Bell ringer
How does each of these connect to a “political
machine”?
Tammany Hall
Spoils system
Patronage
Civil Service
Political Parties
Lesson 2
Objectives
Agenda
 Political Parties
 Political Parties & Interest
 Explore the history of the
2-party system.
 Describe a political
machine.
 Recognize the
contributions of and
obstacles to minor parties
 Introduce Interest Groups.
Groups – notes & videos
 Start HW: Ch. 9 RQs
German Elections
 Campaign Ads: Each party produces ONE
90 second ad for the whole election season.
 Each party is allotted a certain amount
of airtime on the two public TV
networks, ZDF and ARD, based on their
vote share in the last election and the
number of members in their party.
 For the major parties, the CDU and the
SPD, that’s eight times on each channel —
over the entire course of the campaign. Ads
for the smaller parties — the Greens, the
Free Democratic Party and the Left Party
— will run four times each on ARD and
ZDF
 CDU- Christian Democratic Union
(Angel Merkel)
 SPD- Social Democratic Party, Attack ad?
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo
4. The Rise & Decline of the Political Party
1.
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The Jeffersonian Republicans (The Founding)
First organized political party (1790s)
First Party System
“Prevent Parties; Prevent Dissent”
What did the founders believe about parties? Why did they call
themselves “republicans”?
2. The Jacksonians
 Emerged around 1824
 Ushered in increasing political participation
 1st truly national system due to there being an additional party,
establishes the modern democratic party
 “Started from the top, now we’re here”
 How is the party convention replacing the caucus representative of this era?
Andrew Jackson
When Andrew Jackson ran for
president in 1828, over a million
votes were cast for the first time
in American history. This poster,
from 1832 election, was part of
the emergence of truly mass
political participation. Jackson
easily beat his opponent, John Q.
Adams.
3. Civil War & Sectionalism (1860 to 1930s)
 Parties begin to establish geographic strengths
 “Let progress take you forward”
 Describe the two factions that developed within the Republican party as states
became one-party states.
4. The Era of Reform (New Deal- Present)
Return of Democrats:
 Stricter voter-registration requirements
 More primary elections
 Initiatives & Referendums
 “The New Deal and the party power steal”
 What were the effects of the following progressive initiatives on party structure:
primary elections, stricter voter-registration, civil service reform, adopting the
initiative. Referendum
5. Divided Government 1968-Present
7. Political Party Machine
 Party organization that recruits its members by the
use of tangible incentives and is characterized by a
high degree of leadership control over member
activity.
 Federal patronage jobs (i.e. Post office)
 Kickbacks on contracts
 Funds raised from businessmen
 Reform: Stricter voter registration laws, civil
service reforms, competitive bidding laws,
government welfare
 1939 Hatch Act: federal civil servants may not
participate in most political activities
Check for understanding
 Make a mnemonic (e.g., PEMDAS) to help you remember
the 5 eras of political parties.
The Two Party System
 Why has the two-party system persisted in the US?
The Two Party System
 Why has the two-party system persisted in the US?
 Plurality System
 Winner take all
 Voter opinion
 At the end of the day, most voters still vote for one or the other.
 State Laws
 It’s taken the courts to allow more third-party candidates on the
ballot
9. Minor Political Parties
 Ideological: the “Big Idea”
 Set of beliefs, often unwilling to compromise- radical. Intense internal conflict
over issues and leaders have little room for maneuvering and bargaining.
 Socialist, Communist, Libertarian, Green
 One-Issue: based on a single issue
 Free-Soil, Know Nothing, Prohibition, Woman’s party
 Economic-Protest party: arises in times of economic hardship.
 Greenback, Populist
 Factional Party: has split away from a major party
 Usually don’t last long
 Bull Moose progressive
 La Follette Progressives - realigned the northern and southern Democratic parties
 States rights
Minor Parties
Why not successful?
• Political Socialization
• Winner-Take-All
System, SMD
• Exclusion from
debates
• Campaign Financing:
Federal Funding
• Ballot Access
• Virginia President
• 10,000/ 400 in 11
Contributions
 Influence policy positions
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of two major parties.
Safety valve for discontent
Voice for fringe
Enhanced participation
Forces parties to become
broad-based
 What party has split off from both Democrats and
Republicans?
Check for Understanding
 Describe the point of view
expressed about minor
parties in the cartoon.
 How does the winnertake-all rule of the United
States electoral system act
as an obstacle to minorparty candidates winning
elections?
 How do minor parties still
contribute?
CLOSURE
 In Europe, almost the only way a person can become a candidate is by
A. Winning in the primary election.
B. Winning a constituency referendum
C. Firing his or her own campaign organization
D. Being nominated by party leaders
 Which of the following statements best describes the organization of
the two major political parties in the United States?
(A) Parties have no organization except at the national level
(B) Parties are centrally organized to provide a smooth transition from one
national campaign to the next.
(C) Parties are organized much like a large corporation, in that decisions flow
from national to state and local levels.
(D) Local and state parties have virtually no power in the party system.
(E) Separate and largely independent party organizations exist at national, state,
and local levels.
Interest Groups
Introduction
Interest Groups
 Private organization whose members work to shape public
policy.
 Ways to achieve their political agendas include expert
testimony, background data, literature for constituents,
direct mail, paid advertisements, sending lobbyists to counsel
members of Congress.
 Interest Groups must report their expenses at the end of the
year.
 Top Interest Groups Giving to Members of Congress, 2014
Cycle | OpenSecrets
 Interest Groups | TED-Ed
Homework
 Ch 9. reading questions