Political Parties - Willis High School
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Transcript Political Parties - Willis High School
Chapter 5
Political Parties
“A party of order or stability, and a party of
progress or reform, are both necessary
elements of a healthy state of political life.”
~ John Stuart Mill
(Major) Party- a group of persons who seek to
control government through the winning of
elections and the holding of public office(s).
◦ Republicans
◦ Democrats
(Minor) Party- one of the many political parties
without wide voter support.
◦ Green Party
◦ Prohibition Party
Where in a typical political election, two major
parties dominate American politics.
A number of factors explain why America has
had and continues to have a two-party
system.
Started with the Federalists and AntiFederalist
◦ More Americans except the idea of a two-party
system because there has always been one
◦ James Madison said that a larger Republic is better,
as to increase the number of factions, and to
distribute power
No one party can overpower the system… or can
they?
Single-member districts: Electoral process in
which one person is chosen by the voters for
each elected office
Plurality: The winning candidate who receives
a the largest number of votes cast for an
office
◦ The plurality does NOT have to be the majority
Bipartisan: The two major political parties find
common ground and work Together
The American people over time have shared
many of the same ideals, same basic
principles, and same patterns of belief
Pluralistic Society: One consisting of several
distinct cultures and groups
◦ The United States is the “melting pot” of the world
Federalist Paper No. 55
◦ Argues that a smaller assembly is better for the
country. More likely to get things RATIFIED
◦ However, this is contradictory to the People’s Voice
Consensus: A general agreement
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5.
Not always so in American society
American Civil War
Great Depression
Vietnam Era
Persian Gulf War II (Afghanistan and Iraq)
Party Polarity (Republicans v. Democrats)
A system in which several major and many
lesser parties exist, seriously compete for,
and actually win public office(s).
Based around particular interests, including:
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Economic class
Religious beliefs
Sectional attachment
Political ideology
Creates a broader and more diverse
representation of electorates.
A political system in which only one party
exists.
Falls under a dictatorship in many nations.
Within the United States, a modified oneparty system is prevalent in certain regions of
the country.
Post Civil War Elections:
◦ Republican party = New England & Midwest
◦ Democrats = South
Federalist No. 10 & 51
Both majority and minority factions are
brought up, and Madison believes that the
majority factions are the most dangerous.
Using the liberties of citizens can bring down
a Democracy.
Factions- conflicting groups
Election of 1800
◦ “The Great Revolution” signified the transfer of
political powers from one political party to another
◦ The incumbent Federalist president, John Adams,
was defeated by Republican Thomas Jefferson
Incumbent- current office holder
Since then, there have been 4 major periods
of political party dominance.
Era of the Democrats (1800-1860)
Although called Republicans, the DemocraticRepublicans can be compared to the
Democratic Party of today.
Ran unopposed in national politics up to
1830.
◦ Split up into factions with the introduction of the
Andrew Jackson administration
◦ National Republicans (Whigs) vs. Democrats
Era of the Republicans (1860-1932)
Republican dominance started in 1860 with
the election of President Lincoln.
Only political party to jump from 3rd party to
major party status
Electorate- the people eligible to vote.
Sectionalism- the devotion toward interests
of one section of the country or population
The New Democratic Era (1932-1968)
The Great Depression brought the election of
a new American leader, FDR
Democrats held the national government up
to the Vietnam War
◦ Richard Nixon’s second attempt for the presidency
proved successful for a short-term Republican
reign
Era of Division (1968-current)
New points of interest have created a rift
between the public’s concern and that of the
political parties’ agendas
The Minor Parties
Ron Paul
Ralph Nader
There are MANY neglected third parties that
field a presidential candidate
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Constitution Party
Green Party of the U.S.
Communist Party
Libertarian Party
America First Party
Freedom Socialist Party
Reform Party
Prohibition Party
American Nazi Party
And Many More…
1. Ideological Parties
Parties based on a particular set of beliefs-a
comprehensive view of social, economic, and
political matters.
