Chapter 16 What is a political party? What do political parties do? Why does the U.S. have a 2-party system? How did the U.S. get a 2-party system? How do party organizations work at the local, state, and national levels? Politics describes the exercise of political power. Democracy in America He described political parties as a necessary evil in a free government. A group that advances certain political goals through organizing to gain power by winning elections. The Constitution never mentions political parties. George Washington warned against them in his Farewell Address. It [a spirit of party]serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another. What do you think of political parties? Nominate candidates for public office. Govern through party networking to support or oppose issues being considered. Act as watchdogs over the other party and inform the public about what the other party is doing. Influence government by keeping extreme opinions out. Sometimes the two major parties look and act so much alike because they are trying to attract support from the same people in the middle of the political spectrum. They are appealing to the moderate middle. It started that way with the Federalists & Anti-federalists, Whigs & Tories. In the competition over getting into power, individuals with similar goals tend to band together. They work for their goals and against those opposing them. The electoral system has winner-take-all single member districts, so minor parties are cut out because voters may be afraid of wasting their votes. The two major parties in the U.S. are the Democrat Party Republican Party They often work together to eliminate competition from 3 rd or minor parties. Since they hold the power, they make rules to make it difficult for 3 rd party candidates to get listed on ballots. Parties establish platforms a formal statement of the partys positions on current issues. See handout for excerpts from 2012 party platforms. What is a liberal? What is a conservative? Liberal a person whose political view seeks to change the political, economic, and social status quo to encourage the development and well-being of the individual. (Popular meaning) Conservative one whose political view defends the status quo against major changes in the political, economic, and social institutions of society. Are these definitions consistent with your understanding of the terms? Liberals tend to interpret the Constitution from a Broad Constructionist perspective. Republicans tend to interpret the Constitution from a Strict Constructionist view. A political ideology committed to the ideal of limited government and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets. limited governmentliberty of individualsfreedom of religionspeechpress assemblyfree markets Classical liberals also interpret the Constitution strictly and do not like to be labeled liberal by the more popular definition. People do not join political parties. They identify themselves according to party and may vote for their party candidates or the other partys candidates. They have no obligations to the party they identify themselves with. Most people choose their party based on their family background. A two-party system makes a government more stable by keeping the same kinds of policies and people in power. A one-party system usually provides a dictator with little consent or accountability. When might a multi-party system be advantageous? Federalists vs. Anti-federalists struggled to produce a government that fit their vision. At first just a few powerful individuals would meet together in a caucus to select candidates to run for election. Then some 18 th century men expanded participation by holding nominating conventions, in which delegates would be elected to select the candidates. Organized political campaigns then developed to attract voter support. A candidate could now be invented. Such was the case of William Henry Harrison, from a wealthy plantation family and son of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who was cast as a common man of the frontier who had been born in a log cabin. Party Primaries later developed to select the delegates to the conventions. These allowed for more voter input. Nominating Primary a state-run election to choose the party nominees for local, state, and national offices. Presidential Primary election of state partys delegates to the partys national convention which would choose the partys presidential candidate. Multi-Party Systems: Its typically difficult for one party to gain a majority, so the parties must form a coalition to get elected. Then they share powers. In many cases the coalition breaks down. One-Party Systems: Most countries with dictators have one-party systems in which there is little to no competition for power because one person or group holds it all. Many third parties have existed and still exist in the U.S. Issue Parties: spring up around one issue (Free-soil Party, Right-to-Life Party) Ideological Parties: arise from political and social ideas (Socialist Labor Party, Libertarian Party, Green Party, Constitution Party) Depression Parties: develop in economic hard times (Populist Party) Splinter Parties: split from major parties over policies or personalities (Progressive Party, Dixiecrats) While third parties may not get much voter support in elections, they do shape the issues in a campaign and may force the major parties to change their positions to consider new issues. Example: Progressive Party led to the 16 th, 17 th, 18 th, and 19 th amendments to the Constitution. Who is the head of the DNC? Who is the head of the RNC? Deborah "Debbie" Wasserman Schultz (born September 27, 1966) is an American politician. She is the U.S. Representative for Florida's 23rd congressional district, a member of the Democratic Party and the Chair of the Democratic National Committee. She previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. She is the first Jewish congresswoman elected from Florida.politicianU.S. Representative Florida's 23rd congressional district Democratic PartyDemocratic National CommitteeFlorida House of RepresentativesFlorida Senate The district covers parts of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, including the densely populated coastal cities of Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach BrowardMiami-DadeFort LauderdaleMiami Beach Reince Preibus has a long history in Republican politics, having served on his first campaign at the age of 16. Since then, he worked his way up through the ranks of the Republican Party of Wisconsin as 1st Congressional District Chairman, State Party Treasurer, First Vice Chair, and eventually State Party Chairman. In 2009, Reince served as General Counsel to the RNC, a role in which he volunteered his time to help manage the RNCs most difficult challenges. 1. National Convention meets once every 4 years to choose president & vice president candidates for the party AND to approve the partys platform. 2. National Committee oversees the party between conventions, raises money, and may target candidates. States party organizations choose at least some of the national committee members. 3. National Chairman functions as the head of the party, but if his party holds the presidency, the president really determines the direction of the party. 4. Congressional Campaign Committees raise money and support to try to get members of their party elected or re-elected to Congress. Who is the head of the DNC? Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Who is the head of the RNC? Reince Priebus, former chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party. Reince Priebus State Committee for each party, elected at a state convention. Build an effective organization Build party unity Find candidates Raise campaign funds State conventions in Texas are held every other year. The next one is spring 2014. Precinct organizations County organizations Congressional District organizations Precincts are the smallest units of election districts and party administrations. Parties hold precinct conventions after the polls close on primary elections (for president & governor (in Texas.) The precinct conventions elect delegates to the next level of convention and submit planks for the party platform. Independent Voters voters who are not loyal to a particular party Ticket-splitting voting for candidates of different parties for various offices (Example: a Republican for governor and a Democrat for congressman.) Elections have become very expensive because of the expense of purchasing media to get out ones message. (TV) Internet is changing the face of politics because people without much money can gain support, raise funds, and spread ideas. Scary thought coming up. Wait for it..