1. Party Systems
Linkage Institutions

2. Political Parties Party Systems Why do we only have two

3. Two Party System
Political Parties

4. Party Systems Two Party System Two Party System
Two major political parties dominate the government
All of nearly all elected officials are representatives of one of these parties
Other parties may exist but their candidates are unlikely to win
Party with the most control becomes the “majority party” and the other party is the “minority party”

5. Historically the US has always been dominated by two political parties
Party Systems
Two Party System
Two Party System
In the US
Historically the US has always been dominated by two political parties
When there are changes one major party supplants an existing major party
No third party has ever won a presidential election or majorities in either house of Congress

6. Party Systems Two Party System Why?
Parties begin to develop in the debate over the ratification of the constitution – there were only two positions to take: Ratify it or don’t
They are Basically two main American ideologies, and so parties have adopted policies to appeal to these two large groups
Parties have to appeal to huge groups of people to win. They have to adopt really broad platforms in order to attract diverse groups of people to support them

7. Only a person from a party with large organizations in every state
Party Systems
Two Party System
Elections - POTUS
The president is elected by Electoral College – that makes it basically 50 different state elections
Only a person from a party with large organizations in every state
Smaller parties are hard to get started because this level of organization is hard to build
Voters are conditioned to think in terms of two parties – they see voting for a third party as “helping their enemy”

8. Party Systems Two Party System Elections - Congress
The House of Reps is divided up into 435 districts and each district selects only one person to represent it.
The two major parties are most likely to win first place in any of these districts
Smaller parties may have some support everywhere, but are not likely to have the MOST support in any district

9. Party Systems Two Party System Plurality
The person with the MOST votes wins – it does not have to be a majority
“Winner takes all” - meaning the seat in Congress or all the Electoral Votes for president – there is no benefit for anyone other than first place
Voters understand this system and it makes them even less willing to vote for a third party

10. There are fewer voting choices for the people to have to learn about
Party Systems
Two Party System
Advantages
It promotes centrism and compromise since the parties have to appeal to diverse groups
It leads to stability since the same couple of groups trade power back and forth
They are simpler to govern because compromise only requires one other group
There are fewer voting choices for the people to have to learn about

11. Party Systems Two Party System Disadvantages
They limit alternative viewpoints other than the two main parties
It leads to more voter apathy because people don’t like the choices
Can lead to less compromise and more polarization when there is less participation from moderates

12. Party Systems Two Party System We’re Stuck!
It would take an amendment to change Congressional elections
It would take an amendment to change the Electoral College
Amendments have to be proposed by 2/3 of Congress. 100% of Congress is made up of Democrats and Republicans
They won’t change the system because it benefits them.

13. Multi Party Systems
Political Parties

14. {Political Parties Multi Party Systems Multi Party
An electoral system with three or more political parties that regularly win
There is lots of competition between smaller groups
Parties have to work harder to appeal to specific interests of people.
National politics will dominate more than local concerns

15. They appeal to specific interests of voters
{Political Parties
Multi Party Systems
Multi Party
They appeal to specific interests of voters
Negative advertising won’t work because taking votes away from your competition does not necessarily help you

16. {Political Parties Multi Party Systems Proportional Representation
In systems like this, people vote for parties in elections, not individual candidates
This rewards not just first place, but even parties with small support
The seats in a “Congress” are divided among the parties according to the proportion of the vote they got in the election
The party chooses the members to hold office.

17. {Political Parties Multi Party Systems Coalitions
If no party can get 51% of the votes in an election, they will form a “coalition” with another party
The make a temporary alliance with another party to have 51%
This leads to compromises between parties

18. Voters tend to be satisfied because they have lots of distinct choices
{Political Parties
Multi Party Systems
Elections
Parties that get even small percentages of the votes will get SOME seats in government
The voters get to choose who they truly support without having to consider how it might help their competition
Voters tend to be satisfied because they have lots of distinct choices

19. People are able to vote for whichever party they really support
{Political Parties
Multi Party Systems
Advantages
Helps smaller groups and minority groups because they can form smaller parties that represent them
Encourages participation because there are even more chances for people to get involved
People are able to vote for whichever party they really support

20. Less stable because different groups can gain control
{Political Parties
Multi Party Systems
Disadvantages
Less stable because different groups can gain control
Harder for any party to have a majority, and coalitions can dissolve easily
Harder to make policies because you may have to compromise with multiple groups instead of just one

21. One Party System
Linkage Institutions

22. Political Parties One Party System One Party System
Only one political party exists
They have outlawed any political competition (other parties)
They face no competition and don’t have to respond to the people.

23. {Political Parties One Party System Advantages
It’s very stable – there is no change in government
There is less conflict among groups of people because all of them are forced to come together in one party
The government is very strong

24. {Political Parties One Party System Disadvantages
IT does nothing to respond to the people
It’s not democratic – there are no choices for people at all

25. Bigly Ideas
Beliefs & Behaviors

26. Advantages/Disadvantages
History
Wrap Up
Why US 2 party system?
Advantages/Disadvantages
Multi Party Systems
One Party System
Focus on these things: