Chapter 5 Political Parties - University Place School
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Transcript Chapter 5 Political Parties - University Place School
October 21, 2013
• Objectives: Students will be able to
define a political party, and the
functions.
• What are the differences between a
Democrat and Republican?
CHAPTER 5
POLITICAL PARTIES
Section 1:
Political Parties and
What They Do
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS IN YOUR NOTEBOOK:
• 1. Name 2 political parties in the American
political system.
• 2. Which political party is the oldest in
American history?
• 3. Which political party favors less
involvement by the government in our daily
lives?
• 4. Which political party favors social
welfare programs?
What is
a political
party?
»It’s NOT what you attend at a
friend’s house
WHAT IS A POLITICAL PARTY?
(2 DEFINITIONS)
1. Election oriented•
A group of persons
who seek to control
government through
the winning of
elections and the
holding of public
office.
WHAT IS A POLITICAL PARTY?
(2 DEFINITIONS)
2. Principle or issue oriented• A group of persons joined
together on the basis of
common principles
• seek to control government in
order to affect certain public
policies and programs.
THE 2 MAJOR PARTIES IN AMERICAN
POLITICS ARE:
1. Republicans
THE 2 MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES
IN AMERICAN POLITICS ARE:
2. Democrats
WHAT DO PARTIES DO?
1. The vital link between the people and
the government.
2. a.k.a. “Power brokers”- they bring
conflicting groups together by
encouraging compromise between
contending groups.
5 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE:
1. Nominating Candidates for public
office
• They select candidates and present
them to voters.
• They work to help their candidates
win elections
5 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL
PARTIES:
2. Informing and
Activating Supporters
• Parties campaign for candidates
• take stands on issues
• criticize the opponent’s
positions on issues
• try to activate people’s interest
and participation in public
affairs
• Use pamphlets, signs, buttons,
stickers, speeches, rallies, media
advertisements.
5 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE:
3. The Bonding Agent Function
• Ensure the good performance,
good character, and
qualifications of its candidates
and officeholders
5 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE:
4. Governing
• Congress and state legislatures conduct
their business on the basis of
partisanship
• Political parties provide channels
between the legislative and executive
branches of government.
• Constitutional change
5 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE:
5. Acting as Watchdog
• The “party out of power”
criticizes the behavior of the
“party in power”- the party
that controls the executive
branch of government.
• This criticism tends to keep
the party in power more
responsive to the wishes and
concerns of the people.
Who is Earl Dodge?
The Prohibition Parties
candidate for President of the US
in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, and
2000.
Why don’t you know him?
What does it mean?
Democrats and Republicans
dominate American politics
CHAPTER 5, SECTION 2:
WHY A 2 PARTY SYSTEM?:
•
Throughout most of our history, the U.S. has been a 2party nation (the 1 st two political parties were the
Federalists and Anti-Federalists)
•
The Constitution contains no provisions for political
parties.
•
Single-member districts (aka SMD’s)-help to promote
a two-party system, and they tend to discourage minor
parties (most voters think of a vote for a minor party
candidate as a “wasted vote.”)
THE AMERICAN IDEOLOGICAL
CONSENSUS:
• Similarities:
Both political parties are considered to be
moderate, built on compromise, and seek the
same goal of winning the majority of votes in
the electorate.
• Republicans and Democrats regularly act in a
bipartisan manner.
DIFFERENCES: EACH PARTY
TENDS TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF:
• Republicans
• Democrats
-Private market
economies
-Social welfare
programs
-Less Government
regulation of business
-More Government
regulation of
business
-Less Government
involvement in social
programs
-More Government
involvement in social
programs
-Improve status of
minorities
MULTI-PARTY SYSTEMS
•
Multi-party systems have historically been a
feature of European democracies.
•
Various parties are based on particular interests
such as:
•
•
economic class
•
religious belief
•
political ideologies
Coalitions
ex: Italy and France
ONE PARTY SYSTEMS
•
One party system= “no party system”
PARTY MEMBERSHIP PATTERNS:
-Membership
in a party is strictly voluntary
-Each party has always been composed of a cross-section of the
nation’s population.
-No person or group is tied permanently to either party
STEREOTYPICAL ALIGNMENT OF
VOTING PATTERNS:
Republicans
Democrats
• White Males
• African Americans
• Protestants
• Catholic (until 2000) &
Jewish People
• Business Community
• Business Union
Members
• Red: Republican
• Blue: Democrat
MAJOR SOURCES OF PARTY
IDENTIFICATION:
•
Family
•
Major events
•
Economic status
•
Work environment
•
Age
•
Level of Education
•
Media
FINAL 5
• Explain the 2 of the main functions of a political party &
2 differences between a Republican and a Democrat