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Political Parties

Political Parties. What are political parties?. Definition: voluntary associations of people who seek to control the government through common principles based on peaceful and legal actions, such as the winning of elections.

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Political Parties

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  1. Political Parties

  2. What are political parties? • Definition: voluntary associations of people who seek to control the government through common principles based on peaceful and legal actions, such as the winning of elections. • The #1 focus of political parties is to get their candidates elected to office.

  3. Roles of Political Parties • Party in the electorate • All of the people who associate themselves with one of the political parties • Party in government • All of the appointed and elected officials at the national, state, and local levels who represent the party as members • Party in organization • People within the party organization who work to maintain the strength of the party between elections

  4. Party Systems • One-Party System • Only one party exists, and voters have no real choice of candidates; result- dictatorial gov. • Two-Party System • Several political parties, but only two major parties dominate elections • Enhances government stability and holds government responsible by appealing to people • How does the electoral college encourage a two-party system? • Multi-Party System • Several major parties compete in elections, and the minor parties have a good chance of winning • Rarely results in a clear majority of the vote

  5. What Do Political Parties Do? • Recruit candidates • Find qualified candidates interested in running for office • Nominate & support candidates for office • Help raise money & run campaigns • Educate the electorate • Inform voters about candidates & encourage voting • Organize in the government • Organize as a party to control Congress and appointments

  6. Party Functions

  7. Party Identification & Membership • Party membership is voluntary, and based on identification • Most people choose a political party based on a set of beliefs • Several factors may also influence party identification • Ideology, education, income, occupation, race/ethnicity, gender, religion, family tradition, region of the country, marital status

  8. The Two-Party Tradition in America • The Constitution did not mention political parties • Federalist #10 warned of “factions” • Washington warned against “the baneful effects of the spirit of the party” • Began with the federalists and anti-federalists when ratifying the Constitution

  9. Factors Contributing to the Two-Party Tradition • Historical roots • British heritage, federalist & anti-federalist views • Electoral system • One winner per office • Election laws • Makes it difficult for minor parties to get on the ballot

  10. Democrats vs. Republicans

  11. HOMEWORK… • Create a timeline outlining the development of political parties in the United States • Must include summaries of: • Rise of Political Parties: Party Development (1789-1800) • Democratic Domination (1800-1860) • Republican Domination (1860-1932) • Return of Democrats (1932-1968) • Divided Government (1968-present) • Be sure to reference leaders & events that helped shape each era • Each era should be at least a paragraph/5 bullets long • Submit either on computer paper or poster board • YOU MUST USE REFERENCES & DOCUMENT THEM!

  12. Alignment • Electoral Dealignment • When significant numbers of voters no longer support a particular political party • Electoral Realignment • When voting patterns shift and new groups of party supporters are formed

  13. Third or Minor Parties • More successful at getting their candidates elected to the state and local levels • No minor candidate has ever been elected as President • Have historically been instrumental in providing important reforms eventually adopted by major parties • Considered success for minor parties

  14. Types of Third Parties

  15. Structure of Political Parties • Must have an effective organization to accomplish its goals • Both major parties are fragmented & decentralized • The party of the President is normally more united than the opposition

  16. Organization of Political Parties • National Convention • Meets every four years to nominate a candidate for Presidency, based on the results of the primary elections • National Committee • Maintains the day-to-day operations of the party between national conventions • National Chairperson • Responsible for managing the national committee • Congressional Campaign Committee • Members of both houses of Congress that work to insure re-election of their party members • State & Local Organization • State & local levels of the national committee

  17. Future of Political Parties • Uncertain, but in recent decades have declined • Possible attributes to the decline: • Third-party challenges • Loss of support by party loyalists • Increase in split-ticket voting • Lack of perceived differences between parties • Party reforms • Methods of campaigning

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