Political Parties and Elections

Political Parties and Elections How do the people impact whether or not public officials remain in office?

Learning Targets • I CAN: • Identify what a political party is • Identify existing party affiliations • Describe characteristics of each party • Explain the influence of political parties in campaigns leading to elections • Explain how parties can experience advantages/disadvantages in elections • Define general and primary elections • Describe the difference between primary and general elections • Explain how some candidates can experience advantages/disadvantages in elections • Evaluate the activities of a political party in an election

Learning Targets cont’d • I CAN: • Identify the opportunities that people have in order to impact the jobs of public officials • Define appointments, Electoral College, recall, and impeachment • Describe the process for appointments, Electoral College, recall, and impeachment • Analyze scenarios in which these processes would be applied.

Terms to Know • Appointments • Electoral College • Democrat • Republican • Independent • Third Party • Candidates • Primaries • Campaigns • Nomination • Incumbents

America’s Two Party System • Democrats (The Left) • Follow a “Liberal” philosophy • Believe it is proper for the government to regulate and oversee the economy • Ex: insure minimum wage, require that people contribute to retirement savings • Do not believe the government should have a say in morality or social issues • Ex: no regulations on drug use, abortion practices, or marriages

America’s Two Party System • Republicans (the Right) • Follow a “Conservative” philosophy • Believe that the government should remain “small” in terms of the economy—not get involved • Ex: privatized Social Security, no minimum wage • Believe the government should regulate morality or social issues • Ex: punishment for drug use, laws over marriage practices

Critical Thinking • Based on what you have learned about America’s two dominant political parties, do you fit neatly into one group or the other? If you had to align yourself with one party or the other, which would you choose? Which types of issues would you disagree with that party about?

Other Political Ideologies • Libertarian • Generally agree with Republicans on economic issues • Generally agree with Democrats on social/morality issues • Bottom Line: Prefer a “small” government--one that does not get involved • Populist • Generally agree with Democrats on economic issues • Generally agree with Republicans on social/morality issues • Bottom Line: Prefer a “big” government—one that gets involved

Activity • Step 1: With a partner, make a list of 5-10 issues that affect the United States today. • Write down the viewpoint that you believe each of the four different political ideologies would have regarding each issue. • Example: Privatized Social Security • Liberals: Against • Conservatives: For • Libertarians: For • Populists: Against

What is a Political Party? • Political Party: a group of individuals outside of government who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to determine public policy • Form an important link between the citizens and their government

The Three Dimensions of American Political Parties • The Party in the Electorate • Consists of all eligible voters who identify as Democrats or Republicans • No dues, membership cards, meeting attendance or registration necessary • The Party Organization • Group that make rules, raise money and organize conventions, and seek candidates for their party • The Party in Government • All party members that hold public office • Ex: President, Congressmen, Governors

What do Political Parties do? • Select Candidates • Nomination: a party’s endorsement for a candidate • Primary: a preliminary election to choose a party’s final candidate (nomination) • Inform the Public • Educate the public about important political issues by presenting its views through pamphlets, television, speeches, rallies etc.

Cont’d • Coordinate Policymaking • Party acts as the major institution by which the executive and legislative branches cooperate with each other • The President works with fellow party members in Congress to promote the party agenda • Run Campaigns • Party members work at getting other party members registered, conducting drives for new voters, staff the polling places etc. • Raise Money for Candidates • Major parties raise millions of dollars during each election cycle

Critical Thinking • What do you think is the most important role of the political party? Why?

Third Parties • Third Parties: believe that certain needs and values are not being met by the major parties • Most are short-lived • There have been several third parties throughout history but most fit into one of three categories • Issue-Oriented Parties • Ideological Parties • Splinter, or Personality Parties

Issue-Oriented Parties • Formed to promote a particularly timely issue • Examples • Free Soil Party: formed before the Civil War to prevent slavery from expanding into Western territories • Prohibition Party: formed in 1869 to try to convince the government to ban the sale and manufacture of alcohol

Ideological Parties • Parties that support a particular set of beliefs or a particular political doctrine • Example: • Socialist Workers Party

Splinter, or Personality Parties • Develops due to a split with a major political party • Usually formed around a leader with a strong personality • Examples: • Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party • Henry Wallace’s Progressive Party

2008 Third Party Presidential Candidates • Which of the three types of third parties would these political parties fall under? • Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party • Cynthia McKinney of the Green Party • Bob Barr of the Libertarian Party

Primary Elections • Direct Primary: an election held within each party (and controlled by each state) to nominate candidates for the general election • Used by about 3/5 of U.S. states • Closed primary: only registered party members can vote to choose their party’s candidates • Open Primary: voters can vote for a party’s candidates regardless of whether they belong to that party • *United Streaming

Critical Thinking • Which do you think is more fair: an open primary or a closed primary? Why?

General Election • General Election: a regularly scheduled election in which voters choose who will hold public office • Held in even-numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November • In Presidential Elections, the Electoral College is used • *See electoral college ppt

Campaign-Financing Laws • Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) in 1971-Further amendments were made in 1974 • Attempted to solve problems in the ways political campaigns were financed • Restricted the amount that could be spent on advertising • Requires contributions over $100 to be revealed to the public • Allowed government funding for primary and general elections • Prohibits • Donations directly from Corporations, Labor Unions, National Banks etc. • Cash Contributions over $100

PACs • PACs: Political Action Committees • Established by and represent the interests of • Corporations • Labor unions • Special interest groups • Raise money and give donations to campaigns on behalf of the group they represent • To be legitimate: must come from at least 50 volunteer donors and must be given to at least 5 candidates in the national elections • OpenSecrets.org: http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/index.php?party=R&cycle=2010

Why People Vote as They Do • Party Identification • Acts as a general guide to voter’s choices • Influenced by: • Family • Age • Peer groups • Becoming less and less prominent in predicting voter choices

Critical Thinking • Do you think you’re current party identification is most influenced by your family, peers or age? What do you think the average voter is most influenced by?

Candidates Image • Voters often base decisions on their impression of a candidate rather than his/her actual qualifications • Positive images in history: • Nixon: positive • Negative images in history: • Adlai Stevenson: too intellectual, out of touch • Barry Goldwater: too aggressive/warmongering

Policy Choices • Policy voting occurs when people vote for candidates who share their stand on issues • Usually economic issues have the greatest influence on voters decisions • If the economy is doing well, the incumbent is more difficult to defeat • Other important policy decisions include foreign-policy issues (War) and environmental issues

Socioeconomic Factors • Age • Younger=generally more liberal • Gender • Women=more likely than men to vote Democrat • Education • The more education received=more likely to vote • Occupation and Income • White collar workers=more likely to vote Republican • Blue collar workers=more likely to vote Democrat • Religion and Ethnic Background • African-Americans=more likely to vote Democrat • Geographic Region • Changes throughout history • Currently: South=more likely to vote Republican • New England=more likely to vote Democrat

Political Parties and Elections