Chapter 5Section 1

What does a Political Party do?

Political PartiesO “A group of persons who seek to

control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office”

O In the US there are 2 major partiesO Republican and Democrat

O There are also many minor parties both big and smallO Can you name any????O List

Essential to democratic government

O Lead to policy developmentsO Different choices of who and how to

governO One way for the people to express

their opinionsO Theoretically they are supposed to

facilitate compromise

Democrats-The DonkeyO Presidential candidate Andrew Jackson was the

first Democrat ever to be associated with the donkey symbol.

O His opponents during the election of 1828 tried to label him a "jackass" for his “stubborn” populist beliefs and slogan, "Let the people rule."

O Jackson was entertained by the notion and ended up using it to his advantage on his campaign posters.

O But cartoonist Thomas Nast is credited with making the donkey the recognized symbol of the Democratic Party.

Republicans – The Elephant

O Political cartoonist Thomas Nast was also responsible for the Republican Party elephant.

O In a cartoon that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1874, Nast drew a donkey clothed in lion's skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of those animals, the elephant, was labeled "The Republican Vote." That's all it took for the elephant to become associated with the Republican Party.

Thomas Nast

Major Functions of Political Parties

1. Nominating Candidates

O Parties select candidates and present them to the public

O There needs to be a procedure for this and the political parties are the best option

O This is almost exclusively in the hands of the parties

2. Informing & Activating Supporters

O Other groups can do thisO BUT the parties do it the most

O “this add was sponsored by the Republican National Committee”

O Shapes the positions of the candidates

O Gets out and informs the voters

3. GoverningO Most candidates are chosen due to

their party relationship and their ability to follow the party line

O Partisanship = Party LineO The strong support of the party and

its policies

Party Platform O A list of the principles which a political

party supports in order to appeal to the general public for the purpose of having a party's candidate(s) voted into office.

O This often takes the form of a list of support for, or opposition to, controversial topics.

O In what ways are political parties helpful?O In what ways might they be problematic?

Can you guess the party?

Gun Control O FavorO Gun control is

needed

O OpposedO Gun control is

unconstitutional

Minimum WageO FavorO Increase the

minimum wage to help workers

O OpposedO Do not raise

the minimum wage because it hurts businesses

HealthcareO Privates are

preferable to government mandates

O Government should require universal access to healthcare

TaxesO Increase taxes

on the wealthy to pay for public programs

O Cutting taxes for everyone helps the economy

MilitaryO Increase

military spending

O Cut veteran’s benefits

O Don’t be constrained by other nations O NATOO UN

O Cut Military spending

O Expand veteran’s benefits

O Act in concert with other nations O NATOO UN

Death PenaltyO OpposedO It is not

deterrentO Innocent

people are in jeopardy

O FavorO The death

penalty is necessary and effective