October 21, 2013
• Objectives: Students will be able to
define a political party, and the
functions.
• What are the differences between a
Democrat and Republican?
CHAPTER 5
POLITICAL PARTIES
Section 1:
Political Parties and
What They Do
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS IN YOUR NOTEBOOK:
• 1. Name 2 political parties in the American
political system.
• 2. Which political party is the oldest in
American history?
• 3. Which political party favors less
involvement by the government in our daily
lives?
• 4. Which political party favors social
welfare programs?
What is
a political
party?
»It’s NOT what you attend at a
friend’s house
WHAT IS A POLITICAL PARTY?
(2 DEFINITIONS)
1. Election oriented•
A group of persons
who seek to control
government through
the winning of
elections and the
holding of public
office.
WHAT IS A POLITICAL PARTY?
(2 DEFINITIONS)
2. Principle or issue oriented• A group of persons joined
together on the basis of
common principles
• seek to control government in
order to affect certain public
policies and programs.
THE 2 MAJOR PARTIES IN AMERICAN
POLITICS ARE:
1. Republicans
THE 2 MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES
IN AMERICAN POLITICS ARE:
2. Democrats
WHAT DO PARTIES DO?
1. The vital link between the people and
the government.
2. a.k.a. “Power brokers”- they bring
conflicting groups together by
encouraging compromise between
contending groups.
5 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE:
1. Nominating Candidates for public
office
• They select candidates and present
them to voters.
• They work to help their candidates
win elections
5 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL
PARTIES:
2. Informing and
Activating Supporters
• Parties campaign for candidates
• take stands on issues
• criticize the opponent’s
positions on issues
• try to activate people’s interest
and participation in public
affairs
• Use pamphlets, signs, buttons,
stickers, speeches, rallies, media
advertisements.
5 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE:
3. The Bonding Agent Function
• Ensure the good performance,
good character, and
qualifications of its candidates
and officeholders
5 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE:
4. Governing
• Congress and state legislatures conduct
their business on the basis of
partisanship
• Political parties provide channels
between the legislative and executive
branches of government.
• Constitutional change
5 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE:
5. Acting as Watchdog
• The “party out of power”
criticizes the behavior of the
“party in power”- the party
that controls the executive
branch of government.
• This criticism tends to keep
the party in power more
responsive to the wishes and
concerns of the people.
Who is Earl Dodge?
The Prohibition Parties
candidate for President of the US
in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, and
2000.
Why don’t you know him?
What does it mean?
Democrats and Republicans
dominate American politics
CHAPTER 5, SECTION 2:
WHY A 2 PARTY SYSTEM?:
•
Throughout most of our history, the U.S. has been a 2party nation (the 1 st two political parties were the
Federalists and Anti-Federalists)
•
The Constitution contains no provisions for political
parties.
•
Single-member districts (aka SMD’s)-help to promote
a two-party system, and they tend to discourage minor
parties (most voters think of a vote for a minor party
candidate as a “wasted vote.”)
THE AMERICAN IDEOLOGICAL
CONSENSUS:
• Similarities:
Both political parties are considered to be
moderate, built on compromise, and seek the
same goal of winning the majority of votes in
the electorate.
• Republicans and Democrats regularly act in a
bipartisan manner.
DIFFERENCES: EACH PARTY
TENDS TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF:
• Republicans
• Democrats
-Private market
economies
-Social welfare
programs
-Less Government
regulation of business
-More Government
regulation of
business
-Less Government
involvement in social
programs
-More Government
involvement in social
programs
-Improve status of
minorities
MULTI-PARTY SYSTEMS
•
Multi-party systems have historically been a
feature of European democracies.
•
Various parties are based on particular interests
such as:
•
•
economic class
•
religious belief
•
political ideologies
Coalitions
ex: Italy and France
ONE PARTY SYSTEMS
•
One party system= “no party system”
PARTY MEMBERSHIP PATTERNS:
-Membership
in a party is strictly voluntary
-Each party has always been composed of a cross-section of the
nation’s population.
-No person or group is tied permanently to either party
STEREOTYPICAL ALIGNMENT OF
VOTING PATTERNS:
Republicans
Democrats
• White Males
• African Americans
• Protestants
• Catholic (until 2000) &
Jewish People
• Business Community
• Business Union
Members
• Red: Republican
• Blue: Democrat
MAJOR SOURCES OF PARTY
IDENTIFICATION:
•
Family
•
Major events
•
Economic status
•
Work environment
•
Age
•
Level of Education
•
Media
FINAL 5
• Explain the 2 of the main functions of a political party &
2 differences between a Republican and a Democrat