Chapter 5: Political Parties

Chapter 5: Political Parties

Section 1: Parties and What They Do

Section 1: Parties and What They Do

A group of persons who seek to control government by winning elections and holding public office.

Why would people want to create

parties?

FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

• Nominating Function

• Informer-Stimulator Function

• Bonding Agent Function

• Governmental Function

• Watchdog Function

NOMINATING FUNCTION• Sets political parties apart

from other political groups

• The Democratic and Republican parties are election-oriented rather than issue-oriented.

Informer-Stimulator Function

• Share this with news media and interest groups

BONDING AGENT FUNCTION

• party encourages candidate to perform well---FUTURE ELECTIONS

• Parties take a stand on issues and criticizes the other party’s stance

Governmental Function

• Party connections help executive and legislative branches of government to cooperate with one another

Parties watch each other--the WATCHDOG FUNCTION

• The party “in power” is the party in charge of the EXECUTIVE branch• If parties are watching each other’s

actions, how will that help the people?• If parties are watching each other, how

will that hurt government processes?

the WATCHDOG FUNCTION

The party NOT in power has a responsibility to criticize the party in power. This is what is know as loyal opposition—or partisan politics.

Partisan: Along party lines

Bi-partisan: Two-parties

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Almost exclusively…

Get out and vote!!!

(For us please)

Do you know if your parents are Republicans or Democrats? -If yes, how does this shape your own political viewpoints? -If no, consider how it could potentially change your viewpoint if you did know? ***Everyone should consider: if you consider yourself a Republican, and you found out your parents were Democrats, would it change your opinion?***

-Journal as many thoughts as possible on the issue. You should be writing for the entire 5 minutes.

Green Party

Green

Marijuana Party

Boston Tea Party

"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brushfires in people's minds." -- Samuel Adams

Vegetarian Party

American Nazi Party

Pirate Party of the United States

Blue Enigma Party

-Because you had never heard of the other parties (with a few exceptions)

-Democrats

-Republicans

-only two parties that have a reasonable chance of winning election (in a typical election)

-Historical biasis-Federalists v. Anti-Federalists

-Tradition- “Things never change”

-Electoral System-single member districts-plurality

-General, broad consensus in parties AND between parties

Other Options?

-many think we should use this system in America.-many think we should use this system in America.Why?Why?

-European democracies-European democracies

-each party associated with a various interest-each party associated with a various interest

-tends to lead to instability in a government-tends to lead to instability in a governmentcoalitionscoalitions

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Propaganda and Censorship in One Party System Leads to What?