1 / 20

Chapter 8 Political Parties

Chapter 8 Political Parties. What is a Political Party?. Definition: a group of political activists who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to determine public policy. Parties versus interest groups.

john
Download Presentation

Chapter 8 Political Parties

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Chapter 8Political Parties

  2. What is a Political Party? • Definition: a group of political activists who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to determine public policy. • Parties versus interest groups

  3. Recruit candidates to run for elective offices at all levels of government Organize and run elections Present Alternatives Accept responsibility of operating government Organized opposition to the party in power is an essential role for a party that does not control one or another branch of the government. Functions of Political Parties

  4. The Formative Years: Federalists and Anti-Federalists The Era of Good Feelings National Two-Party Rule: Whigs and Democrats The Civil War Crisis The Post-Civil War Period “Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion” The Triumph of the Republicans History of Political Parties

  5. The Progressive Interlude The New Deal Era An Era of Divided Government In the years after 1968, the general pattern was often a Republican president and a Democratic Congress. 2000 Presidential Election (Red state-blue state) History of Political Parties

  6. Election 1896

  7. Election 2004

  8. The Two Major Parties Today • The parties’ core constituents • Economic beliefs • Recent economic convergence? • Republican and Democratic Budgets • Democrats have the reputation of supporting the less-well-off, and Republicans the prosperous.

  9. 1-The people who identify with the party or who regularly vote for the candidates of the party in general elections 2-Party organization National Convention delegates National Committee National Chairperson The Three Faces of a Party

  10. State party organization Local (grass roots) organization Patronage and City Machines Local Party Organizations Today 3-The Party in Government Divided Government The Limits of Party Unity Party Polarization Three Faces of a Party (cont.)

  11. Often, on major issues confronting the country there have been two clear sides. This duality helped to initiate a two-party system and has maintained this system through the present. Political socialization and practical considerations The Winner-Take-All Electoral System Presidential Voting Popular Election of the Governors and President Proportional Representation State and Federal Laws Favoring the Two Parties Why Has the Two Party System Endured?

  12. Ideological Third Parties Splinter Parties The Impact of Minor Parties Influencing the Major Parties Affecting the Outcome of an Election The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics

  13. Most Successful Third Party Campaigns

  14. Realignment: a process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape. The Myth of Dominance The Myth of Predictability Is Realignment Still Possible? Dealignment: a major drop-off in support for the parties. Independent Voters Not-So-Independent Voters Tipping Mechanisms of Political Change

  15. Party Identification: 1937-Present

  16. Do democratic governments need political parties? If a democratic government has political parties, will the structure always be a two-party system? What factors impact how many political parties will exist? Is party identification a major factor for voters in presidential elections? Possible FRQ Question Ideas

  17. Why is it difficult for independent candidates or minor party candidates to get elected to Congress? What inferences can be made about the voting population through the closely divided elections of 2000 and 2004? Possible FRQ Question Ideas

More Related