Are you a party member, or a party identifier?  Members actively participate  Identifiers don’t

Did you say party?  Political Party: Group of people outside the government that try to win elections so that they can operate government.  Determine public policy

Founding Fathers Were Lame Party Poopers Founding fathers believed that the best, most qualified person would be chosen. Parties were considered quarreling factions*

Quick History  Started with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. (Not yet considered real parties)  Anti-Federalists became the Democratic Republicans under Thomas Jefferson  Federalists die off.  Democratic Republicans split and become Democrats and National Republican Party (Whigs)  Whigs die. Democrats split because of the war and become today’s parties (absorb the Whigs)

Parties are 3-D! Super Neato  The Party in the Electorate: Voters  The Party Organization: Local, State, National offices. Raise money, candidates, promotion  The Party in Government: Candidates who have won positions in government. (Unique because only linkage institution that is held accountable)

What do Parties do?  Select Candidates  Inform Public  Coordinate Policymaking  Balance Competing Interests  Parties are coalitions  Find compromise  Run Campaigns  Raise Money for Candidates

Two is Company, Three is a Crowd  Two party system: Republican and Democrats  There are actually other parties (i.e. Green), but they do not receive the attention (media) that the major parties receive. (Does the media influence opinion once again?)

Why do third parties jog and lose?  Consensus: Most Americans are moderate. We also usually want the same goal, just different means to achieve it.  Tradition: Remember the ol’ Federalists and Anti-Federalists. That is where it all began. (Founding fathers actually despised parties)  Funding: Raising $ is hard, they can be partially repaid if 5% of votes are gathered

Why Jogging Cont.  Elective Process:  Single-member district system- candidate only needs a plurality of votes to win (most votes, not a majority)  First Past the Post (FPTP)-compared to France’s two rounds run off voting  Keeps third parties from running or gaining influence. (Compared to Proportional Representation- PR and 2 nd Ballot votes)

They are out there, waiting, quietly.  Third parties exist such as the Socialist Labor Party (1891) and Social Democrats (1901), Boston Tea Party, Pot Party ("A movement to pretty much legalize marijuana.")  Impact of third parties: Reforms such as minimum wage, woman’s suffrage, retirement pensions.  Influence election outcomes  Offer alternative for people frustrated w/ two parties.

Why they are formed?  Issue oriented parties: Run based mostly on single issue (Green Party)  Ideological Parties: Libertarian Party, American Nazi Party (Lincoln Rockwell)  Splinter Parties: Bull Moose (Progressive Party)

Closer to Home  State Organizations: Usually only work with national organization during major elections  Local: Consists of different districts, counties, cities, etc.

The Big Time  National Convention: Summer before presidential election, write party platform, choose candidates  National Committee: States select members to the committee who plan between conventions.  National Chairperson: Head of the committee  Congressional Campaign Committee: Help congressional members get reelected. (Why is it important?)