1. Article Assignment Outline the article’s argument Main Idea
Supporting details that support argument – 8-10
Counter-points

2. Unit 3: Linkage Institutions
Political Parties, Campaigns and Elections, Interest Groups, Media
Linking the citizenry to the government

3. Chapter 9 Political Parties

4. Party Realignment/Critical elections
1828
1936
1964/68

5. The 6 Party Systems
You will research one of the party systems throughout American History and put the following in a presentation to the class:
Names of two major parties (and significant others if pertinent)
The time period
Major platform issues (2-3 EACH)
Major candidates
Major demographics that supported each.
Why did the system emerge?
What happened to the parties? What led to a transition?
Some basics:

6. Minor Party Research Work with 2-3 people
Google “minor political parties list” and click on the ballotpedia website
Pick any political party on that list that you have never heard of
Record 4-5 of their major platform issues
Which of the major parties do they most likely align with? Either?
If the electoral college system were amended, do you think this party could gain traction nationally?

7. Functions of Parties in Elections
Mobilize, educate and provide ‘cues’ for voters
Provide a platform of issues
Recruit, nominate, raise funds for candidates for government office
Campaign management, including fundraising and media strategy

8. The United States Versus Europe
- In Europe, political parties tend to have more influence because:
Candidates for elective office are usually nominated by party leaders
Campaigns are run by the party and not the candidate
Once in office, the elected official is expected to vote and act together with the members of his party
**Proportional systems

9. Figure 9.3
Cleavages and Continuity in the Two-Party System

10. Source: Data from CNN exit polls for each year.

11. Role of Political Parties in Congress
Promote the party’s public agenda – articulate and facilitate passage of policy
Leadership positions assigned on a party basis
Majority party appoints and controls standing committees and selects committee chairs
Majority party controls floor debates, rules and calendar favorable to their own policy priorities.

12. Factors that have weakened political parties
Direct primaries – gives parties less control over the nomination process; candidates appeal directly to voters and bypass party leadership; don’t need support of party elites
Candidate-centered campaigns – candidates can raise money by appealing to voters or PACs directly; candidates choose their own issues to campaign on

13. Polarization
Political polarization strengthens party influence in Congress
Voters and members of Congress far less likely to ‘cross the aisle’ to vote or compromise with the other party
Members of political parties vote strictly along party lines (down-ballot as opposed to split-ticketing)

16. Why don’t third parties win presidential elections?
Winner-take-all electoral college and congressional districts
Single-member plurality districts
Limited ballot access (get a certain % of the vote, certain number of registered voters, etc.)
Exclusion from Presidential debates

17. Minor Parties Ideological, one-issue
Often formed as a protest movement
*Agenda planks often incorporated in platforms of major parties

18. Point of view in this cartoon?