does the two-party system help or harm democracy? chapter 5 political parties
TRANSCRIPT
DOES THE TWO -PARTY SYSTEM HELP OR HARM DEMOCRACY?
CHAPTER 5POLITICAL PARTIES
But first
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqZuogH6IZs
Winning isn’t everything….It’s the ONLY THING.
Political Party a group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office
Joined together on the basis of certain common principles
Political Parties also…
seek to modify the contending views of various interests and groups, encourage compromise, and so help to unify, rather than divide the American people.
attempt to soften the impact of extremists are both ends of the political spectrum (range of political views)
POLITICAL PARTIES
are essential to a democratic government shape the way the government works performs important functions
help to link the people and their wishes to government action
Help to unify people by…COMPROMISE
What Parties Do…
They preform FIVE major functions:
1. Nominating Candidates2. Informing and Activating Supporters3. Help to Ensure their candidates are
qualified and of good character4. Governing Responsibilities5. Act as WATCHDOGS over the conduct of
the Gov.
NOMINATING CANDIDATES
MAJOR FUNCTIONselect candidates and present them to the
publicThen work to help them win elections
INFORMING AND ACTIVATING SUPPORTERS
Inspire people to participate in political affairs
HOWEVER inform and inspire people as IT THINKS they should be informed
What are some ways parties try to win support for their candidates?
1. pamphlets2. buttons, signs, stickers3. advertisements4. speeches, rallies, conventions
The Bonding Agent Function
It ensures the good performance of its candidates and officeholders
FYI:
For Example: THE VETTING PROCESS
Politicians are often thoroughly vetted. For example, in the United States, a party's presidential nominee must choose a vice-presidential candidate to accompany them on the ticket. Prospective vice-presidential candidates must undergo thorough evaluation by a team of advisers acting on behalf of the nominee. In later stages of the vetting process, the team will examine such items as a prospective vice-presidential candidate's finances, personal conduct, and previous coverage in the media
GOVERNING
Congress and state legislatures are organized according to party lines
PARTIANSHIP the strong support of their party and its
policy stands
In contrast to BIPARTIANSHIPWorking together
THE WATCHDOG FUNCTION
the party NOT IN POWER keeps an especially close eye on the policies and behaviors of the party in charge
Criticism“throw the rascals out”“outs” should be in the
“ins” & vice versa
The Two-Party System
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqS2lkCKesM&list=PLalcRJM5oeUcFpXsVGqbqLbX2inKve1h0&index=2
Democrat = Donkey Republican = Elephant
WHY???
But why a Two Party System?
The Historical Bias:Remember the Framers were opposed to
this!Saw them as divisive and full of disunityBut we know…Anti Federalists vs FederalistsSo thus…no where in the Const. does it talk
about political parties.
Force of Tradition
Hard to change tradition“We accept because it has always been this
way!!”Does that make it right?INBRED SUPPORT FOR THE
ARRANGEMENT
FYI: so do Minor Parties have a chance?America has a two party system because
America has a two party systemNext time….we will see why!
Multiparty Systems
Each party based on a particular interestPeople argue it would be responsive to the will of the peopleGive voters a more meaningful choice
Major Weakness:InstabilityFYI America has shunned this idea.WHY?
The Two-Party System
Why do we have a two party system?1. Historical Basis – division between Federalists and Anti-Federalists
2. Tradition – it has always been that way, so it naturally self-perpetuates
The Two-Party System
3. The American Ideological Consensus – for the most part, we pretty much agree on all of the major stuffPeople should own propertyWe should have equalityPeople have the right to vote
The Two-Party System
4. The Electoral System – the U.S. uses single-member districts… that means only one person wins representation from each district
What is Ideology?
Ideology is basically the way you look at how the world works
Ideologies tend to be grouped in the U.S. into 3 main categories
Liberal Moderate Conservative
What is Ideology?
There are other “fringe” ideologies present as well (not as common) Socialist (far left) Marxist (far far left) Libertarian (far right) Religious fundamentalist (far far right)
Liberal Moderate Conservative
FYI…
Marxism, Socialism and Communism Throughout the World Many countries have adopted various forms of Marxism, socialism
and communism. The former Soviet Union is the most famous example of a communist system of government, lasting from 1922 to 1991.
The People's Republic of China has a communist government, although
European countries like France, Italy and England have mixed economies with free market and socialist policies such as universal health care and free collegiate education.
The United States, a capitalist mixed economy, has examples of socialist policies such as public schools, libraries and health care support in the form of Medicaid and Medicare for low income people and senior citizens.
CAPITALISM: an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.
Liberal and Conservative
People do not have to be strictly liberal on all issues, or conservative on all issues
You can mix the two to form your own individual ideology
We group them because certain viewpoints tend to naturally go together
Liberal and Conservative
Common Liberal CharacteristicsDesire progressive change in society
Main values: Idealism, Equality, Fairness, Personal Freedom
Examples: ACLU, Sierra Club, NAACP, NOW, labor unions, Dems.
Liberal and Conservative
Common Liberal Issue StancesPro-choiceAffirmative ActionGun controlProgressive taxes (higher on rich)Aid to the poorEqual access to health careProtecting the environmentEqual gay rights
Liberal and Conservative
Common Conservative CharacteristicsDesire to keep things as they are,
maintain the status-quo, change should be cautious and slow
Main values: Realism, Law and Order, Justice, Morality, Economic Freedom
Examples: Christian Coalition, NRA, Americans for Tax Reform, Republicans
Liberal and Conservative
Common Conservative Issue Stances Anti-abortion Belief in private sector efficiency over the government Free gun ownership rights Cutting taxes, less progressive taxation Cutting regulations on businesses Immigration control Increased military spending Support traditional marriage
What Do Parties Do?
