1. Chapter 17 Political Parties

2. Sect. 1. Development of Political Parties
A political party group of people with a common interest
Win Elections, control government, influence government policies
Needs: Candidates, Money to spread ideas, and followers / voters
Role of Parties
link voters and officials by explaining what candidates
Political parties help unify the parts of government
provide a voice for the opposition.

3. Functions of Political Parties
1. Electing Candidates
2. Educating the Public
3. Involving people in the Political Process
4. Operating the Government
5. Dispensing Patronage
6. Developing + Implementing Policy
7. Watchdog
8. Providing Stability

4. Functions Cont’d 1. Electing Candidates 2. Educating the Public
Good chance of being elected
Raise money, organize rallies, generate enthusiasm
2. Educating the Public
Inform the public
Present their ideas/stance on topics (Immigration, Health Care, Economy)
People identify / choose a party based on the party’s ideology.
3. Involving People
Campaign drives, helping people register to vote, donating money, posting signs.

5. Functions Cont’d 4. Operating the Government 5. Dispensing Patronage
Staffing the Executive and Legislative Branches
Carry out policies according to their party’s interest
Divided Government – Executive and Legislative are different parties
5. Dispensing Patronage
Favors given for loyalty to the party (Jobs, contracts, appointment)
6. Developing Policies
Party leaders / candidates set party goals
Governmental action – create laws

6. Functions of the Gov’t Government Watch Dog Providing Stability
Watchdog—Parties that are out of power keep a close eye on the actions of the party in power
Influence public opinion
Providing Stability
Control over the government
No revolution during an elections
Peaceful transfer of power

7. Party System

8. Why a Two-Party System?
The nation started out with two-parties: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.
The Force of Tradition. America has a two-party system because it always has had one. Minor parties, lacking wide political support, have never made a successful showing, so people are reluctant to support them.
The Electoral System. Certain features of government, such as single-member districts, are designed to favor two major parties.
Ideological Consensus. Most Americans have a general agreement on fundamental matters. Conditions that would spark several strong rival parties do not exist in the United States.

9. Multi Party System

11. Party Membership Patterns
Factors that can influence party membership:

12. Third Parties
Third Party – minor parties that influence an issue or even the outcome of an elections
Rarely win elections
Single Issue Party
1 issue, Do not last very long/fade away along with the policy
Ideological Party
Set of ideas that can change society
Splinter Party
Party that breaks away from a major party

13. Minor Parties in the United States
Types of Minor Parties
Splinter Party
Example: “Bull Moose” Progressive Party
Ideological Parties
Example: Libertarian Party
Single-issue Parties
Example: Free Soil Party
Economic Protest Parties
Example: The Greenback Party
Single Issue Party
1 issue, Do not last very long/fade away along with the policy
Ideological Party
Set of ideas that can change society
Splinter Party
Party that breaks away from a major party

14. Minor Parties in the United States
SECTION
Chapter 5, Section 4

15. Why Minor Parties Are Important
SECTION
Why Minor Parties Are Important
Minor parties play several important roles:
“Spoiler Role”
Minor party candidates can pull decisive votes away from one of the major parties’ candidates, especially if the minor party candidate is from a splinter party.
Critic
Minor parties, especially single-issue parties, often take stands on and draw attention to controversial issues that the major parties would prefer to ignore.
Innovator
Often, minor parties will draw attention to important issues and propose innovative solutions to problems. If these proposals gain popular support, they are often integrated into the platforms of the two major parties.

16. Party Ideology and Identification 17.2

18. Sociological Factors Republican: Democrat: White males Business Owners
Middle Income to Wealthy
Professional Employees
Protestants, Mormons
Traditional Families
Retired Investors
Solid South, Rural, Burbs
Democrat:
African Americans & Latinos
Labor Unions
Poor
Government Employees
Low Skilled employees
Catholics & Jews & Muslims & Atheists
Single-Income Parents
Big Cites in Northeast, Pacific West

19. Party Platforms Platform – statement of beliefs on issues
Party Recognition
Images/Phrases
“GOP” – Grand Old Party (Republicans)
Philosophy for each party

20. TWO MAJOR U.S. PARTIES DEMOCRATS
generally seen as liberal because they support government regulation of the economy
REPUBLICANS
generally seen as conservative because they advocate a reduction in government

21. BOTH PARTIES LEAN TOWARD MODERATE
Current theorists say that U.S. political parties are becoming increasingly moderate and therefore less easily separated on the political spectrum
DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS

22. Party Organization 17.3

23. Party Organization and Membership
Success = Strong leadership / Organization
Local Level – attract voters to the political party
State Level – elect party’s rep. for state Governor
Help assist local governments
National Level-
Raise money for the political party
Help all party members get elected

24. Membership Declaration of Party Loyalty
Not required in the USA
People choose a party for multiple reasons
Or may choose to be independent
Obligations to party
VOTE!!!
Canvass/influence voters
Support the candidate
Raise money

25. Selecting Candidates Represent the Political Party Primary + Caucuses
Party values + promote and implement policies
Name must be on the ballot
Primary Elections
Petitions
Gather enough signature from the area of residency
(Caucuses)
Private meetings with party leaders
Local + Regional + State level +
IOWA CAUCUS
Primary + Caucuses

26. Primaries Direct Primaries Closed Primary Open Primary
Party members elect people to run in the general election
Closed Primary
Only party members are allowed to vote
Open Primary
All voters are allowed to select for a party’s leader (Ohio)
State Laws – Constitution allows states to establish their own election laws.
Plurality – receive more votes that the other candidate
Run-Off – neither candidate receives majority vote

27. Presidential Primaries
Binding Primaries –
Delegates must vote to the results of the primary
Nonbinding –
Show voters’ preference
Winner Take All – candidate who wins primary receives all delegates
Proportional Representation – number of delegates based on popular vote
Problems with Primaries
Too soon, few people vote in the primaries, winner might not be a true representation of people, early media attention, some candidates forced to drop out early.

28. Party Conventions Select a candidate for the party’s Ticket
Candidate runs in general election
Elected/appointed delegates from each state select
John Oliver: 2016 Rep. Convention
John Oliver: Dem Convention

29. Dissecting Political Parties
The Party Organization
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30. Dissecting Political Parties
Party-in-Government / Party-in-the-Electorate
Party-in-government: All the elected national, state, and local candidates who help organize government and translate the electorates’ wishes into public policy
Party-in-the-electorate: The ordinary citizens who identify with a party and support its basic policies
Those citizens form the party base.
In the past 50 years, voter attachment to the two major parties has declined, and more people characterize themselves as independents.

31. The Responsible Party Model
The responsible party model describes the four conditions that allow citizens to control leaders:
1. Each party should offer a unique program consistent with its ideals.
2. Candidates should pledge to support their party’s platform if elected.
3. Voters should choose parties whose program most clearly reflects their own ideas.
4. Each party should ensure that its elected officials promote and vote for its program.