◦ Have seldom been able to win many votes
◦ Libertarian Party- focuses on the individual
◦ Communist Party- focuses on the well-being of the
society
2. Single-Issue Parties
Parties that focus on only one public-policy
matter
◦ Most of these parties fade into history, with the issue
they stood for.
◦ The two major parties may address their key issue, as
one of their own.
◦ Usually found in the minor party name.
Prohibition Party (Founded 1869)
U.S. Marijuana Party (Founded 2002)
3. Economic Protest Parties
Parties rooted in periods of economic
discontent.
◦ There is no clear-cut ideological base
◦ A disgust toward the two major parties
Occupy Wall Street
◦ Most often, they have been sectional parties
Drawing strength from the South & West
◦ Greenback Party (1876-1884)
◦ Populist Party (1890s)
4. Splinter Parties
Parties that have split away from one of the
major political parties
◦ Most of the more important 3rd parties have been
splinter parties
◦ Form around a strong personality-an individual
◦ These parties usually collapse when the individual
steps down
Bull Moose Progressive Party Progressive Party (1912)
Green Party with Ralph Nader
Third-party candidacy can act as a “spoiler role”
in a close election.
◦ Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party took away
votes from the Republican candidate in the 1912
election
Minor parties act as the “critics “ (bring
attention to wrong doing) and “innovators”
(new ideas are co-opted by major parties) for
political issues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dd2OAgn8Q&feature=related
Each major American political party builds its
structure from four basic elements:
1. The National Convention
2. The National Committee
3. The National Chairperson
4. The Congressional Campaign
State party foundations are set by State law:
1. State Organization- chairperson and the State
Central Committee
2. Local Organization- follow the electoral map
of a State
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Ward: a unit into which cities are often divided for
the election of city council members
Precinct: the smallest unit of election administration
Polling Place: voting locations within the precinct
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2.
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5.
Nominating Candidates
Informing & Activating Supporters: shared with
news media & interest groups
Bonding Agent: tries to pick qualified
candidates with good moral character
Watch Dog: party out of power watches party in
power (holds the White House)
Governing: office holders, executive
appointments, etc…basis for conducting
government, provides channels for the
Exec/Leg branches to work together
*Sharp drop in number of voters who classify
themselves as Republican or Democrat
Rise in Independents/Minor Parties
*Split-Ticket Voting: voting for candidates of
different parties for different offices at the
same election
A true system with bipartisan behaviors – issue voting
*Straight – ticket Voting: voting for all the
candidates in one party
* Coattail Effect: Strong candidate helps to attract
voters to other lesser candidates in the same party
Qualifications set by the States (5 limitations by Constitution):
* Sufferage: the right to vote
15th Amendment: removed race/color
19th Amendment: removed sex/gender
23rd Amendment: DC right to vote
24th Amendment: eliminated poll taxes
26th Amendment: 18 yr olds can vote
Voting Rights Act of 1965: removed literacy tests, gave Federal
government more power to enforce 15 th amendment being
ignored by the states
National Voter Registration Act 1993 (Motor Voter Act):
Allowed people to register to vote by mail, @ time of license
renewal/application, with registration forms found in public
assistance offices
OPEN PRIMARY: any qualified voter may vote
CLOSED PRIMARY: only declared party members may vote
CAUCUS/ CONVENTION: groups of like-minded people who
meet to select candidates for election
GENERAL ELECTION: all or most members of a given political
body are up for election
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS: private organizations trying to
persuade public officials to respond to the shared attitudes of
its members – to shape public policy
PAC’s: Political Action Committees – political arms of
special interest groups, lobbyists
HARD MONEY: $$ contributed directly to the candidate, subject
to regulation ($2400 - person/ $No regulation- organization)
SOFT MONEY:$$ contributed to the political party by large
donors, unregulated