1. CHAPTER 5 – POLITICAL PARTIES Ch. 5-1 – PARTIES AND WHAT THEY DO

2.  A political party is a group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.  Two major parties—Democrats and Republicans  Some minor parties but few have had a major impact in elections

3.  Political parties are essential to democratic government  Develop broad policy and leadership choices  Vital link between people and government  “power brokers”  Encourage compromise  Soften the impact of extremists

4.  1) NOMINATING CANDIDATES  Parties select candidates and present them to voters  Parties work to get their candidate elected  Almost exclusively a party function  2) INFORMING AND ACTIVATING SUPPORTERS  Parties campaign for their candidate  Conducts education through pamphlets, signs, buttons, advertisements, internet, speeches

5.  3) THE BONDING AGENT FUNCTION  Political parties act as a bonding agent to ensure good performance of its candidates and officeholders  Parties prompt its candidates to do well in office  GOVERNING  Government in the USA is government by party

6.  Public officeholders are chosen on the basis of party.  PARTISANSHIP—the strong support of their party and its policy stands  Most appointments at the state and federal level are made with an eye to party considerations  Parties provide channels through which branches of government can communicate

7.  ACTING AS WATCHDOG  Party in Power—political party that has the majority of office holders in government  Party out of power tries to convince voters that they should “throw the rascals out”  The End