DEMOCRACY & Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School

Political Parties AP U.S. Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

» An organized group of individuals who seek to win elections in order to control government and shape public policy Parties develop political “platforms”. Government Timpanogos High School 6.4 Basics of Political Parties

6.4 Constitution  Are Political Parties included in the Constitution? Political parties are not included in the Constitution…  Did the Framers expect parties to develop? Washington, Madison, and others warned against “the spirit of [political] parties” The Framers believed something like today’s political parties were inevitable ○ Rigid Two-party system?  Though not mentioned in the Constitution, political parties are an essential feature of modern government. Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally… This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the stormiest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy... George Washington, Farewell Address 1796

 Shape almost all aspects of government today In Congress, the party in power (majority) largely sets the agenda and thus shapes public policy.  Parties promote democracy: Help define and focus the issues for the voters Gives some predictability to the candidates Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School 6.4 Importance

 Provide checks and balances: The minority party = watch dog ○ Criticize… offer alternative policies / solutions ○ Democrats = War in Iraq ○ Republicans = national debt and the size & scope of government. Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School 6.4 Importance

Political Parties AP U.S. Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

6.5 Development & Organization of Parties Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School  5a When did political parties first develop? Early… Two opposing parties, the Federalists and the Jeffersonian- Republicans in election of 1800  5a How did our current two-party system start? Today’s Democratic party was organized under the leadership Andrew Jackson in the 1820’s The Republicans ran their first presidential candidate, Abraham Lincoln, in 1860 In Depth Watch Development of US Political Parties N0&list=PLDFB- v6YGZLEYo2d9dqm2fqYvKwkhVFJK

6.5b Weakness of Modern U.S. Parties USEurope  Weak – relative to their European counter parts & relative to their own power in the past Rise of Independent voters – decline in voter loyalty to the party Split – ticket voting Primary Elections - Do not control nominations as they once did - Candidates don’t have to be loyal to the party – Progressive Reforms State and local parties are independent from the national party  Relatively Strong European Parties control who gets nominated … … thus candidates must be loyal to the party Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School

 RNC Republican National Committee RNC chair  DNC Democratic National Committee DNC chair Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School 6.5c Organization

 Each party organizes a national convention.  Purpose? Formal selection of the parties presidential candidate by pledged delegates Develop the party platform  Where ? (Swing States) Republicans 2016 – Cleveland OH Democrats 2016 – New York (?) Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School 6.5c Organization

Parties AP U.S. Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

» The Fight for Majority Control : ○ Jim Jeffords breaks from the Republican party Jim Jeffords breaks from the Republican party ○ brings power back to the Republicans ○ Democrats win back both the House and Senate 2008 – ○ Democrats gain more seats in Congress & elect a president!! 2010 – ○ Republicans take back the House 2014 – ○ Republicans take the majority in the Senate, up their majority in the House » Party Resurgence (CNN, 2008) Party Resurgence » Republicans v. Democrats (Studio C) Republicans v. Democrats Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School 6.5d Balance of Power The Fight for Majority Control – Presidency & Congress Presidency: ( ) D = 12 elections (7 Pres.) R = 9 elections (5 Pres.) Comparing the period , there has been a bit more balance in the presidency. Republicans have won 16 presidential elections compared to 15 for Democrats. Congress: Democrats dominate (control both houses for 40 years ) - Republicans swept in to won 52 seats ( took back 63 seats in the House) Republicans control the both houses from 1994 (Republican Revolution) through 2006 Control of congress in the period : House = D’s controlled in 31 terms, R’s 14 terms Senate = D-29, R-16

Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School Balance of Power

 Post 2006 House 202 R 233 D  Post 2006 Senate: 49 R 51 D Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School 6.5 Balance of Power

 Pre 2010  House Balance: 255 D’s 178 R’s 2 vacancies  Senate Balance 59 D’s 41 R’s  Post 2010  House Balance: House Balance  Senate Balance: Senate Balance Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School Clerk of the House 6.5 Balance of Power

