George Washington’s Farewell Address

1. George Washington’s Farewell Address • “The alternate dominion of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge…” • “It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection.”

2. Chapter 9 Political Party systems

3. American political symbols GOP DEMS

4. Two Party System • Political Party: an association of voters with broad, common interests who want to influence or control decision making in government by electing the party’s candidates to public office. • Due to the Electoral College system, the U.S. has predominately always adopted a two-party national system. Why? • Winner-Take-All • Majority Rule • House of Reps • State Gerrymandering • Our voting system has helped to determine our party system • What political divide first started the two-party system in the United States?

5. Historical roots

6. Laissez-Faire • French: “Let Do” or “Hands Free” Economics • A politico-economic theory which believes that private citizens should control their economy (use of resources) freely and without control of the government. • No (less) taxes, no (less) subsidies, and no (less) tarrifs • Primarily, parties which support small government lean more towards laissez-faire economic principles.

7. Third Parties • Third Party: a party that challenges the two main parties. • They seldom win, but they can help change politics. • How?

8. Third Parties • Bring issues to the public’s attention. • Effect outcome of elections which forces major parties to adopt their core belief systems. • Third Parties: • Libertarian- Individual liberty, shrink government • Green Party- Regulation of Big Business, Social Justice, and Environmental responsibility • Constitution Party- Christian Party, limit federal spending and taxing, increase tariffs, socially conservative

9. Multi-Party System • Based on three or more main parties. • Benefits: more options to choose from and more ideas to choose from. Citizens are not bound to one of two party’s ideologies. • Weaknesses: can lead to radical/reactionary groups (extreme political groups), • Coalition government: In a majority rule system, a group of parties must agree to cooperate in order to create a majority of votes.

10. One party system • Only one party to choose to run the government. • Also known as a single party system. • What type of government does this create?

11. Political Spectrum Left Right The two party’s political beliefs are primarily characterized on how they view the current social system. Moderate/ Independent Definitely Republicans Definitely Democrats Radical: Extreme Change/ Alter Society Leaning towards Democrats Leaning Towards Republicans Reactionary: Go Back to Previous State/ Traditional

12. Politics • Liberal: a political belief system founded on the promotion of individual liberty and equality by the reduction of government. (hence “libertarians”) • But in the United States, liberalism is synonymous with big government and progressivism. • Conservative: a political belief system which values the preservation of the social traditions and norms. • But in the United States, conservatism is synonymous with small government. • Planks: each individual belief of a party (pro-life v. pro-choice) • Platform: the aggregate of all the planks which encompasses the overall belief system of the party.

13. Organization • National Committee: Raises Money at the Federal Level; Creates a common platform; and organizes the National Convention (RNC and DNC) • 50 State Committees: Tries to get elected as many candidates within the state as possible; raises and directs money. • Ward: A group of precincts. Helps the state committee to decide where to best put resources. • Precinct: a geographical area which contains a specific number of voters. • Precinct Captain: Each precinct has a member to organize the party members within the precinct to vote on election day.

14. Political Movements • Political Machine: a political organization in which the leaders of the organization get out the vote for their candidates on election day. • Grassroots Movement: a political organization which is motivated and driven by the local community. • Is our system a top down system or a grassroots system?

15. Primaries • In order for a candidate to be chosen by the party to run in the general election, an primary is held in order for the parties to choose their candidates. • Presidential Primary: delegates choose presidential nominee. • delegates: representatives of the party to cast a vote for a nominee at the convention. • Super delegates (democrats only): an elected official who receives votes to distribute to the candidate of their choice at the convention.

16. Chapter 10 Elections and Campaigns

17. Voting • 18 years of age, resident of the state, citizen of the United States, registered. • Polling Place: where the vote is held. • Absentee ballot: a ballot to vote for a registered voter who is unable or unwilling to attend the official polling place. • Who is in charge of elections? • Missouri Secretary of State: Jason Kander • Saint Louis Board of Elections

18. Coverage • Returns: Votes from each precinct is counted. • Voting precinct: voting district • Exit Polls: Polls taken from voters as they leave polling place. • Allows analysts to make predictions. • How can it influence the outcome of an election? • Push polls: a technique used by campaigns to influence voters under the disguise of a valid poll.

19. Types of Elections • General Election: 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November on even dated years. • Why? • Special Elections: Special circumstances can lead to elections outside of the general election cycle. • run-off: if an election requires a majority, but none but was reached, a run-off is held between the top two candidates. • Recall: a vote to remove an elected official from office before the end of term. • Each state and local government can also have elections outside of the general.

20. What do we vote for? • 2012 Missouri Sample Ballot • Initiative: Citizens can propose laws to be placed on the ballot through petitions. • Proposition: Citizen proposed law which has been placed on a ballot. (Direct Democracy) • Referendum: Citizens can “refer” a law passed by their legislature to be placed on the ballot. (Direct Democracy/Check on the State Legislature) • Presidential Elections (61%- High) v. Mid-Term Elections (48%-High)

21. Campaigns • Billions of dollars are spent every election cycle. • 2012: Over $4.2 Billion on elections for Congress and White House alone. • Canvassing (knocking on doors), phone calls, advertising, campaign rallies • What is the purpose of spending money in a campaign?

22. Apathy • Apathy: Lack of concern or care. • Americans are apathetic about government and politics. • Many people do not like the system of political parties we have created…a lack of choice. • Who’s fault? • How do we fix that system?

23. Campaign Finance Reform • Can someone buy our government? • If there are no limits on what you give politicians, can you buy their votes in Washington D.C.? • Creates a need to control campaign contributions. • FECA- Federal Election Campaign Act- Created to regulate (place rules and limits upon) campaign finance. • Public Disclosure (from whom is the money coming, and what is it spent on?) • Limit on hard money: money given exactly to a candidate. • Limit on soft money: money given to a political party to be given indirectly to a candidate. • Limit PACs (Political Action Committee): an organization which campaigns for or against candidates, initiatives, or legislation without working in direct contact with a specific campaign.

24. Campaign Finance Reform • Buckley v. Valeo: government COULD set limits on campaign contributions. • McCain-Feingold Act: limited soft money. • Limits: Candidate National Committee • Individual $2,600 $32,400 • National Committee $5,000 - • State Committee $5,000 No Limit • PAC $5,000 $32,400 • Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission: Allows corporations and other unions unrestricted speech in the promotion of their own political goals. • Super PAC: Gives no money directly to any party or candidate, and has no limits on their campaign contributions.