Chapter 5 – Political
Parties
CHAPTER 5
Political Parties
SECTION 1
Parties and What They Do
SECTION 2
The Two-Party System
SECTION 3
The Two-Party System in American History
SECTION 4
The Minor Parties
SECTION 1
Parties and What They Do
•What is a political party?
•What are the major functions of political
parties?
Question of the day
• Have you ever ridden in a car
with someone ho was such a
bad driver that you wanted to
stop the car and take over
driving?
• The political party that is out of office cannot wait to take control
of government from the party that is in.
What Is a Party?
• A political party is a group of persons
who seek to control government by
winning elections and holding office.
• The two major parties in American
politics are the Republican and
Democratic parties.
Chapter 5, Section 1
Our 2 Major Parties &
Their Positions on
Issues
Republicans
Democrats
Both
•
•
•
•
•
•
Favor less gov.
regulations of
economy
Share the same
thought
Best way to promote
prosperity…
Strong in South
•
•
•
Want government to
provide basic needs,
housing, jobs,
income for people
Concerned for
welfare of the poor
Federal Government
more directly
involved
Northeast states
•
•
•
•
Americans Generally
agree on many
issues, so parties
may seem similar
and easy to agree
with
Both adopt some
moderate views
Both agree in
economic growth =
more jobs
Both our national
parties
Field candidates in
elections
5 Things Parties Do
•Nominate Candidates —Recruit, choose, and present candidates
to voters
•Inform and Activate Supporters—Campaign, define issues, and
criticize other candidates (TV ads, radio, newspaper, etc.)
•Act as Bonding Agent – acts as bonding agent to ensure good
performance of its candidates. Want to maintain a good reputation
for future elections so want successful candidates.
•Governing – those who govern are chosen on the basis of party.
Congress is organized on party lines and business is conducted on
basis of partisanship – strong support for their party and policy
stances.
•Act as a Watchdog—Parties out of power watch the actions of the
party in power for blunders to use against them in the next election.
SECTION 2
The Two-Party System
•Why does the United States have a two-party
system?
•How do multiparty and one-party systems
function and what are their influences on
government?
•What membership characteristics do
American parties have?
Question of the Day
Explain the saying “two’s
company, three’s a
crowd.”
In this section, you’ll learn about how that saying can be applied to
the American party system.
Two Party system
In the U.S., we have a two party system –
in a typical election, only the Republican
and Democratic Party’s candidates have a
real chance of winning.
Both party’s typically take middle of the
road positions, and so help unify rather
than divide the nation. At times, this can
blur party lines.
Donkephant
Why a Two-Party System?
•Historical Basis. The nation started out with two-parties: the
Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.
•Tradition.
America has a two-party system because it always
has had one. Minor parties, lacking wide political support, people
feel like it’s a “wasted vote.”
•Electoral Laws. Laws are written by major parties so they make it
more difficult to get on ballot.
•Ideological Consensus. Americans share many of the same
ideals and principles – favor the two major parties that are
similar…both moderate, “middle-of-the-road.”
Multiparty Systems
Advantages
Disadvantages
•Provides broader
•1 party cannot usually
representation of the
people.
win the majority of voters.
•Give voters more
choices at the polls.
•As a result, the power
must be shared by a
number of parties in a
coalition in order to
accomplish anything.
Chapter 5, Section 2
One-Party Systems
One Party
Systems where
only one party is
allowed.
Example:
Dictatorships such as
Stalinist Russia
One party system basically amounts to
a “no party” system.
Party Membership Patterns
Factors that can influence party membership:
Civil War, Great Depression
2/3 follow their parents
Definitely not always the case, but
historically higher income individuals
have voted for Republican Party
Catholics tend to vote Democratic.
Protestants tend to vote Republican.
Predicting how groups will vote is risky business as
many voter profiles will vote for the opposite party.
Chapter 5, Section 2
Section 2 Review
1. When Democrats and Republicans cooperate with one another,
they are acting in a
way.
(a) strange
(b) pluralistic
(c) bipartisan
(d) typical
2. The outlook of the two parties could be described as
(a) “too little, too late.”
(b) “middle of the road.”
(c) “a day late and a dollar short.”
(d) “jumping on the bandwagon.”
Chapter 5, Section 2
The Two-Party System in American
History
SECTION 3
•How did the United States’ political parties
originate?
“The past is prologue.” - William Shakespeare
You are what you are today because of your history.
The same is true for political parties. The more you
know about its past, the more you’ll understand it
workings today.
Chapter 5, Section 3
The Nation’s First Parties
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
•Led by Alexander Hamilton •Led by Thomas Jefferson
•Represented “the rich and •Represented the “common
well born.”
man”
•Favored strong executive
•Favored Congress as the
leadership and liberal
interpretation of the
Constitution.
strongest arm of government
and a strict interpretation of
the Constitution (became the
Democratic-Republican Party
and later the Democratic
Party).
•Wanted a strong national
government.
•Wanted a very limited
government.
The Nation’s First Parties
• 1797, John Adams, a
Federalist, defeated
Thomas Jefferson, an AntiFederalist by 3 votes.
• In 1800, Jefferson
defeated the incumbent,
or current officeholder,
President Adams.
• Jefferson’s party also won
control of Congress.
• The Federalists never
returned to power.
• The Democrats dominated
from 1800-1860.
