1. Political Party System

2. Political Parties: What do they do?
Promote a political agenda to influence government policy and action
Select candidates for election
Educate voters
Finance election campaigns
Fill government positions

3. 2 “Big Tent” Parties Republicans and Democrats
Different groups that support unrelated issues
Associate with same party
Third parties limit interests to single issue.
Example, Green Party = environmentalists

4. Role of Political Parties
Description
Select candidates
Parties select candidates, present them to voters and work to win elections
Educate voters
Parties inform people by presenting information about issues or beliefs through pamphlets, newspapers, rado, tv, speeches, conventions

5. Roles, continued… Govern
Those who govern are chosen on the basis of party; appointments are made with an eye to the party of the potential officeholder
Finance campaigns
Parties raise funds to ensure that candidates have financial support to run their campaigns

6. Roles, continued… Watchdog
The party that is not in power criticizes the policies of the party in power. This party plays the role of the “loyal opposition.”

7. Question:
Which role of a political party do you think most influences the political process?

8. Political Parties: Who are they. What do they want
Political Parties: Who are they? What do they want? Democrats and Republicans

9. History of Democrats Federalists Anti-Federalists George Washington
John Adams
Strong central government
Wealthy property owners concerned with improving commerce and ensuring property rights.
Anti-Federalists
Evolved into Democrat-Republican party
Thomas Jefferson
Supported by working class, small farmers from the South
Valued liberties
Resented big business
Possessed general suspicion of government

10. George Washington and John Adams were both Federalists who believed in a strong central government.

11. Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, the 3rd and 5th Presidents of the United States signed the Constitution in support of a strong federal government. Came to distrust an all powerful central government.

12. Andrew Jackson First Democrat elected President!
7th President of the US
War hero who defeated British at Battle of New Orleans
War of 1812
First presidential candidate to run as Democrat
First to frequently veto laws
Responsible for enfranchising all white males (right to vote)
Large Indian removal projects
Distribution of land to white southern farmers
Jackson’s Democrats
In favor of slavery
Typically won elections in south

13. Andrew Jackson used a donkey to symbolize working class roots
Andrew Jackson used a donkey to symbolize working class roots. Democrats have been known as donkey ever since.

14. Democrat History Continued
Evolved into party representing working classes of cities in the North and white agricultural workers in the South until Famous Democrats of this time period included James Polk, Andrew Johnson, and Woodrow Wilson.

15. Franklin Delanor Roosevelt transformed Democrat party.
Captured White House in 1932
Led U.S. out of Great Depression
Expanding government services
welfare, social security, jobs programs
lesser extent, supported civil rights laws
John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Baines Johnson
Continued the tradition
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Created Medicare and Medicaid
Expanded welfare

17. History of the Republicans
Born in 1854
Support of abolitionists
Wanted strong federal government
Abraham Lincoln
First Republican elected President
Radical Republicans
Responsible for pushing Reconstruction efforts in South
Late 1880s
Became known as big business party

18. Republican Party was born amidst free and slave state tensions in 1850s. Tended to find more support in the north.

19. History of Republicans
Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover
Laissez faire economics (free market)
Isolationism
Favored small government
Against taxes
Thought economy could take care of itself

20. Republicans came to be associated with elephants due to the political cartoons of Thomas Nast in 1874.

21. The Republican Party transforms, 1968.
Party of North to one of South and West
Richard Nixon’s Southern Strategy
Proclaimed support of states rights
Promised to make US safer
Today
Policies that limits government size and cuts taxes

23. What are the differences between Republicans and Democrats today?

24. The Economy and Taxes Larger government Smaller government
Democrats
Larger government
Progressive tax system (wealthy pay a larger share than the poor)
Against international free trade agreements
Claim such agreements hurt American workers, unions
Believe in balanced budget
Willing to raise taxes if needed
Protect American businesses from international competition
Republicans
Smaller government
Free market agreements with other countries, like NAFTA
Against raising taxes
even if it means budget deficit
Believe in global trade
Don’t protect US businesses from international competition

25. National Defense and Security
Democrats
Cut the military budget
Avoid American military intervention
unless supported by the United Nations
Believe in diplomacy
Slow to go to war
Republicans
Strong military
Willing to pay for it with government money
Believe in confronting enemies with or without UN support
Use military intervention when American interests or security threatened, more quickly

26. Entitlements- Welfare, Medicaid, Social Security, Health Care
Democrats
Government should provide broad safety net
health care, education, welfare, food stamps
Policies to help common good
Compassionate
Republicans
Government should limit or reduce the safety net
Private businesses and non-profit charities can provide same services

27. Crime and Punishment Democrats Republicans
Rehabilitation programs over long prison sentences
Against death penalty
Focus on rights of accused
Republicans
Prison sentences as a deterrent to crime
For death penalty
Stiffer penalties

28. Environmental Protection
Democrats
Favor stricter regulations
to protect environment
Believe global warming is a real threat
Republicans
Fewer restrictions
hopes wealthier companies will be able to be more environmental
Do not believe global warming is a real threat

29. Abortion and Stem Cell Research
Democrats
Pro-choice
woman should always have the right to choose
Favor stem-cell research
Republicans
Pro-life- do not believe that
women don’t have a right to have an abortion
call abortion a form of murder
Against stem-cell research

30. Energy Policy Democrats
Researching alternative energy sources for the future
Republicans
Securing existing energy sources for the present and future

31. Education Democrats Oppose using tax money for school choice
Republicans
Favor using tax money for school choice

32. Immigration Democrats Looser immigration laws
“Amnesty” for illegal immigrants already in the country
Republicans
Stricter immigration laws
Some favor punishment or deportation for illegal immigrants already in the country

33. Check Out How Each Party Feels About Issues That Are Important to You
Check Out How Each Party Feels About Issues That Are Important to You? Which Candidate Do You Agree With?
Democrats
Republicans