1. U.S. Political Parties Our 2 Party System

2. Joining #1 Do you have to? #2 Why would I?

3. The “Specific” Definition A group of people joined together on the basis of common principles who seek to control government and affect certain public policies through winning elections and obtaining public office

4. Are today’s Dems and Repubs.. Issue-orientated? Principle-orientated? OR Election-orientated?

5. Two-Party System Why? Historically Speaking…..

6. “the baneful effects of the spirit of party” --George warning against the formation of political parties

7. Two-Party System- WHY? Force of Tradition: --We have a 2 party system because we HAVE a two party system.

8. Two-Party System – WHY? Our Electoral System For example: Single Member districts Ballot laws

9. Two-Party System- WHY? The American Ideological Consensus --We generally agree on major fundamental issues Economic class, social status, religion, national origin

10. Two-Party System – WHY? Both parties generally the same; both tend to be moderate There are differences, as we discussed earlier (remember, we covered ideology first thing this year, that is technically part of these topic)

11. Two-Party System – WHY? Some argue we’re BECOMING more polarized. Agree?

12. Other Alternatives? One-Party System….. Multi-Party system?? --Absence of a majority --Single member districts --Our Ideological Consensus makes this difficult here

13. What does a Party do? Nominate Candidates Inform and Activate Supporters “Bonding Agent” (good character) Governing the country Watchdog