Chapter 16 Political parties

Brainstorming Make a Chart listing what you know about each major political party in the United States DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN Issues Beliefs Major candidates

PARTIES AND PARTY SYSTEMS Political Party: a group of people with broad common interests who organize to win elections, control government, and thereby influence government policies The role that political parties play differs among various nations

ONE-PARTY SYSTEMS - the party is the government - decisions of party leaders set government policy - political differences arise only within the party - only one party’s candidates on the ballot Cuba, Vietnam, North Korea, China Theocracy: government dominated by religion

Multiparty System Nations allowing more than one political party, and usually there are many parties France: 5 major parties Italy: over 10 major parties Ideology: basic belief about government Coalition government: several parties combine forces to obtain a majority for governing

TWO-PARTY SYSTEM Only about a dozen nations have systems in which two parties compete for power United States: Democrat Party Republican Party

GROWTH OF AMERICAN PARTIES Founders distrusted “factions” Early America: FEDERALISTS: strong central government DEMOCRAT-REPUBLICANS: believed states should have more power than central government

PARTIES BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR 1828 Democratic-Republicans split DEMOCRAT: Andrew Jackson WHIGS: other politicians CIVIL WAR: DEMOCRAT: split (Northern / Southern) REPUBLICANS: Abraham Lincoln

Parties after the Civil War REPUBLICAN (most Presidents after Civil War) DEMOCRAT (Cleveland, Wilson, FDR) Today, a mixture of these two parties…

WHICH PARTY IS WHICH? 1. They are willing to raise taxes so that the government can provide needed services such as education and defense. 2. This party supports the expansion of business without government assistance or interference. 3. This party calls for the reduction of big government and cutting the budgets of those agencies that have grown too powerful. 4. This party controlled the presidency from the time of the Civil War until after the Stock Market crash, which signaled the start of the Great Depression. 5. This party expanded the role of the federal government in the lives of ordinary people and in the economy when programs were created to fight unemployment and bad business practices during the 1930s.

Which Party is Which?(con’t) 6. This party's presidents were associated with every major military conflict of the 20th century. 7. This party called for respect for the environment, restrictions on big business and its ability to pollute, and a restructuring of the economy to preserve natural resources. 8. Theodore Roosevelt formed this party to enter the 1912 presidential race since the nomination went to President Howard Taft. It was based on controlling the trusts and monopolies that had grown up as a result of the Industrial Revolution. 9. This party supports restrictions on large insurance companies and health management organizations so that the poor and middle class Americans receive adequate health care. 10. This party offered an alternate choice during the 1992 election when Ross Perot mounted a campaign against Bill Clinton and George Bush that gained 20 million popular votes but no electoral votes.

YOU TUBE VIDEOS Democratic Videos Channel (Democrat Party) Republican National Committee (rnc’s channel) ***** Comparative Commercials!

The Role of Minor Parties THIRD PARTY: any party other than the two major parties Types: Single-issue party – focus on one issue Ideological party – focus on overall change Splinter party – split off major party

Obstacles to Third Parties 1. Great difficulties in getting on ballots in all 50 states Single-member districts: usually only one candidate wins (in contrast to proportional representation) Financing: most reluctant to contribute

What is YOUR political party identification? DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN OTHER / THIRD PARTY WHY??? – Survey…

Political Survey SURVEY at least five people (due by March 2). The results will be anonymous. SIX QUESTIONS: 1. What is your political party affiliation? 2. Why do you belong to your party? 3. Do you consider yourself conservative, moderate, or liberal? 4. Who are two of your political “heroes”? 5. Have you or would you ever vote for someone of another party? 6. Name three current elected officials.

POLITICAL SPECTRUM Powerpoint Youtube videos: “Political Spectrum” – “Political Ideology”

PARTY ORGANIZATION Political Party must have a dedicated core of willing volunteers Parties also use various professionals (like WHO? For WHAT?)

MEMBERSHIP & ORGANIZATION Democrats and Republicans are organized into 50 state parties and thousands of local parties How does one “join” a party? DECLARE PARTY PREFERENCE WHEN REGISTERING TO VOTE Varying degrees of participation…

LOCAL PARTY ORGANIZATION PRECINCT: basic local unit – voting district ranging in size from a few voters to more than 1,000 Precinct Captain: organizes party workers Party County Chairperson (see CHART on page 459)

STATE PARTY ORGANIZATION STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE Democrat Party of Kentucky Republican Party of Kentucky Purpose: help elect party’s candidates for state government offices

NATIONAL PARTY ORGANIZATION National Convention: gathering of party members and local and state party officials – meets every four years to nominate party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates National Committee: large group composed of representatives from 50 state party organizations – runs the party DNC & RNC

POLITICAL PARTY FUNCTIONS Recruiting Candidates – elections Educating the Public – bring issues to public’s attention Operating the government – running & staffing government Dispensing patronage – favors / rewards Loyal opposition – “watchdog” Reduction of conflict – encourages compromise and working together

NOMINATING CANDIDATES HOW CANDIDATES ARE SELECTED CAUCUSES: private meetings of party leaders NOMINATING CONVENTIONS: public meeting of party’s to choose candidates PRIMARY ELECTIONS: primary to choose candidates (direct / open / closed)

PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS Every 4 years, each major party gathers in summer to select a TICKET, candidates for president and vice president Shift from caucuses to nominating conventions in American history PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

National Convention