into their platforms.
Importance of Minority Parties

11. The Right to Vote
Chapter 6 Section1

12. Five Stages of Suffrage
1810 – no state required a religious test, property ownership as a qualification
15th Amendment – 1870 prohibited restricting the right to vote based on race or color.
19th Amendment – prohibited restricting voting based on gender.
23rd & 24th Amendments – added D.C. votes to the electorate, eliminates the poll tax.
26th Amendment – lowered the voting age to 18 years.
Five Stages of Suffrage

13. Voter Behavior
Chapter 6 Section 4

14. Idiot – Greek idiotes – citizens who did not vote or otherwise take part in public life.
1968 – 60.9% of eligible voters cast votes in the Presidential election. Last time the percentage has been above 56%.
Off-year Elections – ones where the Presidency is not up for grabs…even worse numbers. See chart page 165
Nonvoters

15. Cannot-voters – 10 million resident aliens, 5- 6 million citizens ill or physically disabled, 2-3 million unexpectedly traveling, two million incarcerated, 100,000+ who cannot vote because of religious beliefs.
Actual nonvoters
Group 1 – generally approve of the way things are going and do not care who wins as they believe things will stay the same.
Group 2 – people who distrust the political system and do not feel their vote will have an influence.
Why People Do Not Vote