1. Unit 4: Electoral Process – “Players of the Game”
Lecture & Discussion 1: Political Parties

2. Objective
To identify and understand the role of political parties in the electoral process.

3. Do Now
Analyze cartoon A in Politics and American Political Parties and respond to the prompts.
What is the subject of the cartoon?
What statement is made by the cartoonist?
Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

4. A. Political Parties Definition
political party: a group of persons who seek to influence government through the winning of elections and holding of public office
major party: a political party that enjoys wide spread support

5. Beliefs of Major Parties
“Democrats”
“Republicans”

6. A. Political Parties
What Major Parties Do

7. What Major Parties Do Function Explanation Select Candidates
nominate candidates for office

8. What Major Parties Do Function Explanation
Mobilize Voters
stimulate and inform the public about policy matters

9. What Major Parties Do Function Explanation “Seal of Approval”
try to ensure the candidates are
qualified and of good character

10. What Major Parties Do Function Explanation Facilitate Governance
government is largely based and conducted in a partisan manner

11. What Major Parties Do Function Explanation Act as “Watchdog”
the “loyal opposition” scrutinizes party in power

12. A. Political Parties National Party Organization
national convention: a meeting of delegates every four years to nominate a presidential candidate and write the party platform
national committee: delegates who manage party affairs between conventions (RNC/DNC)
national chairperson: person responsible for day to day activities of the party

13. DNC Chair
RNC Chair
Tom Perez
Ronna Romney McDaniel

14. A. Political Parties Decay of Major Parties
parties as a label with which voters identify is in decline

15. A. Political Parties Decay of Major Parties
parties as an organization that nominate candidates is weakening due to primaries

16. A. Political Parties Decay of Major Parties
party leaders are losing authority in national convention to party activists and primary voters due to changes in delegate selection rules (proportional system)

17. B. The Two-Party System Definition
two-party system: a political system in which the candidates of only the major parties have a reasonable chance to win national elections
Democratic and Republican parties dominate politics in the United States

18. B. The Two-Party System Reasons for Two-Party System
election law makes it difficult for minor parties to get on the ballot
electoral process discourages minor parties due to plurality system and winner-take-all formats (no runoff elections as in Europe’s multi-party system)
Ideological Consensus: Americans are a homogenous people who share many common beliefs despite political affiliations

19. C. Minor Parties Definition
minor party: a political party that is not widely supported
“third parties” have been a permanent feature of politics in United States

20. C. Minor Parties Types of Minor Parties
ideological: party based on a comprehensive set of political, economic, and social beliefs
most are built on some shade of Marxist thought, but not all such as Libertarians and Greens

21. C. Minor Parties Types of Minor Parties
single-issue: party focused on one public policy matter; avoid other issues

22. C. Minor Parties Types of Minor Parties
economic protest: party rooted in periods of economic discontent; tend to disappear as conditions improve
supported by struggling farmers who preferred non-gold backed paper money which would raise prices and foster better business in 1880’s

23. C. Minor Parties Types of Minor Parties
factional: party created by a split in a major party, usually over presidential candidate
Bull Moose Progressive Party broke from the Republican Party in 1912
American Independent Party broke from Democratic Party in 1968

24. C. Minor Parties Role of Minor Parties
spoiler: a minor party candidate can steal votes from major party candidates
Did Green Party candidate Ralph Nader steal the election from Democratic Party candidate Al Gore in the 2000 election?

25. 2000 General Election Results
Candidates
Popular Vote
Percentage
Electoral Vote
George Bush
50,456,002
47.87%
271
Al Gore
50,997,897
48.38%
266
Ralph Nader
2,882,955
2.74%

26. 2000 Florida Election Results
Candidates
Popular Vote
Percentage
Electoral Vote
George Bush
2,912,790
49% 25
Al Gore
2,912,253
Ralph Nader
97,488 2%

27. Ralph Nader on 2000 Election

28. C. Minor Parties Role of Minor Parties
critic: minor party candidates can take stands on controversial issues and perhaps push major parties to adopt their views
innovator: minor parties offer alternative candidates to voters who are unhappy with the two-party system