“I have already intimated to you the danger
of parties in the State, with particular
reference to the founding of them on
geographical discriminations. Let me now take
a more comprehensive view, and warn you in
the most solemn manner against the baneful
effects of the spirit of party generally “…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. It opens
the door to foreign influence and corruption,
which finds a facilitated access to the
government itself through the channels of
party passions. Thus the policy and the
will of one country are subjected to
the policy and will of another.”
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=15&page=transcript
WHAT FUNCTIONS DO
POLITICAL PARTIES PERFORM?
WHICH OF THESE FUNCTIONS DO
OUR PARTIES PERFORM WELL?
WHAT FUNCTIONS DO
POLITICAL PARTIES PERFORM?
1.
Nominating Function
Informer – Stimulator Function
3. “Seal of Approval” Function
4. Government Function
5. “Watchdog” Function
2.
KAY LAWSON
“Why we (still) need REAL political parties”
Professor of political science, SFSU (1993)
“American parties today do not look
for candidates to support their
programs…They accept whoever
has been able to rally strength to
extract the nomination. A party’s
nomination is no longer its own
bestow.”
KAY LAWSON
“Why we (still) need REAL political parties”
Professor of political science, SFSU (1993)
“Would be candidates spend
their time working with
wealthy and powerful non
party persons than by
bothering with intra party
activism.”
ACCORDING TO LAWSON, TODAY’S
PARTIES DO NOT PERFORM THE
____________FUNCTION
CORRECTLY!
AND…AS A RESULT WHAT OTHER
IMPORTANT FUNCTION IS NOT
“REALLY” WORKING?
THEY DO NOT PERFORM THE
______________CORRECTLY
EITHER – WHERE’S THE CONNECTION?
“THE CART BEFORE THE
HORSE” THEORY
What does Lawson’s theory say about who
our parties choose to run for political office
(President, Congress)?
 Is she accurate? Why? Why not?


Is it good or bad for democracy?
WHY DO WE HAVE A 2 PARTY
SYSTEM?
 Tr-----on
 “The American
I---------- Consensus”
The American perspective on government is
mostly homogenous (similar)
 E.C.
SHOULD WE HAVE A 2 PARTY SYSTEM?
WHY DO WE HAVE A 2 PARTY
SYSTEM?
1.
2.
3.
TRADITION – Federalists and Anti Federalists
AMERICAN IDEOLOGY –
Homogeneous
ELECTORAL SYSTEM – Plurality / Single
Member District / Winner Take All
SHOULD WE STILL HAVE A 2
PARTY SYSTEM?
IS A VOTE FOR A MINOR PARTY
CANDIDATE A WASTED VOTE?
 What
is THE ONE BIG difference
b/w major parties (R & D) and minor
parties?
 Why would minor parties say you
are NOT wasting a vote?
 What would you do? Why?
◦ Candidate A – not your party affiliation
◦ Candidate B – your party affiliation but not addressing issues to
your approval
◦ Candidate C – fits your political stance but not supported by
major parties
The number of voters who register
independent has increased?
WHY?
WHY DO WE HAVE A 2 PARTY
SYSTEM?
Read Chapter 5, Section 2 on the Two Party
System.
 In your notes, identify and explain the reasons
why we have a two party system
______________________________________________________
Work in groups of 3 or 4
 Create a visual (no words) describing why we
should keep or change the TWO PARTY
SYSTEM (the alternative would be a ‘multiparty system)
 Extra credit points awarded Friday to the “Most
Creative” and “Most Informative” visuals
 Visuals should be handed in at end of the period
