1. Political Parties and Ideology

2. What is a Party?
Political Party – a group of people who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office
Major Party – a party that has a chance to win representation in government
Minor Party – any political party that doesn’t

3. Democrats and Republicans
Major Parties
There are two major parties in the U.S. Can you name them?
Democrats and Republicans

4. What is Ideology?
Ideology is basically the way you look at how the world works
Ideologies tend to be grouped in the U.S. into 3 main categories
Liberal Moderate Conservative

5. What is Ideology?
There are other “fringe” ideologies present as well (not as common)
Socialist (far left)
Marxist (far far left)
Libertarian (far right)
Religious fundamentalist (far far right)
Liberal Moderate Conservative

6. Liberal and Conservative
People do not have to be strictly liberal on all issues, or conservative on all issues
You can mix the two to form your own individual ideology
We group them because certain viewpoints tend to naturally go together

7. Liberal and Conservative
Common Liberal Characteristics
Desire progressive change in society
Main values: Idealism, Equality, Fairness, Personal Freedom
Examples: ACLU, Sierra Club, NAACP, NOW, labor unions, Dems.

8. Liberal and Conservative
Common Liberal Issue Stances
Pro-choice
Affirmative Action
Gun control
Progressive taxes (higher on rich)
Aid to the poor
Equal access to health care
Protecting the environment
Equal gay rights

9. Liberal and Conservative
Common Conservative Characteristics
Desire to keep things as they are, maintain the status-quo, change should be cautious and slow
Main values: Realism, Law and Order, Justice, Morality, Economic Freedom
Examples: Christian Coalition, NRA, Americans for Tax Reform, Republicans

10. Liberal and Conservative
Common Conservative Issue Stances
Anti-abortion
Belief in private sector efficiency over the government
Free gun ownership rights
Cutting taxes, less progressive taxation
Cutting regulations on businesses
Immigration control
Increased military spending
Support traditional marriage

11. Liberal and Conservative
Often times, people hear what they want to hear from facts to support their ideology
For example…

13. That’s the easiest question you’ve asked all semester.
What Do Parties Do?
That’s the easiest question you’ve asked all semester.

14. What Do Parties Do? Nominate Candidates Inform and Activate Supporters
The “Bonding Agent” Function – making sure that officeholders do a good job once they are elected
Govern
Act as a Watchdog – criticizes the opposing party

15. The Two-Party System Why do we have a two party system?
1. Historical Basis – division between Federalists and Anti-Federalists
2. Tradition – it has always been that way, so it naturally self-perpetuates

16. The Two-Party System
3. The American Ideological Consensus – for the most part, we pretty much agree on all of the major stuff
People should own property
We should have equality
People have the right to vote

17. The Two-Party System
4. The Electoral System – the U.S. uses single-member districts… that means only one person wins representation from each district

18. Multiparty Systems
Several major parties, many lesser parties all compete for and win public office
Mostly in Europe and Latin American Democracies
Many parties must form a coalition, or a group of parties that form a majority

19. What’s the Big Deal?
The Italians are crazy.

20. One-Party Systems
Found in dictatorships where only one party is allowed
Also found in places where one of the major parties has no chance of winning

21. Party Membership Patterns
Party membership is voluntary
Each party must try to attract as much support as possible

22. Party Membership Patterns
Some demographic groups are more reliable to each party, though
Tend to be Democrat – Female, African American, Hispanic, Catholic, Jewish, Union Member, Lower Income, Lower Education, Under 30, Over 60

23. Party Membership Patterns
Some demographic groups are more reliable to each party, though
Tend to be Republican – Male, White, Protestant, Work in the Business Community, Higher Income, Higher Education, Middle-Aged

24. Words of Wisdom
With Ashlee Simpson

26. History of the Two-Party System
The First Two Parties
Federalists
Founded by Alexander Hamilton
Believed in forming a strong national government, supported policies that favored business

27. History of the Two-Party System
The First Two Parties
Democratic-Republicans
Founded by Thomas Jefferson
Believed in limiting the federal government’s power, and supported policies that benefited the “common man”

28. History of the Two-Party System
Era of the Democrats ( )
Democratic-Republicans had come to dominate politics, but then broke into two factions, the Democrats and Whigs
Democrats, led by Andrew Jackson, won most of the time over the Whigs

29. History of the Two-Party System
Era of the Republicans ( )
Began with election of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War
Republicans dominated elections due to support from businesses and African Americans
Democrats only won in the South

30. History of the Two-Party System
The Return of the Democrats ( )
The Great Depression turned people against the Republican Party, especially as FDR led the U.S. out of the Depression
Dwight Eisenhower was the only Republican from this period

31. History of the Two-Party System
Divided Government (1968-Present)
Nixon’s Watergate scandal has led people to distrust government
Characterized by different parties controlling Congress and the Presidency
Country is evenly divided (remember the 2000 election?)

32. Minor Parties Why run for election when you know you will lose?
Act as the “spoiler” (Perot in 1992, Nader in 2000)

33. Minor Parties Why run for election when you know you will lose?
Make your issues public, get the major parties to adopt them

34. Minor Parties Why run for election when you know you will lose?
Criticize the major parties (That’s basically all Nader does)

35. Types of Minor Parties Ideological Parties – based on a set of beliefs
Tend to be long lasting
Have very little electoral success
Examples: Communist, Socialist, Libertarian

36. Types of Minor Parties
Single-Issue Parties – concentrate on one public policy matter
Name usually reflects their issue
Party dies after the issue fades or one of the major parties adopts their issue
Examples: Marijuana, Right to Life, Prohibition

37. Types of Minor Parties
Economic Protest Parties – arise during periods of poor economy, and express disgust
Usually sectional, drawing support from one region of the country
They invent an “enemy” of the economy and blame them
Examples: America First, Populist

38. Types of Minor Parties
Splinter Parties – break away from one of the major parties
Usually form around a strong personality
Typically have short-term electoral success
Fade away when the leader steps aside
Examples: Bull Moose, American Independent, Reform