define in your own words the term “political parties.” list the two major parties and name their...

• Define in your own words the term “political parties.”

• List the two major parties and name their parties national symbol.

• List at least two third parties.

Pump Primer

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 16: THE PARTY SYSTEM

• Being informed in political process is apart of being a good steward. It also enables a Christian to protect the civil liberties God has granted Americans.

• Christians should never allow their party loyalty to over- shadow their loyalty to Christ and His Great Commission. (Matt. 18: 19-20; I Peter 2:13-17, Rom. 13:1)

Biblical Integration

CHAPTER 16

LO 16.1• Define political party.• State the four political party functions.

LO 16.2• Explain why a two-party system developed in America• State the characteristics of a two-party system.• Identify the three major eras of political party competition.• Explain the factors that increased participation in political parties

LO 16.3• List the types of third parties.• Explain the importance of third parties.

Objectives

CHAPTER 16

LO 16.4• List the four components of a major party at the national level.• Describe the characteristics of a political party at the state and local levels.

LO 16.5• Discuss the factors that have weakened the traditional party organization.

Objectives

CHAPTER 16

PARTIES AND THEIR FUNCTION

Politics describes the exercise of public power, the art and energy of

governance.

pp. 325-327CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Party defined• Political parties are organized to gain

power by winning elections• Two major parties

• Republicans• Democrats

• Third parties

pp. 325-327CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

Republican Party (GOP) - Elephants

1874 – newspaper expressing alarm over the belief that Grant would seek a third office

MAJOR PARTIES = DOMINANT POLITICAL COMPETITORS

Democratic Party - DonkeysWhen Andrew Jackson ran for president in 1828, his opponents tried to label him a "jack…" for his populist views and his slogan, "Let the people rule." First time used to represent the Democratic party.

Political parties are not mentioned in the Constitution.

pp. 325-327CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Party Functions• Nominating candidates• Governing

• Partisanship• Watchdogs• Moderating influence

• Benefits and dangers

pp. 325-327CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM

• Reasons for Formation• Tradition

• Dating back to the Federalist & Anti-Federalist• Competition

• Not always equal• Varies in different areas of the country• Many presidential elections have been very

close

pp. 327-336CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Reasons for Formation• Electoral System

• Single-member districts (one representative is chosen)

• Winner-take-all

pp. 327-336CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Characteristics• Diverse Support• Broad Appeal• Similar but Not the Same

• Party platforms• Different Ideologies

pp. 327-336CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

one whose political view seeks to change the political, economic, and social status quo

Liberal

p. 331CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

one whose political view defends against major changes in the political, economic, and social institutions of society while seeking to improve conditions with reform as needed

Conservative

p. 331CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Characteristics• Party Membership• Stability

• More stable than a multiparty system• Coalitions

• Flexibility

pp. 327-336CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Development and Direction• Dominance in the White House• Control of the House and Senate

pp. 327-336CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Jefferson and Jackson Era• Conventions

• Delegates • Previously, a caucus was used

• Patronage• Spoils system

pp. 327-336CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• The Powerful Few• Conventions were still dominated by a

small number of power brokers• Primaries

• Weakened political parties

pp. 327-336CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Other Party Systems• Multiparty System

• Requires a coalition to govern• One-Party System

• Control by an elite few

pp. 327-336CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

THIRD PARTIES

• Types of Third Parties• Issue Parties

• Usually one single burning issue• Ideological Parties

• Usually outside the mainstream

pp. 336-339CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Types of Third Parties• Depression Parties

• Usually lose strength as economy improves

• Splinter Parties• Split from, and take votes from, the

parent party

pp. 336-339CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Importance• Popularization of ideas

• Political party convention• Take votes from another candidate• Draw attention to specific issues

pp. 336-339CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

PARTY ORGANIZATION

There are widely differing amounts of organizational, financial, and

political strength among a party’s many components.

pp. 339-343CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Membership Strength• Importance of individual initiative• Precinct meetings• County and state conventions

• Federalism• Many different levels of government

pp. 339-343CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Nominating Process• Potential for infighting• Competition and bitter rivalry• Need to unify before Election Day

pp. 339-343CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• National Organization• National Convention

• Summer of presidential election years

pp. 339-343CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• National Organization• National Committee and National

Chairman• Administration• Fundraising• Republican National Committee (RNC)• Democratic National Committee (DNC)

pp. 339-343CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• State and Local Levels• State party organization• Local party divisions

• Wards• Precincts

pp. 339-343CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

PARTY DECLINE

• Changes• Primary Laws• Social Upheaval

• 1968 Democratic National Convention• Primary and Delegate Increase

• Involvement by interest groups

pp. 343-346CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Changes• Campaign Expense• Party Democratization

pp. 343-346CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Independent Voters• Yellow-Dog Demise

• Independent: no party affiliation• Party Switching

• Ticket splitting

pp. 343-346CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Media Impact• Television

• What will be addressed during public broadcasts

• Marketing of the candidate• The Internet and Social Media

pp. 343-346CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

Despite the forces that have weakened the current party system,

political parties show no signs of becoming extinct.

pp. 343-346CHAPTER 16AMERICAN GOVERNMENT