Transcript The Two-Party System - Patrick Henry High School

The Two-Party
System
Democrats and Republicans
Reasons for the Two-Party System
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Historical Basis
 The Framers were opposed to political
parties
 The Federalists and Anti-Federalists were the
first two parties
The Force Tradition
 It has always existed
 Minor parties have made little progress
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The Electoral System
 Single member districts preserve the twoparty system
 State election laws are written to discourage
minor parties
The American Ideological Consensus
 Americans tend to agree on fundamental
issues
 The parties tend to take a moderate stand to
attract more voters
Multiparty Systems
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In some countries, parties represent a wide
variety of class, religious, sectional and
political interest, often making governments
unstable.
In America, institutional and ideological
factors make a multiparty system unlikely.
One-Party Systems
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Nearly all dictatorships have one party.
Traditionally, many areas of the US were
dominated by one single party.
Recently, two-party competition has
spread.
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Minnesota has traditionally voted for a Democrat
in presidential elections.
We have begun to split in the state.
Membership in parties
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Party membership is voluntary and is
generally composed of a cross-section of
the population.
There are some segments of the electorate
that tend to support one party or the other.
Read 98-114 and answer the following questions
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What is the function of American political parties?
Why does the United States have a two party system?
What makes it difficult for third or minor parties to get
their members elected to public office?
Describe the Eras of Dominance by the Republicans
and the Democrats. How would you describe the
modern era of political history?
What are the main elements of party organization at the
national level? How are the parties similar and different
at the local and state levels?
The First Parties
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Federalists : Alexander Hamilton
Democratic-Republicans : Thomas
Jefferson
The two parties differed in their views of
economics, governments proper role, and
interpretations of the Constitution
The Era of the Democrats 1800-1860
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A coalition of farmers, planters, debtors and
pioneers backed the Democrats, who
backed the Democrats after the election of
1800
The Democrats were opposed by
Federalists, Whigs, and finally the
Republicans
Era of the Republicans 1860-1932
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Republicans dominated the government,
supported by Northern and Western
Farmers, businesses and African American.
Democrats during this period controlled the
South and rebuilt their support from there.
Return of the Democrats 1932-1968
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During the Great Depression, Roosevelt
built a new Democratic coalition, based on
the support of the Southerners, small
farmers, organized labor, minorities and big
city political organizations
The New Deal marked a fundamental
change in the publics attitude towards big
government
Modern Era 1968-Now
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Since 1968, Republicans have dominated
the Presidency, Democrats have dominated
the Congress
This era of division is unprecedented in
American History
National Party Organization
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National Conventions – Nominates the parties
candidate for president and VP as well as setting
the party platform
National Committee – Stages the convention and
handles the party affairs
National Chairperson – Chosen by nominee and
works to unify the party, raise money, recruit voter
support
Congressional Campaign Committees – Works to
increase the parties members in Congress
National Chairpersons of the
Republicans and Democrats
Howard Dean - D
Mike Duncan - R
National Conventions
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Democratic and Republican Conventions
this summer in Denver and St. Paul
State and Local Parties
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State Organization – The State chairperson
and committees job is to further the party’s
interests in the state.
Local Organization – Can vary widely,
generally follows the state map with a party
unit for each district.
Minnesota Party Leaders
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DFL Chairman Brian Melendez
RPM Chairman Ron Carey
Elements of the Party
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Each party has: Leaders, activists and
hangers-on that control the party machinery
The people who always vote for the party
Elected officials who are members of the
party