1. U.S. Political Parties
CP Political Systems

2. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings
What is a political party?
Organization of people who share similar ideas about the way the country should be governed

3. Political Party Systems
3 Political Party Systems in the World
1.) One Party System: Political party and the government are the SAME
Only 1 party, so no competing ideas
Party membership based on lineage, wealth, military power, religious power
Example: China (Communist Party)

4. Political Party Systems
2.) Multi-Party System: Three or more parties compete for control of the government
Common in Europe, Israel, Japan
Advantage: provides voters with many different choices and ideas
Disadvantage: difficult for one party to get majority of votes, which leads to a Coalition:
EXAMPLE – Italy (50 different govts. since WWII)
Daisy Alliance Sunflower Alliance Italian Communist
500,000 votes ,000 votes ,000 votes
Coalition

5. Political Party Systems
3. Two-Party System: Two parties compete with each other to run the government.
Party system of U.S.: Democrats and Republicans
Advantages: Continuity
Disadvantages: Minority parties (third parties) receive little attention – focus is on two main parties

6. U.S. Political Parties: Characteristics
Democratic Party
Tends to Attract
Working people (blue collar)
Liberals
Catholics
Minorities
Union Members
People in favor of govt. involvement in social policies

7. U.S. Political Parties: Characteristics
Republican Party
Tends to attract
Businesspeople (white collar)
Protestants
Conservatives
Non-minorities
Non-union supporters
People against govt.involvement in social policies

8. Democrats: The Issues Abortion: Pro Choice
Favors contraceptive education to prevent necessity of abortion

9. Democrats: The Issues Environment:
Support stronger environmental laws and protection of nature
Push for cleaner air and water
Support funding for preservation (Everglades in FL; Redwoods in CA, etc…)

10. Democrats: The Issues Gay Rights:
Should be protected from workplace discrimination and hate crimes
Should be given equal work benefits like more traditional families
Largely oppose President Bush’s proposal to ban gay marriage through a Constitutional Amendment

11. Democrats: The Issues Gun Control: Strong advocates for gun control
Supported both the Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban

12. Democrats: The Issues Health Care:
Push for more Heath Care funding (Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program)
In favor of program to ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care. (100% government funded)

13. Democrats: The Issues Foreign Policy:
Generally much more supportive of international agencies than are Republicans – support NATO and the UN

14. Democrats: The Issues Education:
More funding for struggling schools is necessary
Highly critical of No Child Left Behind, which has been under funded
Tax money should not be used on religious schools

15. Democrats: The Issues Social Security: Fundamental right of Americans
Best way to protect is to maintain federal government control
Largely oppose privatizing

16. Democrats: The Issues Welfare:
Support increased child care for welfare recipients so they are more able to work steady jobs
Support funding for job training so recipients will be more competitive in the job market

17. Democrats: The Issues Women’s Rights:
For over 20 years, have been pushing to ratify the Treaty of the Rights of Women that arose from the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (would be a statement on America’s part saying that we support equal rights for all women)

18. Democrats: The Issues Worker’s Rights:
Favor labor unions and workers rights
Includes right to organize free from harassment and the right to challenge employers for disability and discrimination cases.
Support worker movements to increase the minimum wage and worker benefits

19. Republicans: The Issues
Abortion: Pro-life; Anti-Choice
Prefers funding go towards marriage education and abstinence only campaigns
Have tried several times to pass statutes that would allow prosecution of acts that harm fetuses

20. Republicans: The Issues
Environment:
Favor the exploration of all resources in the U.S. for energy production and have generally opposed looking for more environment-friendly power alternatives
Pushed for oil drilling in ANWR, the building of more nuclear power plants, a shift towards the use of coal, and have submitted proposals that would weaken the Clean Air Act

21. Republicans: The Issues
Gay Rights:
Against giving gays equal rights in the eyes of the law
“We do not believe sexual preference should be given special legal protection or standing in law”
Oppose idea of gay marriage; seek to define marriage as union between man and woman
Supports amendment to the Constitution defining marriage

22. Republicans: The Issues
Gun Control:
Favors allowing the sale of firearms to proceed more easily, and with fewer safety precautions
Opposes any new gun-control laws
Fought the regulation and banning of assault weapons

23. Republicans: The Issues
Health Care:
Believes health care should work within the free market system where competition will lower the costs of healthcare (no federal govt. involvement)

24. Republicans: The Issues
Foreign Policy:
Have brushed aside international organizations in favor of unilateral policy of preemption
Bush Doctrine supports preemptive invasion when necessary to protect the security of the U.S.
Argue that the use of American military force is essential for keeping the world safe for Democracy

25. Republicans: The Issues
Education:
Support both the “No Child Left Behind” program and the school vouchers
Favor school vouchers because they think that by giving students more educational options, including religious schooling, a competitive market will be created
Favor School Choice (Charter Schools) Privatization of Education.

