1. Development of American Political Parties
The Two-Party System AP Government Chapter 7

2. What Is a Political Party?
A political party is a group of citizens who agree on major issues facing the nation. These groups work to create public policies that reflect their views.
Parties choose, or nominate, people they want to elect to public office. These candidates campaign to get elected.

3. Parties in the US
Any American citizen may join a political party regardless of age, but most members are eighteen or older.
The United States has a two-party system. The Republicans emerged as a major party in 1860 with the election of Abraham Lincoln. The Democratic Party formed under Andrew Jackson twenty years earlier.

4. Characteristics of Political Parties
Serve as intermediaries between people and government
Are made up of grassroots members, activist members, and leadership
Are organized to raise money, present positions on policy, and get their candidates elected to office
Were created outside the Constitution-they are not even mentioned in the document
Power of parties has been in decline
Mainly due to primary process

5. Subdivisions of Parties
Party Among the Electorate (LABEL)
Voters enroll in and identify with parties
Getting weaker
Party in Government (LEADERS)
Officials belong to parties. They act together to pursue common goals.
Remaining strong
Party Organization (ORGANIZATIONS)
Group of people who are neither elected officials nor average voters. Usually political professionals who recruit voters and candidates, organize campaign events, and raise money
Dramatically weaker

6. Reasons why parties weaker here
Federal system here decentralizes political authority
Most important decisions made at state/local level
Nat’l party leaders have less power than local ones

7. Reasons why parties weaker here
Political power more centralized
More decisions made by federal government
See more decentralization of political parties

8. Reasons why parties weaker here
Parties closely regulated by rules
Caused weakening of parties

9. Reasons why parties weaker here
Parties don’t select executive
Independently elected, doesn’t choose subordinates from Congress

10. Functions of Parties Recruit and nominate candidates
Seek candidates to run in primaries
Create rules by which candidates seek nominations
Educate and Mobilize Voters
Fund propaganda campaigns to persuade voters to choose candidates
Provide Campaign Funds and Support
Usually done by state and national party committees
Organize Governmental Activity
House and Senate organize leadership and committees along party lines

11. Functions (Cont.) Provide Balance Through Opposition
Parties serve as checks on the other
Minority party-loyal opposition
Critiques party in power
Reduce Conflict and Tension in Society
Promotes compromise and negotiation by encouraging parties to accommodate voters and voters to accept compromise positions

12. Throughout history, third parties have experienced great success in American politics.
True
False

13. Two-Party System A rarity in the world Reason(s): Election rules
Public opinion

14. Election Rules Based on plurality One with most votes wins
Causes most voters to cast votes for two major parties
Ex. Electoral College

15. Public Opinion Americans favor different parties for different issues
Rules of elections also make it difficult for third parties to even get on ballot

16. Ralph Nader, Green Party Candidate, 2000
Third Parties
Any party other than the two major parties can be called a “Third party.”
No third party has ever gained control of the White House. Sometimes, third parties win seats in Congress or gain office in lower levels of government.
When these smaller groups challenge the two major parties, they can change the outcome of elections.
Can take votes from two major parties
Their most important role is to influence policy on one or more issues.
Ralph Nader, Green Party Candidate, 2000

17. Ideological Third Parties
An ideology is a body of ideas put forth by a person or group.
Minor third parties are often formed to support a specific issue. These rise and fall over time.
Ideological parties want to change society in major ways.
The Socialist and Communist Parties want to nationalize major industries. The Green Party calls for companies to respect the environment.

18. Cult of Personality
Some third parties form from the efforts of famous people.
If they cannot gain support from one of the major parties, they form their own.
H. Ross Perot’s Reform Party was a force in the 1992 and 1996 elections. This party also placed pro wrestler Jesse Ventura in the governor’s mansion in Minnesota.
These parties usually fade after their candidate is defeated.

19. The Odds Are Against Them
It is difficult for third parties candidates to raise enough money to compete with the major parties.
Only one candidate can win in a given district. Usually the winner is either Democratic or Republican.
Third-party candidates must show they have support by getting voter signatures to even be placed on the ballot for national office.

20. American Politics Today
Democrats usually feel that the federal government has a responsibility to help the poor through government intervention.
Democrats are generally seen as liberal.
Republicans hold the view that leaving the economy alone will allow for growth, giving people greater ability to help themselves. They believe in less regulation.
Republicans are viewed as being conservative.

21. Parties Move Towards The Center
A platform is a statement that puts forth the party's positions on issues. Each individual issue is called a plank.
Both parties want votes. As a result, parties become more moderate in their platforms, moving away from extreme positions.
The American people generally agree about many issues. This unity forces the two parties toward the center of the political spectrum.