6.5f Critical Elections / Realignment Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School In Depth - Critical Elections / Realignment Realignment & Dealignment : Watch Hip Hughes History Read this article Realignment For Dummies Realignment For Dummies (HH)

POLITICAL PARTIES Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School

» Party systems: One Party Two Party Multiparty Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School 6.6a The Two-Party System

Multiparty System - UK Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School

House of Commons – Coalition Government AP U.S. Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

 Why does the U.S. have a two-party system? U.S. has single-member districts & winner-take- all system ○ This is sometimes referred to as “First past the post” ○ In contrast: Europe = Proportional System ○ Ross Perot won 19% of the popular vote in 1992, but won NO electoral votes. Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School 6.6a The Two-Party System In Depth Why a Two Party system? Watch video Part 1 v6YGZLEYo2d9dqm2fqYvKwkhVFJKhttps:// v6YGZLEYo2d9dqm2fqYvKwkhVFJK Part2 v6YGZLEYo2d9dqm2fqYvKwkhVFJK&index=4&noredirect=1https:// v6YGZLEYo2d9dqm2fqYvKwkhVFJK&index=4&noredirect=1 Intelligence Squared Debate:

 Why two-party system cont. Legal & political barriers for third-party candidates: ○ Ballot access ….. Wasted vote principle Ballot access ○ Two major parties are institutionalized Brand Name ……. Raising money No charismatic third party leaders or platforms ○ Third parties tend to be more extreme AP U.S. Government & Politics Timpanogos High School 6.6 The Two-Party System

Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School

ROLE OF Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School

» 7a Third Parties defined … Any party other than the two major parties What are the major types of Third Parties in U.S.? ○ Single issue ……Ideological …….Splinter » 7a-b What effect do third parties have? Potentially swing elections… ○ Teddy Roosevelt and the Bull Moose party (1912) ○ Ralph Nader and the Green party (2000) Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School 6.7a-b Third Parties

6.7b Notable Third Party Candidates  Ralph Nader = Green Party  Ross Perot = Reform Party  Politics 1 Politics Light Party AP U.S. Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

6.7c Is it time to end the two party system?  Dealignment and the rise of the Independent (non affiliated)t Voter Dealignment Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School In Depth Watch: Is it time to end the two party system? (RT News)

Elections Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School

 Primary elections / season Open v Close Primary Caucus v. Direct Primary Super Tuesday  General elections / season  Mid term election  Presidential election  Party convention  Delegates  Incumbent  Inauguration

6.8b Election Cycles  Presidential Elections Primary Season (CNN 2012) Primary Season General Season Voter Turnout? Campaign Strategy?  Mid Term Elections Primary Season General Season Voter Turnout? Campaign Strategy? Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School In Depth Read: Voter Turnout Stays Low (NY Times, 2010,) mary-voter-turnout-stays-low-but-more-so-for- democrats/?_r=0 Presidential v Midterm Turnout Elections Primary Election Turnout

2008 Primaries  Jason Chaffetz unseated incumbent Chris Cannon in the 2008 Utah primaries Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School

2010 Primaries  Incumbent Bob Bennett was unseated by Mike Lee at the 2010 Utah Republican convention Government & Citizenship Timpanogos High School

In-Depth – Party Coalitions Party Factions  Both Democrats and Republicans have developed factions Tea party Blue Dog Democrats Fiscal Crisis … ○ Cliffhanger (Frontline ) Cliffhanger AP U.S. Government & Politics Timpanogos High School In Depth Read: Obama Abandoned Us (Politico, Dec 2014) abandoned-us htmlhttp:// abandoned-us html Read: After The Blowup (Politico) barack-obama-nancy-pelosi html?hp=t3_rhttp:// barack-obama-nancy-pelosi html?hp=t3_r