Ass

 you believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding
Americans are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese &
North Korean communists.

 you believe that everyone should support the troops - except when it comes to pay or benefits.

 you believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.

 you believe that hunting requires an automatic rifle.

 you believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical, documented changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUVs.

 you are against abortion but support capital punishment.

Hi, I’m a PC.
I’m slow and outdated. I have all the right tools. But they don’t work how they should. I might freeze up and get slower by the day.
But, you’re stuck with me and used to my ways.
Vote PC.
And I’m a Mac.
I may cost you a lot money. But it might be worth it. All your college friends like me and use me. Everything costs more with me. But you’re okay with it. You think it’s new and “in.” You probably have an iPod.
So vote Mac.

Bad Driver Scenario

Why does the party out-of-power want to win so desperately?

Purpose of Political Parties

Nominate Candidates

Select and gain support for candidates for office

Purpose of Political Parties

Inform and Inspire Voterswin or fail?

Stimulate interest in public affairs

Purpose of Political Parties

Candidate Quality

Ensure qualified and good character candidates

Purpose of Political Parties

Help Govern

Operate on partisan lines in government
 Gridlock- nothing gets done

Purpose of Political Parties

Act as WatchdogsObserve and criticize other party

Party Identification (not always)
Policy Positions
Worldview
Federal or state?
Spending
Social programs
Taxes
Economy
International

Party Identification (not always)
Policy Positions
More open to change Worldview
Federal or state?
Spending
Social programs
Taxes
Economy
International
Favors the status quo

Party Identification (not always)
Policy Positions
More open to change
Centralization
Worldview
Federal or state?
Spending
Social programs
Taxes
Economy
International
Favors the status quo
Decentralization

Party Identification (not always)
Policy Positions
More open to change
Centralization
Social programs
Worldview
Federal or state?
Spending
Social programs
Taxes
Economy
International
Favors the status quo
Decentralization
Defense

Party Identification (not always)
Policy Positions
More open to change
Centralization
Social programs
Favor entitlement and social programs
Worldview
Federal or state?
Spending
Social programs
Favors the status quo
Decentralization
Defense
Privatization i.e. charities
Taxes
Economy
International

Party Identification (not always)
Policy Positions
More open to change
Centralization
Social programs
Favor entitlement and social programs
Favor higher taxes for the upper class
Worldview
Federal or state?
Spending
Social programs
Taxes
Economy
International
Favors the status quo
Decentralization
Defense
Privatization i.e. charities
Favor tax cuts for wealthier Americans and business owners

Party Identification (not always)
Policy Positions
More open to change
Centralization
Social programs
Favor entitlement and social programs
Favor higher taxes for the upper class
Pro regulation
Worldview
Federal or state?
Spending
Social programs
Taxes
Economy
International
Favors the status quo
Decentralization
Defense
Privatization i.e. charities
Favor tax cuts for wealthier Americans and business owners
Less regulation

Party Identification (not always)
Policy Positions
More open to change
Centralization
Social programs
Favor entitlement and social programs
Favor higher taxes for the upper class
Pro regulation
Favor international cooperation
Worldview
Federal or state?
Spending
Social programs
Taxes
Economy
International
Favors the status quo
Decentralization
Defense
Privatization i.e. charities
Favor tax cuts for wealthier Americans and business owners
Less regulation
Suspicious of threats to sovereignty

“ If you are not a liberal when you are
25, you have no heart.
If you are not a conservative by the time you are 35, you have no brain.”
Attributed to
Winston Churchill,
British Prime Minister

Party Identification (not always)
Sociological
Factors
Income
Occupation
Gender
Age
Religion
Ethnicity
Macro-Geography
Micro-Geography

Party Identification
Lower Income
Sociological
Factors
Income
Occupation
Gender
Age
Religion
Ethnicity
Macro-Geography
Micro-Geography
Higher Income

Party Identification
Lower Income
Blue Collar
Sociological
Factors
Income
Occupation
Gender
Age
Religion
Ethnicity
Macro-Geography
Micro-Geography
Higher Income
White Collar

Party Identification
“Big Tent”
Lower Income
Blue Collar
Women
Sociological
Factors
Income
Occupation
Gender
Age
Religion
Ethnicity
Macro-Geography
Micro-Geography
Higher Income
White Collar
Men

Party Identification
Lower Income
Blue Collar
Women
Younger
Sociological
Factors
Income
Occupation
Gender
Age
Religion
Ethnicity
Macro-Geography
Micro-Geography
Higher Income
White Collar
Men
Older

Party Identification
Lower Income
Blue Collar
Women
Younger
Catholics, Jews
Sociological
Factors
Income
Occupation
Gender
Age
Religion
Ethnicity
Macro-Geography
Micro-Geography
Higher Income
White Collar
Men
Older
Protestants

Party Identification
Lower Income
Blue Collar
Women
Younger
Catholics, Jews
Minorities
Sociological
Factors
Income
Occupation
Gender
Age
Religion
Ethnicity
Macro-Geography
Micro-Geography
Higher Income
White Collar
Men
Older
Protestants
Whites

