sscg8a: the student will demonstrate knowledge of local, state and national elections. a. describe...
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Political Parties
SSCG8A: The Student will demonstrate knowledge of local, state and national elections.a. Describe the organization, role and constituencies of political parties.
Bell Ringer
In one well-written paragraph, please explain how you can take an active role in the Political Process.
(What can you do? Why is this important? How does your role relate to Democracy?)
Vocabulary
Political Party: A group of people that try to control and influence the government by getting people elected to political office
Major Party: Political parties that are supported by a large number of people and have significant influence the government
Minor Party: A political party that is not supported by a large number of people
Purposes of Political Parties
Nominate Candidates Narrow down voters’ choices, select candidates that best
represent the ideology of the party Develop a Platform
Goals and statements that clarify the goals of the elected officials in the party
Educate the Public Primarily about the candidates in the party, but also on key
focus issues Rally Voters
Motivate people to TURN OUT to vote “Bonding Agent”
Makes sure candidates are qualified and stick to party ideals while in office- “gluing” the party together
America’s two party system
Political parties are NOT mentioned in the Constitution
But, America has a TWO PARTY SYSTEM Benefits of a two party system:
Stability Continuity
Why do we have a two party system? Started with Federalists and Anti Federalists Once two major viewpoints were established, we
naturally evolved to a 2 party system- and now, its all that we know
It is difficult for a minor party to be successful in elections
Major and Minor Parties
In the United States, our major parties are REPUBLICANS and DEMOCRATS
Political ideology: Republicans: tend to be more
conservative Democrats: tend to be more liberal
Liberal Support for greater
government control/regulation in economic matters and less government control/regulation of individual matters.
LibertarianSupport for minimal
government control of both economic and social issues
ConservativeSupport for less
government control/regulation in economic matters and greater government control/regulation of individual matters.
TotalitarianSupport for
complete government control of economic and social issues
Govt.
Control
Economic Issues
Libertarian
Conservative
Totalitarian
Liberal
Govt.Control
Freedom
Extreme: Socialism, Communism
Extreme: Laissez-Faire, Monopoly
Economic liberals favor broad government involvement in economic policymaking and regulation of business.Favor higher taxes, particularly progressive (based on income level).
Programs assisting the poor such as Medicaid and Head Start.
Redistribution of income (welfare; social security).
Anti-trust legislation.Sympathize with labor in Labor-Management issues.
Economic conservatives favor limited government involvement in economic policymaking and regulation of business.Favor lower taxes, particularly regressive (flat tax, sales taxes).
Fewer programs with the goal of redistributing income (private charitable assistance; invest own money for retirement).
Oppose government regulation of market choices.
Sympathize with business in Labor-Management issues.
The Symbols
Over time, symbols have been associated with the political parties
Originally, the parties did not CHOOSE their symbols
Political cartoonists startedusing them as a way to poke fun at the parties
Thomas Nast was actually the cartoonist responsible for the creation of these animals in his political cartoons. Nast’s cartoons were published in Harper’s Weekly, and he is considered the man behind these symbols
Similarities of Major Parties in U.S.
All value personal rights, freedoms
Educational opportunities for all
Economic opportunities for all
Government duty- to protect nation
Preserve environment Help citizens
Differences
Disagree on ways to meet goals Example:
Democrats- government directly helps the poor
Republicans- government helps economy and poor get jobs
Third parties Third parties or minor parties are OTHER
parties in the United States that have a smaller support base
There are several types: Ideological party: united by a belief in a political
ideology (i.e. communist party) Single Issue party: united by their support of ONE
major issue (i.e. Green Party- the environment) Economic Protest: United by dissatisfaction with a
current economic situation Splinter party : A group of major party supporters
that have split away from the major party