1. What is a Political Party?
Political Party- A group of people, joined together on the basis of common principles, who seek to control government in order to affect certain public policies and programs.
What are the two major political parties in our government today?
Democratic Party
Republican Party
*Since our nation’s beginnings, the two party system has been influential in American politics.*

2. Political Parties What do they do?
-Political Parties serve as a vital link between the people and their government (the governed and those who govern.)
-Political Parties serve the will of the people they represent.
-Political Parties bring conflicting groups together.
- They soften the impact of extremists at both ends.

3. Political Parties Functions of Political Parties:
The main function of a political party is to nominate candidates for public office.
Parties find candidates for office and then gather support for them amongst the people.
People, in turn, vote for the candidates that the Party has selected.
Parties try to inform and inspire the people.
Each party tries to inform the people as it thinks they should be informed- they choose and take stands on certain issues to gain as much support as possible. (i.e abortion, greenhouse, medicare).
They inform the people through pamphlets, signs, debates, bumper stickers.

4. Political Parties Functions of Political Parties: Governing
Governing based on Partisanship- conducting decisions based on the strong support of their party and its policy stands.
Most executive offices (the cabinet for example) is based on party considerations.
However, political parties must work together to make bipartisan decisions in order for our government to function.
Acting as a Watchdog
The party out of power consistently acts as a watchdog by criticizing the policies and behaviors of the party in power.
In American Politics, the party in power is the party that controls the Executive Branch. (president- national, governor- state).

5. The 3 Types of Party Systems
What are the 3 main types of party systems?
Two-Party- In American Politics, there are typically only two parties that have a chance at winning an election, the Republicans or Democrats.
One-Party- Exists in nearly all dictatorships today, in essence, it is really the “no party” system.
Multiparty- A system in which several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for, and actually win, public offices.

6. The Two-Party System
What were the original two-parties that existed in the beginning of our nation?
-The fact that our nation began with a two-party system is a leading reason for the retention of the two party system.
The Electoral System helps promote the Two-Party System in 3 major ways.
1. Single-member districts- nearly all elections are contests in which only one candidate is elected to each office.
-”winner take all elections”.
2. Plurality- the candidate who receives the largest number of votes for office is the winner.
-not the majority.
-Plurality leads people to believe that a minor party vote is essentially a “wasted vote”.

7. The Two Party System (Cont.)
3. Bipartisan- Politicians in the two major parties agree on common ground and work together on issues.
-This discourages the non-major party candidates.
The Electoral System is deliberately shaped by Republicans and Democrats to preserve and defend the two-party system.
-In most states, it is difficult for minor parties and independents to get their candidates even listed on the ballot.

8. The Four Major Eras of American Political Parties
The Era of the Democrats ( )
-lasted from the election of Jefferson to the Civil War.
2. The Era of the Republicans ( )
-The Civil War swung the popular vote to the Republicans.
3. The Return of the Democrats ( )
-What major event happened in 1932?
4. The Modern Era (1968-present day)
-marked by an era of divided government.

9. Minor Parties
Although minor parties rarely have a chance of winning the presidency, they still play a vital role in American Politics.
There are 4 main types of minor parties:
Ideological Parties
Single Issue Parties
Economic Protest Parties
Splinter Parties

10. Minor Parties Ideological Parties
-A political party that is based on a particular set of beliefs- a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters.
Most Ideological Parties are shaped on Marxist thought (ex. Include: Socialist, Socialist Labor, and Communist)
The most famous Ideological Party today is the Libertarian Party- this party calls for a more laissez-faire style of government function and programs.
Although Ideological Parties rarely have gained many votes, they have been long lived in American Politics.

11. Minor Parties Single Issue Parties
A single issue party focuses on only one public-policy matter.
Most single issue parties do not last. Why?
Examples of Single Issue Parties include:
- Free Soil Party
- ”Know Nothings”
- Right to Life Party
- The Green Party

12. Minor Parties Economic Protest Parties
Parties that are rooted in addressing and changing economic problems in America.
These parties arise when there is an economic downturn and disappear when the economy turns itself around.
They target enemies such as the monetary system, “Wall Street Bankers”, railroads, or foreign imports.
Examples of Economic Protest Parties are the Greenback Party and the Populist Party.

13. Minor Parties Splinter Parties
-These parties split away from one of the two major parties.
Splinter Parties have been the most successful type of minor party in American Politics.
They normally arise and form around a popular political figure who has failed to gain their party’s nomination.
Examples of popular Splinter Parties are: Teddy Roosevelt’s “Bull Moose” Progressive Party, Henry Wallace’s Progressive Party, and the States’ Rights Party.
Splinter Parties normally fade away once the individual that they center around fades out of the political spotlight.

14. Minor Parties Why Minor Parties are Important:
They developed the national convention method of electing presidential candidates.
They can often play the “spoiler role”.
Minor Parties bring up issues that major parties want to avoid.
-This forces them to eventually address the issue.

15. Party Organization American Political Parties are decentralized.
-What does this mean exactly?
-How does the nominating process feed decentralized politics?
The structure of both major parties at the national level has four basic elements:
National Convention
The National Committee
The National Chairperson (Schultz and Preibus)
The Congressional Campaign Committees

16. Party Organization Local level organization:
-Local party organization varies from place to place.
-Why would this vary from one part of a state from another?
Ward- A local unit into which cities are often divided for the election of city council members.
Precinct-Smallest unit of election administration; wards are divided into precincts.

17. Three Components of a Party
Political parties can be examined from a social standpoint through the roles that are played by the party’s members.
The two major parties are composed of three basic and closely interrelated components:
Party Organization- Party leaders and activists who give time, money, and their skills to the party.
Party in the electorate- party loyalists who vote the straight party ticket.
Party in the government- party officeholders, those who have been elected to office in one of the 3 branches.

18. Weakened Political Parties
Since 1960, the two major political parties have been on the decline.
They have been weakened due to 5 major reasons:
The growing number of independents.
Split ticket voting- voting for candidates of different parties for different in the same election.
Changes and reforms that have led to greater internal conflict and disorganization.
Changes in technology used for campaigning for office- makes the voter less dependent on party organization.
The growth of single-issue organizations in politics.

19. Political Party Timeline
Split into Groups of Four- Pick your own groups.
Each person in the group will be responsible for one of the four main political party eras.
Using your knowledge on these eras and your book, create a timeline for the portion of your era.
Your timeline must include:
An explanation in the shift of power
At least 3 major elections/presidencies
What type of Americans supported your party’s era.
Any major programs or events that took place during your party’s era
An illustration/visual explaining your party’s era
Once you have finished, combine your timeline with your group members to create one large timeline that covers all four eras.
You will teach your era to your group members.