splash screen. chapter intro 1 the constitution makes no mention of political parties, but the first...

Splash Screen

Chapter Intro 1

The Constitution makes no mention of political parties, but the first ones formed during the early years of the republic. Today, the United States has several political parties, although two—the Democrats and the Republicans—dominate American politics.

VS 1

What Is a Political Party?

• A political party is a group of individuals outside of government that organizes to win elections, to operate the government, and to determine policy.

VS 4

What Political Parties Do

• Select candidates

• Inform the public

• Coordinate policy making

• Balance competing interests

• Run campaigns

VS 3

Organization

• Each party has a national committee and congressional campaign committees. Each party also has 50 state committees and many local party organizations.

• In the past, some local party organizations became so powerful that their candidates won almost every election. These were known as political machines.

Section 2

Organization of Political Parties (cont.)

• The national committee of each party:

– Made of representatives from every state

– Raises funds for presidential elections

– Organizes the party’s national convention

– Run by a national party chairperson

Organization of Political Parties

Section 2

• National Convention:

– Held once every four years

– Party delegates nominate candidates for president and vice president

Organization of Political Parties (cont.)

Organization of Political Parties

Section 2

• Party delegates:

– Chosen through presidential primary elections and caucuses

– Write the party platform

Organization of Political Parties (cont.)

Organization of Political Parties

Section 2

• State organizations of a party:

– Focus on electing party candidates to state offices

– Work to elect party candidates for national offices

Organization of Political Parties (cont.)

• Local organizations of a party consisting of city, town, and county committees

Organization of Political Parties

Section 2

• Precinct:

Organization of Political Parties (cont.)

– Geographic area containing a specific number of voters

– Voters cast ballots at the same place

– Run by precinct captains

Organization of Political Parties

Section 2

Organization of Political Parties (cont.)

• County committees:

– Counties are the largest political units within a state

– County chairperson has political power

– Precinct leaders building the party at the “grassroots” level

Organization of Political Parties

Section 2

• Two party system – 2 major parties in the United States. Democrats and Republicans

•Third Party – smaller, minor parties

Section 2

Nominating Candidates (cont.)

• Political parties hold primaries to nominate candidates for office

• Direct primary:

– Voters chose candidates to represent each party in a general election

– Two main forms are closed and open primaries

Section 2

• Only declared members of a party allowed to vote for party’s nominee in a closed primary

• Voters need not declare their party preference to vote for party’s nominee in an open primary

• Arguments for and against the closed primary

Nominating Candidates (cont.)

Section 2

Nominating Candidates (cont.)

• Winning a primary:

– Plurality of votes

– Majority of votes

– Winner becomes party candidate in the general election

Section 2

Other Party Roles

In addition to nominating candidates for office, political parties have many other responsibilities.

Section 2

Other Party Roles (cont.)

• Political parties perform many functions that allow citizens to communicate with the government.

Section 2

• Functions of political parties:

Other Party Roles (cont.)

– Campaigning for candidates

– Informing citizens

– Carrying the people’s message

– Operating the government

– Acting as a watchdog

– Linking the different levels of government

Figure 3

DFS Trans 1

a democrat