1. Political parties in the united states
chapter 5

2. Section 1
Parties & What they do

3. What do we have today?
Political party - group of people who seek to control gov’t through winning elections & holding public office
sometimes with common principles
Two main parties:
Third Parties:

4. “One big party” See “One Big Party” handouts/ worksheets
from iCivics (Retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor)

5. Who makes up Parties
Party Organization - they are the leaders, workers, volunteers, donators
Party in Gov’t - candidates & officeholders
both elected & appointed
Party in the Electorate - millions of people who relate, join, and vote to support it

6. Section 2
Two Party System in American History

7. Two Party System - US
Historical Basis – from our 1st days, US has always had 2 main political parties
Tradition – people get “used” to supporting “their” party
Electoral System – Single Member Plurality Elections – most elections pick a single officeholder
Ideological Consensus – mostly moderate views

8. US - our 1st parties grew out of Washington’s own Cabinet
ironic as he personally was against parties
Federalists - Alexander Hamilton (Treasury)
wealthy, big business, strong gov’t
Democratic-Republicans - Thomas Jefferson (state)
farmers, laborers, small gov’t, states

9. Era of the Democrats 1800-1860 “era of good feeling” - only D-R’s
D-R’s became known as just Democrats
opposition - Federalists then Whigs
essentially grew out of a faction of D-R party
won 13 of 15 presidential elections

10. Era of the Republicans 1860 - 1932
gained control especially during Reconstruction Era
From Abraham Lincoln in 1860 until FDR’s victory held White House for all but 16 years
2 “interludes” worthy of note - Cleveland’s split terms & Wilson’s victory with split party
Republicans split w/ Progressive Party

11. Return of Democrats 1932 - 1968 FDR’s four elections started era
impact from Great Depression & WWII
only exception was Eisenhower’s 2 terms

12. Era of Divided Gov’t 1968 - present
Since Nixon’s election, presidential power has gone back and forth between Republicans and Democrats
Control of Congress has also shifted between the two parties on a regular basis
Today:

13. Sec. 3 - Minor Parties
some come and go within the span of a few years, while others endure for decades
3 types:
Ideological Parties: based on a particular set of political beliefs, will offer full platforms - tend shift more left or right
Single-Issue parties: focus on one point, typically short-lived especially if issue is addressed

14. Types Con’t…
3. Economic Protest Parties: during periods of economic hardship, demands for relief, disappear as economy recovers
4. Splinter Parties - groups that split off the major parties, usually over disagreement on a major issue or Presidential nominee

15. Minor parties can…
Minor parties can have a significant impact on politics even w/o electoral success
sometimes even played “spoiler”
can force the major parties to address their issues

16. 4 - Party Organization
both Rep & Dem have full-time national headquarters, w/ large staffs & multi-million dollar budgets
However there is no chain of command from national party thru states to local level
decentralized on purpose
President is always head of that party
otherwise, can have various “leaders”

17. Party Functions
guide candidates through nominating process and then nominees through the campaign
w/ $$ from donors, the party organizations help fund candidates’ campaigns
provide assistance with advertising, polling
influence the political views of candidates at federal, state & local levels

18. National Party
National Convention - has ultimate power; meets every 4 years to nominate presidential candidate
also makes party’s rules & platform
National Committee - composed of delegates from states - manages affairs between conventions
National Chairperson - picked by the just nominated candidate at Nat’l Convention - manages daily work for the party

19. More...
Congressional Campaign Committees - people who work to help incumbents get re-elected & attempt to keep “open seats” in the party
separate ones for Senate & House

20. State Organization State central committee w/ state chairperson
usually comprised of members from counties & picked during the primaries
functions to further party’s interests, assist w/ campaigns & $$, promote unity

21. Local Organizations vary greatly!!
generally determined by Congressional Districts, state legislative districts
further divided into wards & smaller units called precincts
cities may also have blocks
can be active groups or mostly inactive except for pre-election months