Political Parties

What are political parties?

Definition: voluntary associations of people who seek to control the government through common principles based on peaceful and legal actions, such as the winning of elections.

The #1 focus of political parties is to get their candidates elected to office.

Roles of Political Parties

Party in the electorate› All of the people who associate themselves with one

of the political parties Party in government

› All of the appointed and elected officials at the national, state, and local levels who represent the party as members

Party in organization› People within the party organization who work to

maintain the strength of the party between elections

Party Systems

One-Party System› Only one party exists, and voters have no real choice of candidates;

result- dictatorial gov. Two-Party System

› Several political parties, but only two major parties dominate elections

› Enhances government stability and holds government responsible by appealing to people

› How does the electoral college encourage a two-party system? Multi-Party System

› Several major parties compete in elections, and the minor parties have a good chance of winning

› Rarely results in a clear majority of the vote

What Do Political Parties Do?

Recruit candidates› Find qualified candidates interested in running for

office Nominate & support candidates for office

› Help raise money & run campaigns Educate the electorate

› Inform voters about candidates & encourage voting Organize in the government

› Organize as a party to control Congress and appointments

Party Functions

Action Party Function

The Republican Party revises its website regularly

The Democratic Party ordered 1 million bumper stickers before a presidential election

When George Bush was elected President, he appointed members of his political party to his cabinet

Party leaders meet with local business leaders to survey interest in running for local political office

The Democratic party raised 5 million dollars to support their candidates in the mid-term election

Party Identification & Membership

Party membership is voluntary, and based on identification

Most people choose a political party based on a set of beliefs

Several factors may also influence party identification› Ideology, education, income, occupation,

race/ethnicity, gender, religion, family tradition, region of the country, marital status

The Two-Party Tradition in America

The Constitution did not mention political parties Federalist #10 warned of “factions” Washington warned against “the baneful effects

of the spirit of the party” Began with the federalists and anti-federalists

when ratifying the Constitution

Factors Contributing to the Two-Party Tradition

Historical roots› British heritage, federalist & anti-federalist views

Electoral system› One winner per office

Election laws› Makes it difficult for minor parties to get on the ballot

Democrats vs. Republicans

HOMEWORK… Create a timeline outlining the development of political parties

in the United States Must include summaries of:

› Rise of Political Parties: Party Development (1789-1800)› Democratic Domination (1800-1860)› Republican Domination (1860-1932)› Return of Democrats (1932-1968)› Divided Government (1968-present)

Be sure to reference leaders & events that helped shape each era Each era should be at least a paragraph/5 bullets long Submit either on computer paper or poster board YOU MUST USE REFERENCES & DOCUMENT THEM!

Alignment

Electoral Dealignment› When significant numbers of voters no longer support

a particular political party Electoral Realignment

› When voting patterns shift and new groups of party supporters are formed

Third or Minor Parties

More successful at getting their candidates elected to the state and local levels

No minor candidate has ever been elected as President

Have historically been instrumental in providing important reforms eventually adopted by major parties› Considered success for minor parties

Types of Third Parties

Ideological:

Example:

Splinter:

Example:

Single Issue:

Example:

Protest:

Example

Structure of Political Parties

Must have an effective organization to accomplish its goals

Both major parties are fragmented & decentralized

The party of the President is normally more united than the opposition

Organization of Political Parties

National Convention› Meets every four years to nominate a candidate for Presidency, based on

the results of the primary elections National Committee

› Maintains the day-to-day operations of the party between national conventions

National Chairperson› Responsible for managing the national committee

Congressional Campaign Committee› Members of both houses of Congress that work to insure re-election of

their party members State & Local Organization

› State & local levels of the national committee

Future of Political Parties

Uncertain, but in recent decades have declined Possible attributes to the decline:

› Third-party challenges› Loss of support by party loyalists› Increase in split-ticket voting› Lack of perceived differences between parties› Party reforms› Methods of campaigning