WHAT DO POLITICAL PARTIES DO?

POLITICAL PARTY

Group of people who seek to control government through winning elections and holding public office

Major parties: In America, the Republican and Democratic parties

MAJOR FUNCTIONS (THERE ARE 5)

Nominate Candidates Inform and Activate Supporters Bonding Agent Governing Act as a watch dog

NOMINATING CANDIDATES

Major function of a political party

Select candidates to present to voters

Help those candidates win elections

INFORMING AND ACTIVATING SUPPORTERS

Inform people and activate their interest and participation in public affairs

How do they do this? Campaigning Take stands on issues Criticize opponents Pamphlets, signs,

buttons, advertisements, speeches, rallies, conventions

BONDING AGENT

Act as a bonding agent to ensure the good performance of candidates and office holders

Choose candidates that are qualified and of good character

If the party chooses a poor candidate, it could suffer in the future.

GOVERNING

U.S. Government is government by party Office holders are

regularly chosen on the basis of party

Congress and State Legislatures do business on the basis of Partisanship: (action based on allegiance to a political party)

Most appointments by the executive branch are done on the basis of party

ACT AS A WATCH DOG

Watch over the conduct of the public’s business (especially the party out of power)

Party out of Power: the party that doesn’t have control of the presidency

Party in Power: has control of the presidency

Party out of power plays role of “the loyal opposition” (they are opposed to the party in power, but loyal to the people and the nation)