UEQ: How do citizens influence government?

EATs3.1

Political Participation

LEQ: How are political views formed?

Political Participation Political Ideology Political Parties Two-Party System Third Parties Party Platforms

POTUS Party?

Do you know the political affiliations of the modern presidents?

What is the purpose of political parties?

How do you know which political party to join? Beliefs/Issues?

The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all. -- John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) • • • • • •

Social Issues:

Abortion Legalization of drugs Death Penalty Gun Rights Same-Sex Marriage Video Game Violence • • • • • •

Economic Issues:

Health Care Taxes Social Security National Debt Bailouts Environmental Protection

Political Ideology A set of beliefs about the role of government and what policies government ought to pursue.

LEFT Center RIGHT Liberty (freedom) versus Security (control) (Theme in Politics/Government)

Political Ideologies

1.

Liberalism 2.

Conservatism 3.

Libertarianism 4.

Statism 5.

Moderates (Centrists)

Ideologies

Liberalism

: A set of beliefs that

positive government action

can improve the welfare of individuals. Tolerance for diversity and social change.

Freedom (left) Social Issues – Control (right) in Economy AKA = Liberals, Democrats

Conservatism

: A set of beliefs that include a

limited role

of national government in solving problems. Support traditional values and lifestyles, cautious about change.

Control (right) Social Issues – Freedom (left) in Economy AKA = Conservatives, Republicans, GOP

Moderate:

prefer a "middle ground" regarding government control of the economy and personal behavior.

Freedom

S o c i a l I s s u e s

Govt. Control (Zero Freedom)

Liberal

Definition:

Statist

Definition:

Moderate (Centrist)

Libertarian

Definition:

Conservative

Definition:

Economic Issues

Political Ideology Freedom

Take the World’s Smallest Political Quiz!

hongovmaris.wikispaces.com

Where do you fall on the political map?

Plot yourself on your graph!

What are Political Parties?

A political party is an organization of citizens who wish to influence and control government by getting their members (who believe the way they do) elected to office. Political parties: express the voice of citizens inform citizens; make it easier to vote involve citizens in the democratic political process.

recruit and nominate candidates raise $ support campaigns provide organization in government political parties set goals for the government advocate issues write party platform and position statements (planks).

are “ watchdogs ” (keep other parties accountable)

Political Parties

“

If I could not go to heaven but with a party [political], I would not go there at all

”

--T. Jefferson

Brief Party History

Federalist party – Washington, Adams, Hamilton (1789-1800), supported strong central gov.; opposed by Anti-Federalists.

Democratic-Republican party, Thomas Jefferson (1800s-1834), opposed strong national gov. and supported states ’ rights. Became Democratic party 1828 (Jackson).

Whig party (1834) opposed democrats and specifically “ king Andrew ” (royal tyranny). Harrison and Taylor.

Republican party born in 1854 by members opposed to slavery. Lincoln first Republican President in 1860. Republican party dominated until 1930s, FDR, Democrat.

Republican and Democratic parties prevail since 1854 .

1870, Thomas Nast

"The Third-Term Panic." Harper's Weekly in 1874

Third Parties

Third Parties also form to support a cause or candidate Influence elections by winning votes, press issues, often don ’ t receive as much financial support.

Few third-party candidates get elected to office Examples: Tea Party Green Party (Ralph Nader) Reform Party (Ross Perot received 19% of pres. Vote in 92) Libertarian Constitution Party “ Bull Moose ” (Theodore Roosevelt, 1912) Progressive Socialist (Eugene Debs) Free Soil

Party Organization

Both parties have local, state, and national organizations.

http://www.gop.com/ RNC http://www.democrats.org/ DNC http://www.pagop.org/ State http://www.padems.com/home http://yorkgop.com/ Local http://www.yorkdems.org/ Local State Free Membership (register to vote)

Party Platforms

A party platform refers to a political party's formal statement of its basic principles, objectives, and positions on major issues.

Which parties have the most members???

http://2012election.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004483 2012 Democratic National Party Platform

Two-Party System

U.S. Politics

Red or Blue - Why?

A Republican or Democrat has won the Presidency since 1860.

There are 2 independents out of 535 in the 113th Congress.

There is only 1 Independent Governor (30 R – 20 D). PA Government , Third Parties?

Compare the # of political parties in the U.S. with other Countries: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world factbook/fields/2101.html#sw

Voting Systems

Plurality/Majority Systems: U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, India. In the UK, they call it the “First Past the Post” system. The winner (even if only be 1 vote, wins the district or all electors/delegates.) Proportional Representation Systems: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Parties compete and get percentage of seats based on votes (if 100 seats; 20% get 20 seats, etc.).

Other Mixed Systems

1.

2.

3.

Why a Two-Party System?

Winner Take All Politics Voting system that rewards candidates with a majority or plurality (more than anyone else) of votes.

discourages “ spoiler ” vote on other candidates not likely to win Alternative is “ proportional representation ” legislative body) (5% of votes = 5% of seats in Duality of political issues Two sides to major conflicts (Fed/Anti-Fed, life/choice) two-sided debates = no room for third [party] point of view Tradition Republicans (GOP) and Democrats already make up majority of government members and leadership. States control rules for elections.

Winner-Take-All politics perpetuates the Two-Party System

Proportional Representation

Two-Party System Advantages/Disadvantages

There are a few advantages of the American two-party system: Stability: Two-party systems are more stable than multiparty systems Moderation: The two parties must appeal to the middle to win elections, so the parties tend to be moderate. Ease: Voters have only to decide between two parties. Direct Relationship with Representatives But there are also a few disadvantages to our system, including the following: Lack of choice: Both parties tend to be very similar, limiting voters’ options. Less democratic: A percentage of people will always feel marginalized by the system (Spoiler Vote).

Resources

Video: Brief History of Political Parties http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/gallery/partyaffiliation2008/ http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/political-parties http://www.theadvocates.org/