Date post: | 24-Dec-2015 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | christiana-taylor |
View: | 214 times |
Download: | 0 times |
BELL RINGERHere’s what you need to do:
1. Unit I Packet together (#1 on top of pile!) and stapledStudy guide at end of packet
2. Essay outlines separate on desk (if you did this).
3. Start studying!!
BELL RINGERList 5 things you
know about elections.List 5 things you are interested in learning
about elections…(don’t write nothing)!
BELL RINGER1. What did you find
interesting about the political ideology surveys?
2. Why might it be important to understand your political ideologies?
l___________________l__________________l
l___________________l__________________l
LiberalChange
Gov solves problems
Protect social programs
Protect environment
Pro gun control
Anti death penalty
More prevention & rehab
Pro-choice
Pro gay rights
ConservativeStatus quo
Small government
Individual responsibility
Protect economy
Anti gun control
Pro death penalty
More prisons
Pro-life
Oppose gay rights
ChangeStatus quoGov solves problemsSmall governmentIndividual responsibilityProtect social programsProtect economyProtect environmentAnti gun controlPro gun controlPro death penaltyAnti death penaltyPro-lifePro-choiceOppose gay rightsPro gay rights
Social – Where do they go?
LiberalRestrict econ. freedom
Regulate capitalism
Tax wealthy
money to military
Conservative
More economic freedom
Free enterprise
Flat tax
money to military
Economic– Where do they go?
More economic freedomRestrict econ. freedomRegulate capitalismFree enterpriseFlat taxTax wealthy money to military money to military
BELL RINGER1. What did you
notice about your political ideology compared to your families? Explain.
HOW GROUPS VOTE1996 2000 2004 2008
D R D R D R D R
National 43.2 37.8 48.7 48.6 48.3 50.7 52.9 45.7
Sex
Men 41 37 43 52 44 55 49 48
Women 46 38 53 45 51 48 56 43
Race
White 39 41 43 55 41 58 43 55
Minor. 77 11 87 9 86 11 92 7
Age
29-18 40 37 47 47 54 45 66 32
49-30 42 37 45 53 46 53 56 42
50+ 46 39 53 45 46 54 45 53
Education Higher education tends to vote more Republican
Income Higher income tends to vote more Republican
l___________________l__________________l
BELL RINGER1. What did you find
interesting about the political ideology surveys?
2. Why might it be important to understand your political ideologies?
BELL RINGERWhat are some reasons we have a two party system here in the United States? What are they called?
l___________________l__________________l
l___________________l__________________l
WHAT IS A PARTY?•A political party is a group of persons who seek to control government by winning elections and holding office.•The two major parties in American politics are the Republican and Democratic parties.
WHAT DO PARTIES DO? Nominate Candidates - Recruit, choose, and present candidates for public office.
Inform and Activate Supporters - Campaign, define issues, and criticize other candidates. Inform the peopleOther groups that do this: news media and interest groups (lobby groups, special interest groups, advocacy groups, and pressure groups)
WHAT DO PARTIES DO? Insuring good performance- Guarantee that their candidate is worthy of the office – Qualified and of “good character”
Govern - Members of government act according to their partisanship, or firm allegiance to a party. Candidate elected = party elected
Act as a Watchdog - Parties that are out of power keep a close eye on the actions of the party in power for a blunder to use against them in the next election.
PARTY SYSTEMSSingle-Party Systems:
one major political party holds power
Two-Party Systems:
two major political parties
Third parties may exist, but they hardly ever gain enough support to win elections.
This is the least common system around the world.
Multiparty Systems:
Three or more political parties holding office
No party gains control of the government, so parties must work together to get things done.
COUNTRY # PARTIES IN
OFFICE
Vietnam 1
United States 2
Australia 7
Denmark 11
Germany 5
Guatemala 11
Iceland 5
Israel 12
Turkey 4
WHY A TWO-PARTY SYSTEM? The Historical Basis. The nation started out with two-parties: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.
The Force of Tradition. America has a two-party system because it always has had one. Minor parties have never made a successful showing
The Electoral System. Certain features of government, such as single-member districts, are designed to favor two major parties.
Ideological Consensus. Most Americans have a general agreement on fundamental matters.
PARTY MEMBERSHIP PATTERNSFactors that can influence party membership:
Family 2 out of 3 Americans follow the party allegiance of their
parents
Major events Civil War and the Great Depression are the most
significant Economic Status
Higher income = Reps Lower income = Dems
Religion Religious = Reps
Non-religious = Dems
Occupation Issues that affect your job
can sway you to one party or the other
Age Younger (18-35) = Dems
Older (45-60) = Reps
THE NATION’S FIRST PARTIES
Federalists•Led by Alexander Hamilton
•Represented wealthy and upper-class interests
•Favored strong executive leadership and liberal interpretation of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists
•Led by Thomas Jefferson
•Represented the “common man”
•Favored Congress as the strongest arm of government and a strict interpretation of the Constitution
AMERICAN PARTIES: FOUR MAJOR ERAS
The Three Historical Eras
The Era of the Democrats, 1800—1860Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections.
The Whig Party emerges in 1834, but declines by the 1850s, electing only two Presidents.
The Republican Party is founded in 1854.
The Era of the Republicans, 1860—1932Republicans dominate all but four presidential elections.
The Civil War disables the Democratic Party for the remainder of the 1800s.
The Return of the Democrats, 1932—1968Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections.
Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected President four times.
AMERICAN PARTIES: PARTIES TODAY
The Start of a New Era: The Era of Divided Government
Since 1968, neither Republicans nor Democrats have dominated the presidency
and Congress has often been controlled by the opposing party.
• Republicans hold the presidency
• Congress is controlled by Republicans
2000 - 2004
• Democrats hold the presidency
• Congress controlled by Republicans, 1994 to present
1992 - 2000
• Republicans hold the presidency
• Senate controlled by Republicans 1980-1986, controlled by Democrats from 1986 to 1994
1980 - 1992
• Democrats hold the presidency
• Congress is controlled by Democrats
1976–1980
• Republicans hold the presidency
• Congress is controlled by Democrats
1968–1976
MINOR PARTIES IN THE UNITED STATES
Types of Minor Parties•Ideological Parties: Based on a set of beliefs – comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters• Ex. Libertarian, socialist, communist
•Single-issue Parties: concentrate on only one public policy matter• Right to Life, Free Soil, “Know Nothings”
•Economic Protest Parties: rooted in periods of economic discontent•Greenback Party, Populist Party
•Splinter Party: parties that split away from one or other major parties• Bull Moose, Progressive, Dixiecrat
WHY MINOR PARTIES ARE IMPORTANT:
1. “Spoiler Role”
Candidates can pull decisive votes away from one of the major parties’ candidates
Esp. if from splinter party: Parties that have split away from one of the major parties
2. Critic
take stands/draw attention to controversial issues that the major parties ignore
3. Innovator
draw attention to important issues and propose innovative solutions to problems
If gain support often integrated into the platforms of the two major parties.
THE FUTURE OF MAJOR PARTIES
Weakened connections to
political parties:
For voters :
1. Unwilling to label themselves as “Democrats” or “Republicans”
2. Split-ticket voting = voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election
For candidates:
1. Structural changes have increased conflict and disorganization within parties
2. Changes in the technology of campaigning (t.v./internet) have made candidates more independent of the party
3. The growth of single-issue organizations