22. Today, I will be able to…
Identify some of the functions of third parties
Identify why third parties fail
Describe the activities of modern political parties

23. Most people join third parties because they feel disenfranchised from the two major parties.
True
False

24. More About Third Parties
Usually represent constituencies that feel disenfranchised from both major parties
Called bolter parties
I.E. Reform Party of 1992
Ideological third parties also called doctrinal parties
Reject prevailing attitude and policies of political system
I.E. Socialist Party, Libertarian Party

25. More About Third Parties (cont.)
Also can have single-issue parties
Usually promote one principle
I.E. American Independent Party
Sponsored segregationist policies of George Wallace in 1968
Major impact of third parties-steal votes from larger parties
I.E. Ralph Nader in 2000
Stole votes from Gore
Green Party

26. More About Third Parties (cont.)
Don’t get third parties confused with independents
Ind. have no party affiliation

27. Why Third Parties Fail Direct result of U.S. political system
Designed to support only two parties
Elections in U.S. emphasize plurality, winner take all systems
Requires a lot of money and organization
Winner take all system of electoral college also does not reflect popular vote
Perot in 1992: 19% of popular vote, 0 electoral votes
Wallace in 1968: 14% of popular, 46 electoral votes

28. Modern Political Parties
Functions:
Among electorate:
Allows voters to enroll in and identify with
In government:
Pursue common goals
Organization:
Recruit candidates and voters
Raise money to promote party

29. Modern Political Parties (cont.)
Functions:
Recruiting candidates
Seek candidates to run in primaries
Create rules by which one is nominated
Nomination usually a prerequisite to victory
Educate, mobilize voters
Fund propaganda campaigns
Target region in which support is strong
Encourage to vote on elections day

30. Modern Political Parties (cont.)
Provide campaign funds and support
Organize governmental activity
Legislatures organize committees on party lines
Provide balance through opposition of two parties
Minority party-usually provides role of loyal opposition-critique performance of party in power
Reduce conflict, tension in society
Promotes compromise

31. Today I will be able to… Discuss whether or not parties are in decline
Explain the concept of party realignment and dealignment

32. Are Parties in Decline?
Since 1968, only 9 years of one party control in executive and legislative branch
Because more Americans likely to vote a split ticket
Vote for pres. candidate of one party, legislatures of another party
Mostly due to fact that people vote on positions of candidates, not just strictly on candidate’s party

33. Are Parties in Decline? (cont.)
Because of split tickets, no one party can dominate
Leads to gridlock because parties at odds with each other
Results

34. Party Realignment Occurs with a dramatic shift in party coalitions
Signaled by a critical election
New party comes to dominate politics
Main feature is that part preference changes, and stays that way
Two types:
Major party defeated so badly it disappears
Two major parties continue, but voters shift support from one to the other

35. Party Realignment (cont.)
Last major shift: 1932 election
Issue: Economic depression
Result: Republicans being replaced by Democrats in every branch of government
Illustrated a clear ascendency of one party over another

36. Party Realignment (cont.)
Realignment or not?
1980: Republicans trounce Jimmy Carter
Reagan , gain 12 seats in Senate
Historically, not considered realignment
Lack of critical issue
Republicans win because they are not Democrats
Also, Congress still in hands of Dems.

37. Party Realignment (cont.)
Trend now more towards dealignment
Usually members become disaffected by party policies, become independent
Democrats-losing members while Independents increase
Classic case of dealignment

38. The key term in political party is
Organization, with the purpose of giving the party clout
Ideology, to provide clear choices for the party
Label, to give a candidate party identification
Nationalism, to create a strong national party
Allegiance, to show party strength

39. Political parties around the world are more effective at mobilizing voters than the US.
True
False

40. Political parties exist at three levels: labels, leaders, and organizations.
True
False

41. Political parties have grown stronger in recent decades.
True
False

42. Federalism is a reason parties are strong today.
True
False

43. Political parties play a huge role in the lives of Americans.
True
False

44. Split ticketting is evidence of weak parties
True
False

45. The Republican party emerged after the Civil War
True
False

46. It can’t be considered realignment if you don’t have this
Dynamic candidates
Two party control
Critical issue
Low voter turnout
High voter turnout

47. Recent results of elections have shown that political parties are strong because the legislative branch and executive branch have been controlled by the same party
True
False

48. The two main issues that have led to realignment have been
Crime and punishment
Slavery and economics
Economics and morals
Foreign affairs and slavery
Domestic concerns and economics

49. The last major realignment occurred in
1800
1896
1980
1932
2008