1. Development of Political Parties
Section 1

2. Political Parties
Political Party=is an organization of individuals with broad, common interests who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to thereby influence government policy.
U.S. is a Two-Party System

3. Growth of American Parties
Constitution says nothing about political parties
Thomas Jefferson (Democrat-Republican Party)
Limit the power of the national government
Alexander Hamilton (Federalist Party)
Believed in a stronger national government

4. Democratic Party In 1828, the Democratic-Republican Party split.
Those who supported Candidate Andrew Jackson took the name Democratic Party.

5. The Republican Party
1854 a group of Wigs and Democrats opposed slavery and formed the Republican Party
Lincoln was elected as the first Republican president in 1860
Since then Republicans and Democrats have been the major parties in our system.

6. Third Parties Third Parties challenges the two major parties.
Third parties often promoted ideas that were first unpopular or hotly debated. Democrats and Republicans eventually adopted their ideas.
Populist Party: called for direct elections of senators and an 8 hour working day
Progressive Party: promoted the direct primary. Introduced the idea of an initiative and referendum.

7. Single-Issue Parties
Prohibitionist party formed in 1872, wanted to ban the sale of alcohol.

8. Ideological Parties
An ideology is a set of beliefs about human nature and government institutions.
Socialist Labor Party and the Communist Party USA
Libertarian Party

9. Independent Candidates
Sometimes third parties form around strong candidates with strong personalities.
In 1992 a wealthy business leader H. Ross Perot challenged both major-party candidates.

10. Obstacles for Third Parties
Rarely win major elections.
Must obtain a large number of voters signatures to get their names put on a ballot.
Have trouble raising money to compete in campaigns against the major-party candidates.

11. Other Party Systems
Multiparty Systems= three or more parties compete for control of the government.
Canada has 3
Germany has 5
Israel has more than 20
*Rarely does one party win enough support to control the government, so several parties often must work together

12. Other Party systems
One-Party System= Party and government are nearly the same thing
Peoples Republic of China has the Communist Party
Elections are an empty exercise because there are no rival candidates.

13. Am I a Republican or Democrat???

14. *Abortion, Gun Control, Iraq, Terrorism, Energy*
How the Parties Differ
Republicans
Less Government regulation
Democrats
The Federal Government should be more directly involved in regulating the economy and in providing housing, income, education, and jobs for the poor.
*Abortion, Gun Control, Iraq, Terrorism, Energy*

15. How Parties Differ Both try to appeal to as many voters as possible
Avoid radical and extreme positions

16. Platform and Plank
Platform=A series of statements expressing the parties principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues.
What the party will do if it wins
Each Individual position is called a plank

17. My Platform DEFEATING TERRORISM
-Improving intelligence to stop and find terrorists
ACHIEVING ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
-Create the energy-efficient vehicles of tomorrow.
HAVE A GROWING ECONOMY
-Create more jobs

18. IN-Class Activity
Create a political Party (come up with a name) and a Platform
Have at least 4 different Planks (or Positions). Explain how you are going to achieve that plank.
*what issues are important to you*
3. Come up with a party symbol (Appropriate!)

19. Roles of Political Parties Today
Chapter 9
Section 2

20. National Party Organization
The goal that unites a party’s national, state, and local organizations is to help the party win as many offices as possible.
Each party has a national committee made up of representatives from every state.
It raises funds for presidential elections
organizes the party’s National Convention
Creates Advertisements

21. Republican National Committee
Steele--Republican National Chairmen
National Convention
-Minneapolis, Minnesota
September 1-4, 2008

22. Democratic National Committee
Tim Kaine--Democratic National Chairmen
National Convention
-Denver, Colorado
-August 25-28, 2008

23. National Conventions
At the national convention, party delegates from all states write the platform and nominate candidates for president and vice president.
Each party chooses delegates in primary elections and caucuses, or meetings, of state and local party organizations.
These delegates pledge support to that Presidential candidate and vote for them at the convention.
2008 Presidential Delegate Tracker

24. National Conventions

25. National Conventions
Today, primary elections generally decide the nominations before the conventions take place.
Both parties also have House and Senate campaign committees made up of members of Congress.
They work to elect party members as senators and representatives.

28. State and Local Organizations
Each party has 50 state organizations that work to elect their party’s candidates for national office.
State Committees also focus on electing party candidates to state offices
Governor, attorney general, state legislators
NC Republican site

29. What is a Precinct?
Each city or county is divided into election districts or precincts.
A precinct is a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters.
It may be an entire small town or part of a large city.
All voters in a precinct use the same voting place. Where are these places?

