Political Parties2 party system

Democrats Republicans

What is the purpose of a political party?

• Agree on particular issues

• Nominate candidates for office

1st Political Parties• Hamilton vs. Jefferson• Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist (Dem-Rep Party)

Abraham Lincoln

• 1st Republican president of the US 1860, what would be considered a democrat today

Democrats

• They started with Andrew Jackson in the 1840s

• Republicans replaced the Whig party

Political Platform

• Statement that allows voters to understand what the party believes in, and how they stand on certain issues.

• Planks=the issues

Republicans vs. Democrats

• Democrats usually feel that the federal government has a responsibility to help the poor through government intervention.

• Democrats are generally seen as liberal.

• Republicans hold the view that leaving the economy alone will allow for growth, giving people greater ability to help themselves. They believe in less regulation.

• Republicans are viewed as being conservative.

Third Parties

• Form because of special interest and in opposition of the 2 dominate parties.

• WHY don’t they win?

Propaganda• Communication/

advertisements designed to manipulate and influence people.

Name-Calling

• Turn people off of a candidate by giving a bad description.

Endorsement

• Using a famous person or famous product that backs up a candidate

Stacked-Cards

• Presenting only one side of the issue and sometimes changes or leaves out facts

Symbols

• Misusing symbols that appeal to the public

The bandwagon

• Convincing people that everyone else agrees with it, so why don’t you.

Just plain folks

• Making people feel the candidate is just like them.

Glittering Generality

• Something that sounds wonderful but is meaningless.

Organization of Political Parties

National Parties

National Committee1.Raise Money

2. Organize National Convention

National Chairperson1. Manage the office and staff

2. Lead fund raising

Delegates from States1.Nominate candidates Prez and VP

2. Hold elections and Caucuses/meetings

National Convention

• Held every 4 years for the presidential candidates to announce the parties candidate.

State and Local Party Organization

State Party Committees

1.Electing party candidates

2.Raising money

County Committees

1.County Chairperson

2.Grassroots

Precinct

• Geographic area that contains a specific number of voters. Small town to large city.

• Lots of precincts make up a ward.

Third Parties

Do they make a difference?

Populist party

• People’s Party: supported farmers and workers

• Helped form workers rights

• For the poor-anti-elite

Progressive Party 1912

• “Bull Moose Party” –Theodore Roosevelt

• Wanted Change/Reform

• Womens Suffrage, direct democracy

Socialist Party• Where working people

own and control the means of production and distribution

• The Socialist Party stands for the abolition of every form of domination and exploitation, whether based on social class, gender, race/ethnicity, age, education, sexual orientation, or other characteristics.

Communist Party

• A better world is possible — a world where people come before profits. That’s socialism. That’s our vision. We are the Communist Party USA

Communist Manifesto• Karl Marx• 10 planks of communism• Abolition of Private Property. • Heavy Progressive Income Tax. • Abolition of Rights of Inheritance. • Confiscation of Property Rights. • Central Bank. • Government Ownership of Communication and

Transportation. • Government Ownership of Factories and Agriculture. • Government Control of Labor. • Corporate Farms and Regional Planning. • Government Control of Education.

Green Party

• Committed to environmentalism, non-violence, social justice and grassroots organizing, Greens are renewing democracy without the support of corporate donors.

Libertarian Party

• The Libertarian Party is your representative in American politics. It is the only political organization which respects you as a unique and competent individual.

• No taxes• No gov’t control• Free market

Constitution Party

• The Democrats and Republicans have squandered the Founders' legacy of liberty and justice under the Constitution. Countless government officials in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government ignore their oath to uphold and defend the Constitution.

More Third Parties

• American Nazi Party• American Reform

Party• Boston Tea Party• Radical Women’s

Party• Labor Party• Light Party• Modern Whig Party

• Objectivist Party• Peace and Freedom

Party• Prohibition Party• U.S. Marijuana Party• Pacifist Party• Working Families

Party• Pirate Party

Roles of Political Parties

Primaries

• Direct: voters choose candidates to run for an office. – Closed Primary: only

people of a certain party can vote

– Open Primary: voters do not need to be a part of a certain party.

Who wins?

• The candidate who receives a majority (greater than ½ of the total) called plurality

What if no one has a majority?

• Runoff Primary: b/w the top two vote getters

General Election

• Takes place after the primary. Then the voters get to choose between the two candidates who will hold the office.

• Presidential election: First Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Interest Groups

• Freedom of assembly and petition

• NAACP, NOW, AARP, Sierra Club, National Wildlife Association, labor unions

PACs

• Political Action Committees

• What do they do?

• Endorse a candidate that will support their cause

Lobbyist

• Representatives of interest groups that try to influence gov’t officials directly.

VOTINGOur most important responsibility

Electorate

• People who are eligible to vote

Who can vote?

• 18 years old

• Criminals must serve their time first (states differ)

• Resident of the state for a specific period

• Citizen of the US

• Register to vote

Voter Registration

• 25 days before election

• Can register as Rep, Dem. Or unaffiliated

Steps of Voting• 1. Voter goes to a polling place in their precinct

Steps of Voting

• 2. Sign in: check that signature is confirmed.

Steps of Voting

• 3. Caste your ballot

What if you are not there?

• Absentee Ballot: mail it in.

Straight Ticket

• Voting for all of the same party

Split- Ticket

• Vote some from one party and some from another

Write-In

• Writing a name of someone who is not on the ballot.

Predicting who is going to win

• Exit poll: media will survey people leaving the polls to predict the winner.

Voting on Issues not the Candidate

• Citizens can propose a new law or constitutional amendment through an initiative

What if you don’t like a law?

• Referendum: citizens can approve or reject a state or local law.

• More than ½ the state has to vote• Law can be sent back and voted on again