




A political party is a group of people, usually
united, behind a common set of beliefs and
ideals.
Political parties try to push their goals forward
by promoting their candidates into offices.
Parties do these things to attain common goals
and objectives, as well as to gain power.
The will of the people can be heard, or
controlled, through parties.
Parties can also bring conflicting groups
together for a common goal and balance out
extreme factions.





This is the major job of a political party.
A candidate has to be selected to run for
public office by the party.
A candidate can be chosen or recruited by the
party.
In most areas, petitions have to be signed and
primaries have to be won.
The parties would then try to raise funds and
garner support for their candidate.



The base is your key support group. Parties
target their messages to a specific base.
Candidates supply the base with yard signs,
pamphlets, buttons, bumper stickers, and
advertisements to help gain support.
Parties will then try to shape their candidate
and the platform to fit the needs, wants, and
desires of their base in return for their votes.




The party acts as a bonding agent for a
candidate---protecting that candidate from a
loss.
Parties will “vet” a candidate to make sure
they are qualified and have nothing to hide.
The party will also try to smooth over
anything negative and minimize their effects.
Parties also do this to sustain themselves, as
some bad pr could do some major damage to
the party.




Party candidates who win office help to push
the values and ideas that candidates want to
have.
Also, parties reward supporters with
government jobs and contracts. “spoils
system”
When a party does things solely based on
party lines, this is called partisanship.
Political parties help to bridge the gap
between office holders and other leaders.




Another function of a political party is to keep
a check on another party.
The party out of power looks to see and
check abuses by the dominant party.
The party deemed to be in power is the party
in charge of the
presidency/governorship/mayorship.
The out of power party plays the role of “loyal
opposition”.

1. Why are political parties necessary? What
function do they serve?

2. Who is the “base”? Why are they
important?

3. What is the role of the party that is out of
power?



For the most part, America has been
dominated by the two-party system.
This is where you have two major political
parties and several small, insignificant ones
that control politics.
The American two-party system has its roots
ever since the Constitutional Convention in
1787.




Factions in the colonial period spilled out into
the Federalists and Antifederalist
movements.
George Washington warned us about the
power parties have.
Despite his warning, political parties survived,
grew, and evolved over the years.
In the 21st Century, the American two-party
system has survived, mostly out of tradition.







Elections in the US seem to promote a two-party
system.
Single-member districts are areas where 1 candidate
is elected to each office by winning a plurality of
votes.
“Third party” votes are seen as wasted votes. Minor
parties seen as useless.
Many election laws seem rigged to promote a twoparty system.
Republicans and Democrats work in a bipartisan
matter many times and find common ground.
Third parties are too issue oriented for most people.
Minor parties face difficulties in getting on the ballot.
Parties try to control the consensus on an issue—
the common ground.
 The US is very diverse but has broad consensus
on fundamental issues.
 Very few issues divide the country up over
nonnegotiable issues (Slavery, Vietnam,
abortion).
 Because of this, third parties are harder to come
by because of few issues that fracture our
society.
 Both parties play to the “middle ground people”
for their support.





In many European countries, there are
multiple parties.
These parties form coalitions to share power
and push agendas for each other.
Slate voting.
Frequent shifts in government can wreck
instability and havoc on the country (Italy has
a new government every year).

Mostly found in dictatorship nations, only
one party is allowed in the country.

Countries like China, Burma, and Cuba allow
only one political party and crack down on
oppositional forces.

However, certain areas can be virtual “one
party areas”---The South pre and post 1968.

4. In what ways does our society and our
government support a two-party system?

5. Define ideological consensus.

6. Do you prefer a multiparty system like in
Europe or two-party like we have? Explain
why.
People choose to be in parties because of ideals,
parents (67%), job security, to fit in, etc.
 Every party in every area is tailored to meet the
needs of its constituents.
 Typically, Democrats are younger, Catholics,
Jewish, Black, socially oriented, and are in
unions.
 Republicans draw people who are older, business
oriented, Protestant, and White or Asian.
 Major events can also force people to pick
parties (Civil War, Civil Rights, George W.)

























