Political Parties and Political Parties and ElectionsElections

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Voting and ElectionsVoting and Elections

Political PartiesPolitical PartiesDevelopment of Political PartiesDevelopment of Political Parties In America, there are 2 major parties- In America, there are 2 major parties- two party systemtwo party system US Constitution says nothing about political partiesUS Constitution says nothing about political parties

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson: strong states’ rights, weak central gov’t: strong states’ rights, weak central gov’t Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton: strong central gov’t , weak states’ rights: strong central gov’t , weak states’ rights

Democrat RepublicansDemocrat RepublicansDemocratsDemocrats FederalistsFederalistsWhigsWhigs Republicans (Lincoln first Rep. Republicans (Lincoln first Rep.

Pres.)Pres.) Third Parties believe neither of the major parties offer Third Parties believe neither of the major parties offer

positive platformspositive platforms No 3rd party has ever won an election, but they do effect No 3rd party has ever won an election, but they do effect

outcomeoutcome Some are invented just to stress an issue- alcoholSome are invented just to stress an issue- alcohol Communist Party USA, Socialist PartyCommunist Party USA, Socialist Party Ideological Parties Ideological Parties

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Most nations have Most nations have multi party systemsmulti party systems (more than 2)(more than 2) Canada (3); Israel (20) Canada (3); Israel (20)

Some have a Some have a 1 party system1 party system- Communist - Communist Party in ChinaParty in China

Major parties today differ in their beliefs on Major parties today differ in their beliefs on the role of gov’t in people’s livesthe role of gov’t in people’s lives

Each party, every 4 years, develops a Each party, every 4 years, develops a platformplatform and its’ and its’ planksplanks

Political PartiesPolitical PartiesOrganization of Political PartiesOrganization of Political Parties Parties operate on local, state and national levelParties operate on local, state and national level The nat’l comm. for each party helps its’ candidate get The nat’l comm. for each party helps its’ candidate get

electedelected Every 4 years, the nat’l comm. will hold a convention Every 4 years, the nat’l comm. will hold a convention

where party delegates write a platform, nominate a P where party delegates write a platform, nominate a P and VPand VP

State comm. focus on electing local officials to officeState comm. focus on electing local officials to office Each county or city is divided into Each county or city is divided into precinctsprecincts and will and will

elect officials from their precinctelect officials from their precinct Some local parties become very powerfulSome local parties become very powerfulpolitical political

machinesmachines Tammany Hall and Boss TweedTammany Hall and Boss Tweed Corrupt ring bribing people for votesCorrupt ring bribing people for votes

Political PartiesPolitical PartiesNominating CandidatesNominating Candidates Political parties are the only organization that can Political parties are the only organization that can

nominatenominate a person for office a person for office Parties nominate candidates using Parties nominate candidates using direct direct

primariesprimarieselections where voters choose candidates to elections where voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general electionrepresent each party in a general election

2 forms of direct primary2 forms of direct primary closed primaryclosed primary- only declared party members are allowed to - only declared party members are allowed to

votevote open primaryopen primary- voters do not declare party preference- voters do not declare party preference

Candidates need Candidates need pluralityplurality (most votes among those (most votes among those running) to win nominationrunning) to win nomination

If there is someone interested in running not from the If there is someone interested in running not from the two major parties, a two major parties, a petitionpetition can be used to get their can be used to get their name on the ballotname on the ballot

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Other Party RolesOther Party Roles Political parties do more than just nominate a Political parties do more than just nominate a

candidate for officecandidate for office Campaign for candidatesCampaign for candidates- raise money, make sure - raise money, make sure

ppl. are registered to voteppl. are registered to vote Informing citizensInforming citizens- get across ideas about policy - get across ideas about policy

(TV, radio, speeches)(TV, radio, speeches) Helping Manage GovernmentHelping Manage Government- hand out government - hand out government

jobsjobs Linking Different Levels of GovernmentLinking Different Levels of Government- mayors - mayors

and governorsand governors WatchdogWatchdog- the losing party will “watch” the party in - the losing party will “watch” the party in

power to check for any mistakes and wrongdoingpower to check for any mistakes and wrongdoing

Voting and ElectionsVoting and Elections

Who can Vote?Who can Vote? Voting is a responsibilityVoting is a responsibility During early years, most voters were white and there During early years, most voters were white and there

were restrictions on AA, NA, women, must own propertywere restrictions on AA, NA, women, must own property 15th A15th A- AA males have right to vote; - AA males have right to vote; 19th A19th A- Women - Women

have right to votehave right to vote Criminals in prison do not have the right to voteCriminals in prison do not have the right to vote To vote you must: be 18, a resident of the state, CitizenTo vote you must: be 18, a resident of the state, Citizen If you want to vote, you must registerIf you want to vote, you must register

