Political Party: a group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office. What is it??

Where do they come from?? -The two-party system of today comes from: -History (as we will see in a moment) -Why? - #1 Because people never agree on anything

-#2 An individual can always find a group to which they can relate.

What do they do?? -Select, endorse, and support candidates for public office. -Organize social interests -Produce political programs -Disseminate information -Coordinate the activities of public officials

So, all you little leaguers, who are our major political parties?

Typically more LIBERAL The now-famous Democratic donkey was first associated with Democrat Andrew Jackson's 1828 presidential campaign. His opponents called him a “donkey,” and Jackson decided to use the image of the strong-willed animal on his campaign posters. Later, cartoonist Thomas Nast used the Democratic donkey in newspaper cartoons and made the symbol famous. Today, the Democrats say the Donkey is SMART and BRAVE

Typically more LIBERAL How do they typically vote? -Higher minimum wage (supports worker) -Pro Universal Healthcare -The Environment -Pro Gay-rights -Pro Abortion -Pro Gun-control -Divided on Iraq War -Pro Gov’t Budget Control

Typically more CONSERVATIVE Nast invented another famous symbol— the Republican elephant. In a cartoon that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1874, Nast drew a donkey clothed in lion's skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of those animals, the elephant, was labeled “The Republican Vote.” That's all it took for the elephant to become associated with the Republican Party. Today, the Republicans say the Elephant is STRONG and DIGNIFIED

Typically more CONSERVATIVE How do they typically vote? -Lower minimum wage (supports business) -Anti Universal Health Care -The Environment -Anti Gay-rights -Anti Abortion -Anti-Gun Control -Pro Iraq War -Pro Gov’t Budget Spending

Are there only two political parties?? Nope, there are many minor political parties: American Centrist Party America First PartyAmerica First Party (2002) American Fascist Party American Heritage PartyAmerican Heritage Party (2000) American Independent PartyAmerican Independent Party (1968) American PartyAmerican Party (1969) American Patriot PartyAmerican Patriot Party (2003) American Reform PartyAmerican Reform Party (1997) Centrist Party (United States)Centrist Party (United States) (2006) Christian Freedom PartyChristian Freedom Party (2004) Christian Falangist Party of AmericaChristian Falangist Party of America (1985) Citizens For Reform PartyCitizens For Reform Party (2005) Commonwealth Party Communist Party USACommunist Party USA (1919) Expansionist Party Freedom Road Socialist OrganizationFreedom Road Socialist Organization (1985) Independence Party of AmericaIndependence Party of America (2007) Independent American PartyIndependent American Party (1998) Jefferson Republican Party Labor PartyLabor Party (1995) Marijuana PartyMarijuana Party (2002) National Nihilist PartyNational Nihilist Party (1988) National Socialist MovementNational Socialist Movement (1974) New American Independent PartyNew American Independent Party (2004) New Union PartyNew Union Party (1974) Peace and Freedom PartyPeace and Freedom Party (1967) Pacifist Party of AmericaPacifist Party of America (2007) Personal Choice PartyPersonal Choice Party (1997) Populist Party of AmericaPopulist Party of America (2002) United Fascist UnionUnited Fascist Union (1996) Prohibition PartyProhibition Party (1867) Reform Party of the United States of AmericaReform Party of the United States of America (1995) Socialist ActionSocialist Action (1983) Socialist AlternativeSocialist Alternative (1986) Socialist Equality PartySocialist Equality Party (1953) Socialist Labor PartySocialist Labor Party (1876) Socialist Party USASocialist Party USA (1973) Socialist Workers PartySocialist Workers Party (1938) United Citizens PartyUnited Citizens Party (1969) Workers Party, USA Workers World PartyWorkers World Party (1959) Working Families PartyWorking Families Party (1998) World Socialist Party of the United StatesWorld Socialist Party of the United States (1916)

But, the three “big” minor political parties are: Advocates a Bible-based platform, which it believes reflects the original intent of the Constitution Favors minimal regulation, laissez faire, strong civil liberty, and non interventionism in the world Environmentalism, decentralization, and local autonomy

Do minor parties even matter?? Absolutely, these parties allow for: -New ideas (the Anti-Masons were the first to use a national convention to nominate presidential candidates) -Can pull votes from another candidate (“spoiler role”) so that their opponent wins -Bring attention to issues that larger parties may ignore

So what about the Political Spectrum?? Notice: -Democrats are usually defined as the “left” -Republicans are usually defined as the “right” -Even a really extreme Republican or Democrat is not all the way to the right or left of the spectrum because it includes ALL political ideologies.