Political Parties & ProcessCh 9.3 & 9.4

History of PartiesBegan developing during the writing of the

ConstitutionFederalists and Anti-Federalists

Washington’s farewell address even warned against the development of parties—they would destroy the US

A political party by definition is an organized group that seeks to win elections in order to influence the activities of government. (pg 87 in textbook)

In essence, political parties differ on how they interpret the Constitution and its amendments. Thus it impacts the writing of new laws and

legislation

• Parties start in 1789 with Federalist/Anti-Federalist (green/purple lines)

• By 1820 Federalist party is dead, Monroe only option, moves into the Democratic-Republican party, producing 4 candidates in 1824

• Party split again to the Democratic-Republicans (blue) and the National Republican (orange) party

• Democratic-Republican party stays, the National Republican party becomes the Whig party in 1836 (yellow)

• Around 1860 the Whig party becomes the Republican party (red)

• Other parties separate and form and collapse along the way (Anti-mason, Know-Nothing, Freesoil, etc.)

• After the Republican party forms before the Civil War, the formal Democrat and Republican parties that we know and still have are formed and operate largely as the two main political parties in the United States.

• Other 3rd parties (including stronger ones like Libertarian and Independence) broke off from one or both to form in the last century, but do not yield the same power as the major D and R parties.

Major PartiesRepublican

Symbol is the ElephantCalled G.O.P. (Grand Ol’ Party)Right WingConservativesMostly religiousWealthy, successfulSouth and midwest region

Major PartiesDemocrat

Symbol is the donkey, or the jack ass (no joke)

Left-WingLiberalsDoes not usually identify themselves as religious

Middle class to lower classEast coast and west coast regionEthnic groups more likely to be Democrat

Major 3rd PartiesLibertarian Party- formed December 1971

Interpret the Constitution in the defense and best interest of maintaining personal freedoms.

We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose. (www.lp.org/platform)This sometimes puts them in between the values of Republican

and Democratic viewsLibertarians view the role of government to uphold the

Constitutional freedoms only, not to impose personal values or any sense of morality on citizensExample: Libertarians might not think abortion is morally or

ethically right, but would say that the Government needs to uphold the ability for everyone to choose for themselves

Major 3rd PartiesAmerican Independent Party- formed 1967

Staunchly in support of Christian valuesAccording to the party platform, the

American Independent Party [exists] "limited constitutional government, with emphasis on the rights of the several states to govern their own local affairs and educational systems without federal bureaucratic or court interference." As to foreign affairs, the declaration stated that "the American Independent Party supports a foreign policy based on America's best interests, not world opinion," and "preservation of our national sovereignty.” (www.aipca.org)

Third Parties (a few, anyway)America First PartyAmerican PartyAmerican Heritage PartyAmerican Nazi PartyAmerican Reform PartyChristian Falangist Party of

AmericaCommunist Party, USAConstitution PartyConstitutional Action PartyFamily Values Party

Freedom Socialist Party/Radical Women

Grassroots PartyGreen Party of the U.S.The Greens/Green Party USIndependence PartyIndependent American PartyLabor PartyLight PartyNatural Law Party

New PartyNew Union PartyPeace & Freedom PartyProhibition PartyReform PartyThe Revolution PartySocialist Party USASocialist ActionSocialist Equality PartySocialist Labor Party

Socialist Workers PartySouthern Independence PartyUS Pacificst PartyVeterans PartyWe the People PartyWorkers World PartyAmerican Patriot PartyKnights PartyMulticapitalist PartyPansexual Peace PartyPot PartyUS Marijuana Party

…and SO many more

The Electoral Process

The Nominating ProcessCritical first step in selecting a candidate

Nomination is naming of person who will seek office

Functions of nomination: (From ch. 5)1. prime function of political parties in the US2. main reason for decentralized character of

the two major parties, Republican & Democrat

5 ways to nominate a candidate:

Oldest form of nominating processUsed since colonial eraPerson announces that they are running, or

want to run for office.Sometimes someone else announces that

person’s intentionsThink Schwarzenegger on Jay Leno

Self-Announcement

CaucusCaucus is a group of like-minded people

who meet to select a candidate for an upcoming election

Began in the late colonial eraPrivate gathering of influential peopleCaucuses were highly criticized in 1800s,

rarely done now except in New England

ConventionConvention takes place of dying caucusesFirst national convention to elect a

candidate was held by Anti-Mason party in 1831

Also the Republicans and Democrats began using conventions within a year

Some states still rely on conventions as voting tools- Connecticut, Michigan, S. Dakota, Utah & Virginia

Direct PrimaryIntra-party election

Held within the parties itself2 types:

Closed primaryParty nominating election in which only declared

party members can voteOpen primary

Party nominating election in which any qualified voter can take party

PetitionPotential candidates must have a required

amount of signatures to put their name on a national ballot.

VotingDate set by Congress

National elections are November of every even-numbered year.Tuesday after the first Monday

Absentee votingCovers 3 types of people

1.) too ill or disabled to go to polling place2.) those who are away from home on election day3.) serving in Armed Forces

Precinct- voting districtArea no more than 500 to 1,000 qualified voters

Polling Place-place where voters who lived in a a precinct actually vote

Ballot- device by which a voter registers a choice in an election.