Post on 24-Dec-2015
Political PartiesPolitical Parties
What is a Political Party?What is a Political Party?
An organization of people An organization of people Share the same ideas of Share the same ideas of
governmentgovernment Members committed to Members committed to
party goalsparty goals Get candidates elected to Get candidates elected to
officeoffice Get laws passed to aid Get laws passed to aid
party goalsparty goals
Party SystemsParty Systems
Most countries have political partiesMost countries have political parties Party systemsParty systems
– One partyOne party– Two partyTwo party– Multi-partyMulti-party
U.S. Party SystemU.S. Party System
Two party systemTwo party system– Two major parties vie for officeTwo major parties vie for office– Other minor parties existOther minor parties exist– Major partiesMajor parties
– Democratic partyDemocratic party– Republican PartyRepublican Party
Similarities of Major Parties in U.S.Similarities of Major Parties in U.S.
All value personal rights, All value personal rights, freedomsfreedoms
Educational opportunities for Educational opportunities for allall
Economic opportunities for allEconomic opportunities for all Government duty- to protect Government duty- to protect
nationnation Preserve environmentPreserve environment Help citizensHelp citizens
DifferencesDifferences
Disagree on ways to meet goalsDisagree on ways to meet goals Example:Example:
– Democrats- government directly helps the poorDemocrats- government directly helps the poor
– Republicans- government helps economy and Republicans- government helps economy and poor get jobspoor get jobs
Benefits of Two Party SystemBenefits of Two Party System
StabilizingStabilizing– Keeps people near the centerKeeps people near the center– Extreme ideas not supported by Extreme ideas not supported by
populacepopulace
ContinuityContinuity– Government changes parties Government changes parties
oftenoften– Transition is usually smoothTransition is usually smooth
DisadvantagesDisadvantages
Minority groups left outMinority groups left out
Ex. Civil rightsEx. Civil rights Women's movement Women's movement Needed major party support Needed major party support
Multi-Party SystemMulti-Party System
Three or more parties- Japan, Israel Three or more parties- Japan, Israel Advantage- More voter choiceAdvantage- More voter choice Disadvantage- Voters dividedDisadvantage- Voters divided
No party gets majority votesNo party gets majority votes Must form coalition governmentMust form coalition government Coalition may not work- Coalition may not work-
– 50 governments in Italy since W.W.II50 governments in Italy since W.W.II
One Party SystemOne Party System
Party and government are Party and government are almost the same- Chinaalmost the same- China
One party’s members run for One party’s members run for officeoffice
Head of government usually Head of government usually head of partyhead of party
Party members recruit new party Party members recruit new party membersmembers
Party members given top Party members given top government jobsgovernment jobs