1. Political Parties

2. Political Parties What Are Political Parties?
The Two-Party System in America
Party Organization
Parties and the Electorate
Parties and Elections
Parties and Government
Parties and Democracy

3. Political Ideology
A coherent set of beliefs about the role of government, politics, and public policy. - How the government should operate and what should it do

4. Political Parties: The Basics
Group of people with a similar political ideology who join together to CONTROL the government
Similar ideas
Want their ideas to become public policy
Gain power by winning elections
United States
Dominated by two Parties
Coalition – large group with various interests

5. Functions of a Party Nominating Government Business
Informer-Stimulator
Seal of Approval
Watchdog

6. Nominating Find and choose candidates for office
Picks those who can “win”

7. Government Business Conducts the business of government
Laws and can proceed smoothly or can be deadlocked due to political party affiliation

8. Informer-Stimulator
Informs and stimulates interest and discussion

9. Seal of Approval
Approves candidates
Ensure candidates are qualified

10. Watchdog
Party out of power criticizes party in power

11. State of the Union 2014
President Obama provided his vision for the coming year and the current “state” of our Union.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash) – GOP response
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) – Tea Party Response

12. The Two Party System
Two Party System – A system in which two parties dominate the electoral/governmental system
US has always had a two party system
Minor parties exist, but the have a difficult time wining in national elections; minor parties have had success at the local level

13. American Third Parties
Third parties have played an important role in American politics.
Spoiler role – (2000 Election Bush V Gore) Nader Green Party
The ideas of the third party may be adopted by one of the major parties.

14. Minor Parties Single issue – solving one problem
Ideological – complete idea of solving all problems in society
Economic Protest – hard economic times
Splinter – splits off one of the major parties

15. American Third Parties
Third-party success in the United States is limited by
— the electoral system
single-member district
winner take all
Pluralistic society of the US. We agree on many issues
— Socialization – number of independent voters
— Belief that voting for third party is a wasted vote

16. Political Parties One Party Systems Multi Party Systems
Usually found in authoritarian gov’ts.
Power through force - Communist China. Theocracies are also usually a one party sys. Iran
Multi Party Systems
Most common system in the world
Represent widely different ideologies
One party rarely gets enough support for control
Often combine to form coalitions
These systems can be politically unstable

18. Political Parties Two Party Systems
About a dozen nations have two party systems
Two parties dominate
Minor parties exist

19. Two Party Systems
Federalists vs. Anti Federalists (Democratic Republicans)
Democrats vs. Whigs
Democrats vs. Republicans ( )
1932 – 1968 Democrats Dominated
1968 – Present - Divided Government

20. Movement Away From the Major Parties
More independents
More Spilt ticket voting