Chapter 9.2Role of Political Parties

Party Structures & The Roles They Play in Government Today

Bell Ringer 9: You may use pp. 4-6!

1. What is the point of a political party?2. What is the symbol of the Democratic Party?3. What color is associated with the Republican

party?4. What term means you go door-to-door to

meet and talk to voters?5. What is one thing that happens at the

national convention for each party?

Review

• Grade exit tickets.• Go over each part.• Do each part for each party:– Symbol?– Ideology?– 2012 Ticket?– Logo?– Slogan?

Symbols?

Ideology?

Liberal Conservative

2012 Ticket

Logo?

Slogan?

Local Level• In the structure of the political party, this is the

“Grassroots” level.• Local committees recruit party members to work the polls,

to run for elective offices, and to “get out the vote,” and to attend and represent them at the state level functions.

• The local chairperson runs the day-to-day operations to organize the party and oversees fundraising events.

Currituck GOPCurrituck-Democratic-Party-

• Precinct workers work the polling sites

State Level

• State committees support party nominees for state elective offices, choose delegates to the national committee and national convention, and choose the state chairperson.

• The state chairperson runs the day-to-day operations to organize the party, organize the state convention and oversees fundraising events.

http://www.ncdp.org/about/messagehttp://www.ncgop.org/

National Level• This level is the most visible but not as powerful as the

other levels.• The National committee is made up of representatives

from every state. They plan & organize the National convention.

• The National chairperson runs the day-to-day operations to organize the party and oversees fundraising events.

http://www.democrats.org/about/our_leadershttp://www.gop.com/our-party/leadership/

National Convention• Held every 4 years to write the party

platform and officially nominate the party’s Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates.

• The Party’s Presidential Candidate chooses their Vice Presidential running mate. These offices run as a “ticket.”

• Held in a large city in a swing or battleground state.– 2012 EXS: Democratic Convention in Charlotte, NC; GOP

Convention in Tampa, FL

Go over Each Function• Nominating Candidates: The party chooses who represents them in

the general election– Open primary (All voters can choose party’s nominee)– Closed primary (Only party members choose nominee)– Caucus (Party meeting where voters stand with nominee)

• Campaigning for candidates (Raise $, canvassing)• Informing citizens (Run ads, stumping)• Managing government (Make appointments by patronage, upper-

hand in making laws)• Linking levels of government (platform, campaigning for candidates)• Acting as a watchdog (losing party watches and report majority

abuses through the use of the media)

Class Election, p. 7

1. Choose your party.2. Candidates “Throw your hat into the Ring.”– How many candidates were there for each party?

3. Each party will nominate your candidates:a. Republicans hold open direct primary (Winner?)b. Democrats hold closed direct primary (Winner?)c. Libertarians hold party caucus (Winner?)