Splash Screen

Chapter Intro 1 The Constitution makes no mention of political parties, but the first ones formed during the early years of the republic. Today, the United States has several political parties, although two—the Democrats and the Republicans— dominate American politics.

VS 1 What Is a Political Party? A political party is a group of individuals outside of government that organizes to win elections, to operate the government, and to determine policy.

VS 4 What Political Parties Do Select candidates Inform the public Coordinate policy making Balance competing interests Run campaigns

VS 3 Organization Each party has a national committee and congressional campaign committees. Each party also has 50 state committees and many local party organizations. In the past, some local party organizations became so powerful that their candidates won almost every election. These were known as political machines.

Section 2 Organization of Political Parties (cont.) The national committee of each party:national committee –Made of representatives from every state –Raises funds for presidential elections –Organizes the party’s national convention –Run by a national party chairperson Organization of Political Parties

Section 2 National Convention: –Held once every four years –Party delegates nominate candidates for president and vice president Organization of Political Parties (cont.) Organization of Political Parties

Section 2 Party delegates: –Chosen through presidential primary elections and caucusescaucuses –Write the party platform Organization of Political Parties (cont.) Organization of Political Parties

Section 2 State organizations of a party: –Focus on electing party candidates to state offices –Work to elect party candidates for national offices Organization of Political Parties (cont.) Local organizations of a party consisting of city, town, and county committees Organization of Political Parties

Section 2 Precinct:Precinct Organization of Political Parties (cont.) –Geographic area containing a specific number of voters –Voters cast ballots at the same place –Run by precinct captains Organization of Political Parties

Section 2 Organization of Political Parties (cont.) County committees: –Counties are the largest political units within a state –County chairperson has political power –Precinct leaders building the party at the “grassroots” level Organization of Political Parties

Section 2 Two party system – 2 major parties in the United States. Democrats and Republicans Third Party – smaller, minor parties

Section 2 Nominating Candidates (cont.) Political parties hold primaries to nominate candidates for office Direct primary:Direct primary –Voters chose candidates to represent each party in a general election –Two main forms are closed and open primaries

Section 2 Only declared members of a party allowed to vote for party’s nominee in a closed primaryclosed primary Voters need not declare their party preference to vote for party’s nominee in an open primaryopen primary Arguments for and against the closed primary Nominating Candidates (cont.)

Section 2 Nominating Candidates (cont.) Winning a primary: –Plurality of votesPlurality –Majority of votesMajority –Winner becomes party candidate in the general election

Section 2 Other Party Roles In addition to nominating candidates for office, political parties have many other responsibilities.

Section 2 Other Party Roles (cont.) Political parties perform many functions that allow citizens to communicate with the government.

Section 2 Functions of political parties: Other Party Roles (cont.) –Campaigning for candidates –Informing citizens –Carrying the people’s message –Operating the government –Acting as a watchdog –Linking the different levels of government

Figure 3

DFS Trans 1 a democrat