Party Identification
Lower Income
Blue Collar
Women
Younger
Catholics, Jews
Minorities
Sociological
Factors
Income
Occupation
Gender
Age
Religion
Ethnicity
Higher Income
White Collar
Men
Older
Protestants
Whites
North, West Coast Macro-Geography South, Midwest
Micro-Geography

Party Identification
Lower Income
Blue Collar
Women
Younger
Catholics, Jews
Minorities
Sociological
Factors
Income
Occupation
Gender
Age
Religion
Ethnicity
Higher Income
White Collar
Men
Older
Protestants
Whites
North, West Coast Macro-Geography South, Midwest
Inner Cities Micro-Geography Suburbs, Rural

Minor Parties





Libertarian Party

Stresses individual liberty
Prohibition Party

Banning alcohol nationwide
Reform Party

Christian beliefs and opposes immigration
Constitution Party

Free pursuance of happiness
NORMAL

Legalization of marijuana




Communist Party

Restructure political and economic systems
Green Party USA

Environmental concerns
Natural Law Party

Restore harmony with natural law
Socialist Labor Party

Abolish capitalism and social ownership of industry

Satanist
Jonathon “the
Impaler”
Sharkey has run for
President,
Congress and
Governor of
Minnesota under his
Vampire,
Witches and
Pagan Party.
“I promise this Court while I am executing
[Judge] Certo his family will violate one of the offenses punishable by death, and I will then execute his loved ones as punishment.
From the youngest
(sic) to the oldest.”

“Sex is good.
Let’s make it better.”

Lower the workweek from 40 to 32 hours

The Guns and
Dope Party asserts that minority groups of
“gun lovers” and “drug lovers” should join forces

The Charity, Freedom and Diversity Party
(Netherlands)

Charity! Freedom! Diversity! Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Before you sign up, you may want to learn a little more about this party. The Charity, Freedom and Diversity Party was actually created by pedophiles who wish to have the age of sexual consent lowered from age 16 to 12.

Minor Parties in the United States

Why Minor Parties Are Important several important roles:
“Spoiler Role”

Pull decisive votes away from one of the major parties’ candidates

Critic
Single-issue parties often take stands on and draw attention to controversial issues that the major parties would prefer to ignore.

Innovator
Mainstream parties will often BORROW ideas from third parties

Finding Your Political Roots
What is the first political event you can recall?
What party do you parents usually identify with?
What issues have you recently discussed with family or friends outside of class?
Where do you get most of your political information?
How would you describe your political attitudes?

NAME _____________________
Political Parties
Purpose Dem.
Rep.
Select and gain support for candidates
Open to change
Stimulate interest in public affairs
Ensure qualified and good character
Operate on partisan lines in government
Maintain the status quo
Minor
Libertarian Party
Prohibition Party
Reform Party
Constitution Party
Communist Party USA
Green Party
Natural Law Party
Socialist Labor Party
Observe and criticize the other party

NAME _____________________
Political Parties
Sociological
Factors
Income
Occupation
Gender
Age
Religion
Ethnicity
Macro-Geography
Micro-Geography

NAME _____________________
Finding Your Political Roots
What is the first political event you can recall?
What party do your parents usually identify with?
What issues have you recently discussed with family or friends outside of class?
Where do you get most of your political information?
How would you describe your political attitudes?

Federalists

Led by Alexander
Hamilton

Represented wealthy and upper-class interests

Favored strong executive leadership and liberal interpretation of the
Constitution

 Led by Thomas
Jefferson
 Represented the
“common man”
 Favored Congress as the strongest arm of government and a strict interpretation of the Constitution

Era of the Modern
Democrats
1828-1860
All but two Dem Presidents
Era of the Republicans
1860-1932
Return of the Democrats
1932-1968
1968-Present
No one party has controlled the presidency
Congress held by opposition
DIVIDED GOVERNMENT
Chapter 5, Section 3


Rare elections that mark a massive shift or
realignment of voters

Often marks a new coalition or political party


END OF CIVIL WAR-ERA POLITICS

BEGINNING OF MODERN CAMPAIGNING

The Return of the
Democrats, 1932—
1968
–
Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections.
–
Democrat Franklin D.
Roosevelt is elected
President four times.

1968–1976
Republicans hold the presidency
Congress is controlled by
Democrats

1968 to Present: The Start of a New Era: The Era of Divided Government

Republicans nor Democrats have dominated the presidency

Congress has often been controlled by the opposing party.

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 2008

2000 -2008
Republicans hold the presidency
Congress is controlled by Republicans

Democrats take the
Presidency, Republicans take House in 2010

Bush or Kerry?

Bush or Kerry?

Party Identification (not always)
Policy
Positions
Worldview
Federal or state?
Spending
Social programs
Taxes
Economy
International

NAME _____________________
Political Parties
Sociological
Factors
Income
Occupation
Gender
Age
Religion
Ethnicity
Macro-Geography
Micro-Geography