3. Political Party – DEFINED!!!  Anthony Downs: “team of men [and women] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.”  Edmund Burke: “an organized assembly of men, united for working together for the national interest, according to the particular principle they agreed upon.”

4. Basic Types of Party Systems  One-Party Systems The party IS the government ○ Cuba, Vietnam, North Korea ○ Formerly Afghanistan ○ Iraq under Sadaam  Multi-Party Systems Many INFLUENTIAL parties ○ Germany - ~6 ○ Sweden - ~7  Two-Party SystemS Two MAIN parties – may be countless minor partiesminor parties ○ Ummm, us here in the US

5. Tasks of the Party  Recruit Candidates Decide who we get to vote for  Educate the Public Tell us ideas and why we should like them  Operate the Government Run the government and get ideas in motion  Dispense “Patronage” Help the people that helped you get there  Loyal Opposition Represent those NOT represented by majority  Reduction of Conflict Compromise so the government can work

6. Talk with your neighbor…  Think of examples of these functions either from the video or from current campaign ○ Recruit Candidates ○ Educate the Public ○ Operate the Government ○ Dispense “Patronage” ○ Loyal Opposition ○ Reduction of Conflict

7. “Downs Model” – Rational Party As shown in ideology quiz, the people are in the middle, so parties must also come to the center

8. Parties in History: 1796-1824  Federalist Paper Author James Madison warns of “evils of faction”  Father of our Country George Washington cautions as to the “baneful effects of the spirit of party”  Promptly descend into Federalists v. Democratic-Republicans  Post-Adams, Federalists fade due to poor organization

9. 1828-1856  D-R drops the R and becomes the Democrats  Van Buren posits that opposition is necessary to keep the party true to its own principles – loyal opposition represents parts of society that the other party misses  Opposed by Whigs

10. 1860-1928  Slavery issue splits parts off of both parties  Republicans emerge, collect splinters under anti-slavery banner  Starting with Lincoln, Republicans control basically to the Depression

11. 1932-1964  Democrats gain control and largely hold it until ‘68  Built on the ideals of Liberalism – more government to help those who need it

12. 1968-Present  Nixon – first 20 th century president to enter office without control of Congress  Brief periods of alignment (such as part of W’s presidency)  Many of today’s voters lack strong party loyalty – frankly we get bored of the current party and want something new  Let’s look at some voter turnout stuff...

13. 1Australia94.5 2Singapore93.5 3Uzbekistan93.5 4Liechtenstein92.8 5Belgium92.5 6Nauru92.4 7Bahamas91.9 8Indonesia91.5 9Burundi91.4 10Austria91.3 11Angola91.2 12Mongolia91.1 13New Zealand90.8 14Cambodia90.3 15Italy89.8 16Luxembourg89.7 17Cyprus89.7 18Iceland89.5 19South Africa89.3 20Cook Islands89 66Iran77.3 76United Kingdom75.2 83Canada73.9 109Japan69.5 120United States66.5 122Mexico65.2 -From IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance) Percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in all Parliamentary elections from 1945- 2001

15. Top 10 StateRegistration % NORTH DAKOTA 88.5 MINNESOTA 81.8 MAINE 80.6 MISSOURI 78.6 WISCONSIN 78.2 IOWA 75.7 SOUTH DAKOTA 75.5 OREGON 75.2 MONTANA 75.1 ALASKA 74.0 Bottom 10 StateRegistration % NEW JERSEY 63.7 FLORIDA 62.6 GEORGIA 62.3 TENNESSEE 62.2 TEXAS 61.2 ARIZONA 60.3 NEW YORK 59.5 NEVADA 56.8 CALIFORNIA 54.4 HAWAII 53.0

17. Top 10 State Voted % MINNESOTA 76.7 WISCONSIN 73.0 MAINE 72.0 NORTH DAKOTA 70.8 OREGON 70.6 MONTANA 69.9 NEW HAMPSHIRE 68.9 IOWA 68.8 SOUTH DAKOTA 67.1 MISSOURI 66.3 Bottom 10 StateVoted % ARKANSAS 56.7 FLORIDA 56.1 ARIZONA 54.3 NEW YORK 53.1 TENNESSEE 52.7 GEORGIA 52.6 NEVADA 51.3 TEXAS 50.3 CALIFORNIA 49.1 HAWAII 46.2

19. StateReg. %Voted %Difference NORTH DAKOTA 88.570.817.7 MISSOURI 78.666.312.3 MISSISSIPPI 72.560.711.8 SOUTH CAROLINA 73.162.011.1 TEXAS 61.250.310.9 ALABAMA 72.661.810.8 NORTH CAROLINA 68.758.210.5 LOUISIANA 73.663.110.5 KENTUCKY 73.363.49.9 WEST VIRGINIA 67.057.29.8 State Reg.%Voted%Difference NEVADA 56.851.35.5 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 67.462.05.4 CALIFORNIA 54.449.15.3 WISCONSIN 78.273.05.2 MONTANA 75.169.95.2 MINNESOTA 81.876.75.1 DELAWARE 67.762.84.9 WYOMING 71.066.34.7 OREGON 75.270.64.6 NEW HAMPSHIRE 72.968.94.0

21. Age Groups Registered % Voted % 18 to 24 51.541.9 25 to 44 60.152.2 45 to 64 72.766.6 65 to 74 76.970.8 75+ 76.866.7

24.  American Voter turnout stinks  What can be done about it?  Referendum, Recall, Initiative  Should driving up turnout be a goal?