Democrat, Republican, unaffiliatedDemocrat, Republican, unaffiliated Show proof of citizenship, address, ageShow proof of citizenship, address, age Assigned an election district (Assigned an election district (precinct)precinct)

Voting and ElectionsVoting and Elections

Steps in VotingSteps in Voting Election Day- Voters go to location where voting is carried Election Day- Voters go to location where voting is carried

outoutpolling placepolling place At the polls- study ballot and fill out form to be cross referencedAt the polls- study ballot and fill out form to be cross referenced Casting a Vote- hand your card to a “judge” and voteCasting a Vote- hand your card to a “judge” and vote

• Punch card machinePunch card machine• Lever machineLever machine

Absentee Voting- citizens who can’t get to the polls to voteAbsentee Voting- citizens who can’t get to the polls to vote Counting the Vote- Take returns to election board to be countedCounting the Vote- Take returns to election board to be counted

• Media likes to exit poll- ask voters who they voted for when Media likes to exit poll- ask voters who they voted for when they leavethey leave

Everyone eligible to vote is an Everyone eligible to vote is an electorateelectoratemany are many are apathetic apathetic (do not care)(do not care)

Voting and ElectionsVoting and ElectionsElection CampaignsElection Campaigns Types of ElectionsTypes of Elections

General ElectionsGeneral Elections: Voters choose candidates for : Voters choose candidates for office (pres, House, governor)office (pres, House, governor)

• Majority wins; loser can demand recountMajority wins; loser can demand recount

Voting on IssuesVoting on Issues• InitiativeInitiative: citizens propose new laws to be voted on by : citizens propose new laws to be voted on by

signing a petitionsigning a petition• PropositionProposition: a proposed law: a proposed law• ReferendumReferendum: Sign a petition to have the law voted on again: Sign a petition to have the law voted on again

• Special ElectionsSpecial Elections: Runoff elections; : Runoff elections; RecallRecall vote to vote to remove a public official from officeremove a public official from office

Voting and ElectionsVoting and ElectionsPresidential ElectionsPresidential Elections 3 major steps3 major steps

Nomination Nomination • Conventions are held to Conventions are held to

nominate 1 candidate from each nominate 1 candidate from each partyparty

• Delegates attend to represent Delegates attend to represent the opinions from each statethe opinions from each state

CampaignCampaign• In full swing by September- In full swing by September-

debate, make speechesdebate, make speeches The Vote and Electoral CollegeThe Vote and Electoral College

• Each state’s electors is pledged Each state’s electors is pledged to a candidate, who ever wins to a candidate, who ever wins the popular vote usually wins all the popular vote usually wins all of the state’s electoral votesof the state’s electoral votes

• Winner Take All SystemWinner Take All System• Whoever wins a majority of the Whoever wins a majority of the

538 electoral votes, wins538 electoral votes, wins

Voting and ElectionsVoting and ElectionsPaying for Election CampaignsPaying for Election Campaigns

It takes a lot of money to run a campaignIt takes a lot of money to run a campaign Purpose: convince public to vote for a particular candidatePurpose: convince public to vote for a particular candidate Campaign workers use techniques to sway opinionCampaign workers use techniques to sway opinion

• Canvassing:Canvassing: Door-to-door Door-to-door• EndorsementsEndorsements: Famous or popular person supports a campaign : Famous or popular person supports a campaign

(propaganda)(propaganda)• Advertising and Image MoldingAdvertising and Image Molding

Financing a CampaignFinancing a Campaign Until the 70s, much money came from large businesses Until the 70s, much money came from large businesses

and wealthy ppland wealthy ppl Gov’t tries to limit this kind of financing- Gov’t tries to limit this kind of financing- Finance reformFinance reform

You must tell what you are spending money onYou must tell what you are spending money on Accept federal funds for campaignsAccept federal funds for campaigns Limit how much individuals and companies can donateLimit how much individuals and companies can donate

Voting and ElectionsVoting and Elections

Public VS Private FundingPublic VS Private Funding Public: 1971 law says you can donate money Public: 1971 law says you can donate money

when doing tax returnswhen doing tax returns Private: Where most campaign money comes Private: Where most campaign money comes

fromfrom Business, labor unions, NRA, AMABusiness, labor unions, NRA, AMA Politicians must sneak to earn more Politicians must sneak to earn more

• Soft MoneySoft Money: Money given to political party, not candidate: Money given to political party, not candidate• Political Action Committees (PACSPolitical Action Committees (PACS): Organizations ): Organizations

designed to support candidates created by companies and designed to support candidates created by companies and unionsunions

Many say wealthy donators “buy” a candidateMany say wealthy donators “buy” a candidate