Unit 2
Political Parties
Government Fall 2012
Mrs. Burns/Mr. Bellisario
Terms
• Partisanship –
Allegiance to
a certain
political party.
Terms
• Minor Party –
One of the less
widely
supported
parties in the
United States.
Terms
• Two Party System
– Political system
in which only two
parties have
reasonable
chance of
winning office.
Terms
• Consensus – A
general
agreement on
fundamental
matters among
various groups.
Terms
• Incumbent –
The person
who currently
holds the
office.
Terms
• One-Party System –
Occurs under a
dictatorship or
autocracy, a system
in which only one
party is allowed.
Terms
• Independent –
Voters who
choose to not
belong to a
specific party.
Political Cartoon
Swing Voter
Functions of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
Purpose
Description
Explanation
Selecting Candidates
The activity that sets political
parties apart from other political
groups.
Informing people and activate
their interests in public affairs
Parties share this function with
media and interest groups.
Tried to choose candidates
who are qualified and of good
character.
After candidates are elected,
the party prods them to do well
or suffer in the next election.
Helps legislative and executive Most appointments to
branches work together
executive branches are made
on the basis of partisanship or
allegiance to a political party.
Party that is out of power
The loyal opposition urges
criticizes the party that controls votes to “throw the rascals out”.
the government.
Functions of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
Purpose
Nominating
Description
Explanation
Selecting Candidates
The activity that sets political
parties apart from other political
groups.
Informing people and activate
their interests in public affairs
Parties share this function with
media and interest groups.
Tried to choose candidates
who are qualified and of good
character.
After candidates are elected,
the party prods them to do well
or suffer in the next election.
Helps legislative and executive Most appointments to
branches work together
executive branches are made
on the basis of partisanship or
allegiance to a political party.
Party that is out of power
The loyal opposition urges
criticizes the party that controls votes to “throw the rascals out”.
the government.
Functions of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
Purpose
Description
Explanation
Nominating
Selecting Candidates
The activity that sets political
parties apart from other political
groups.
Informing and activating
supporters
Informing people and activate
their interests in public affairs
Parties share this function with
media and interest groups.
Tried to choose candidates
who are qualified and of good
character.
After candidates are elected,
the party prods them to do well
or suffer in the next election.
Helps legislative and executive Most appointments to
branches work together
executive branches are made
on the basis of partisanship or
allegiance to a political party.
Party that is out of power
The loyal opposition urges
criticizes the party that controls votes to “throw the rascals out”.
the government.
Functions of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
Purpose
Description
Explanation
Nominating
Selecting Candidates
The activity that sets political
parties apart from other political
groups.
Informing and activating
supporters
Informing people and activate
their interests in public affairs
Parties share this function with
media and interest groups.
Bonding agents
Tried to choose candidates
who are qualified and of good
character.
After candidates are elected,
the party prods them to do well
or suffer in the next election.
Helps legislative and executive Most appointments to
branches work together
executive branches are made
on the basis of partisanship or
allegiance to a political party.
Party that is out of power
The loyal opposition urges
criticizes the party that controls votes to “throw the rascals out”.
the government.
Functions of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
Purpose
Description
Explanation
Nominating
Selecting Candidates
The activity that sets political
parties apart from other political
groups.
Informing and activating
supporters
Informing people and activate
their interests in public affairs
Parties share this function with
media and interest groups.
Bonding agents
Tried to choose candidates
who are qualified and of good
character.
After candidates are elected,
the party prods them to do well
or suffer in the next election.
Governing
Helps legislative and executive Most appointments to
branches work together
executive branches are made
on the basis of partisanship or
allegiance to a political party.
Party that is out of power
The loyal opposition urges
criticizes the party that controls votes to “throw the rascals out”.
the government.
Functions of Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
Purpose
Description
Explanation
Nominating
Selecting Candidates
The activity that sets political
parties apart from other political
groups.
Informing and activating
supporters
Informing people and activate
their interests in public affairs
Parties share this function with
media and interest groups.
