Today’s Presentations

GROUP 5.4 & 5.5

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Political Parties

USG-3.5 -Summarize features of the election process in the United States, including the roles of the political parties, the nomination process, the Electoral College, and the campaigns; the issues of campaign funding; and trends in voter turnout and citizen participation

5.1 What Do They Do? What are they?What are they?

– A group of persons who seek control of Gov through A group of persons who seek control of Gov through winning elections & holding public office.winning elections & holding public office.

– They are essential to the democratic processThey are essential to the democratic process– Democrats & RepublicansDemocrats & Republicans

• Basis of common principlesBasis of common principles

What do they do?What do they do?– Nominate CandidatesNominate Candidates– Inform & inspire people, interest, participation in Inform & inspire people, interest, participation in

gov.\gov.\– ““Bonding Agent”- candidates & office holders are Bonding Agent”- candidates & office holders are

well qualified and perform well.well qualified and perform well.

GoverningGoverning– Those who hold office are chosen based on party. Those who hold office are chosen based on party.

– Congress is divided on party lines.\Congress is divided on party lines.\

– Partisanship- Supporting one’s party and policies.Partisanship- Supporting one’s party and policies.

Watch DogWatch Dog– Minority party criticizes the polices of the majorityMinority party criticizes the polices of the majority

– The minority party tries to convince the people they The minority party tries to convince the people they should have power.should have power.

– SOUND FAMILIAR??SOUND FAMILIAR??

Activity

What is an important issue What is an important issue facing YOU?facing YOU?

In Groups:In Groups:– Create a slogan, bumper Create a slogan, bumper

sticker, pamphlet, etc about sticker, pamphlet, etc about your side of your issue.your side of your issue.

– Present to class!Present to class!

5.2 THE 2 PARTY SYSTEM

Democrats & Republicans have a higher Democrats & Republicans have a higher chance of winning over minor parties.chance of winning over minor parties.

Why are there 2 parties?Why are there 2 parties?– Birth of ConstitutionBirth of Constitution = formation of parties. = formation of parties.

• What were they?What were they?

– Self-reinforcingSelf-reinforcing= they have always been there.= they have always been there.

– Single Member Districts-Single Member Districts- only 1 to a office on ballot. only 1 to a office on ballot.

– Plurality-Plurality- Winner takes all. Winner takes all. • Voters vote based on partyVoters vote based on party

– Bipartisan-Bipartisan- D’s & R’s tend to work together for D’s & R’s tend to work together for common ground.common ground.

• EX> Bailout Plan!EX> Bailout Plan!

Americans are homogenous= share same ideals.

HOWEVER,– We are not alike- PLURALISTIC

SOCIETY= different cultures, religions, ethnicity, etc.

– THOUGH, we reach a consensus on fundamental matters.

OTHER SYSTEMS: Multiparty SystemsMultiparty Systems::

– Many parties compete for office.Many parties compete for office.• Parties are based on interests> Econ Class, Parties are based on interests> Econ Class,

religion, political beliefs.religion, political beliefs.• EX> European Countries.EX> European Countries.• Coalition- power shared by many parties!Coalition- power shared by many parties!

One –Party SystemOne –Party System::– ““NO party” SystemNO party” System– Dictatorships Dictatorships

• EX> Communists EX> Communists

Party Membership

You CHOOSE to belong to a party!You CHOOSE to belong to a party! Each party is a cross section of the country.Each party is a cross section of the country.

– Contain: Minorities, young, old, different religions, Contain: Minorities, young, old, different religions, etcetc

We align ourselves based on family.We align ourselves based on family. Historically:Historically:

– Whites, males, protestants, wealthy, business owners Whites, males, protestants, wealthy, business owners back GOPback GOP

– Catholics, African Americans, Jews, union Catholics, African Americans, Jews, union members, low income back DEMOmembers, low income back DEMO

5.3 The 2-Party System 5.3 The 2-Party System “The past is a prologue”- ShakespeareThe past is a prologue”- Shakespeare Our 1Our 1stst parties parties

– Federalists (Pro-Con)Federalists (Pro-Con)• A. HamiltonA. Hamilton

• ““Party of rich & well born”Party of rich & well born”

• Strong Gov, correct Econ, liberal interpretation of Con.Strong Gov, correct Econ, liberal interpretation of Con.

