1. Unit 3, Section 1 Political Parties

2. I. What Is a Party? A. A political party is a group of persons who seek to control government by winning elections and holding office. B. The two major parties in American politics are the Republican and Democratic parties C. Parties can be principle-oriented, issue-oriented, or election-oriented. The American parties are election-oriented. II. What Do Parties Do? A. Nominate Candidates B. Inform Supporters C. Make sure their candidate is worthy of office D. Govern E. They act as a “Watch Dog” to the other party.

3. The Three Components of the Party The Party in the Electorate Those who always or almost always vote for party candidates. The Party Organization: Those who run and control the party machinery. Party Components The Party in Government Those who hold office in the government.

4. IV. Why do we have a Two-Party System? A. Tradition - We started with just 2: The Federalists & The Anti-Federalists 1. Minor Parties don’t get a lot of support B. Voter Consensus 1. Most Americans generally agree on fundamental matters. C. Advantage to this system: 1. Parties are more responsive to the voters. C. Disadvantage to this system: 1. Parties can form coalitions which could divide the party and thus make it weak. III. Factors that can influence party membership: A. Family B. Economic Status C. Occupation D. Major Events in a person’s life E. Religion F. Age

5. One-Party Systems Types of One-Party Systems Example: Republican North and Democratic South until the 1950s. Modified One-Party Systems where one party regularly wins most elections One Party Systems where only one party is allowed. Example: Dictatorships such as Stalinist Russia

6. Minor Parties in the United States Splinter Party Example: “Bull Moose” Progressive Party Economic Protest Parties Example: The Greenback Party Ideological Parties Example: Libertarian Party Types of Minor Parties Single-issue Parties Example: Free Soil Party

7. V. 3 rd Parties are IMPORTANT!! A. They know they aren’t going to win, they just hope their ideas will be adopted by one of the major parties. 2. They can sometimes play the role of “Spoiler”. 1. Remember the “POPULIST PARTY”

8. VI. The Future of Major Parties A. There is a weakened connections to political parties: 1. For Voters a. More and more people don’t identify themselves with either party. b. There is more “split ticket” voting. Not being “party voters”. 2. For Candidates a. There is more conflict and disorganization within parties. b. Technology in campaigning has allowed candidates to be more independent from the party machine.