Bonding agents
Tried to choose candidates
who are qualified and of good
character.
After candidates are elected,
the party prods them to do well
or suffer in the next election.
Governing
Helps legislative and executive Most appointments to
branches work together
executive branches are made
on the basis of partisanship or
allegiance to a political party.
Watch-dog
Party that is out of power
The loyal opposition urges
criticizes the party that controls votes to “throw the rascals out”.
the government.
Minor Parties
Types of Parties
Definition
Examples
Minor Parties
Types of Parties
Ideological Parties
Definition
Examples
Those based on a
• Communist Party
particular set of beliefs • Socialist Party
and having a
• Libertarian Party
comprehensive view
of social, economic,
and political matters.
Minor Parties
Types of Parties
Ideological Parties
Definition
Examples
Those based on a
• Communist Party
particular set of beliefs • Socialist Party
and having a
• Libertarian Party
comprehensive view
of social, economic,
and political matters.
Single-Issue Parties
Parties that focuses on • Right-to-Life Party
a single public policy
issue.
Minor Parties
Types of Parties
Ideological Parties
Definition
Examples
Those based on a
• Communist Party
particular set of beliefs • Socialist Party
and having a
• Libertarian Party
comprehensive view
of social, economic,
and political matters.
Single-Issue Parties
Parties that focuses on • Right-to-Life Party
a single public policy
issue.
Splinter Parties
Parties that split away • Tea Party, a group
from one of the major
that has split away
parties.
from the
Republican Party.
The Big Two
• Historically, political parties in the United
States began with the Federalist and
Antifederalist.
• Today, the two major political parties are the
republicans and democrats
National Party Machinery
Mechanism
Term (or when
it takes place)
Role
National Party Machinery
Mechanism
National
Convention
Term (or when
it takes place)
Every 4 years
during a
presidential
election
Role
At the convention, delegates officially
nominate candidates for President and
Vice-President.
Also adopt party rules and platform.
National Party Machinery
Mechanism
National
Convention
Term (or when
it takes place)
Every 4 years
during a
presidential
election
Role
At the convention, delegates officially
nominate candidates for President and
Vice-President.
Also adopt party rules and platform.
National
Committee
Between the
convention
Meet to prepare for the next national
convention.
National Party Machinery
Mechanism
National
Convention
Term (or when
it takes place)
Every 4 years
during a
presidential
election
Role
At the convention, delegates officially
nominate candidates for President and
Vice-President.
Also adopt party rules and platform.
National
Committee
Between the
convention
Meet to prepare for the next national
convention.
National
Chairperson
A position held
for 4 years
Lead the national committee, directs party
headquarters and works to strengthen the
party.
2012 Republican National Convention
• Location: Tampa, FL
• Officially nominated
Mitt Romney and Paul
Ryan for President and
Vice-President.
Chair Person of the Republicans
National Committee
Reinhold Reince Priebus
Republican Party Platform
• Official Party Platform
• Summary:
– Ban all abortions and gay marriages
– Reshape Medicare
– Cut taxes to energize the economy and create
jobs.
2012 Democratic National Convention
• Location: Charlotte, NC
• Officially nominated
Barack Obama and Joe
Biden for President and
Vice-President.
Chair Person of the Democratic
National Committee
"Debbie" Wasserman Schultz
Democratic Party Platform
• Official Party Platform
• Summary:
– Taxes on wealthier Americans
– Supporting same-sex marriage and abortion
rights.
– Supporting the Federal Health Care Law.
Examining Data
• Using this link to the Washington Post, we can
examine and break down the make-up of the
Republicans and Democrats.
Democratic and Republican Party
Make-Up
Characteristic
Democrat
Republican
Income /
Occupation
Working Class
Middle Class
Education
Less Educated
More educated
Gender / Age
Women and younger
people
Men and older people
Religion
Catholics and people who
don’t practice religion
Protestants
Ethnicity
Puerto Ricans, MexicanAmericans, and African
Americans
White and Cuban Latinos
Geography
Urban areas (bigger cities) Rural and suburban areas