1. Government
Chapter 9

2. Political Parties and Politics
Section 1

3. Key Terms
Political Party: An association of voters with broad, common interests who want to influence or control decision making in govt. by electing the party’s candidate to public office.
Two-party System: During most of American history there have been two major political parties.
Third party: Parties that have rose to challenge the two major parties.
Platform: Series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues.
Plank: Each individual part of the platform.

4. Political Party Political Parties were formed Members share:
Washington did not want this
Pg. 218 “Americans in Action”
Members share:
Beliefs about politics
Sense of proper role of govt.
Pick candidates who share these beliefs

5. U.S. Anyone can join a party Not necessary:
To pay dues
Take a test
Vote
Only necessary to declare yourself a member

6. Two-Party System
During most of American history there have been two major political parties.
Republican
Democrats
Both have millions of supporters
Very strong
Since 1860 one of the parties has held the presidency and most seats in Congress

7. Roots of Two-party Constitution does not mention parties Rival parties
Most delegates at convention were against them
Two parties formed shortly after Washington became president
Rival parties

8. Jefferson/Hamilton Thomas Jefferson: Alexander Hamilton
Favored individual rights
Wanted to limit power of govt
Argued for more power for state govt.
Alexander Hamilton
Believed rights were at risk if govt. was weak
Favored strong govt.
Wanted president to have more power

9. Democratic Party
Thomas Jefferson formed the Democratic-Republican party
1828: Andrew Jackson became the leader
Party split
Jackson joined the Democratic Party

10. Federalist Party Led by Alexander Hamilton Party faded away 1816-1828:
Democratic Republicans faced no challenge

11. Whigs 1830: New party Whigs: Competed with newly named Democrats
National republicans
Competed with newly named Democrats
Whigs and Democrats remained the major parties until the 1850’s

12. Republican Party 1854: Breakaway democrats and Whigs
Opposed slavery
Formed Republican Party
Replaced the Whig Party
1860: Lincoln elected first Republican President
Republicans and Democrats have been major parties in our system

13. Third Parties These parties have rose to influence politics
No third party has ever won a presidential election
Rarely win major elections
Called minor parties

14. Third Parties Can affect outcome of elections
May influence govt. and social policy
Third parties have different beliefs
Do believe that neither major party is meeting certain needs

15. Populists Third party 1890’s: Never won presidency
Farmers and laborers
Called for direct election of senators
8-hour working day
Never won presidency
Two major parties adopted many of their ideas

16. Progressive Third Party Split from Republicans in 1912
Theodore Roosevelt
Former Republican President
Ran for President as a Progressive
Took votes away form William Howard Taft
Democratic Nominee
Woodrow Wilson won the election
Roosevelt played a “spoiler” role

17. Single Issue Parties Third parties arise to not win elections
Promote social, economic, or moral issues
Single-issue party usually doesn’t last long
Fades away if:
Issue is no longer important
Major party adopts issues

18. Prohibitionist Party Formed in 1872 Wanted to ban sale of alcohol
Did not expect to be elected
Used election campaigns to influence citizens to accept their ideas
Hoped to persuade lawmakers against sale of alcohol

19. Ideological Parties Focus on changing society in major ways
Socialist Labor Party
Communist Party USA
Libertarian
Green Party

20. Socialist Labor/Communist
Socialist Labor Party
Communist Party USA Support:
Govt. ownership of factories
Transportation
Resources
Farmland
Other businesses

21. Libertarian
Wants to cut size of govt. to increase individual rights

22. Green Party Oppose power of corporations
Favor decision making at the grassroots level

23. Independent Candidates
Form around candidates who are well-known but are not supported by the major parties
Rarely win because of two-party tradition
Often have a hard time raising money
Single-member districts

24. Other Party Systems U.S. two-party system
Rare
Most democracies have multiparty systems
3 or more parties compete for control
Canada-3
Germany-5
Israel-20+
Parties represent different ideas about govt.

25. One-Party System Party and the govt. are nearly same thing
China has only 1 party
Communist
Only communist candidates are allowed to run for office
Carry out the party’s orders

26. Today’s Major Parties
Competing parties are necessary for a democratic govt.
Give voters a choice among candidates

27. Basic Differences Involvement of govt. in the lives of Americans
Read the platform and planks each party writes
This will say what the party claims it will do if they win