Warm Up:
What does it mean to be politically
liberal or conservative?
What are political characteristics
of conservatives?
What are political
characteristics of liberals?
Conservative or Liberal?
• Which political party is associated with
conservatives?
• Which political party is associated with
liberals?
Chapter 10
Section 1
A Two-Party System
Political Party
• A group of citizens with similar views on
public issues who work together to put
their ideas into effective government
action.
What do Parties Do?
• Link between people and government
• Develop policy
• Bring conflicting groups together
Functions of Parties
• Nominating, or selecting candidates
• A candidate is a person who is running for
political office
- help candidates win office
Functions of Parties
• Political parties take different positions on
key public issues
• Based on their political views parties can
be placed along the political spectrum.
• The political spectrum refers to the range
of differences in political views between
parties.
What are the political parties
in the U.S.?
Who are Chuck Baldwin,
Cynthia McKinney, Bob Barr,
and Ralph Nadar?
•What do they have in
common?
Answer:
All were candidates in the last
Presidential election.
Two Party System
• In the United States we have two main
political parties.
• Democratic Party is generally more liberal
• Republican Party is generally more
conservative
Why does the U.S. have Two Major
political parties?
• Historical Basis
- Federalist and Anti-Federalist
- Nation began with a two-party system, it
has maintained a two-party system
Why does the U.S. have Two Major
political parties?
• Electoral System
Single-member districts- one candidate is
elected to each office on the ballot
“Winner take all elections”
- Winning candidate receives plurality, or
most votes
- Discourages minor parties
“Wasted vote”
Warm Up:
What is the role of political
parties?
Review HW pg 254
• IB- How might a political party convince
voters to vote for its candidate?
• 2B-what are some reasons why Americans
citizens might reject a one-party system?
• 3B-How might a third party candidate win
the presidency?
Why does the U.S. have Two Major
political parties?
• Electoral System
- Two major parties work together to shape
election laws to preserve two-party system
- Difficult for independents and minor party
candidates to get on ballot
• Minor Party candidates have only made it
ballots in all 50 states in just 7 presidential
elections
Alternatives to the Two-Party
System
• Multiparty System
• Common in Europe
- Several major and many lesser parties
compete for, and win elections
- Parties based on a particular interest such
as: economic class, religion, sectional
attachment, political ideology
Alternatives to the Two-Party
System
• Multiparty System
• Benefits: Broader representation of the
electorate
• Weaknesses: Instability
- One part often unable to win support of
majority
- Must form coalition (temporary alliance) with
other parties to form working majority to
control gov’t
- If coalition shifts or dissolves, “new
governments” must be created
Alternatives to the Two-Party
System
•
-
One Party System
Only one political party is allowed
“no party” system
Called dictatorships or totalitarian
governments
• In some U.S. states, one party dominates
politics, creating modified one-party
systems
• Can you think of any regions or states
where one political party is dominant?
2000 Election
Red= Republican states
Blue=Democratic States
2004 Election
Red= Republican states
Blue=Democratic States
2008 Election
Red= Republican states
Blue=Democratic States
Party Membership
• How do you choose what political party
you want to join?
• Do you have to choose to be part of a
political party?
Types of Minor Parties
1. Ideological Parties
• Based on a particular set of beliefs,
comprehensive view of social, economic
and political matters.
•
Examples: Socialist, Communist,
Libertarian
Types of Minor Parties
2. Single Issue Parties
• Focus on one public policy matter
- Events pass them by, major party takes
up the issue
•
Examples: Free Soil Party, Right to Life
Party
Types of Minor Parties
3. Economic Protest Party
• Focus on anger at economy, not ideas
- Often sectional
- Fade away as economy improves
• Examples: Greenback Party, Populist
Party, Tea Party
Types of Minor Parties
4. Splinter Parties
• Broke away from major parties
• Form around a strong personality
• End when leader dies
• Examples: Bull Moose Party, Progressive
Party, State’s Rights Party, American
Independent Party
Why important?
• “spoiler role”- pull votes from a major party
1912 Election
Woodrow Wilson- Democrat 42%
Theodore Roosevelt- Progressive 27%
William Taft – Republican 23%
Eugene Debs- Socialist 6%
Why important?
• “spoiler role”- pull votes from a major party
1992 Election
Bill Clinton – Democrat 42%
George Bush – Republican 37 %
Ross Perot – Independent 19%
Why important?
• Critics- willing to take stand on
controversial issues
- Draw attention to issues