1. Political Parties
Chapter 5

2. Parties and What They Do
Political Party is a group of people who try to control government by winning elections and holding public offices
Major Parties – Republicans and Democrats
Political Party Essentials
Link people & their wishes to gov’t action
Unify the people by finding compromises

3. Major functions of Political Parties
Nominate or name candidates for public office
Inform the people and inspire them to participate in public affairs
Help ensure that their candidates and officeholders are qualified and of good character
Have gov’t responsibilities
Congress & State Legislatures are organized along party lines
They conduct a lot of their business based on partisanship
Parties act as watchdogs over the conduct of the gov’t

4. The Two-Party System Two parties dominate politics in the U.S.
Republicans and Democrats
Minor parties exist but don’t have wide support
Electoral System favors a two-party system
Nearly all U.S. elections are single-member district elections – voters choose one candidate for each office
Winner is the one with a plurality – the most votes
U.S. election laws were created by the two major parties so they are bipartisan and discourage minor parties

5. The U.S. is a pluralistic society
Pluralistic is one that consists of distinct cultures and groups
Consensus does exist – general agreement between various groups on fundamental matters
Political Systems in the World
Many have a multiparty arrangement – major and minor parties compete
To gain power parties have to form a coalition – diverse interests coming together
Dictatorships have one-party systems

6. The Two-Party System in American History
Political parties in the U.S. evolved during the debate over the ratification of the Constitution
Federalisms supported ratification
Anti-Federalists did not
Election of 1800
Jefferson beat the incumbent, John Adams
Anti-Federalists took control of politics in the U.S.
They changed their name to the Democratic-Republicans

7. Four eras of one-party domination
– Democrats
– Republicans
– Democrats
1968-Present – See Saw between the parties

8. The Minor Parties Four Types of Minor Parties Ideological Parties
Based on certain social, economic, or political ideas
Don’t often win elections, but stay around a long time
Single-issue Parties
Focus on one public policy matter
Fade away after issue is resolved
Economic Protest Parties
Appear in tough financial times
Criticize economic actions and plans of the major parties
Splinter Parties
Break away from major parties
Usually have a strong leader who didn’t win in the major party

9. Role of Minor Parties
Act as critics and innovators drawing attention to issues
Candidates from these parties can “spoil” the election for a member of a major party by stealing votes

10. Party Organization Decentralized/Fragmented
National Level has four basic elements
National Convention
National Committee
National Chairperson
Congressional Campaign Committees
A Party has three parts
Party Machinery’s leaders
Party members/electorates who vote for the party
Party’s officeholders

11. Parties since 1960 State Levels Party structure is set by state law
Central Committee
Committee Chairperson
Local Levels
Party unit in each district
Ward – a small unit of a city
Precinct – subdivision of a ward
Parties since 1960
Power is declining
More split-ticket voting

12. Voters & Voter Behavior
Chapter 6

13. The Right To Vote Suffrage – the right to vote
Franchise – the right to vote
1789 – only white males had the right to vote
American Electorate – all those over 18 who are eligible to vote
Restrictions eased with the Civil War Amendments and the 19th Amendments
Civil Rights in the 1960s set everything straight
26th Amendment gave 18 year olds the right to vote
Founding Fathers left voting qualifications up to the states. States messed up so the Federal gov’t took over.

14. Voter Qualifications Three main qualifications Old Requirements
Live in the state you want to vote in
Be at least 18 years old
Be registered to vote
Old Requirements
Literacy test
Poll Tax
Basic reasons one may not be permitted to vote
The Mentally impaired
Those convicted of a felony

15. Suffrage & Civil Rights
15th Amendment – said can’t use race, color, or previous condition of servitude to prevent voting
Gerrymandering – drawing district lines to the benefit of one party is ILLEGAL

16. Civil Rights-pressured Congress to set things straight for African Americans
Civil Rights Act of 1957set up Civil Rights Commission
Civil Rights Act of 1960 – federal referees to help with registration and fair elections
Civil Rights Act 1964 – Court orders/injunctions to keep fair elections
Voting Rights Act of 1965 – made the 15th Amendment official

17. Voter Behavior
Off-Year Elections – the office of the President is not up for election
Always electing/re-electing representatives and senators
Low voter turnout
Political Efficacy – people feel their vote doesn’t count. They feel the gov’t is controlled by the
Politicians
Interest groups
media

18. Political Socialization – how political attitudes are formed
Income
Occupation
Education
Gender
Age
Religion
Ethnicity
Region
Family

19. Gender Gap – differences in the voting patterns of men and women
Psychological Factors
Party Identification
Perception of Candidates
Issues