political parties and ideology
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Political Parties and Ideology. What is a Party?. Political Party – a group of people who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office Major Party – a party that has a chance to win representation in government - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Political Parties and Political Parties and IdeologyIdeology
What is a Party?What is a Party?
Political Party – a group of people Political Party – a group of people who seek to control government who seek to control government through the winning of elections through the winning of elections and the holding of public officeand the holding of public office– Major Party – a party that has a Major Party – a party that has a
chance to win representation in chance to win representation in governmentgovernment
– Minor Party – any political party that Minor Party – any political party that doesn’tdoesn’t
Major PartiesMajor Parties
There are two major parties There are two major parties in the U.S. Can you name in the U.S. Can you name them?them?
What is Ideology?What is Ideology? Ideology is basically the way you look at Ideology is basically the way you look at
how the world workshow the world works Ideologies tend to be grouped in the U.S. Ideologies tend to be grouped in the U.S.
into 3 main categoriesinto 3 main categories
Liberal Moderate Conservative
What is Ideology?What is Ideology? There are other “fringe” ideologies present There are other “fringe” ideologies present
as well (not as common)as well (not as common)– Socialist (far left)Socialist (far left)– Marxist (far far left)Marxist (far far left)– Libertarian (far right)Libertarian (far right)– Religious fundamentalist (far far right)Religious fundamentalist (far far right)
Liberal Moderate Conservative
Liberal and ConservativeLiberal and Conservative
People do not have to be People do not have to be strictly liberal on all issues, or strictly liberal on all issues, or conservative on all issuesconservative on all issues
You can mix the two to form You can mix the two to form your own individual ideologyyour own individual ideology
We group them because We group them because certain viewpoints tend to certain viewpoints tend to naturally go togethernaturally go together
Liberal and ConservativeLiberal and Conservative
Common Liberal CharacteristicsCommon Liberal Characteristics– Desire progressive change in Desire progressive change in
societysociety– Main values: Idealism, Equality, Main values: Idealism, Equality,
Fairness, Personal FreedomFairness, Personal Freedom– Examples: ACLU, Sierra Club, Examples: ACLU, Sierra Club,
NAACP, NOW, labor unions, Dems.NAACP, NOW, labor unions, Dems.
Liberal and ConservativeLiberal and Conservative
Common Liberal Issue StancesCommon Liberal Issue Stances– Pro-choicePro-choice– Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action– Gun controlGun control– Progressive taxes (higher on rich)Progressive taxes (higher on rich)– Aid to the poorAid to the poor– Equal access to health careEqual access to health care– Protecting the environmentProtecting the environment– Equal gay rightsEqual gay rights
Liberal and ConservativeLiberal and Conservative Common Conservative Common Conservative
CharacteristicsCharacteristics– Desire to keep things as they are, Desire to keep things as they are,
maintain the status-quo, change maintain the status-quo, change should be cautious and slowshould be cautious and slow
– Main values: Realism, Law and Order, Main values: Realism, Law and Order, Justice, Morality, Economic FreedomJustice, Morality, Economic Freedom
– Examples: Christian Coalition, NRA, Examples: Christian Coalition, NRA, Americans for Tax Reform, Americans for Tax Reform, RepublicansRepublicans
Liberal and ConservativeLiberal and Conservative Common Conservative Issue StancesCommon Conservative Issue Stances
– Anti-abortionAnti-abortion– Belief in private sector efficiency over Belief in private sector efficiency over
the governmentthe government– Free gun ownership rightsFree gun ownership rights– Cutting taxes, less progressive taxationCutting taxes, less progressive taxation– Cutting regulations on businessesCutting regulations on businesses– Immigration controlImmigration control– Increased military spendingIncreased military spending– Support traditional marriageSupport traditional marriage
What Do Parties Do?What Do Parties Do?Nominate CandidatesNominate Candidates Inform and Activate SupportersInform and Activate SupportersThe “Bonding Agent” Function The “Bonding Agent” Function
– making sure that – making sure that officeholders do a good job officeholders do a good job once they are electedonce they are elected
GovernGovernAct as a Watchdog – criticizes Act as a Watchdog – criticizes
the opposing partythe opposing party
The Two-Party SystemThe Two-Party System
Why do we have a two party Why do we have a two party system?system?– 1. Historical Basis – division 1. Historical Basis – division
between Federalists and Anti-between Federalists and Anti-FederalistsFederalists
– 2. Tradition – it has always been 2. Tradition – it has always been that way, so it naturally self-that way, so it naturally self-perpetuatesperpetuates
