Political Parties

Taking a Part in the Political Process

Political Parties

An association of voters with broad, common interests who want to influence or control decision making in their local, state, or national government

Political Parties• There are several types of Party

Systems in the World

• The Two-Party System: US

• The Multi-Party System: Britain, France, Israel

• The One (Single Party) System: China, Cuba

Political Parties• Multi-Party Systems

– Most democracies in the World are multi-party systems

• Canada has 3 major parties• Germany has 5 major parties• Israel has 20 major parties

• System allows a lot of choice, but decision making in legislature is difficult

Political Parties• One Party Systems: Usually Dictatorships

in nations where all citizens must belong to that party

• China, Cuba, Iran are all examples

• Some hold farcical elections to give the impression of democracy– All people on the ballot are from the same

party

Political Parties• Two Party System: Only 2 major political

parties that are consistently in contention for political offices

• Unique to the United States

• Two Major Parties in the United States– Republican Party– Democratic Party

* No third party candidate has won the presidency

Political Parties

• Benefits to a Two-Party System?– It makes you a democracy– Easier to win a majority (50% +1) rather than

a plurality

• Disadvantages?– Voters feel the need to choose sides– Less choice among candidates

Political Parties• Third Parties: smaller parties who influence

voters by their presence and often bring issues to light for other parties

• Often start at the grassroots (local) level and grow from there

• Never win Presidential Elections

• Rarely Win National Congressional Elections

Political Parties• Types of Third Parties

–Ideological Parties

–Single-Issue Parties

–Independent Candidates who form parties

Political Parties

• Ideological Parties: radically change the system of government – Communist Party– Libertarian

• Single Issue Party: run on one issue they want to get national attention– Prohibitionist party

Political Parties

• Independents– Ross Perot formed the Reform Party because

he disagreed with Republican economic plans

• Some people run as independents because they lose the nomination in their major parties– Example: Teddy Roosevelt and the “Bull

Moose Party” in 1912

Political Parties

• Why do we need political parties at all?

– George Washington warned against political parties during his farewell address.

– Political Parties are inevitable when people have the freedom to question and disagree with their government

Political Parties• Why do the Democrats and Republicans

disagree?

• Political Ideologies:– World View: your opinion on international

affairs and interaction– Values: traditions and belief system– Process of Social Change: gradual, quick or

stagnant

Political PartiesDemocrats

• Favor larger federal government

• More government support of social programs

• Anti-Iraq War• Pro-Immigration• Civil Liberty and

personal freedoms driven

Republicans• Favor downsizing the

federal government• Less government

support of social programs

• Pro-Iraq War• Anti-Immigration• Value and Morals

Driven

Political Parties

• Republicans are sometimes called CONSERVATIVES because they hold on the traditional values and dislike change in government.

Political Parties

• Democrats are called LIBERALS because they often interpret the laws and change with the times

Political Parties

• Moderates are somewhere in the middle of both parties– Most Americans are Moderates

• Radicals are extremists on both sides: – They are often avoided by most

members of their parties because they are unwilling to compromise

Political Parties• Purpose:

– Nominate Strong Candidates– Campaign for Candidates– Inform Citizens of Legislation and Party

Platform– Managing Government– Link Levels of Government: National, State,

and Local levels– Play Watchdog of the other party

Political PartiesPresident or National Committee

Chairperson

State Chairperson

County Chairperson

Precinct Captain: city/ district level

Each party selects people to fill each of these roles in every state and county

Political Parties

National Committee

Organize National Convention

Write Party PlatformNominate Candidates

Raise Money forcampaigns

NATIONAL COMMITTEE

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Political Party

• National Committee: representatives from every state work to write the party platform and support candidates from the party

Platform: overall plan for the party

Planks: each idea in the platform

Political Parties

National Conventions are formalities today because the nominee has been decided by PRIMARY ELECTIONS and

CAUCUSES

Political Parties• Primary Elections determine which of the

many Democrats or Republicans will be the parties nominee

– Open Primaries: a primary where any registered voter may vote

– Closed Primaries: a primary where only a party member may vote (most are closed)

Political Parties

• A Caucus is when a party meets face to face and openly votes and tries to convince others to nominate their candidate

• Less common today

Political Parties

• After the states have primaries or caucuses, the projected winner of the most electoral votes wins the nomination at the National Convention

• Conventions are held in the summer of the election year and kick start the campaign season

Political Parties

• State and Local Committees do much of the same things that the National Committee does

• They hold primaries and nominate state and local candidates

• They also campaign for their local leaders

Political Machines

• local party organizations that are so strong they hold office for a lengthy period of time

• Often, they are run wealthy groups behind the scenes who guarantee victory in exchange for protection from certain laws

Political Parties

• Best known political machine was Tammany Hall– William Marcy “Boss” Tweed was the mayor

of New York who gave money and contracts to friends in exchange for votes

– Gained immigrant vote by giving food and jobs to the new immigrants

– “Vote early, vote often”