1. What do Political Parties Do?

2. Political Party
Group of people who seek to control government through winning elections and holding public office
Major parties: In America, the Republican and Democratic parties

3. Major Functions (there are 5)
Nominate Candidates
Inform and Activate Supporters
Bonding Agent
Governing
Act as a watch dog

4. Nominating Candidates
Major function of a political party
Select candidates to present to voters
Help those candidates win elections

5. Informing and Activating Supporters
Inform people and activate their interest and participation in public affairs
How do they do this?
Campaigning
Take stands on issues
Criticize opponents
Pamphlets, signs, buttons, advertisements, speeches, rallies, conventions

6. Bonding Agent
Act as a bonding agent to ensure the good performance of candidates and office holders
Choose candidates that are qualified and of good character
If the party chooses a poor candidate, it could suffer in the future.

7. Governing U.S. Government is government by party
Office holders are regularly chosen on the basis of party
Congress and State Legislatures do business on the basis of Partisanship: (action based on allegiance to a political party)
Most appointments by the executive branch are done on the basis of party

8. Act as a watch dog
Watch over the conduct of the public’s business (especially the party out of power)
Party out of Power: the party that doesn’t have control of the presidency
Party in Power: has control of the presidency
Party out of power plays role of “the loyal opposition” (they are opposed to the party in power, but loyal to the people and the nation)