Jacksonian Democracy
Reigns
• In 1828, the farmers and small business owners who
made up Jefferson’s party, calling themselves the
Democratic Party, nominated Andrew Jackson. He stood
for the common citizen, but looked out for southern and
western interests.
• Those who did not support Jackson formed their own
party called Whigs, after a Scottish political leader. They
supported high tariffs.
• The Whigs and Democrats made up the two key parties
in American politics for two decades.
The Two Major Parties Emerge
• In 1854 Whigs, and ex-Democrats formed the
Republican Party to oppose the spread of slavery in
US territories (1860 Lincoln became first Republican
President).
• From 1854 onward, Democrats and Republicans have
dominated the two-party system.
American Parties: Major Eras
Three Eras of Single-Party Domination
The Era of the Democrats, 1800—1860
• Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections.
• The Whig Party emerges in 1834, but declines by the 1850s, electing only
two Presidents.
• The Republican Party is founded in 1854 and opposes slavery.
The Era of the Republicans, 1860—1932 (Abraham Lincoln)
• Republicans dominate all but four presidential elections.
• The Civil War disables the Democratic Party for the remainder of the
1800s.
The Return of the Democrats, 1932—1968 (Great Depression)
• Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections.
• Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected President four times.
Chapter 5, Section 3
American Parties: Parties Today
The Start of a New Era: The Era of Divided Government
Since 1968, neither Republicans nor Democrats have dominated
the presidency and Congress has often been controlled by the
opposing party.
1968–1976
Republicans hold the presidency
Congress is controlled by Democrats
1976–1980
Democrats hold the presidency
Congress is controlled by Democrats
1980–1992
Republicans hold the presidency
Senate controlled by Republicans 1980-1986,
controlled by Democrats from 1986 to 1994
1992 – 2000
Democrats hold the presidency
Congress controlled by
Republicans, 1994 to present
2000
Republicans hold the presidency
Congress is controlled by Republicans
2008 –
Democrats hold the presidency
House controlled by Republicans,
Senate by Democrats
Section 3 Review
1. The nation’s first two parties were
(a) the Democrats and the Republicans.
(b) the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.
(c) the Democratic-Republicans and the Republican-Democrats.
(d) the Federalists and the Republicans.
2. The Republican Party dominated the presidency from
(a) 1932–1968.
(b) 1860–1932.
(c) 1800–1860.
(d) 1783–1800.
SECTION 4
The Minor Parties
•What types of minor parties have been active in
American politics?
•Why are minor parties important even though
they seldom elect national candidates?
Minor Parties in the United States
Types of Minor
Parties
Ideological
Parties
Single-issue
Parties
Economic Protest
Parties
Example:
Libtertarian
Party – socially
liberal, limited
gov’t, free
market, favor
balanced
budget
amendment,
abolish income
tax
Example: Free
Soil Party –
opposed
slavery to
western
territories
Example: The
Greenback Party –
anti monopoly, labor
rights
Roosevelt riding a bull
moose.
Splinter Party
Example: “Bull
Moose” Progressive
Party – T.
Roosevelt’s party limit campaign
financing, limit gov’t
by business,
women’s suffrage
etc.
Minor Parties in the United States
Ideological Minor Parties
• Minor third parties are often formed to support a
specific issue. These rise and fall over time.
• Ideological parties want to change society in
major ways.
• The Socialist and Communist Parties want to
nationalize major industries.
The Republicans Split – “Splinter”
• Former Republican President Theodore
Roosevelt left the Republican Party and
was nominated by the Progressive Party.
• It was nicknamed the“Bull Moose Party”
because TR said he was“fit as a Bull
Moose.”
• TR split the 1912 Republican vote,
allowing Democrat Woodrow Wilson to
defeat President William H. Taft.
The Odds Are Against Them
• It is difficult for third parties candidates to raise
enough money to compete with the major parties.
• Only one candidate can win in a given district.
Usually the winner is either Democratic or
Republican.
• Third-party candidates must show they have support
by getting voter signatures to even be placed on the
ballot for national office.
Why Minor Parties Are Important
Minor parties play several important roles:
“Spoiler Role”
•Minor party candidates can pull decisive votes away from one of the
major parties’ candidates, especially if the minor party candidate is from a
splinter party (Teddy Roosevelt's “Bull Moose”).
Critic
•Minor parties, especially single-issue parties, often take stands on and
draw attention to controversial issues that the major parties would prefer to
ignore (gay rights, abortion, environment, taxes).
Innovator
•Often, minor parties will draw attention to important issues and propose
innovative solutions to problems. If these proposals gain popular support,
they are often integrated into the platforms of the two major parties.
Cult of Personality
• Some third parties form from the
efforts of famous or wealthy people.
• If they cannot gain support from one of
the major parties, they form their own.
• Ross Perot’s Reform Party was a force
in 1992 and 1996. This party also
placed pro wrestler Jesse Ventura in
the governor’s mansion in Minnesota.
• These parties usually fade after their
candidate is defeated.
Section 4 Review
1. Types of minor parties in the United States include all of the
following EXCEPT
(a) ideological parties.
(b) single-issue parties.
(c) regulatory parties.
(d) splinter parties.
2. Ross Perot, who ran as a third-party candidate in 1992 and 1996,
falls into which minor party category?
(a) single-issue party
(b) splinter party
(c) economic protest party
(d) none of the above