26. Republicans: The Issues
Social Security: Favor privatization of social security
Citizens will be able to opt to place portions of money that would have gone into Social Security into other types of accounts. Accounts will give the opportunity to play the stock market in an attempt to increase returns. (takes away Federal responsibility)

27. Republicans: The Issues
Welfare:
Favors increasing the mandatory work week for those receiving government assistance
Support cuts in child care and training funding
Pushing for more funding for religious organizations and charities, which then will be responsible to caring for our nation’s poor

28. Republicans: The Issues
Workers’ Rights:
Favor the rights of businesses to maximize profits
Favors workers and management working together to do what is in the best of all involved; no outside influences (against Labor Unions)
Believes Labor Unions restrict production of businesses; sees it as a regulation of business

29. What Do Political Party Members Do??
Major function of each party is to get its candidate elected to office
Steps include
Party members nominate, or name the candidates they want to run for office
2004 Republican National
Convention

30. What Do Political Party Members Do??
2. Party starts an election campaign
An effort to gather support for its candidates and inform voters of the party’s stand on issues
Requires many party workers and volunteers to perform dozens of job that include:
Raising funds
Polling voters/making phone calls
Drive voters to the polls
Register voters
John Kerry Campaigning

31. What Do Political Party Members Do?
Presidential Election Campaigns

32. What Do Political Party Members Do?
3. Once a party’s candidate is elected, the party helps the candidate organize and manage the govt.
Example: When a President is elected, 100’s of job vacancies in govt. must be filled. Jobs usually filled by party members who have contributed time, energy and money to the campaign.
Patronage: giving jobs or special favors to party workers

33. Political Party Organization
Political Parties are organized at every level:
Local Party Committee : Goal is to get candidates from party elected to local political office, like mayor, city councilman, school superintendent, etc…

34. Political Party Organization
Political parties are organized at every level:
State Party Committee: Goal is to get candidates from party elected to state political office, like governor, attorney general, state legislator, etc…
Tom Wolf
Governor of PA
State Senator
Anthony Williams 8th Dist.

35. Political Party Organization
Political parties are organized at every level:
National Party Committee: Goal is to get candidates from party elected to national political office, like President, Senator, House Representative
Delaware Representative
John Carney
President of the U.S.:
Barack Obama
Pat Toomey
Senator PA

36. Third Parties What are Third Parties?
Parties representing minority opinions that challenge the Democrats and Republicans
Some successful Third Parties:
Populist Party – 1890’s
Progressive Party – split off from Rep. Part in 1912
Libertarian Party – third most popular party in U.S. today

37. Third Parties 3 Kinds of Third Parties
1. Parties Tied to a Single Issue:
Examples:
Prohibition Party: formed in 1872 to support banning of alcohol in the U.S.
U.S. Marijuana Party: formed to support the legalization of marijuana in the U.S.
Green Party: formed to protect the environment

38. Third Parties 3 Kinds of Third Parties
2. Parties Tied to a Political Belief
Examples:
Libertarian Party
The Third Party
Socialist Parties

39. Third Parties 3 Kinds of Third Parties
3. Parties Tied to a Single Candidate
Examples:
Reform Party – formed around Presidential candidate Ross Perot in 1996
American Independent Party – formed around Presidential candidate George Wallace in 1968

40. Third Parties America First Party American Heritage Party
American Independent Party
American Nazi Party
Communist Party USA
Constitution Party
Family Values Party
Grassroots Party
Green Party
Independence Party
Labor Party
Libertarian Party
Light Party
Natural Law Party
The Third Party
Worker’s World Party
Peace and Freedom Party
Prohibition Party
Reform party
The Revolution
Socialist Party, USA
Southern Independence Party
U.S. Pacifist Party
Veterans Party of America
We the People Party
Knights Party
Libertarian National Socialist Green Party
Pansexual Peace Party
Constitutional Action Party
American Falangist Party
U.S. Marijuana Party