GEORGE WASHINGTON’S
FAREWELL ADDRESS
“The alternate dominion of one faction over another,
sharpened by the spirit of revenge…”
“It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble
the public administration. It agitates the community with illfounded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of
one part against another, foments occasionally riot and
insurrection.”
CHAPTER 9
POLITICAL PARTY SYSTEMS
AMERICAN POLITICAL
SYMBOLS
GOP
DEMS
TWO PARTY SYSTEM
Political Party: an association of voters with broad, common
interests who want to influence or control decision making in
government by electing the party’s candidates to public office.
Due to the Electoral College system, the U.S. has
predominately always adopted a two-party national system.
Why?
-
Winner-Take-All
-
Majority Rule
-
House of Reps
-
State Gerrymandering
-
Our voting system has helped to determine our party
system
What political divide first started the two-party system in the
United States?
HISTORICAL ROOTS
Federalists =
Big Federal
Government
Federalists
Whigs
AntiFederalists =
State Power
and Individual
Freedom
DemocraticRepublicans
Democrats
(1828) =
Southern
Slave Owners
Rights, State
Sovereignty
Republicans
(1860) = Antislavery,
Protection of
Business (big
and small)
Democrats =
After New
Deal, support
Big
Government
and
Progressivism
Republicans =
In 1980’s,
support Small
Government to
support
business and
conservatism
LAISSEZ-FAIRE
French: “Let Do” or “Hands Free” Economics
A politico-economic theory which believes that private
citizens should control their economy (use of
resources) freely and without control of the
government.
No (less) taxes, no (less) subsidies, and no (less) tarrifs
Primarily, parties which support small government lean
more towards laissez-faire economic principles.
THIRD PARTIES
Third Party: a party that challenges
the two main parties.
- They seldom win, but they can help
change politics.
- How?
THIRD PARTIES
1. Bring issues to the public’s attention.
2. Effect outcome of elections which forces major parties to adopt
their core belief systems.
Third Parties:
-
Libertarian- Individual liberty, shrink government
-
Green Party- Regulation of Big Business, Social Justice, and
Environmental responsibility
-
Constitution Party- Christian Party, limit federal spending and
taxing, increase tariffs, socially conservative
MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM
Based on three or more main
parties.
-
Benefits: more options to choose
from and more ideas to choose
from. Citizens are not bound to
one of two party’s ideologies.
-
Weaknesses: can lead to
radical/reactionary groups
(extreme political groups),
Coalition government: In a majority
rule system, a group of parties must
agree to cooperate in order to
create a majority of votes.
ONE PARTY SYSTEM
Only one party to choose to run
the government.
- Also known as a single party
system.
- What type of government does
this create?
Left
POLITICAL SPECTRUM
Right
The two party’s political beliefs are
primarily characterized on how they view
the current social system.
Definitely
Democrats
Moderate/
Independent
Radical:
Leaning
Extreme
towards
Change/
Democrats
Alter Society
Definitely
Republicans
Leaning
Towards
Republicans
Reactionary:
Go Back to
Previous State/
Traditional
POLITICS
Liberal: a political belief system founded on the promotion of
individual liberty and equality by the reduction of government.
(hence “libertarians”)
-
But in the United States, liberalism is synonymous with big
government and progressivism.
Conservative: a political belief system which values the
preservation of the social traditions and norms.
-
But in the United States, conservatism is synonymous with small
government.
Planks: each individual belief of a party (pro-life v. pro-choice)
Platform: the aggregate of all the planks which encompasses the
overall belief system of the party.
ORGANIZATION
National Committee: Raises Money at the Federal Level;
Creates a common platform; and organizes the National
Convention (RNC and DNC)
50 State Committees: Tries to get elected as many candidates
within the state as possible; raises and directs money.
Ward: A group of precincts. Helps the state committee to
decide where to best put resources.
Precinct: a geographical area which contains a specific
number of voters.
Precinct Captain: Each precinct has a member to organize
the party members within the precinct to vote on election
day.
POLITICAL
MOVEMENTS
Political Machine: a political organization in which
the leaders of the organization get out the vote for
their candidates on election day.
Grassroots Movement: a political organization
which is motivated and driven by the local
community.
Is our system a top down system or a grassroots
system?
PRIMARIES
In order for a candidate to be chosen by the party to run in
the general election, an primary is held in order for the
parties to choose their candidates.
Presidential Primary: delegates choose presidential nominee.
-
delegates: representatives of the party to cast a vote for a
nominee at the convention.
-
Super delegates (democrats only): an elected official who
receives votes to distribute to the candidate of their
choice at the convention.
CHAPTER 10
ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGNS
VOTING
18 years of age, resident of the state, citizen of the United
States, registered.
Polling Place: where the vote is held.
Absentee ballot: a ballot to vote for a registered voter who is
unable or unwilling to attend the official polling place.
Who is in charge of elections?
-
Missouri Secretary of State: Jason Kander
-
Saint Louis Board of Elections
COVERAGE
Returns: Votes from each precinct is counted.
-
Voting precinct: voting district
Exit Polls: Polls taken from voters as they leave polling
place.
-
Allows analysts to make predictions.
-
How can it influence the outcome of an election?
Push polls: a technique used by campaigns to influence
voters under the disguise of a valid poll.
TYPES OF ELECTIONS
General Election: 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in
November on even dated years.
-
Why?
Special Elections: Special circumstances can lead to
elections outside of the general election cycle.
-
run-off: if an election requires a majority, but none but was
reached, a run-off is held between the top two candidates.
-
Recall: a vote to remove an elected official from office
before the end of term.
-
Each state and local government can also have elections
outside of the general.
WHAT DO WE VOTE FOR?
2012 Missouri Sample Ballot
Initiative: Citizens can propose laws to be placed
on the ballot through petitions.
Proposition: Citizen proposed law which has
been placed on a ballot. (Direct Democracy)
Referendum: Citizens can “refer” a law passed
by their legislature to be placed on the ballot.
(Direct Democracy/Check on the State
Legislature)
Presidential Elections (61%- High) v. Mid-Term
Elections (48%-High)
CAMPAIGNS
Billions of dollars are spent every election
cycle.
- 2012: Over $4.2 Billion on elections for
Congress and White House alone.
- Canvassing (knocking on doors), phone
calls, advertising, campaign rallies
- What is the purpose of spending money
in a campaign?
APATHY
Apathy: Lack of concern or care.
Americans are apathetic about government and politics.
-
Many people do not like the system of political parties we
have created…a lack of choice.
-
Who’s fault?
-
How do we fix that system?
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Can someone buy our government?
-
If there are no limits on what you give politicians, can you buy
their votes in Washington D.C.?
-
Creates a need to control campaign contributions.
FECA- Federal Election Campaign Act- Created to regulate (place
rules and limits upon) campaign finance.
-
Public Disclosure (from whom is the money coming, and what is
it spent on?)
-
Limit on hard money: money given exactly to a candidate.
-
Limit on soft money: money given to a political party to be given
indirectly to a candidate.
-
Limit PACs (Political Action Committee): an organization which
campaigns for or against candidates, initiatives, or legislation
without working in direct contact with a specific campaign.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Buckley v. Valeo: government COULD set limits on campaign
contributions.
McCain-Feingold Act: limited soft money.
Limits:
Candidate
$2,600
National Committee
-
Individual
$32,400
-
National Committee $5,000
-
State Committee
$5,000
No Limit
-
PAC
$5,000
$32,400
-
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission: Allows corporations
and other unions unrestricted speech in the promotion of their own
political goals.
Super PAC: Gives no money directly to any party or candidate, and
has no limits on their campaign contributions.