Republican Party
Democratic Party
Libertarian Party
Reform Party
Constitution Party
Independence Party/Independent
Green Party
Labor Party
Unity Party
American Patriot Party
Independent American Party
Socialist Party
Communist Party
Socialist Labor Party
America First Party
Working Families Party
Right to Life Party
Conservative Party
Liberal Party
Populist Party
Progressive Party
Tea Party
Workers Party
Prohibition Party





First two parties were the Federalists led by
Alexander Hamilton and John Adams and the
Democratic-Republicans led by Thomas Jefferson
and James Madison.
The Federalists wanted a loose interpretation of
the Constitution and appealed to business
orientated people in New England.
The DR Party followed a strict interpretation of the
Constitution and appealed to farmers and
Southerners.
Jefferson’s defeat of John Adams in 1800 will be
the first time a party takes control over from
another party in American history.
The Federalist Party has only one president, John
Adams, and will dissolve following the election of
1816.
After the Federalist Party dissolves, the
Democrats (changed their name) are in total
control of the government for 40 years.
Different factions sprang up as the party was
being pulled apart by people allied to John
Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and Andrew
Jackson.
 Jackson’s actions as president pull the
Democratic Party apart in 1840.





The Whig Party will rise up, led by Henry Clay
and Daniel Webster, in opposition to
Jackson’s policies and create a second party
for the first time in 30 years.
Whigs held the office in March 1841 with
William Henry Harrison, and from 1849-1853
with Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore.
Slavery and sectionalism will bring down the
Whigs, but a portion of it became a brand
new party.



The Republican Party forms in 1854 as a
coalition of former Whigs, disgruntled
Northern Democrats, Free Soilers, AntiMasonics, Prohibitionists, and Know
Nothings (Nativists).
They were a party dedicated to being
antislavery and were only popular in the
North.
Abraham Lincoln will be the first Republican
president and his election starts the Civil War.
After the Civil War, the Republicans, viewed as
saving the nation, ran the White House and
Congress, for 50 of the next 75 years.
 The Democrats were confined to the South and
depicted as “traitors”.
 This is a time marked with expansion West and
lots of industrialization.
 More governmental powers granted to the
people in order to give them a larger voice.
 Democrats tried to take on aspects of the
Populist Party and Progressive Party.





With the Great Depression the Democrats
regain control with FDR.
FDR and Truman will run the nation for 20
years.
JFK and LBJ will pick up in the 1960s and
press for liberal agendas as well.
The New Deal, Fair Deal, New Frontier, and
Great Society will all introduce social
programs into the governmental sphere.
Following the turbulence of the 1960s and 1970s,
Ronald Reagan cements a more conservative
atmosphere into the political arena.
 Even both Bushes and Clinton adopted some
conservative reforms while in office.
 Some of the social program were cut or
reformed while national defense was
strengthened.
 Republicans took control of Congress in 1994
only to lose it to the Democrats in 2006.





Barack Obama became the first Black
president in American History.
So far, his views have tried to return us to a
more liberal stance on issues with a
Democratic Congress in place.
The rise of the Tea Party could influence the
political arena over the next decade.
This period is also marked by a great aversion
and indifference of politics by many
Americans.

7. In our history, why does it one party seem
to dominate over the government for an
extended period of time?

8. What present shifts in political thought do
you observe today?




Many times, they come about as a reaction to
a specific issue/crisis at the time: Prohibition
Party, Free Soil Party, Nativist Party, Right to
Life Party, Suffrage Party, etc.
Many are ideological: Socialist, Labor, etc.
Many times they are marked by a protest to
economics or the major parties: Whig Party,
Populist Party, Reform Party, Tea Party, etc.
Others are splinters: Progressive Party, Green
Party, Tea Party, etc.





Many times, they bring social issues to the forefront
of American politics and make social changes
(Progressive Era, Populist Party, Free Soil Party, etc.)
They can split a party up and affect elections (1860,
1912, 1992, 2000).
Minor parties will take a clear stand on controversial
issues that the major parties won’t commit on.
Major parties can be influenced by the issues brought
on by the minor ones, which in turn destroys the
minor parties.
More important on local and state levels than national
levels.





