1. Political Parties I What is a party?

2. Freewrite What do you think is the stereotypical image of a political party? Why do we have negative associations with political parties? What do you think are the good and bad things that political parties offer to American democracy?

3. Common beliefs about political parties Partisan thinking is mindless

4. Is partisan thinking issueless? DemocraticRepublican 1BA 2AB 3BA 4AB 5BA 6BA 7AB

5. Common beliefs about political parties Partisan thinking is mindless The two parties offer the same choices Party organizations are hierarchical and control elections

6. What is a political party?

7. Definitions “a team seeking to control the governing apparatus by winning election.” “articulate organization of …those who are concerned with the control of governmental power and who compete for popular support.” “any group, however loosely organized, seeking to elect governmental office-holders under a given label” “…must take into account others who are also competing for office”

8. Key features Includes multiple people People who want to control government Attempt to control government by running candidates for office Must take other such groups into account?

9. What are the key functions of a political party?

10. Functions Structure voters’ choices Set rules for applying a label to candidates for public office Are ready-made coalitions of like-minded legislators

11. What are the precise ways in which Modern American political parties perform those functions?

12. Distinguishing features of American political parties Prominent in voters’ decisionmaking Candidate-centered Decentralized Loose coalitions