Aim:Aim: What is the purpose of What is the purpose of political parties?political parties?

Do Now:Do Now: What did George What did George

Washington say Washington say about political about political parties? parties?

Why did he say this? Why did he say this? Do you agree with Do you agree with

him? him? Why haven’t we Why haven’t we

followed his advice?followed his advice?

Political Parties:Political Parties: Organizations made up Organizations made up of people who have similar ideas about the of people who have similar ideas about the direction of public policies. direction of public policies. – They are designed to win elections to get their They are designed to win elections to get their

policies passed.policies passed.

Platform: Platform: Parties identify issues that are Parties identify issues that are relevant to voters. relevant to voters. – They conduct opinion polls to help the party They conduct opinion polls to help the party

form a platform, which tells voters what the form a platform, which tells voters what the party stands for.party stands for.

– They educate voters on issues in the They educate voters on issues in the perspective of the partyperspective of the party

Purposes of Parties:Purposes of Parties: Parties provide a candidate with a label Parties provide a candidate with a label Elect party members to office to control the government Elect party members to office to control the government

on the local, state, and national level to implement public on the local, state, and national level to implement public policiespolicies

Organize governmentOrganize government The “out” party keeps an eye on the “in” party, and The “out” party keeps an eye on the “in” party, and

critiques the way they run the govt. (loyal opposition)critiques the way they run the govt. (loyal opposition) Help maintain balanceHelp maintain balance Parties help raise funds for individuals running for office Parties help raise funds for individuals running for office

in that party in that party Individuals are still responsible for their own financingIndividuals are still responsible for their own financing

Explain two benefits and two Explain two benefits and two drawbacks of having a two drawbacks of having a two

party system.party system.

I. The Two-Party SystemI. The Two-Party System

A. RepublicansA. Republicans

1. tend to favor lower taxes, a strong 1. tend to favor lower taxes, a strong military, and big businessesmilitary, and big businesses

2. believe State and local governments 2. believe State and local governments should take a primary role in should take a primary role in administering social programsadministering social programs

B. DemocratsB. Democrats

1. tend to favor higher taxes, especially 1. tend to favor higher taxes, especially for the wealthy, and a smaller militaryfor the wealthy, and a smaller military

2. believe the Federal Govt. should take a 2. believe the Federal Govt. should take a primary role in administering social primary role in administering social programsprograms

II. Criticisms of the Two-Party II. Criticisms of the Two-Party SystemSystem

A. Undemocratic: The American voters only A. Undemocratic: The American voters only have two choices, year after yearhave two choices, year after year

B. Power switches back and forth with few B. Power switches back and forth with few major changes in the social systemmajor changes in the social system

Red States v. Blue StatesRed States v. Blue States

III. Pros of the Two-Party SystemIII. Pros of the Two-Party System

A. Maintains stability and balance in American A. Maintains stability and balance in American GovernmentGovernment

B. Prevents fringe parties from gaining powerB. Prevents fringe parties from gaining power

Do the two major parties accurately Do the two major parties accurately represent your interests?represent your interests?

IV. Power and Structure of PartiesIV. Power and Structure of Parties

A. Party identification is weaker today than in the A. Party identification is weaker today than in the 1919thth Century, as more people identify themselves Century, as more people identify themselves as independentsas independents

B. Parties rarely play an important role in the lives B. Parties rarely play an important role in the lives of Americansof Americans

C. People tend to focus on Presidential electionsC. People tend to focus on Presidential electionsD. Parties are weaker today because they are D. Parties are weaker today because they are

essentially comprised of coalitions of local essentially comprised of coalitions of local parties and groupsparties and groups1. The power in American government is decentralized, 1. The power in American government is decentralized,

although it is becoming more centralized in recent although it is becoming more centralized in recent yearsyears

E. Party power is also decentralized as it is E. Party power is also decentralized as it is regulated by State and Federal Lawsregulated by State and Federal Laws

V. OrganizationV. OrganizationA. Today, both the Democrats and Republicans have:A. Today, both the Democrats and Republicans have:

1. 1. National conventionsNational conventions that meet every four years that meet every four years to choose a presidential candidateto choose a presidential candidatea. Democrats have made an effort to represent women and a. Democrats have made an effort to represent women and

minorities at their conventionsminorities at their conventions

b. Superdelegates have a great deal of power in the b. Superdelegates have a great deal of power in the Democratic Party (Senators and Representatives)Democratic Party (Senators and Representatives)

2. National committees2. National committees that manage party affairs in that manage party affairs in between elections between elections

3. Congressional campaign committees3. Congressional campaign committees that help that help their members of Congress running for re-election their members of Congress running for re-election

4. National chairmen4. National chairmen who manage the day-to-day who manage the day-to-day work of the parties. work of the parties.

B. The Democrats copied the Republican B. The Democrats copied the Republican strategy of sending computerized mailings strategy of sending computerized mailings to mass numbers of people to raise to mass numbers of people to raise money.money.

1. Huge amounts of money are now raised 1. Huge amounts of money are now raised by both partiesby both parties

C. In every state there is a Democratic and C. In every state there is a Democratic and Republican state party organized under Republican state party organized under state lawstate law1. state central committee1. state central committee

2. county committees 2. county committees

3. city, town, and precinct committees. 3. city, town, and precinct committees.

III. Machines vs. IdeologyIII. Machines vs. Ideology

A. Political Machines base participation on A. Political Machines base participation on incentives like jobs, money, and government incentives like jobs, money, and government favorsfavors

B. Most machines are defunct today, but were B. Most machines are defunct today, but were quite powerful in the 19quite powerful in the 19thth Century (Tammany Century (Tammany Hall)Hall)

C. Parties today are more ideologicalC. Parties today are more ideologicalD. Began with “reform clubs” that became D. Began with “reform clubs” that became

organized social movements (i.e. Christian organized social movements (i.e. Christian Coalition)Coalition)