The Two-Party SystemThe Two-Party System
3. The American Ideological 3. The American Ideological Consensus – for the most part, Consensus – for the most part, we pretty much agree on all of we pretty much agree on all of the major stuffthe major stuff–People should own propertyPeople should own property–We should have equalityWe should have equality–People have the right to votePeople have the right to vote
The Two-Party SystemThe Two-Party System
4. The Electoral System – 4. The Electoral System – the U.S. uses single-the U.S. uses single-member districts… that member districts… that means only one person means only one person wins representation from wins representation from each districteach district
Multiparty SystemsMultiparty SystemsSeveral major parties, many Several major parties, many
lesser parties all compete for lesser parties all compete for and win public officeand win public office
Mostly in Europe and Latin Mostly in Europe and Latin American DemocraciesAmerican Democracies
Many parties must form a Many parties must form a coalition, or a group of parties coalition, or a group of parties that form a majoritythat form a majority
One-Party Systems
• Found in dictatorships where only one party is allowed
•Also found in places where one of the major parties has no chance of winning
Party Membership PatternsParty Membership Patterns
Party Party membership is membership is voluntaryvoluntary
Each party Each party must try to must try to attract as much attract as much support as support as possiblepossible
Party Membership PatternsParty Membership Patterns
Some demographic groups are Some demographic groups are more reliable to each party, more reliable to each party, thoughthough
Tend to be Democrat – Female, Tend to be Democrat – Female, African American, Hispanic, African American, Hispanic, Catholic, Jewish, Union Member, Catholic, Jewish, Union Member, Lower Income, Lower Education, Lower Income, Lower Education, Under 30, Over 60Under 30, Over 60
Party Membership PatternsParty Membership Patterns
Some demographic groups are Some demographic groups are more reliable to each party, more reliable to each party, thoughthough
Tend to be Republican – Male, Tend to be Republican – Male, White, Protestant, Work in the White, Protestant, Work in the Business Community, Higher Business Community, Higher Income, Higher Education, Middle-Income, Higher Education, Middle-AgedAged
History of the Two-Party History of the Two-Party SystemSystem
The First Two PartiesThe First Two Parties– FederalistsFederalists
Founded by Alexander HamiltonFounded by Alexander HamiltonBelieved in forming a strong Believed in forming a strong national government, supported national government, supported policies that favored businesspolicies that favored business
History of the Two-Party History of the Two-Party SystemSystem
The First Two PartiesThe First Two Parties– Democratic-RepublicansDemocratic-Republicans
Founded by Thomas JeffersonFounded by Thomas JeffersonBelieved in limiting the federal Believed in limiting the federal government’s power, and government’s power, and supported policies that supported policies that benefited the “common man”benefited the “common man”
History of the Two-Party History of the Two-Party SystemSystem
Era of the Democrats (1800-Era of the Democrats (1800-1860)1860)– Democratic-Republicans had Democratic-Republicans had come to dominate politics, but come to dominate politics, but then broke into two factions, then broke into two factions, the Democrats and Whigsthe Democrats and Whigs
– Democrats, led by Andrew Democrats, led by Andrew Jackson, won most of the time Jackson, won most of the time over the Whigsover the Whigs
History of the Two-Party History of the Two-Party SystemSystem
Era of the Republicans (1860-1932)Era of the Republicans (1860-1932)– Began with election of Abraham Began with election of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil WarLincoln and the Civil War
– Republicans dominated elections Republicans dominated elections due to support from businesses and due to support from businesses and African AmericansAfrican Americans
– Democrats only won in the SouthDemocrats only won in the South
History of the Two-Party History of the Two-Party SystemSystem
The Return of the Democrats The Return of the Democrats (1932-1968)(1932-1968)– The Great Depression turned The Great Depression turned people against the Republican people against the Republican Party, especially as FDR led Party, especially as FDR led the U.S. out of the Depressionthe U.S. out of the Depression
– Dwight Eisenhower was the Dwight Eisenhower was the only Republican from this only Republican from this periodperiod
History of the Two-Party History of the Two-Party SystemSystem
Divided Government (1968-Divided Government (1968-Present)Present)– Nixon’s Watergate scandal has Nixon’s Watergate scandal has led people to distrust governmentled people to distrust government
– Characterized by different parties Characterized by different parties controlling Congress and the controlling Congress and the PresidencyPresidency
– Country is evenly divided Country is evenly divided (remember the 2000 election?)(remember the 2000 election?)
