4. Political Parties

5. A Political Party is a group of people who seek to control government through the winning of elections and holding of public office.

6. The Five Functions of Political Parties 1. The Nomination Function- The major function of Political Parties is nominate candidates for public office. 2. The Informer-Stimulator Function- The Party helps to inform and stimulate their members interest and participation. 3. The Bonding Agent Function- The party serves as a bonding agent to ensure the good performance of its candidate and office holders. **Get candidates that are qualified and of good character, or at least not unqualified and without serious blemishes on their record.

7. Five Functions of Political Parties (continued) 4. Government Function- To conduct the business of running the government; passing laws. 5. The Watchdog Function- Parties act as a “watchdog” over the conduct of the public’s business. a. particularly the function of the minority party. b. Example: Criticize the policies of the party in power.

8. The American Two Party System Two Parties have always dominated the American Political System

9. Reasons for a Two Party System 1.Historical Basis- The result of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. 2. The Force of Tradition- Because we started off with two parties, people became set on the idea that we would have two parties. “ We have always had one”(a two party system). Inbreed support for this arrangement has made it difficult for minor parties to gain a political foothold.

10. Reasons for a Two Party System (Continued) 3. The Electoral System- The basic details of the election process has worked to promote the two party system. Ex. Single member district-one candidate is selected to win. State election laws- early on all election law were written at the state level, controlled by the Democrats and/or the Republicans, so they pass laws that make it very difficult for other parties to get on the ballot.

11. Reasons for a Two Party System (continued) 4. American Ideological Consensus a. As a rule we are an “Ideologically homogenous people”. b. Over time we have shared ideals, basic principles and similar patterns of beliefs. c. The two major parties are more alike than different. d. Most voters are in the middle; so in order to get elected neither party can stray too far to either the left or the right of center where most voters are. e. The Alternatives: Multiparty like many European democracies or One Party like China or Cuba.

13. Party Membership 1.Membership in any party is Voluntary. You are a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent because you choose to be. 2. The two major parties are very broadly based (All ages, genders, races, social status and religions)

14. Democrats African Americans Jewish Americans Members of Labor Unions Lower Incomes Republicans White Males Members of the Business Community Higher Incomes Catholics & Protestants Both have Middle Class

15. The Rise and Fall of Parties 1.Throughout our history, there has been periods of time when one of the majority parties dominant for long periods of time. 2.A majority of voters stay with the party in power, which tends to win the majority of elections; we call these “Party Eras” Party Era- A period of time when one party wins the majority of elections.

16. The Rise and Fall of Parties (continued) 3. What precedes these party eras is a critical election. Critical Election- An election or series of elections when the minority party becomes the Majority party. 4. The process by which the minority party becomes the majority party is called “Party Realignment”. 5. We’ve had four major party eras in our history.

17. The Four Party Eras 1.1800-1860- The first Democrat Era The Civil War caused party realignment 2. 1860-1932- The first Republican Era The Great Depression caused party realignment 3. 1932-1968- The second Democrat Era The 60’s culture caused party realignment 4. 1968-?- The second Republican Era We’re still in it?

18. Minor Parties: Their Impact on American Politics A. Minor parties are not uncommon in American Politics, many have come and gone. B. Basically, minor parties come in four types.

19. Types of Minor Parties » 1. Ideological Party A. A party that tends to support a particular, often extreme position B. Tends to be the longest lasting of the minor parties C. Examples – Extreme-Communist – Socialist – Moderate -Libertarian

20. Types of Minor Parties 2. Single-Issue Party- These are political parties that are based on one major issue. – Examples: 1. Free Soil-opposed to spread of slavery 2. American- opposed to immigrants

21. Types of Minor Parties 3. Splinter Party- A party that has broken away from one of the major parties.These have been the most successful of all minor parties. Examples: Progressive Bull Moose Party- Teddy Roosevelt (1912) American Independent Party- George Wallace (1968)

22. Types of Minor Parties 4. Economic Protest Party- A party that is formed by people who are unhappy with the major parties. This type of party is usually sectional and or occupational. Usually the result of difficult economic times, when things improve they disappear. Examples: Greenback Party- Southwest/Agricultural Populist Party- Anti-Big Business

23. Contributions of Minor Parties 1. They have brought new groups into the electorate. 2. Serve as safety valves for popular discontent. 3. They’re innovators, the first to use a National Convention to nominate a presidential candidate (Anti- Mason). 4. They bring attention to certain issues that have forced the major parties to deal with (income tax, women’s suffrage, regulation, and deficit spending). 5. These accomplishments are also the reason they have failed. The two major parties then take up these issues as their own, getting credit for dealing with the issue.

24. Results of these Minor Parties Minor parties have controlled enough votes in 12 of the last 36 presidential elections to have tipped the electoral vote in one way or another. Minor parties have had their greatest success at the local and state levels. Minor parties have sent a few members to Congress over the years.

25. Party Organization 1.The parties are highly decentralized organizations. 2. The National Party Organization. a. The National Committee b. National Chairperson c. National Convention d. Congressional Campaign Committee

26. Party Organization State Party Organization Each State has its’ own party system. No two state Party Organizations are alike. States, not the federal government regulate the parties. Each state will define how their party will be organized. State parties cannot set practices that violate federal laws. (keeping a group from voting) Most states have a Party Chairperson and a state central committee.

27. Local Party Organization Like state organization the vary widely. Unlike the national or state party, this where most of the work on political campaigns actually takes place.(“The Grassroots”) Early local party organization were dominated by political machines. (In the cities) They can be broken down into precincts.

28. Political Party Makeup Three Basic Elements of the Parties 1. The Party Organization- the paid workers and staff in each party’s local, state, and national parties. 2. Party in the Electorate- the volunteers and others who help get candidates elected. 3. Party in the Government- the elected officials for each party in local, state, and federal governments.

29. Political Parties: Why do they matter?

30. Why Political Parties matter? Political Parties matter because they offer voters choices. Political parties give people something to identify with. Each party and the elected officials who represent that party try to turn campaign promises into policies once they get into government. Political Parties often determine (control) who gets what, when, and how much!

31. Political Parties Parties make promises just to get elected! Yes and No 1.If Political Parties don’t keep most of their promises the electorate would not return them to power. 2. People’s expectation and lack of knowledge of how government works has disappointed people for years.

32. Party Platform Study Study by George Pomper Studied the pledges in Party Platforms from 1944-1978 3,194 specific policy pronouncements – Nearly ¾ of promise meet action – Others were tried but failed for some reason – Only 10% were ignored completely

33. Is the Party Over Some say we are in an era of party dealignment. Party Dealignment is the idea that fewer people are joining political parties. Evidence that political parties have fallen on hard times. Young people entering the electorate 1950’s – 25% independent 1960’s – 50% independent 1990’s – 65% independent 2000’s – 70% independent

34. Reasons for declining party membership An increase in split-ticket voting. More internal conflict in the parties. Changes in the technology of campaigning for office.(radio, television, direct mailings, the internet, and professional campaign managers) The make-up of the parties themselves; liberals, moderates and conservatives. All of these factors make candidates less dependent on the political parties for promotion.

35. Political Parties may have weakened, but they will survive because they are the major connection between the people and the policy makers. If Political Parties no longer existed, who would we the people blame all of our problems on?