1. of Political Parties in the u.s.
Roles & Functions
of Political Parties in the u.s.

2. What is a political party?
“A political party is a group of individuals who organize to nominate their own candidates, win elections, control government and influence public policy.”
Obviously, the two main political parties in the United States are the Democrats and Republicans
“What other MAJOR political parties are there?”

3. Functions: political parties
There are four general functions that political parties serve in the United States:
1.) They nominate candidates & organize the election process
2.) They represent group interests throughout society
3.) They organize government institutions & policy making
4.) They serve as the “watchdog” for society

4. Functions: political parties
1.) They nominate candidates & organize the election process!
* A political party’s “most basic goal is to nominate candidates… to win elections!”
Political Parties are ELECTION ORIENTED, NOT principle oriented – WHY? EXAMPLES?
* HOW do parties win elections?
1.) recruit popular candidates (think nationally…)
2.) provide money to their campaign effort (2012 – House, 95% and Senate, 80%)
3.) “find out what voters want and promise to give it to them!” (…and then govern accordingly IF they win) * *

5. Functions: political parties
2.) They represent group interests throughout society…
* In the struggle for power, parties attempt to unite different groups of people… form coalitions
(“discover what groups want, work to fulfill their desires”)
Democrats:
…pro-labor unions, Jews/Catholics, minorities, urban areas, youth and intellectuals (academia) – Education?
Republicans:
…pro-business, Protestant, white, suburban and rural areas – Education?
* By creating coalitions, parties simplify political choices for voters at election time… (How? …imagine the alternative)

6. Functions: political parties
3.) They organize government institutions & policy making…
* Once elections are over, parties help organize the country’s governing institutions…
(“policy decisions emerge from party leader’s attempts
to govern in the spirit of their party’s philosophy”)

7. Functions: political parties
4.) They serve as the “watchdog” for public/society…
* Job is to monitor the opposing party in power
…relationship between major parties ensures that the party out of power “will keep a close eye on its opponent and notify the public of any wrongdoing or policy misstep!”