Minor PartiesMinor Parties
Why run for Why run for election when you election when you know you will know you will lose?lose?– Act as the Act as the “spoiler” (Perot “spoiler” (Perot in 1992, Nader in 1992, Nader in 2000)in 2000)
Minor PartiesMinor Parties
Why run for Why run for election when you election when you know you will lose?know you will lose?– Make your issues Make your issues public, get the public, get the major parties to major parties to adopt themadopt them
Minor PartiesMinor Parties
Why run for Why run for election when you election when you know you will know you will lose?lose?– Criticize the Criticize the major parties major parties (That’s basically (That’s basically all Nader does)all Nader does)
Types of Minor PartiesTypes of Minor Parties
Ideological Parties – based on a Ideological Parties – based on a set of beliefsset of beliefs– Tend to be long lastingTend to be long lasting– Have very little electoral Have very little electoral successsuccess
– Examples: Communist, Examples: Communist, Socialist, LibertarianSocialist, Libertarian
Types of Minor PartiesTypes of Minor PartiesSingle-Issue Parties – concentrate Single-Issue Parties – concentrate
on one public policy matteron one public policy matter– Name usually reflects their Name usually reflects their issueissue
– Party dies after the issue fades Party dies after the issue fades or one of the major parties or one of the major parties adopts their issueadopts their issue
– Examples: Marijuana, Right to Examples: Marijuana, Right to Life, ProhibitionLife, Prohibition
Types of Minor PartiesTypes of Minor Parties Economic Protest Parties – arise Economic Protest Parties – arise
during periods of poor economy, during periods of poor economy, and express disgustand express disgust– Usually sectional, drawing Usually sectional, drawing
support from one region of the support from one region of the countrycountry
– They invent an “enemy” of the They invent an “enemy” of the economy and blame themeconomy and blame them
– Examples: America First, Examples: America First, PopulistPopulist
Types of Minor PartiesTypes of Minor Parties Splinter Parties – break away from Splinter Parties – break away from
one of the major partiesone of the major parties– Usually form around a strong Usually form around a strong
personalitypersonality– Typically have short-term electoral Typically have short-term electoral
successsuccess– Fade away when the leader steps Fade away when the leader steps
asideaside– Examples: Bull Moose, American Examples: Bull Moose, American
Independent, ReformIndependent, Reform
Chapter 7: Elections
Nominations – the First StepNominations – the First Step
Before the election can take Before the election can take place, candidates must be place, candidates must be nominatednominated– This applies in ALL elections, not just This applies in ALL elections, not just
presidential!presidential! Nomination – the naming of Nomination – the naming of
candidates who will seek officecandidates who will seek office After candidates are nominated, After candidates are nominated,
the general election is heldthe general election is held
How Does a Candidate get How Does a Candidate get Nominated?Nominated?
4 Ways:4 Ways:– Self AnnouncementSelf Announcement– ConventionConvention– CaucusCaucus– PrimaryPrimary**To become a major party **To become a major party nominee for president, all 4 nominee for president, all 4 will be used**will be used**
Self-AnnouncementSelf-Announcement
The candidate The candidate simply makes an simply makes an announcement announcement of his/her of his/her intention to seek intention to seek public office public office (could have a (could have a friend do it, too)friend do it, too)
Ralph Nader, Independent candidate
Self-AnnouncementSelf-Announcement
Usually an Usually an independent independent candidate or candidate or someone who someone who failed to win a failed to win a major party major party nominationnomination Ralph
Nader, Independent candidate
Self-AnnouncementSelf-Announcement
To get your name To get your name on the ballot on the ballot generally requires generally requires a number of a number of signatures on a signatures on a petition (specifics petition (specifics are set by each are set by each state)state) Ralph
Nader, Independent candidate
ConventionConvention
Public meeting of party Public meeting of party activists to energize voters activists to energize voters and choose a party candidateand choose a party candidate
ConventionConvention Used to be the method for major Used to be the method for major
parties to choose, but the conventions parties to choose, but the conventions became corruptbecame corrupt– Major parties still use them, but only to Major parties still use them, but only to
make the presidential nomination “official”make the presidential nomination “official”
ConventionConvention
Now only used by minor Now only used by minor parties (like the Libertarian parties (like the Libertarian Party shown below)Party shown below)
CaucusCaucus
1800s - originally a private 1800s - originally a private meeting of party leaders – no meeting of party leaders – no records kept or journalists records kept or journalists allowedallowed
The appearance of corruption The appearance of corruption led to reformsled to reforms
CaucusCaucus
Now - a public meeting of any Now - a public meeting of any party members who wish to party members who wish to participate and debateparticipate and debate
PrimaryPrimary A public election held within a A public election held within a
political party to choose the party’s political party to choose the party’s nominee for officenominee for office– Open Primary – any eligible voters Open Primary – any eligible voters
may votemay vote– Closed Primary – only registered Closed Primary – only registered
party members may vote in their party members may vote in their party’s primaryparty’s primary
Most common method in states Most common method in states todaytoday