Libertarian Party: 3rd largest party in America. Stand for
minimally regulated, free markets, strong civil liberties,
minimally regulated migration across borders, and noninterventionism in foreign policy that respects freedom of
trade and travel to all foreign countries.
Green Party: Related to Green Parties all over the world.
Stand for environmental issues and social activism. Led
by Ralph Nader
Reform Party: Founded by Ross Perot as an alternative to
the major parties. They want a balanced budget, term
limits, strict immigration laws, repeal of NAFTA, and
presidential election by popular vote. Slowly dying.
Right to Life Party: A slowly disintegrating party that
wanted to end all abortions.
Unity Party: Wants to put aside all problems and work
together. Mostly moderates. So…not very popular.
Working Families Party: A union based party for social
causes. Wants higher minimum wage and more funding for
social programs.
 Communist Party: Wants to create a communist society in
the US.
 Socialist Party: Opposed to capitalism and communism.
Wants a stronger health care reform than what Obama
passed in 2010. Wants more social programs.
 America First Party: Formed by disgruntled Reform Party
members, they hate gun control, immigrants, and the UN.
 Independence Party: Different forms across the country. In
NY, these are people who thought they were checking
“Independent” in a box…they were wrong.







Socialist Workers Party: A communist party in the US
that wants to make us a workers paradise, like Cuba.
Workers Party: Another socialist group that wants to pull
all American troops out from overseas bases. Very
anticapitalist.
Conservative Party: Offshoot of Republicans in many
states (like NY). Mostly run by Catholic agendas.
Liberal Party: Offshoot of Democrats in many states (like
NY). Supports labor and social issues, but is small.
Constitution Party: Wants to bring the nation back to the
original ideals of the Founding Fathers and the
Constitution. Very pro-Jesus.
Patriot Party: Very states rights. Back to Constitution.
Anti government.






Progressive Party: Social action party with ties to the
“Bull Moose”. However, it appears and disappears
regularly. Pulled apart by Republicans and Democrats.
Populist Party: Farmer based party in 1890s. Now is
marketed as a “party of the people” and wants to
deregulate the government.
Socialist Labor Party: Oldest socialist party in America.
Pushed for workers rights and wants to build a society that
is anti-authoritarian.
Prohibition Party: Still trying to ban alcohol.
Tea Party: Founded in 2009 as a backlash to social
programs and high taxes. Also wants to repeal Obama’s
health care. Encouraged by Fox News.
Labor Party: A workers party, usually tied to Democrats.

9. What is a single-issue party?

10. What role do minor parties play in our
society?

11. Which of the minor parties seemed
intriguing to you? Why?



The president is viewed as the leader of the
party as he is the figurehead of the nation.
Federalism brings different powers and ideals
to each party at different levels. Political
parties at the local levels are often very
similar.
Nominations for offices are done within the
party and can be divisive when there are
primaries.




The National Convention meets every
presidential election year to pick the
presidential and vice presidential candidate.
The party also finalizes its national platform
for the campaign season.
It’s a great way to get the word out on your
candidates platform on tv.
However, the convention itself has no power
at all. All the major work has been done
beforehand.




The National Committees help to chose the
national chairperson and state chairpersons for
the party.
While the committee helps form platforms on
issues, there is no official power. Most of the
power is on preparing for the convention and
campaign seasons.
The National Chairperson is the spokesperson
for the party. The national committee elects one
for a 4 year term after the convention.
The chairperson drums up support for the party
in anyway that they can.





At the state level, the chairperson fronts the
party for the governor, senator, and other
elected positions.
They organize goals for the party in the state.
They work with a committee to help
candidate all across the state.
Goals for the state party can differ from the
national party.
State level committees are limited by state
laws.





As with state levels, they are regulated by state
and county laws.
They handle elections for counties, town/cities,
House of Rep., wards and precincts, and the
state legislatures.
A ward is a election unit of a city for council
members.
A precinct is a small area of a ward where people
go to vote.
Parties can be active year round or only before
election times.



The Party Organization: The leaders and
activists who give their time, effort, and
money to support the party during election
times.
The Party in the Electorate: Party loyalists
who vote straight party lines and regularly
vote.
The Party in Government: The party
officeholders.





Sharp drop in voter rates, especially among
women and young people.
Sharp drop in numbers of people who identify
themselves as Republicans and Democrats.
More people who split ticket vote—not along
party lines solely.
More internal conflict within the parties
themselves. More single issue groups within
parties.
New technologies affecting elections.

12. Why are political parties at the local level
very similar but different at the national level?

13. Why do young people not go out to vote?

14. Why are parties becoming torn apart by the
inside?

15. Why are so many people being turned off by
political parties and are choosing to be
independent?