1. Political Parties

2. What’s a party? American Government defines it as “a group of office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who identify with a group label and seek to elect to public office individuals who run under that label” (449).

3. Three groups who make up the party 1. The office holders and candidates who run under the party banner. 2. The workers and activists who staff the formal organization. The workers and activists who staff the formal organization. 3. The voters who consider themselves a part of the party.

4. Roles of the parties 1. Mobilize support and gather strength – give office holders a chance to develop policy and then gain supporters Mobilize support and gather strength – give office holders a chance to develop policy and then gain supporters 2. Stability – they offer continuity during change 3. Unity – connect people from different backgrounds and political units competing for power (i.e., the state and the fed) 4. Access – provide a means of communication between office holder and voter. 5. Accountability – office holders have to address party members at rallies 6. Competition – two parties, close races, what fun! 7. Filter – act as a means for processing information for both candidate and voter 8. Platform development – help create national philosophy and goals

5. Types of systems 1. One-partyism – a system in which one party dominates and wins nearly all elections (this has happened in the U.S., typically in regional cases). 2. Dual-party – the current system in the U.S. 3. Third-partyism – when a third party surfaces to challenge in a typical dual- party system (once again, has happened in the U.S. on occasion).

8. Republicans v. Democrats in the 21 st Century Size of National Government – –Dem= Support a strong central govt. Look to it to solve a wide variety of problems. – –Rep= Limit size of national govt., and give more power to the states. Taxes – –Dem= Tax cuts for poor. Wealthy taxed more. – –Rep=Broad based tax cuts to encourage economic growth. Regulation of Business – –Dem=Regulate business to protect consumers, workers and environment. – –Rep=Limited govt. involvement.

9. Republicans v. Democrats in the 21 st Century Social Issues – –Dem=Support abortion rights and gun control laws. Oppose prayer in school. – –Rep=Favor prayer in school, but oppose abortion and gun control laws. Minimum Wage – –Dem=Favor increases in minimum wage to support poor famililies. – –Rep=Oppose minimum wage increases. Too much govt. involvement in economy.

10. The Third Party

11. Why third parties stay small 1. Most states have laws that force third party candidates to gather thousands of signatures before getting on the ballot. 2. Democrats and Republicans don’t want “the pie divided into more pieces” 3. Public provides more funds to the two major parties 4. Media gives more coverage to standard candidates

12. The Parties and the People Potential voters are the “most significant” element of the party system as they provide the foundation. Potential voters are the “most significant” element of the party system as they provide the foundation. Party identification – the philosophy a person adopts and uses to process political information and explain himself to others Party identification – the philosophy a person adopts and uses to process political information and explain himself to others Party labels lend themselves to conflict between others Party labels lend themselves to conflict between others Don’t tell me you’re a Republican! You better not be a Democrat! Dem Rep

13. What influences party identity? What do you think? What do you think?

14. Who votes which way? DemocratsWomenAfrican-AmericansHispanics Young people Blue-collar workers Union members Catholics Jewish people DivorceesWidowsLiberals Republicans Men Executives Professionals White-collar workers Retirees Stay-at-home moms Protestants Married couples Conservatives Which are you?

15. 2008-How People Voted

16. Let’s go campaigning!