Nominate CandidatesInform and Activate Supporters
The “Bonding Agent” Function – making sure that officeholders do a good job once they are elected
GovernAct as a Watchdog – criticizes the opposing party
Multiparty Systems
Several major parties, many lesser parties all compete for and win public office
Mostly in Europe and Latin American Democracies
Many parties must form a coalition, or a group of parties that form a majority
One-Party Systems
• Found in dictatorships where only one party is allowed
•Also found in places where one of the major parties has no chance of winning
Party Membership Patterns
Party membership is voluntary
Each party must try to attract as much support as possible
Party Membership Patterns
Some demographic groups are more reliable to each party, though
Tend to be Democrat – Female, African American, Hispanic, Catholic, Jewish, Union Member, Lower Income, Lower Education, Under 30, Over 60
Party Membership Patterns
Some demographic groups are more reliable to each party, though
Tend to be Republican – Male, White, Protestant, Work in the Business Community, Higher Income, Higher Education, Middle-Aged
SECTION TWOTWO PARTY SYSTEM IN AMERICA
The Nation’s First parties?
Federalists stronger national government
Anti Federalists limited government
1. Jeffersonian Republicans
2. Democratic Republicans
3. DEMOCRATS
FOUR MAJOR ERAS
1. 1800-1860 Democrats won 13 of 15 presidential elections
2. 1860-1932 Republicans won 14 of 183. 1932-1968 Democrats won 7 of 94. 1968 – Present Republicans won 7 of 11
Currently, Democrats control the White House and Senate….
But not the House (2010)
Era of Good Feeling
The Democratic-Republicans essentially unopposed.
However by 1820, split in FACTIONS (competing groups)
New Party in Town National Republicans (Whigs)Andrew Jackson = DemocratHenry Clay & Daniel Webster = Whigs
1850s Slavery Crisis
The issue of slavery split both major partiesClay and Webster die, so does the Whig PartyDemocrat split into two groups: North and
South
One group now fought to win support from the old Whigs and disbanded Democrats
Republican PartyDrew many Whigs and anti-slavery
DemocratsFIRST PRESIDENT Abe Lincoln 1861
The Era of the Republicans
Civil War led to the beginning of One Party Sway
75 years Republicans DOMINATEDDemocrats were crippled by war but hung
on…Survived Reconstruction
The Return of the Democrats
October 29, 1929 Stock Market CrashesTHE GREAT DEPRESSION1932 FDR and the Democrats in chargeRevolutionary social and economic reformAfrican Americans and other minorities now
drawn to the party.
Era of Divided Government
JFK 1960-1963Shot and killed by Lee Harvey OswaldVP Lyndon B Johnson takes command then
wins his own election
Republicans are coming back strong however with Richard Nixon.
Democratic party torn apart over Vietnam War
GOP Reagan, Bush, Clinton, G.W. Bush,
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Since Nixon won in 1968, America has been marked by divided government.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?1. One major party occupies the White House2. One major party hold the majority of one
or both seats in Congress2009 Barack Obama defeats John McCain
Where do we go from here?.....
The Democratic Debate
Hilary Clinton –former Secretary of StateBernie Sanders – Senator of VermontJim Webb – former Senator, Virginia Lincoln Chafee – former Rhode Island Gov.Martin O’Malley – Former Maryland Gov.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toAlBDI_Zewhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVHmox70vbIhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/poll-donald-
trump-seen-as-the-gops-best-shot-in-2016/2015/10/20/c6cb94ce-779c-11e5-bc80-9091021aeb69_graphic.html
SECTION THREETHE MINOR PARTIES
none of these parties or their candidates has any real chance of winning the Presidency
But this is not to say that minor parties are unimportant
Many have been short livedSome have lasted for decadesFOUR DISTINCT TYPES OF MINOR
PARTIES:
IDEOLOGICAL PARTIES
based on a particular set of beliefs
Social, economic, and political matters
Socialist and Communist Parties
Libertarian Party emphasizes individualism. Doing away with most of government’s present functions and programs
Seldom win votes, long-lived however.
SINGLE-ISSUE PARTIES
focus on a single public-questionMost fade into history once the policy issue
diesThemes eventually fail to attract votersMajor Parties may absorb these issues
ECONOMIC PROTEST PARTIES
proclaim their disgust with the major parties and demand better times
No clear-cut ideological base
Enemies = wall street bankers, foreign imports
Each of these economic parties has disappeared as the nation has climbed out of the difficult economic period.
SPLINTER PARTIES
those that have split away from Major Parties
Most important minor parties are these
Most Famous: Bull Moose Progressive Party
Formed around strong personality often someone who has failed to win his or her major party’s nomination
The Green Party
Started as a class “SINGLE ISSUE PARTY”
It has evolved...most famous, RALPH NADER
Environmental protection, universal health care, finance reform, etc.
The party, which is the country's fourth-largest by membership, promotes environmentalism, nonviolence, social justice, participatory grassroots democracy, feminism, LGBT rights, and anti-racism.
WHY MINOR PARTIES ARE IMPORTANT
still have a considerable impact on American politics and on the major parties
A strong third party candidate can play a SPOILER role
WHY?? a nominee can pull enough support away from a major party to affect the outcome of an election
EXAMPLE Ralph Nader and the Green Party in 2000, took votes from Al Gore
http://study.com/academy/lesson/minor-third-parties-definition-role-examples.html
Minor Parties are....
Critics and Innovators!!Unlike Major parties ready, willing, and
able to take clear-cut stands on controversial issues