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Political Parties
Taking a Part in the Political Process
Political Parties
An association of voters with broad, common interests who want to influence or control decision making in their local, state, or national government
Political Parties• There are several types of Party
Systems in the World
• The Two-Party System: US
• The Multi-Party System: Britain, France, Israel
• The One (Single Party) System: China, Cuba
Political Parties• Multi-Party Systems
– Most democracies in the World are multi-party systems
• Canada has 3 major parties• Germany has 5 major parties• Israel has 20 major parties
• System allows a lot of choice, but decision making in legislature is difficult
Political Parties• One Party Systems: Usually Dictatorships
in nations where all citizens must belong to that party
• China, Cuba, Iran are all examples
• Some hold farcical elections to give the impression of democracy– All people on the ballot are from the same
party
Political Parties• Two Party System: Only 2 major political
parties that are consistently in contention for political offices
• Unique to the United States
• Two Major Parties in the United States– Republican Party– Democratic Party
* No third party candidate has won the presidency
Political Parties
• Benefits to a Two-Party System?– It makes you a democracy– Easier to win a majority (50% +1) rather than
a plurality
• Disadvantages?– Voters feel the need to choose sides– Less choice among candidates
Political Parties• Third Parties: smaller parties who influence
voters by their presence and often bring issues to light for other parties
• Often start at the grassroots (local) level and grow from there
• Never win Presidential Elections
• Rarely Win National Congressional Elections
Political Parties• Types of Third Parties
–Ideological Parties
–Single-Issue Parties
–Independent Candidates who form parties
Political Parties
• Ideological Parties: radically change the system of government – Communist Party– Libertarian
• Single Issue Party: run on one issue they want to get national attention– Prohibitionist party
Political Parties
• Independents– Ross Perot formed the Reform Party because
he disagreed with Republican economic plans
• Some people run as independents because they lose the nomination in their major parties– Example: Teddy Roosevelt and the “Bull
Moose Party” in 1912
Political Parties
• Why do we need political parties at all?
– George Washington warned against political parties during his farewell address.
– Political Parties are inevitable when people have the freedom to question and disagree with their government
Political Parties• Why do the Democrats and Republicans
disagree?
• Political Ideologies:– World View: your opinion on international
affairs and interaction– Values: traditions and belief system– Process of Social Change: gradual, quick or
stagnant
Political PartiesDemocrats
• Favor larger federal government
• More government support of social programs
• Anti-Iraq War• Pro-Immigration• Civil Liberty and
personal freedoms driven
Republicans• Favor downsizing the
federal government• Less government
support of social programs
• Pro-Iraq War• Anti-Immigration• Value and Morals
Driven
Political Parties
• Republicans are sometimes called CONSERVATIVES because they hold on the traditional values and dislike change in government.
Political Parties
• Democrats are called LIBERALS because they often interpret the laws and change with the times
Political Parties
• Moderates are somewhere in the middle of both parties– Most Americans are Moderates
• Radicals are extremists on both sides: – They are often avoided by most
members of their parties because they are unwilling to compromise
Political Parties• Purpose:
– Nominate Strong Candidates– Campaign for Candidates– Inform Citizens of Legislation and Party
Platform– Managing Government– Link Levels of Government: National, State,
and Local levels– Play Watchdog of the other party
Political PartiesPresident or National Committee
Chairperson
State Chairperson
County Chairperson
Precinct Captain: city/ district level
Each party selects people to fill each of these roles in every state and county
Political Parties
National Committee
Organize National Convention
Write Party PlatformNominate Candidates
Raise Money forcampaigns
NATIONAL COMMITTEE
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Political Party
• National Committee: representatives from every state work to write the party platform and support candidates from the party
Platform: overall plan for the party
Planks: each idea in the platform
Political Parties
National Conventions are formalities today because the nominee has been decided by PRIMARY ELECTIONS and
CAUCUSES
Political Parties• Primary Elections determine which of the
many Democrats or Republicans will be the parties nominee
– Open Primaries: a primary where any registered voter may vote
– Closed Primaries: a primary where only a party member may vote (most are closed)
Political Parties
• A Caucus is when a party meets face to face and openly votes and tries to convince others to nominate their candidate
• Less common today
Political Parties
• After the states have primaries or caucuses, the projected winner of the most electoral votes wins the nomination at the National Convention
• Conventions are held in the summer of the election year and kick start the campaign season
Political Parties
• State and Local Committees do much of the same things that the National Committee does
• They hold primaries and nominate state and local candidates
• They also campaign for their local leaders
Political Machines
• local party organizations that are so strong they hold office for a lengthy period of time
• Often, they are run wealthy groups behind the scenes who guarantee victory in exchange for protection from certain laws
Political Parties
• Best known political machine was Tammany Hall– William Marcy “Boss” Tweed was the mayor
of New York who gave money and contracts to friends in exchange for votes
– Gained immigrant vote by giving food and jobs to the new immigrants
– “Vote early, vote often”