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Political Parties and Ideology

Political Parties and Ideology. What is a Party?. Political Party – a group of people who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office Major Party – a party that has a chance to win representation in government

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Political Parties and Ideology

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  1. Political Parties and Ideology

  2. What is a Party? • Political Party – a group of people who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office • Major Party – a party that has a chance to win representation in government • Minor Party – any political party that doesn’t

  3. Major Parties • There are two major parties in the U.S. Can you name them? Democrats and Republicans

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. Liberal and Conservative • Common Liberal Characteristics • Desire progressive change in society • Main values: Idealism, Equality, Fairness, Personal Freedom • Examples: ACLU, Sierra Club, NAACP, NOW, labor unions, Dems.

  8. Liberal and Conservative • Common Liberal Issue Stances • Pro-choice • Affirmative Action • Gun control • Progressive taxes (higher on rich) • Aid to the poor • Equal access to health care • Protecting the environment • Equal gay rights

  9. Liberal and Conservative • Common Conservative Characteristics • Desire 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

  10. 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

  11. What Do Parties Do? • Nominate Candidates • Inform and Activate Supporters • The “Bonding Agent” Function – making sure that officeholders do a good job once they are elected • Govern • Act as a Watchdog – criticizes the opposing party

  12. 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

  13. The Two-Party System • 3. The American Ideological Consensus – for the most part, we pretty much agree on all of the major stuff • People should own property • We should have equality • People have the right to vote

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. Party Membership Patterns • Party membership is voluntary • Each party must try to attract as much support as possible

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. History of the Two-Party System • The First Two Parties • Federalists • Founded by Alexander Hamilton • Believed in forming a strong national government, supported policies that favored business

  21. History of the Two-Party System • The First Two Parties • Democratic-Republicans • Founded by Thomas Jefferson • Believed in limiting the federal government’s power, and supported policies that benefited the “common man”

  22. History of the Two-Party System • Era of the Democrats (1800-1860) • Democratic-Republicans had come to dominate politics, but then broke into two factions, the Democrats and Whigs • Democrats, led by Andrew Jackson, won most of the time over the Whigs

  23. History of the Two-Party System • Era of the Republicans (1860-1932) • Began with election of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War • Republicans dominated elections due to support from businesses and African Americans • Democrats only won in the South

  24. History of the Two-Party System • The Return of the Democrats (1932-1968) • The Great Depression turned people against the Republican Party, especially as FDR led the U.S. out of the Depression • Dwight Eisenhower was the only Republican from this period

  25. History of the Two-Party System • Divided Government (1968-Present) • Nixon’s Watergate scandal has led people to distrust government • Characterized by different parties controlling Congress and the Presidency • Country is evenly divided (remember the 2000 election?)

  26. Minor Parties • Why run for election when you know you will lose? • Act as the “spoiler” (Perot in 1992, Nader in 2000)

  27. Minor Parties • Why run for election when you know you will lose? • Make your issues public, get the major parties to adopt them

  28. Minor Parties • Why run for election when you know you will lose? • Criticize the major parties (That’s basically all Nader does)

  29. Types of Minor Parties • Ideological Parties – based on a set of beliefs • Tend to be long lasting • Have very little electoral success • Examples: Communist, Socialist, Libertarian

  30. Types of Minor Parties • Single-Issue Parties – concentrate on one public policy matter • Name usually reflects their issue • Party dies after the issue fades or one of the major parties adopts their issue • Examples: Marijuana, Right to Life, Prohibition

  31. Types of Minor Parties • Economic Protest Parties – arise during periods of poor economy, and express disgust • Usually sectional, drawing support from one region of the country • They invent an “enemy” of the economy and blame them • Examples: America First, Populist

  32. Types of Minor Parties • Splinter Parties – break away from one of the major parties • Usually form around a strong personality • Typically have short-term electoral success • Fade away when the leader steps aside • Examples: Bull Moose, American Independent, Reform

  33. Chapter 7: Elections

  34. Nominations – the First Step • Before the election can take place, candidates must be nominated • This applies in ALL elections, not just presidential! • Nomination – the naming of candidates who will seek office • After candidates are nominated, the general election is held

  35. How Does a Candidate get Nominated? • 4 Ways: • Self Announcement • Convention • Caucus • Primary **To become a major party nominee for president, all 4 will be used**

  36. Self-Announcement • The candidate simply makes an announcement of his/her intention to seek public office (could have a friend do it, too) Ralph Nader, Independent candidate

  37. Self-Announcement • Usually an independent candidate or someone who failed to win a major party nomination Ralph Nader, Independent candidate

  38. Self-Announcement • To get your name on the ballot generally requires a number of signatures on a petition (specifics are set by each state) Ralph Nader, Independent candidate

  39. Convention • Public meeting of party activists to energize voters and choose a party candidate

  40. Convention • Used to be the method for major parties to choose, but the conventions became corrupt • Major parties still use them, but only to make the presidential nomination “official”

  41. Convention • Now only used by minor parties (like the Libertarian Party shown below)

  42. Caucus • 1800s - originally a private meeting of party leaders – no records kept or journalists allowed • The appearance of corruption led to reforms

  43. Caucus • Now - a public meeting of any party members who wish to participate and debate

  44. Primary • A public election held within a political party to choose the party’s nominee for office • Open Primary – any eligible voters may vote • Closed Primary – only registered party members may vote in their party’s primary • Most common method in states today

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