1. Political Party Systems
1. 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

2. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings
George Washington against political parties
“parties serve their own interests”
“parties not beneficial to American people”
Parties formed after his exit:
Democratic-Republicans
2. Federalists

3. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings
Democratic-Republicans
Supported states rights
Supported economy based on agriculture
Power in hands of all people
Led by Thomas Jefferson

4. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings
Federalists
Supported strong national govt.
Supported economy based on industry
Power in hands of wealthy and educated
Led by Alexander Hamilton

5. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings
Mid 1820’s: Democratic-Republicans breaking up
Democratic Party formed to continue representing small farmers and working people

6. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings
1850’s: Democratic Party and Whig Party split over slavery
Pro-slavery voters form Democratic Party
Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats formed Republican Party

7. U.S Political Parties: Beginnings
Republican Party
1860: Abe Lincoln becomes 1st Republican President
Emerges as stronger of 2 parties after Civil War
:Only 2 Democratic Presidents elected
Grover Cleveland
Woodrow Wilson

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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…)

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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)

19. 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)

20. Democrats: The Issues Foreign Policy:
Generally much more supportive of international agencies than are Republicans – support NATO and the UN
More skeptical of the Bush Administration’s rush to war than were the Republicans
Very skeptical of the handling of the reconstruction of Iraq

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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
Argue public schools will be forced to improve in order to retain students

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

25. 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)

26. 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

27. Republicans: The Issues
Welfare:
Favors increasing the mandatory work week for those receiving government assistance
Support cuts in child care and training funding while pushing $200 million for marriage education
Pushing for more funding for religious organizations and charities, which then will be responsible to caring for our nation’s poor

28. 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)

29. 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

30. 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

31. How To Tell Em Apart
Republicans usually wear hats.
Ronald Reagan

32. How To Tell Em Apart
Democrats usually don’t.
Jimmy Carter

33. How To Tell Em Apart
Democrats buy banned books.
Bill Clinton

34. How To Tell Em Apart
Republicans form censorship committees, and then read them.
Barbara Bush

35. How To Tell Em Apart Democrats eat the fish they catch.
FDR Fishing in Warms Springs, GA

36. How To Tell Em Apart
Republicans hang them on their wall.

37. How To Tell Em Apart
Republicans study the financial pages of the newspaper.

38. How To Tell Em Apart
Democrats put them on the bottom of their bird cage.

39. How To Tell Em Apart
On Saturday, Republicans head for the golf course, the yacht club, or the hunting lodge.
President George
W. Bush yachting
and golfing.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower hunting

40. How To Tell Em Apart
Democrats get a haircut, wash the car, or go bowling.
A younger Bill Clinton bowling

41. How To Tell Em Apart
Republicans have guest rooms.

42. How To Tell Em Apart
Democrats have spare rooms filled with old baby furniture.

43. How To Tell Em Apart
Republicans hire exterminators

44. How To Tell Em Apart
Democrats step on the bugs

45. How To Tell Em Apart
Republicans sleep in twin beds – some even in separate rooms.

46. How To Tell Em Apart That is why there are more Democrats.
The Kennedy Family

47. 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…
Mayor of Atlanta:
Shirley Franklin
Alvin Wilbanks:
Superintendent of GCPS

48. 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…
Georgia Governor:
Sonny Perdue

49. 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
Georgia Representative:
John Linder
President of the U.S.:
George W. Bush
Georgia Senator:
Saxby Chambliss

50. 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

51. 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

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

53. 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

54. 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
Pot Party
Constitutional Action Party
American Falangist Party
U.S. Marijuana Party