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