Political parties and Political parties and what they dowhat they do

Generally, a political party Generally, a political party has three components. If has three components. If they work together, the they work together, the political party usually political party usually

succeeds in gaining control of succeeds in gaining control of the governmentthe government

The The party in the electorateparty in the electorate is made up is made up from the people who identify with a from the people who identify with a specific party and feel a strong sense of specific party and feel a strong sense of loyalty to that party. These party loyalty to that party. These party members are typically passive, and show members are typically passive, and show their party support by voting their party support by voting

The The party in governmentparty in government is made up from is made up from candidates who have won elections under candidates who have won elections under a party label. These members of the party a party label. These members of the party are the most visible representatives of the are the most visible representatives of the party.party.

Party organizationParty organization includes people who includes people who actively work for a political party.actively work for a political party.

Political parties have several important Political parties have several important functions. However, they can be functions. However, they can be classified under four general headings.classified under four general headings.Parties link people to government and Parties link people to government and

policies.policies.They recruit people to run for office.They recruit people to run for office.They educate people about issues and They educate people about issues and concerns.concerns.They help resolve conflict. Political They help resolve conflict. Political parties absorb many special interest parties absorb many special interest groups, and help modify the different groups, and help modify the different opinions into a moderate party position.opinions into a moderate party position.

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the American party systemAmerican party system

The American political party The American political party system has several unique system has several unique

characteristicscharacteristics

Ours is a two party system. The Ours is a two party system. The most common explanation for the most common explanation for the two-party system in America involves two-party system in America involves the nature of elections. In the United the nature of elections. In the United States, there are single-member States, there are single-member districts and a plurality vote. districts and a plurality vote. Plurality simply means that the Plurality simply means that the candidate who receives the greatest candidate who receives the greatest number of votes wins-even if the number of votes wins-even if the number of votes is not a majority.number of votes is not a majority.

Example: Lets say a third party forms in Example: Lets say a third party forms in the state of Tennessee. The Party gains the state of Tennessee. The Party gains 10% of the vote throughout Tennessee. 10% of the vote throughout Tennessee. But each representative district in But each representative district in Tennessee will be awarded to the Tennessee will be awarded to the candidate who receives the most votes in candidate who receives the most votes in the district. If Republican and Democratic the district. If Republican and Democratic Party candidates are splitting the Party candidates are splitting the remaining 90% of the vote, the third remaining 90% of the vote, the third candidate has no chance of winning a candidate has no chance of winning a district. Voters will most likely not waste district. Voters will most likely not waste their vote on the candidate even if they their vote on the candidate even if they support that candidate. Election laws support that candidate. Election laws (designed by the two dominant parties) (designed by the two dominant parties) make it difficult for third party candidates make it difficult for third party candidates to get on many election ballots.to get on many election ballots.

Political parties advance moderate Political parties advance moderate positions. Die-hard political party positions. Die-hard political party organizers may have radical political organizers may have radical political beliefs. But the party in the beliefs. But the party in the electorate brings many ideas into a electorate brings many ideas into a political party. This forces people to political party. This forces people to compromise over many issues. The compromise over many issues. The result is a moderate party position.result is a moderate party position.

It is difficult for parties to discipline It is difficult for parties to discipline elected officials who do not strictly elected officials who do not strictly conform to the party’s position on conform to the party’s position on issues. Voters in different regions issues. Voters in different regions vary in their support for party vary in their support for party positions. The people who are elected positions. The people who are elected represent the will of the people who represent the will of the people who elected them. Many elected officials elected them. Many elected officials will cross over to an opposing party will cross over to an opposing party position because the people who position because the people who elected them support that position.elected them support that position.

Campaigns and Political Campaigns and Political PartiesParties

It is virtually impossible to get It is virtually impossible to get elected to government office elected to government office

without help from a political party without help from a political party organizationorganization

Typically, a candidate will identify Typically, a candidate will identify with one of the two major political with one of the two major political parties. Active members of the parties. Active members of the political party system will generally political party system will generally have extreme political beliefs. In have extreme political beliefs. In order to gain support from party order to gain support from party organizers, the candidate will have to organizers, the candidate will have to appeal to those extreme beliefs. At appeal to those extreme beliefs. At most levels, a primary election forces most levels, a primary election forces several candidates from the same several candidates from the same party to compete against each other. party to compete against each other. The winner of the primary election The winner of the primary election advances to the general election.advances to the general election.

The general election pits candidates The general election pits candidates from opposing parties against each from opposing parties against each other. During the primary campaign, other. During the primary campaign, a candidate battles to receive more a candidate battles to receive more support than the other candidates support than the other candidates receive. In this phase of the receive. In this phase of the campaign, candidates representing campaign, candidates representing the broadest group of special the broadest group of special interests within the political party interests within the political party usually gain the most votes.usually gain the most votes.

Once the candidate wins the Once the candidate wins the opportunity to represent the political opportunity to represent the political party, serious fundraising begins. party, serious fundraising begins. The most generous donors to a The most generous donors to a campaign have special interests they campaign have special interests they want a candidate to support. The want a candidate to support. The candidate must gain the support of candidate must gain the support of these donors in order to have the these donors in order to have the funding to win the election. However, funding to win the election. However, in order to win the general election, in order to win the general election, the candidate must also appeal to the the candidate must also appeal to the greatest number of voters. greatest number of voters.

Extreme party positions must be Extreme party positions must be modified and members of the party modified and members of the party must compromise in order to create must compromise in order to create a position that will gain the most a position that will gain the most votes for the candidate. If the votes for the candidate. If the political party fails to compromise, political party fails to compromise, and the beliefs of the party are seen and the beliefs of the party are seen as too extreme, it is unlikely the as too extreme, it is unlikely the candidate will win the election.candidate will win the election.

Many times, past policies influence Many times, past policies influence future success for a political party in future success for a political party in the United States. After World War I, the United States. After World War I, the Republican Party supported the Republican Party supported business practices with the policy of business practices with the policy of laissez-faire. As long as the economy laissez-faire. As long as the economy was booming, and people thought was booming, and people thought they were doing well, they supported they were doing well, they supported the Republican Party candidates. As the Republican Party candidates. As the economy collapsed, people the economy collapsed, people blamed the policies of the Republican blamed the policies of the Republican Party for the Great Depression. Party for the Great Depression. People supported members of the People supported members of the Democratic Party until the 1950s.Democratic Party until the 1950s.

This example illustrates an important This example illustrates an important function of political parties. Political function of political parties. Political parties are the voice of loyal parties are the voice of loyal opposition remaining loyal to the opposition remaining loyal to the people while offering ideas that people while offering ideas that oppose the party that is in power at oppose the party that is in power at the time. When the opposing the time. When the opposing political party gains enough support political party gains enough support from the people, they usually gain from the people, they usually gain control of the government during the control of the government during the next election.next election.