Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Groups of voters with common Groups of voters with common interests who want to interests who want to influence the governmentinfluence the government

The U.S. has a two-party The U.S. has a two-party systemsystem

All national elections have All national elections have been won by one of two partiesbeen won by one of two parties

American Political SystemAmerican Political System

George Washington warned America George Washington warned America about the creation of Political about the creation of Political parties.parties.

First Political PartiesFirst Political Parties

Federalists vs. Federalists vs.

Anti-FederalistsAnti-Federalists

Past and PresentPast and Present

Democratic-Democratic-RepublicansRepublicansLed by Led by Thomas Thomas JeffersonJefferson

Favored a Favored a weak govt.weak govt.

FederalistsFederalistsLed by Led by Alexander Alexander HamiltonHamilton

Favored a Favored a strong strong national govt.national govt.

PASTPAST

2 Party System2 Party System

We have always been a 2 party system- those We have always been a 2 party system- those parties have included:parties have included:

FederalistsFederalistsWhigsWhigsDemocratic RepublicansDemocratic Republicans

The 2 parties today are the Democrats and The 2 parties today are the Democrats and Republicans- The problem is that most people Republicans- The problem is that most people do not fit totally into one of these parties. So do not fit totally into one of these parties. So what do you do?what do you do?

PRESENTPRESENTDemocratic Democratic PartyPartyHas roots in Has roots in Jefferson’s Jefferson’s Democratic-Democratic-Republican Republican PartyParty

Republican Republican PartyPartyBorn from the Born from the dispute over dispute over slaveryslavery

Lincoln was 1Lincoln was 1stst Republican Republican presidentpresident

Third PartiesThird PartiesNever won a national electionNever won a national electionRarely wins other electionsRarely wins other electionsCan effect outcome of electionsCan effect outcome of electionsReason they failReason they fail

Not enough votes to get on Not enough votes to get on ballotballot

Trouble raising moneyTrouble raising money

Examples of Third Examples of Third PartiesParties

Populist PartyPopulist Party1890s1890sCombo of Combo of farmers/workersfarmers/workers

Wanted 8 hour Wanted 8 hour workdays and workdays and direct election of direct election of senatorssenators

Progressive PartyProgressive PartySplit from Split from Republican PartyRepublican Party

Led by Theodore Led by Theodore RooseveltRoosevelt

Caused Caused Democrats win Democrats win electionelection

Single Issue PartiesSingle Issue PartiesPromote a causePromote a causeNot necessarily in it to win Not necessarily in it to win but to gain awarenessbut to gain awareness

ExampleExampleProhibition Party – wanted Prohibition Party – wanted ban on alcoholban on alcohol

IndependentsIndependentsParty forms around Party forms around candidatecandidate

Example:Example:Ross PerotRoss Perot

Other SystemsOther SystemsMulti-PartyMulti-Party

Most common in the worldMost common in the worldMore than two parties involvedMore than two parties involvedHard to win a majorityHard to win a majority

Must get plurality – most Must get plurality – most votes won among those votes won among those runningrunning

Sometimes a coalition occurs Sometimes a coalition occurs and parties join together to and parties join together to get more votesget more votes

ExamplesExamplesCanada – 3 partiesCanada – 3 partiesGermany – 5 partiesGermany – 5 partiesIsrael – around 20 partiesIsrael – around 20 parties

One PartyOne PartyParty and government are the Party and government are the same same

Only party allowed to runOnly party allowed to runExamplesExamples

Communist – ChinaCommunist – ChinaTheocracy – Iran Theocracy – Iran