1. Political Parties
Unit One

2. The Purpose

3. Necessary for Democracies
Offer a choice in elections
Help citizens develop a vision for society
Give us a path for political participation

4. Roles of Political Parties
Find Candidates: help voters choose a candidate that matches a certain platform
Partisanship: politicians often vote with their party, which can keep the majority from taking control
Inform the Public: debates and discussions help the public stay aware of government issues
Predicting Behavior: most politicians stay true to their party’s platform once they’re in office

5. Why Only Two Parties?
Agreement: regardless the party, Americans tend to share the same values
History: it’s what we’ve always had
Winner-Takes-All: too many parties would give less of a majority to the winner

6. Why Have a Third Party?
A Third Party is a minor party, other than Democrat and Republican
Act as watchdogs
Raise awareness for specific issues
Can sometimes split the vote and change an election’s results

7. Dangers
Political Parties can fail to respond to the concerns and needs of the citizens
Are often distrusted by the public

8. The History

9. Two Main Parties in the U.S.
We started with the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists
Today, the two main parties are the Democrats and the Republicans

10. The Federalists Believed in a strong central government
Wanted ratification of the Constitution
Supported industrialization, a national bank, and government aid to build roads and canals
Eventually becomes our modern Republican Party

11. The Anti-Federalists Supported states’ rights
Favored farming over manufacturing
Are soon called the Democratic- Republican Party
Eventually becomes our modern Democratic Party

12. Historical Parties Federalist (1789-1820)
Anti-Federalist / Democratic-Republican ( )
Whig ( )
Free Soil ( )
Socialist ( )
Bull Moose ( )
National Woman’s ( )
Farmer-Labor ( )
American Nazi ( )
Black Panther ( s)

13. Modern Parties

14. Democratic Party Founded in 1828 Based on American Liberalism
Increase government spending to spur the economy
Supports same-sex marriage, ease immigration
Wants strict gun control laws
Focuses on the Middle Class

15. Republican Party Founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists
Also known as the GOP (Grand Old Party)
Based on American Conservatism
Supports free markets
Limits Government intervention
Wants to uphold traditional values (against same-sex marriage, abortion, and drugs)
Has had issues with the influential Tea Party movement which has split Republican votes in recent elections

16. Constitution Party Founded in 1992
Focused on restoring the government to its constitutional limited authority
Formerly known as the U.S. Taxpayers’ Party
Views: pro-life, anti-gun control, anti-tax, anti- immigration, trade protection, anti-gay rights, anti-welfare, pro-school prayer

17. The Green Party
Founded in 1984; follows a similar movement that began in Europe
Ten Key Values: grassroots democracy, social justice & equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, non-violence, decentralization, community-based economics, gender equality, respect for diversity, personal & global responsibility, sustainability

18. The Libertarian Party Founded in 1971 Focus on a free-market economy
Are dedicated to personal freedoms (pro-drug legalization, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro- home schooling, pro-gun rights) and total economic freedom (anti-welfare, anti- government regulation of business, anti- minimum wage)
Limit foreign intervention

19. Communist Party USA Founded in 1919
Focuses on uniting the working class against oppression, discrimination, and segregation
Supports all races, genders, and sexual orientations
Has a vision of socialism for the U.S.: social ownership of the means of production

20. Choosing a Party

21. When to Choose
You “declare” your political party by requesting that party’s ballot in a partisan primary election (held in May in Ohio)
If you want to remain unaffiliated, you won’t be able to vote for partisan contests, but will still vote on issues and tax levies

22. Can You Change Your Mind?
Absolutely!
The next time you vote in a primary election, you simply say something else