1. Political Parties 2 party system
Democrats Republicans

2. What is the purpose of a political party?
Agree on particular issues
Nominate candidates for office

3. 1st Political Parties Hamilton vs. Jefferson
Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist (Dem-Rep Party)

4. Abraham Lincoln
1st Republican president of the US 1860, what would be considered a democrat today

5. Democrats
They started with Andrew Jackson in the 1840s

6. Republicans replaced the Whig party

7. Political Platform
Statement that allows voters to understand what the party believes in, and how they stand on certain issues.
Planks=the issues

8. Republicans vs. Democrats
Democrats usually feel that the federal government has a responsibility to help the poor through government intervention.
Democrats are generally seen as liberal.
Republicans hold the view that leaving the economy alone will allow for growth, giving people greater ability to help themselves. They believe in less regulation.
Republicans are viewed as being conservative.

10. Third Parties
Form because of special interest and in opposition of the 2 dominate parties.
WHY don’t they win?

11. Propaganda
Communication/advertisements designed to manipulate and influence people.

12. Name-Calling
Turn people off of a candidate by giving a bad description.

13. Endorsement
Using a famous person or famous product that backs up a candidate

14. Stacked-Cards
Presenting only one side of the issue and sometimes changes or leaves out facts

15. Symbols
Misusing symbols that appeal to the public

16. The bandwagon
Convincing people that everyone else agrees with it, so why don’t you.

17. Just plain folks
Making people feel the candidate is just like them.

18. Glittering Generality
Something that sounds wonderful but is meaningless.

19. Organization of Political Parties

20. National Parties National Committee National Chairperson
1.Raise Money
2. Organize National Convention
National Chairperson
1. Manage the office and staff
2. Lead fund raising
Delegates from States
1.Nominate candidates Prez and VP
2. Hold elections and Caucuses/meetings

21. National Convention
Held every 4 years for the presidential candidates to announce the parties candidate.

22. State and Local Party Organization
State Party Committees
Electing party candidates
Raising money
County Committees
County Chairperson
Grassroots

23. Precinct
Geographic area that contains a specific number of voters. Small town to large city.
Lots of precincts make up a ward.

24. Do they make a difference?
Third Parties
Do they make a difference?

25. Populist party People’s Party: supported farmers and workers
Helped form workers rights
For the poor-anti-elite

26. Progressive Party 1912 “Bull Moose Party” –Theodore Roosevelt
Wanted Change/Reform
Womens Suffrage, direct democracy

27. Socialist Party
Where working people own and control the means of production and distribution
The Socialist Party stands for the abolition of every form of domination and exploitation, whether based on social class, gender, race/ethnicity, age, education, sexual orientation, or other characteristics.

28. Communist Party
A better world is possible — a world where people come before profits. That’s socialism. That’s our vision. We are the Communist Party USA

29. Communist Manifesto Karl Marx 10 planks of communism
Abolition of Private Property.
Heavy Progressive Income Tax.
Abolition of Rights of Inheritance.
Confiscation of Property Rights.
Central Bank.
Government Ownership of Communication and Transportation.
Government Ownership of Factories and Agriculture.
Government Control of Labor.
Corporate Farms and Regional Planning.
Government Control of Education.

30. Green Party
Committed to environmentalism, non-violence, social justice and grassroots organizing, Greens are renewing democracy without the support of corporate donors.

31. Libertarian Party
The Libertarian Party is your representative in American politics. It is the only political organization which respects you as a unique and competent individual.
No taxes
No gov’t control
Free market

32. Constitution Party
The Democrats and Republicans have squandered the Founders' legacy of liberty and justice under the Constitution. Countless government officials in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government ignore their oath to uphold and defend the Constitution.

33. More Third Parties American Nazi Party American Reform Party
Boston Tea Party
Radical Women’s Party
Labor Party
Light Party
Modern Whig Party
Objectivist Party
Peace and Freedom Party
Prohibition Party
U.S. Marijuana Party
Pacifist Party
Working Families Party
Pirate Party

34. Roles of Political Parties

35. Primaries Direct: voters choose candidates to run for an office.
Closed Primary: only people of a certain party can vote
Open Primary: voters do not need to be a part of a certain party.

36. Who wins?
The candidate who receives a majority (greater than ½ of the total) called plurality

37. What if no one has a majority?
Runoff Primary: b/w the top two vote getters

38. General Election
Takes place after the primary. Then the voters get to choose between the two candidates who will hold the office.
Presidential election: First Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

39. Interest Groups Freedom of assembly and petition
NAACP, NOW, AARP, Sierra Club, National Wildlife Association, labor unions

40. PACs Political Action Committees What do they do?
Endorse a candidate that will support their cause

41. Lobbyist
Representatives of interest groups that try to influence gov’t officials directly.

42. Our most important responsibility
VOTING
Our most important responsibility

43. Electorate
People who are eligible to vote

44. Who can vote?
18 years old
Criminals must serve their time first (states differ)
Resident of the state for a specific period
Citizen of the US
Register to vote

45. Voter Registration 25 days before election
Can register as Rep, Dem. Or unaffiliated

46. Steps of Voting
1. Voter goes to a polling place in their precinct

47. Steps of Voting
2. Sign in: check that signature is confirmed.

48. Steps of Voting
3. Caste your ballot

49. What if you are not there?
Absentee Ballot: mail it in.

50. Straight Ticket
Voting for all of the same party

51. Split- Ticket
Vote some from one party and some from another

52. Write-In
Writing a name of someone who is not on the ballot.

53. Predicting who is going to win
Exit poll: media will survey people leaving the polls to predict the winner.

54. Voting on Issues not the Candidate
Citizens can propose a new law or constitutional amendment through an initiative

55. What if you don’t like a law?
Referendum: citizens can approve or reject a state or local law.
More than ½ the state has to vote
Law can be sent back and voted on again