– Anti-Federalists Anti-Federalists • T. Jefferson T. Jefferson

• ““more sympathetic to the common manmore sympathetic to the common man

• Limited GovLimited Gov

• Became Republican-Democratic PartyBecame Republican-Democratic Party

• 1828- Democratic Party1828- Democratic Party

4 Major Eras

1) Democrats (1800-1860)1) Democrats (1800-1860)– T. Jefferson (1800) – Civil War (1860)T. Jefferson (1800) – Civil War (1860)

– Federalists gone by 1816Federalists gone by 1816

– Whig Party forms to oppose Jackson & D’sWhig Party forms to oppose Jackson & D’s

– Gave all white males the right to vote & increased # Gave all white males the right to vote & increased # of elected offices.of elected offices.

2) Republicans 1860-19322) Republicans 1860-1932– A. Lincoln & CW brought 75 years of domination.A. Lincoln & CW brought 75 years of domination.

– Supported by farmers, laborers, African AmericansSupported by farmers, laborers, African Americans

– Expanded the electorate- those who vote.Expanded the electorate- those who vote.

3) Democrats 1932-1968Democrats 1932-1968– The Great DepressionThe Great Depression– FDR- restore economyFDR- restore economy– Social Welfare of New DealSocial Welfare of New Deal

4) 4) New Era (SPLIT)New Era (SPLIT)– Nixon & Vietnam WarNixon & Vietnam War– Ford after WatergateFord after Watergate– Reagan & Iranian Hostage CrisisReagan & Iranian Hostage Crisis– George HW BushGeorge HW Bush– Bill ClintonBill Clinton– George W. BushGeorge W. Bush– Barack ObamaBarack Obama– Congress power has changed over the decadesCongress power has changed over the decades

5.4 Minor Parties

Ideological Parties– Based on particular set of beliefs.– Most based on Marxism– Socialist, Communism, Libertarian

Single Issue Parties– Only 1 issue concern– EX> Free Soil Party, “Know Nothings”

Economic Protest PartiesEconomic Protest Parties– Upset over economic issues, sick of major Upset over economic issues, sick of major

parties.parties.– EX> Greenbacks & Populist PartiesEX> Greenbacks & Populist Parties

Splinter PartiesSplinter Parties– Split from major parties. Split from major parties. – RepublicansRepublicans

• T Roosevelt’s Bull Moose PartyT Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party• Progressive PartyProgressive Party

– DemocratsDemocrats• Progressive Party, Dixiecrat, Independent PartyProgressive Party, Dixiecrat, Independent Party

Present Day Minor Parties

Green Party– Ralph Nader (2000) – Universal Health Care, Gay Rights, Enviro

Protection, Free Trade

Reform Party– Ross Perot (1992 & 1996)

Independent Party– Jesse Ventura

5.5 PaRtY Organization

The 2 parties are DECENTRALIZEDThe 2 parties are DECENTRALIZED– Local, state, national organizationsLocal, state, national organizations– Federalism @ work!Federalism @ work!

Role of Pres.Role of Pres.– Pres is the leader of his party.Pres is the leader of his party.– The minor party has no leadershipThe minor party has no leadership

Nominating ProcessNominating Process– Nominations made within partyNominations made within party– Nominees battle others in their partyNominees battle others in their party– Then there is one for each side….Then there is one for each side….

2008 Pres. Nominees

THE MACHINE..

4 Elements of the Parties4 Elements of the Parties– 1) Nat’l Convention- nominate the P & VP1) Nat’l Convention- nominate the P & VP

– 2) Nat’l Committee- RNC & DNC2) Nat’l Committee- RNC & DNC

– 3) Nat’l Chairperson- leader of committee3) Nat’l Chairperson- leader of committee

– 4) Congressional Campaign- keep seats in congress.4) Congressional Campaign- keep seats in congress.

State OrganizerState Organizer– 1) State Chairpersons1) State Chairpersons

– 2) Local Party2) Local Party• Orangeburg has 27 precinctsOrangeburg has 27 precincts

• Bowman has 2 wardsBowman has 2 wards

• http://www.orangeburgcounty.org/downloads/voter/http://www.orangeburgcounty.org/downloads/voter/PrecinctsPollingLocations.pdfPrecinctsPollingLocations.pdf

PaRtY Components

1) Organization1) Organization 2) Party Voters (Electorate)2) Party Voters (Electorate) 3) Party in Gov.3) Party in Gov. The future?The future? Split Ticket Voting- Voting for Split Ticket Voting- Voting for

candidates of different parties in the candidates of different parties in the same election.same election.