political parties. four party eras political parties

Political Parties

Political Parties

Four Party Eras

Political Parties

Political PartiesMulti-party System (European style)

1. Majority difficult to achieve2. Coalition governments

Political PartiesAmerican Two-Party System

House of Representatives = 435 seats


Republicans = 235 Democrats = 200

European Multi-Party System

Parliament = 100 seats




Conservatives = 30 Liberals = 28 Green=17 Soc. = 16 Ch.=9




Conservatives = 30

Liberals = 28 Green=17 Soc. = 16

Ch.=9




Conservatives = 30

Liberals = 28

Green=17

Soc. = 16

Ch.=9




Conservatives = 30 Liberals = 28Green=17 Soc. = 16Ch.=9

Political PartiesMulti-party System (European style)

1. Majority difficult to achieve2. Coalition governments3. Less stable

Political PartiesSome terminology . . .


A. “major parties” = Democrats and Republicans


A. “major parties” = Democrats and RepublicansB. “minor parties” or “third parties” = parties that

are NOT Democrats or Republicans

X X



are NOT Democrats or Republicans1. Libertarian2. Independent3. Green4. Reform

Political PartiesAmerican Nazi PartyAmerican Reform PartyBoston Tea PartyChristian Liberty PartyConstitution PartyCommunist PartyGreen Party of the United StatesIndependent American PartyJefferson Republican PartyLabor PartyLibertarian PartyModern Whig PartyNational Socialist MovementParty for Socialism and LiberationPeace and Freedom Party

Populist Party of AmericaProgressive Labor PartyProhibition PartyReform Party of the United States of AmericaRevolutionary Communist Party, USASocialist Party USASocialist Workers PartyU.S. Marxist–Leninist OrganizationUnited States Marijuana Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Nazi_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Reform_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party_(political_party)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Heritage_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Party_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_the_United_States_of_America

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Party_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_American_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Republican_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Party_(United_States,_1996)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_Party_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Whig_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_Movement_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_for_Socialism_and_Liberation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_and_Freedom_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populist_Party_of_America

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Labor_Party_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Party_of_the_United_States_of_America


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Communist_Party,_USA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Party_USA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Workers_Party_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Marxist%E2%80%93Leninist_Organization

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marijuana_Party



are NOT Democrats or Republicans1. Libertarian2. Independent3. Green4. Reform

C. “independents” = people who do NOT identify themselves as either Democrats or Republicans

Political PartiesTypes of minor parties

A. Promote a cause (ideological/issue)

Political PartiesAmerican Nazi PartyAmerican Reform PartyBoston Tea PartyChristian Liberty PartyConstitution PartyCommunist PartyGreen Party of the United StatesIndependent American PartyJefferson Republican PartyLabor PartyLibertarian PartyModern Whig PartyNational Socialist MovementParty for Socialism and LiberationPeace and Freedom Party

Populist Party of AmericaProgressive Labor PartyProhibition PartyReform Party of the United States of AmericaRevolutionary Communist Party, USASocialist Party USASocialist Workers PartyU.S. Marxist–Leninist OrganizationUnited States Marijuana Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Nazi_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Reform_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party_(political_party)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Heritage_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Party_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_the_United_States_of_America

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Party_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_American_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Republican_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Party_(United_States,_1996)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_Party_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Whig_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_Movement_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_for_Socialism_and_Liberation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_and_Freedom_Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populist_Party_of_America

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Labor_Party_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_Party



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Communist_Party,_USA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Party_USA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Workers_Party_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Marxist%E2%80%93Leninist_Organization

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marijuana_Party

Political PartiesTypes of minor parties

A. Promote a cause (ideological/issue)1. Communist Party2. Socialist Party3. Marijuana Party

B. Splinter1. American Independent Party (George

Wallace)C. Popular Individual

1. 1980 – John Anderson2. 1992, 1996 – Ross Perot

Political PartiesMinor parties – who cares?

A. Bring issues to the publicB. Act as spoilers

Political PartiesResponsible Party System

A. Parties present clear policy alternativesB. Each party’s candidates adhere to and execute

policy alternativesC. Minority party executes its loyal opposition roleD. Majority party accepts responsibility for results

political parties. four party eras political parties

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