30. Carteret County has 34 Precincts
Atlantic
Atlantic Beach
Beaufort 1
Beaufort 2
Bettie
Bogue
Broad Creek
Cape Carteret
Cedar Island
Davis
Emerald Isle
Harkers Island
Peletier
Sea Level
Smyrna
Stacy
Stella
Harlow
Indian Beach
Marshallberg
Merrion
Mill Creek
Morehead 1
Morehead 2
Morehead 3
Morehead 4
Newport 1
Newport 2
North River
Otway
Pine Knoll Shores
Wildwood
Williston
Wiregrass

32. Precinct
A precinct captain organizes other party volunteers and encourages people to vote.
Several adjoining precincts make up a ward.
A volunteer represents the ward at the party’s county committee.

33. County Committees Counties are the largest political units in a state
A county chairperson runs the county committee and has great power if the county is large.
Does anyone know Al Behler (R) or
Hugh Wilde (D)?

34. State and Local Organizations
Local party people build support at the “grassroots” level.
Local leaders must know how their neighbors feel about issues important to them.

36. Political Machines
In the past, some local party organizations became so powerful that they were called political machines.
In the 1800s and early 1900s, the Tammany Hall organization ruled New York City.
Its leader, “Boss” Tweed, grew rich from bribes and kickbacks.
At a time when no social service agencies existed, political machines provided needy citizens with jobs, food, and other services in return for votes.

37. Joining a political party
Membership in a political party is not required, but it offers a way for citizens to be involved in politics.
The only duty is to vote.
Members can choose to contribute money, do volunteer work, or help with election campaigns.

38. Review
_________represent their state at their party’s national convention.
A. Delegates
B. Wards
C. Precincts
D. County chairpersons

39. What is the election unit that is made up of several adjoining precincts?
A. district
B. delegation
C. caucus
D. ward

40. What is the first job of delegates to a party’s national convention?
A. nominating candidates for president
B. speaking on behalf of nominees
C. forming caucuses
D. writing the party platform

41. Local party leaders try to build support for their party at the________, or neighborhood, level.
A. district
B. grassroots
C. ward
D. street

42. Nominating Candidates
Political parties are active year-round.
They keep people informed and interested in issues and candidates.
They try to see that the party’s elected officials do a good job.
They politically criticize actions of the opposing party.
Parties select candidates through the nomination process.

43. Direct Primaries
In direct primaries, voters in each state choose candidates to represent the party in a general election.
Often the winner of the most primaries wins the party’s nomination.

44. Democratic Candidates

45. Republican Candidates

47. Closed and Open Primaries
Most states hold closed primaries in which only declared members may vote for the party’s nominees.
Independents can’t vote
A few states hold an open primary in which voters need not declare a party preference to vote for the party’s nominees.

48. Mr. Roberts, what is a Caucus?!?!
Caucus= Is a meeting of party leaders to discuss issues or to choose candidates.
Open meetings at churches, schools, public buildings, and even homes.
Iowa and Nevada Caucuses

49. Nominating Candidates
For offices open to only one winner, the nomination usually goes to the candidate who receives a plurality–the most votes among all those running.
In a few states, the winner must have a majority–a number greater than half of the total. If no candidate receives a majority, the party holds a runoff primary between the two top votegetters.
An unaffiliated candidate may get on the ballot if enough voters sign a petition–a paper declaring support for the candidate.

50. New Hampshire Primary

51. 2008 Presidential Primary Results

52. 6 Functions of Political Parties
1. Parties raise money for the campaign and help get the candidates’ views across to the public.
2. They make sure supporters are registered to vote and actually vote.
3. Through campaign pamphlets, speeches, and advertising, parties inform citizens about issues and the way government works.

53. Other Party Roles 4. Parties play a “watchdog” role.
The party out of power watches the actions of those in power for mistakes and misuse of power.
Competition between parties forces the party in power to pay attention to the will of the people.

54. Other Party Roles 5. Operate Government
6. Party ties aid cooperation among levels and branches of government.
Example: Republican Gov. and Republican Sen.
Shared views and relationships within a party make it easier for members to work together.

55. Party Roles

56. Review
In _______ primaries, only declared members of a party are allowed to vote for that party’s nominees.
A. open
B. public
C. closed
D. limited

57. Most states award the party’s nomination to the candidate who receives a _______of votes.
A. majority
B. plurality
C. percentage
D. minority