3.1 Political Parties

Do Now:

Why do cliques (exclusive groups of friends) form?

Political Parties

Political Parties

What are they?

•Dancing and Cake?•Good ol’ Boys with cigars?

•Political organizations that intend to affect public policies by nominating like minded politicians.

Political Parties

Founding Fathers’ Thoughts:

"By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community."

James Madison, Federalist Paper 10

Political Parties

Founding Fathers’ Thoughts:

I have already intimated to you the danger of Parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on Geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, & warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party, generally.

George Washington, Farewell Presidential Address

Political Parties

Functions:

•Nomination•Education•Checks and Balances

Political Parties

Group Discussion/Reflection Journal:Discuss the following question in your groups and then write a reflection paragraph

What would our democracy look like without parties? Identify concrete ways in which elections and policy making would be affected (amongst other affects you foresee). Make sure to visit the following areas in your discussion: elections, issue education, equality.

Political Parties

Organization: A decentralized network of local, state and national groups.

National Committee

National Chair

State Organizations Local Organizations

National Convention

Political Parties

National Convention:

The national convention is a meeting of party members which nominates the presidential and vice presidential candidates for the party. The convention also determines the party platform for the election.

Political Parties

National Committee:

The group of influential party members who run the party between presidential election years. This group organizes the National Convention. It includes chairpersons from states and other territories as well as other officials.

Political Parties

National Chair:

This person leads the National Committee and runs the staff of the national party headquarters. Organizing party fundraising is a critical role of the position.

Political Parties

State Organization:

The State central committee runs state party politics. These bodies are often closely tied to influential politicians within the state.

Political Parties

Local Organization:

Local party politics are divided in increasingly smaller bodies.

Ward- Units used to elect city council members are also used by parties

Precinct- The smallest political unit in which all voters report to one polling location

Political Parties

The Three Components of a Party:

•Organization-The actual party machinery

•Electorate-The voters (and even non-voters) who identify with party

•Members in Office-Elected officials who align with party platform

3.1 Assignment

Reflection Journal

Which of the three components of a political party is the most influential in affecting public policy? Why? (make sure to explain why your choice is most influential, and why others are not)

(Organization, Electorate, Elected Officials)