POLITICAL PARTIES
What is the role of political parties?
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Point out weaknesses in other parties & their
candidates.
Recommend programs & laws that guide the
actions of the government.
Keep citizens informed
Select candidates to run for public offices in the
government
Help candidates get re-elected
Party Platform
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A written statement that outlines the party’s views
on important issues and sets forth a proposed
program for the nation.
Political Spectrum
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Political Spectrum refers to the range of political
beliefs that people have.
Ideas normally associated with the democratic
party are referred to as being to the "left”.
Ideas associated with the republican party are
often referred to as being to the "right".
Example of a Political Spectrum
LEFT
RADICAL
Favors
extreme
changes
to create
an altered
or entirely
new social
system.
CENTER
LIBERAL
Believes that
government
must take
action to
change
economic,
political, and
ideological
MODERATE
Holds beliefs
that fall
between the
liberal &
conservative
views,
usually
including
both.
RIGHT
CONSERVATIVE
Seeks to keep in
place the
economic,
political, and
social structures
of society.
REACTIONARY
Favors extreme
changes to restore
society to an
earlier, more
conservative state
History
Led by
Alexander Hamilton.
They supported the power of the
individual states. Became known as the Democratic
Party in 1828.
More history…
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Our current two-party system emerged in 1854.
Abe Lincoln became the 1st Republican President in
1860.
In 1828, Andrew Jackson, a Democrat, became the
first Democratic president
The Democratic Donkey and the Republican
Elephant
Ever wondered what the story was behind these two famous party
animals?
VS.
Donkey
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The now-famous Democratic donkey was first
associated with Democrat Andrew Jackson's 1828
presidential campaign. His opponents called him a
jackass (a donkey), and Jackson decided to use the
image of the strong-willed animal on his campaign
posters. Later, cartoonist Thomas Nast used the
Democratic donkey in newspaper cartoons and made
the symbol famous.
Elephant
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Nast invented another famous symbol—the
Republican elephant. In a cartoon that appeared in
Harper's Weekly in 1874, Nast drew a donkey
clothed in lion's skin, scaring away all the animals at
the zoo. One of those animals, the elephant, was
labeled “The Republican Vote.” That's all it took for
the elephant to become associated with the
Republican Party.
What does this mean today?
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Democrats today say the donkey is smart and
brave, while Republicans say the elephant is strong
and dignified.
The Republican Platform (GOP)
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Personal responsibility over
welfare programs.
Small or limited government.
Free Markets
Traditional American values
Strong National Defense
Generally Conservative
Notable Republicans
• Ronald Reagan
• George Bush (both)
• Dwight Eisenhower
• Rush Limbaugh & Glenn
Beck (TV/Radio)
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Voter Base
• Financial Sector, low
black vote, high income,
military, few professors,
older, straight, church
goers, South, Midwest,
Mountain West.
Democrats
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Welfare programs to
achieve equality.
Big government to serve
peoples needs.
Traditionally favored
farmers, laborers, labor
unions, religious and
ethnic minorities.
Notable Democrats
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Bill Clinton
FDR
JFK
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Voter Base
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Young professionals,
academia, organized
labor, working class,
women, LGBTQ,
Minorities, Northeast,
Great Lakes, and West
Coast
Third Parties
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Third parties form when a group feels that the main
parties do not represent their interests.
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For example: The Green Party formed because there were people
who didn't think either major party was doing enough for the
environment or social justice issues.
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Third party candidates very rarely win any elections.
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3rd Parties today
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Green Party
U.S. Marijuana Party
Tea Party
How to get elected President
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Primary allows
registered voters to
choose the party
candidates who will run
later in the general
election.
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Closed primary: only
party members can vote
for each party’s
candidate
Open primary: voters
can vote for either
party’s candidates
How to get elected president
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General Election
registered voters
choose the leaders
offered by all political
parties.
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Organizations,
newspapers, radio,
television, and
magazines help inform
voters.
How to Get Elected President
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Electoral College is a
group of 538 electors
that cast a vote for
the president.
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http://apps.npr.org/swing-state-scorecard/
They usually agree to
vote according to the
popular vote in their
district.
One will need 270
electoral college votes
to become president.
Proportional Representation
Very different from our “winner take all” two party system
Primarily used in Europe
Based on total number of seats by percentage of popularity.
Not zero sum, or “plurality districts”
one district one winner like in the US
Example: Republicans win 25%
They would receive 25 seats
Out of 100 in the government