1. Chapter 5 Political Parties

2. Section 1: Parties and What They Do
Objectives:
Define a political party
Describe the major functions of political parties
Identify the reasons why the United States has a two-party system
Understand multiparty and one-party systems and how they affect the functioning of a political system.

3. What is a Party
A group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office
Democrats and Republicans
Organization made of three separate but closely related elements
The party organization
Leaders, activists, “hangers-on”
The party in government
Party candidates and officeholders
The party in the electorate
People who call themselves Republicans or Democrats

4. What Parties Do Essential to a Democratic Government
Link between the people and their government
Will of the people made known to the government
Government is held accountable

5. Nominating Candidates
Nominate candidates for a public office
Activity that most clearly sets political parties apart from all of the other groups that operate in the political process

6. Informing and Activating Supporters
Inform and inspire voters
Campaigning
Taking stands on current issues
Criticizing opposing candidates
Inform voters
Propaganda

7. The Bonding Agent Function
agreement that protects a person or a company against loss caused by a third party
Ensure the good performance of its candidates and elected officeholders

8. Governing Those who govern are chosen on the basis of party
Partisanship-strong support of their party and its policy stands
Parties must also work together
Executive and legislative branches
Political Parties
House of Representatives
Senate
Republican Party
245 54
Democratic Party
188 44
Independent 2
Vacant

9. The Watching Function
Parties act as watchdogs over the conduct of the public’s business
Party out of power
Criticizes the party in power

10. The Two-Party System Republicans and Democrats Historical Basis
Framers were opposed to political parties
Ratification of the Constitution gave rise to the Federalist and Anti-federalist
The force of Tradition-All that Americans know
The Electoral System-promote two major parties

11. Multiparty Systems Scrap the two party system
Several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for and actually win public offices
Each party is based on a particular interest
Example: economic lass, religious belief, political ideology.

12. One-Party Systems
Only one political party, the party of the ruling clique is allowed to exist
“no-party” system
Many states have a one party system, gains the majority of the votes all the time

13. International Affiliations Democratic Party 50 + DC 1828
Major political parties
A party that has "an independent state organization... in a majority of the states" is listed as a major party. An "independent state organization" is not to be confused with the organization of an Independent Democrat or Independent Republican.
Political Party
States*
Founded in
Former Titles
International Affiliations
Democratic Party
50 + DC
1828
Progressive Alliance
Republican Party
1854
International Democrat Union
Libertarian Party
48 + DC
1971
Interlibertarians
Green Party
36 + DC
1991
Global Greens
Constitution Party 26
1992
U.S. Taxpayers' Party

14. Section 2: Two-Party System in American History
Objectives:
Understand the origins of political parties in the United States
Identify and describe the three major periods of single-party domination and describe the current era of divided government

15. The Nation’s First Parties
Federalists
“the rich and the well-born”
Supported the Constitution
Anti-Federalist
Becomes the Democratic party in 1828
“common man”
Favored a very limited role by the new government
First clashed in the election of 1796

16. Four Major Eras
Democrats won 13 of 15 presidential elections
Lost in 1840 and 1848
Republicans won 14 of 18 elections
Lost in 1884, 1892, 1912, and 1916
Democrats return to power and Franklin Roosevelt’s first election to the presidency

17. The Era of Democrats
Thomas Jefferson’s election in 1800 marked the beginning
Andrew Jackson ( )-changes in political landscape
1)voting rights for all white males
2)a huge increase in the number of elected offices around the country
3)the spread of the spoils system-the practice of awarding public offices, contracts, and other governmental favors to those who supported the party in power

18. Whig Party Major party from the mid 1830s to the 1850s
Lead by Henry Clay and Daniel Webster
Elected only two men to the Whitehouse
William Henry Harrison in the 1840s
Zachary Taylor in 1848
1850s-Whig Party fell apart

19. The Era of the Republicans
The Civil War signaled the beginning of the second era of one-party sway
Remained the leading party for 75 years

20. The Return of the Democrats
Great Depression-1929
Massive impact on nearly all aspects of American life
1932-presidential election-Franklin Roosevelt
New electoral base: southerners, small farmers, organized labor, and big-city political organizations

21. Section 3: The Minor Parties
Objectives:
Identify the types of minor parties that have been active in American politics.
Understand why minor parties are important despite the fact that none has ever won the presidency

22. Minor Parties in the United States
Particular locale, single state, one region of the country
Ideological Parties
Based on a particular set of beliefs
Socialist, Socialist Labor, Socialist Worker and Communist Parties
Single-Issue Parties
Focus on a single public question. Names usually indicate their primary concern
Free Soil Party-opposed slavery in the 1840s
Right to Life Party-opposes abortion today
Economic Protest Parties
Rooted in periods of economic discontent. No clear-cut ideological base. Disappeared as the nation has climbed out of the problem
Splinter Parties
Have split away from one of the major parties
Teddy Roosevelt's “Bull Moose” Progressive Party of 1912-pulled away from Republicans

23. Why Minor Parties are Important
-1st used a national convention to nominate a presidential candidate in 1831
Can play a third party candidacy-spoiler role

24. Section 4: Party Organization
Objectives:
Understand why the major parties have a decentralized structure
Describe the national party machinery and party organization at the State and local levels

25. Decentralized Nature of the Parties
Myth
Often described as highly organized, close-knit and well disciplined
Truth
Highly decentralized, fragmented and often plagued by factions and internal squabbling
Neither party has a chain of command running from the national through the State to the local level
Presidents party is usually more organized and united than the minor party. President is leader of the party

26. National Party Machinery
Both major parties are composed of five basic elements
National Convention
Pick the party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates, adoption of the party’s rules and the writing of its platform
National Committee
Reps from each state and territories, plan national convention
National Chairperson
Leader of the National Committee, directs the work of the party’s headquarters and professional staff
Congressional Campaign Committees
Each party has a campaign committee in each house of Congress, work to get seats for their party.

27. State and Local Party Machinery
At the State and local levels, party structure is determined by State Law
State Organization
Built around a state central committee, headed by a State Chairperson.
Republicans: Jeff Essmann
Democrats: Jim Elliott