CHAPTER 9Political Parties and politics

POLITICAL PARTIES political party - people who share similar

ideas about the government and work together to get party members elected to political offices

How do you join a political party? simply declare yourself a member

HISTORY OF POLITICAL PARTIES not mentioned in the

Constitution Many of the founding fathers

did not want political parties to exist in America

First parties started in country with a dispute between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton

Jefferson created the Democratic-Republicans who wanted less power for the national government and more for the states

Hamilton started the Federalists who wanted a stronger national government

HISTORY OF POLITICAL PARTIES

By 1828 the Federalists had disappeared and the Democratic-Republicans split and became a new party called the Democrats headed by Andrew Jackson who was supported by small farmers and laborers

A new party replaced the Federalists called the Whigs who was supported large plantation owners and businessmen

HISTORY OF POLITICAL PARTIES By 1854 the issue of slavery spilt the

country Anti-slavery Democrats and Whigs

merged to form the Republican party The Democrats and the Republicans

have been the major parties ever since

TWO-PARTY SYSTEM The United States is said to have a two party

system, as only 2 major parties have controlled the government

Those parties today are Democrats and Republicans

One party is always guaranteed on winning a majority

One disadvantage: minority viewpoints are often not heard

DIFFERENCES IN THE MAJOR PARTIESDemocrats: Liberal Blue-collar worker Employee Favor active government Support welfare

programs Support affirmative

action programs Pro-choice Minorities

Republicans: Conservative White-collar worker Employer Favor less government Against welfare

programs Against affirmative

action programs Pro-life White protestants

THIRD PARTIES There are other parties besides the

Democrats and the Republicans in the USA All smaller parties are called Third Parties Third parties very rarely ever win an

election but can influence it in two ways:1) bring attention to issues usually

adopted by major parties2) “spoiler” role

IMPORTANT 3RD PARTIES OF THE PAST Some third parties have had an

impact in this country Populists-popular in the 1890s,

called for direct election of Senators and an 8 hour workday

Progressives-effected the 1912 presidential election by taking votes from the republicans and allowing Woodrow Wilson to win the election for the democrats

THIRD PARTIES Third Parties arise for 1 of 3

reasons:1) Single–issue parties: try to get a

single idea passed. Once they do, they fade away. EX: Prohibition Party

2) Ideological parties: focus on changing the country in some way. EX: Socialist Party wants government ownership of industry

3) Independent candidates: arise around a strong individual. EX: The Independent Party created for H. Ross Perot

MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM Most countries have a multi-party system

EX: Canada (3), Germany (5), Israel (20) all viewpoints can be heard If no party wins a majority, the party with

a plurality (more than anyone else but less than half) must form a coalition (partnership) with another party to get a majority

Problem is these coalitions often breakdown leading to a call for new elections

ONE-PARTY SYSTEMS The party and the government are the

same thing Elections are held to pick who is the

best to do the parties work, not on any ideas of that party

There is no opposition as it is illegal to work against the party

Not a democracy EX: China or Iran

NATIONAL PARTY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES Run by a chairperson who manages

the office and directs the staff Leads the fundraising effort for the

party Committees recruit candidates, teach

campaign strategies, organize funds and create advertising

Organizes the parties national convention which is held every 4 years

Sets the parties platform-overall strategy and the parties planks-individual ideas in the party platform

50 STATE ORGANIZATIONS Focus on electing party members to

state offices such as governor, attorney general, and state legislators

Helps the national committee with their campaigns in that particular state

LOCAL COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS Each state is divided into smaller

sections called precincts Each precinct is led by a precinct

captain They try to register as many people in

the party as they can Their job is to get to know the

community and the issues that are important there

Most party work is done at this level

POLITICAL MACHINES Local parties that are very good at

their jobs are called political machines

Guarantee votes and elections in their area

Became powerful at time when there were no government programs to help immigrants

Helped immigrants get jobs, apartments, and medical care in exchange for their vote

Became corrupt or unresponsive to the people

Most famous was Tammany Hall in New York City

NOMINATING CANDIDATES Usually done through primary

elections -elections in which people chose among several party members to run for the party in the general election

A closed primary -only declared party members can vote

In an open primary -anyone from either party can vote

Most states favor closed primaries so as to ensure only the best candidates are running

If no one wins a majority in a primary, the top two vote getters run against each other in a run-off election

CAMPAIGNING raise money for candidates write speeches and design advertising

campaigns promote the candidate (hang signs or

posters, give out flyers) register people and get them to the polls

on election day

INFORMING CITIZENS inform the public of key issues Sets up websites, makes pamphlets,

buys TV, radio, and newspaper ads

MANAGING THE GOVERNMENT Work does not end after the election Helps assign government jobs Serves as a basis for future job openings

LINKING LEVELS OF GOVERNMENTS

Develops good relationships and working environments

Help each other solve problems

MAYOR GOVERNOR PRESIDENT

ACTING AS A WATCHDOG The Party that loses the election can

watch the other party This forces the party in control to make

sure it is doing its job and following up on its campaign promises

Competition forces the parties to listen to us