Government – Libertyville HS

The American Political Process

What is Politics? Formal definition: “The

conduct of public affairs”

Realistically, it’s all about the pursuit and exercise of power

What is political power? Influencing others’

(political) behavior Acquiring and exercising

power to make rules, laws & policies that everyone is required to follow

Politics

Politics is not evil or “dirty” – it is the core of

any government

Political Parties What is a political

party? A group of people … … with similar interests

& beliefs … … seeking power

(through elections) … …to control

policymaking … … which is organized

along federal lines (national + 50 states)

Political Parties In a democratic

government, political parties represent the way people participate in the political process

Many ways to participate

Join a political party Volunteer to help on a

political campaign Take part in

demonstrations Vote in election Run for public office

Functions of Political Parties Parties are the link

between people & government

Essential to operation of a democratic government

Read and review the five functions of political parties in your textbook (pp 123-24)

Party Membership Purely voluntary

No dues paid BUT people can

contribute $ No duties in exchange

for membership BUT you can volunteer

to work for a campaign Broad based & multi-

class (economic, social) in nature

Party Membership: Democrats Farmers Union workers African Americans Ethnic minorities Environmentalists Political liberals (“progressives”) Catholics, Jews Entertainment industry Big business Graduate degree holders (MA, PHD)

Party Membership: Republicans Fiscal conservatives Small business Evangelical Christians Military Eastern European immigrants Slightly more males than females Married couples Higher income voters College graduates Elderly

American Political System

So why does America have a two party system? Historical reasons

American Ideological consensus

Conduct of elections

Historical Reasons: Republican Party Evolution

1780s: Federalist

s (x=1800)

1820: Whigs

(x=1850)

1854: GOP

formed (today)

Historical Reasons: Democratic Party Evolution

1780s: D-Rs

1800: “TJ-Ds”

1830s: “J-Ds”

Today’s Ds

“American Ideological Consensus”

Left / Libera

l

Right / Conservative

France: Population?

Italy: Population?

Europeans are dispersed across political spectrum

65 million

58 million

[ ]

“American Ideological Consensus”

Left /

Liberal

Right / Conservative

Americans are concentrated towards center of ideological spectrum

[ ]

Why?!?!

“American Ideological Consensus”

Water Water

Nice

Nice

• US has two oceans to E, W

• US has friendly neighbors to N, S

• Americans less polarized b/c they are safe!

Europe, by contrast…

YIKES!!!

SMD vs. PR

Country A

% of Votes

Candidate 1

40%

Candidate 2

30%

Candidate 3

20%

Candidate 4

10%

Country B

# of Districts Won

Party A 40Party B 30Party C 20Party D 10

Single Member Districts Example

Who wins?

Proportional Representation

Example

Who wins?

SMD v. PR

Single Member District characteristics Winner takes all No incentive to

come in anything but first place

No incentives for third parties

No incentive to build coalition / compromise

Proportional Representation characteristics No losers, only degrees

of winners Greater representation

of ideas and issues More extreme ideas

represented in process Coalition building

required

Third Party Types Economic Protest

Expresses their discontent with the major parties and current economy

Examples? Ideological

Based on comprehensive view of social, political, or economic matters

No compromise of beliefs for victory

Examples?

Types of 3rd Parties Single Issue Party

Motivated and focused on one overriding public policy issue

Example? Splinter Party

Splits off from one of the major parties

Electoral “Kiss of Death” for major party – why?

Splits support of 1 party between 2 candidates

Example?

Contributions of 3rd Parties Political conventions

1830s – 1st one held by 3rd party

Every 4 years, 1 for each party

Nomination of President, VP

Today, primaries, caucuses precede convention

Also develop Party Platform

Still relevant? Show differences between

parties 1 week of being ‘on

message”

Contributions of 3rd Parties

Address issues major parties don’t want to discuss Example: Ross Perot &

NAFTA Ralph Nader and big

money in politics Disappoint in Ds, Rs

= support for 3rd party

Contributions of 3rd Parties: Spoiler

Election of 1912 TR = Bull Moose /

progressive (Split Rs) Taft = R Wilson = D Lesson? Big % to 3rd

party can cost a major party the election

Popular vote Wilson: 6,296,284 Roosevelt: 4,122,721 Taft: 3,486,242

Contribution of 3rd Parties: Spoiler

Election of 1992 Clinton = 43% Bush = 38% Perot = 19%

Lesson: major parties have to protect their flanks!Result

Clinton: 370 ECV / 44,909,806 popular voteGHW Bush: 168 ECV / 39,104,550 popular votePerot: 0 ECV / 19,743,821 popular vote

Contributions of 3rd Parties

2000 election Need 270 ECV to win Gore = 267 EC (+500k

PV) GW Bush = 246 ECV FL = 25 ECV(N

ader) (Gore)

(Bush)w/o Nader, voters would have either stayed home or vote for Gore

Contributions of 3rd Parties FL vote

Bush = 2,912,790 Gore = 2,912,253 Nader = 97,488

Bush: +537 votes Who says your vote

doesn’t count? What would Nader say

about criticism by Ds? Those were votes for

him and against Gore / Ds

ResultsBush: 271 ECV / 50.4 millionGore: 266 ECV / 50.9 millionNader: 0 ECV / 2.8 million