Chapter 5: Political PartiesChapter 5: Political Parties

What is a Political Party? What is a Political Party? (5.1)(5.1)

What is a political party?◦Shared political beliefs◦Seek to win elections to control gov’t

113th Congress – Senate 113th Congress - HR

What do Political Parties do? What do Political Parties do? (5.1 (5.1

cont)cont)

A link between the people and the gov’t.4 main jobs of political parties

◦Nominating candidates – main function of PP Must be credible candidates and good once

elected

◦Informing & Activating Supporters Campaigns, commercials, pamphlets, rallies, etc.

◦Governing Many of our politicians are chosen by party. They

must follow the party – Partisanship Encourages compromise within the gov’t

◦Acting as a Watchdog Mostly done by the party out of power - Romney

Obama

Different types of Party Different types of Party Systems Systems (5.2)(5.2)

Multiparty Systems◦Most of Europe◦Many parties have a real chance of

winning◦Each party has a different agenda◦Positives & Negatives

More choice, more diverse rep., more instability

◦Coalition to win support of majorityOne-Party Systems (aka “No Party”)

◦Dictatorships◦Certain areas of America

British Parties British Parties

http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/state-of-the-parties/

America’s Two-Party America’s Two-Party System System (5.2)(5.2)

Minor parties exist, but only 2 major parties have a real chance to win

Why a two-party system?◦Tradition – Federalists and Anti-Fed◦Electoral system – laws help major

parties◦American Ideological Consensus

Evolution of the Two-Party Evolution of the Two-Party systemsystemThe history of American politics can be

broken up into 4 erasThe Era of the Democrats, 1800-1860

◦Began with Jefferson The Era of the Republicans, 1860-

1932◦Civil War (Lincoln) - Depression

The Era of the Democrats, 1932-1968◦FDR - Nixon

Divided Government◦Mistrust

The Future of the Two-Party The Future of the Two-Party SystemSystem

Probably will weaken◦More independents◦Split-ticket voting◦Primary Elections◦Technology helps

Timeline of election results

Minor PartiesMinor PartiesWide varietyHave little (if any) chance of

winning.Importance:

◦Innovators◦Critics◦Spoiler

Examples:◦Green, Reform, Libertarian, Tea, Right

to Life, Communist

Democrats vs. Democrats vs. RepublicansRepublicansMany factors influence political

socialization◦Geography, Gender, Age, Race,

Education, Income, Occupation, Religion

◦Family◦Often, these factors conflict

Issues

Democrats (Liberal, Left) Republicans (Conservative, Right)

Symbol

Leaders

Government size

Business

Taxes

Abortion

Social Spending

Defense Spending

Immigration

Death Penalty

Same-sex marriage

Affirmative Action

Domestic (ANWR) Drilling

Kyoto Treaty

Crime

School Vouchers

Three strikes law

Minimum Wage

Social Security

Health Care

Religion

World Peace

Gun Control