Unit 4Unit 4Chapter 16, Section 1Chapter 16, Section 1

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Mr. YoungMr. Young

American GovernmentAmerican Government

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

Even though George Washington did Even though George Washington did not want political parties, why did not want political parties, why did they eventually become prevalent?they eventually become prevalent?

What is the importance of third What is the importance of third parties in America today?parties in America today?

Political Parties DefinitionPolitical Parties Definition

A group of people who organize to promote A group of people who organize to promote common beliefs and goals by electing officials common beliefs and goals by electing officials who share their views.who share their views.

An ongoing coalition of interests joined An ongoing coalition of interests joined together to try to get their candidates for together to try to get their candidates for public office elected under a common labelpublic office elected under a common label

An organization designed to elect government An organization designed to elect government office holders under a given labeloffice holders under a given label

An organization that runs candidates for public An organization that runs candidates for public office under the party’s name.office under the party’s name.

Parties and Party SystemsParties and Party Systems

Political PartyPolitical Party- - group of people group of people with broad with broad commoncommon interests interests who organize to who organize to win win electionselections, , control control governmentgovernment, and , and thereby influence thereby influence government government policiespolicies

One-Party SystemOne-Party System

The The PartyParty is the is the governmentgovernment

Political differences Political differences arise only within arise only within the the party party itselfitself

Usually found in Usually found in authoritarianauthoritarian governments, governments, come to power by come to power by forceforce

Cont.Cont.

In an election, only In an election, only oneone party is on the party is on the ballotballot

TheocracyTheocracy- - government government dominated by dominated by religion, such as religion, such as IranIran

Multiparty SystemsMultiparty Systems

Most common Most common political political system system among among democracies and democracies and nations allowing nations allowing more than one more than one partyparty

IdeologiesIdeologies- basic - basic beliefs about beliefs about governmentgovernment

ContCont One party rarely gets One party rarely gets

enough enough supportsupport to to control the control the governmentgovernment

Will form a Will form a coalition coalition governmentgovernment- when - when several parties several parties combine forces to combine forces to make the majoritymake the majority

Usually the nation is Usually the nation is very very politically politically unstableunstable

Two-Party SystemTwo-Party System When only two When only two majormajor

parties usually can parties usually can control the control the governmentgovernment

Sometimes called “Sometimes called “big big tenttent theory,” many theory,” many different approaches different approaches and polices fall under and polices fall under same umbrellasame umbrella

Examples: Examples: United United StatesStates, Jamaica, and , Jamaica, and MaltaMalta

Quote by John Ellis (pg. 15)Quote by John Ellis (pg. 15)

““I mean that the (American) I mean that the (American) revolutionary generation found a way revolutionary generation found a way to contain the explosive energies of to contain the explosive energies of the debate in the form of an ongoing the debate in the form of an ongoing argument or dialogue that was argument or dialogue that was eventually institutionalized and eventually institutionalized and rendered safe by the creation of rendered safe by the creation of political parties.”political parties.”

History of American History of American Political PartiesPolitical Parties

George George WashingtonWashington- - warned against the warned against the harmful effects of harmful effects of political partiespolitical parties

Even so, political Even so, political parties began parties began before but was before but was rampant after his rampant after his presidencypresidency

James Madison/James Madison/Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

MadisonMadison likened likened parties to special parties to special interest groupsinterest groups

JeffersonJefferson disliked disliked parties so much, he parties so much, he was quoted as was quoted as saying, “if I could saying, “if I could not go to heaven not go to heaven but with a party, I but with a party, I would not go there would not go there at all.at all.

Pre-Party EraPre-Party EraFederalist vs. Anti-FederalistFederalist vs. Anti-Federalist

Federalist ViewFederalist View Anti-Federalist ViewAnti-Federalist View

Favored the Favored the ConstitutionConstitution

Merchants and CitiesMerchants and Cities Strong national Strong national

governmentgovernment Bill of Rights not Bill of Rights not

needed, 8 states needed, 8 states already had onealready had one

Opposed the Opposed the ConstitutionConstitution

Farmers and LaborersFarmers and Laborers Constitution drafted in Constitution drafted in

secrecysecrecy Extralegal (not Extralegal (not

sanctioned by law)sanctioned by law) States RightsStates Rights Wanted a Bill of RightsWanted a Bill of Rights

The Split and Start of Parties The Split and Start of Parties (1796-1800)(1796-1800)

FederalistFederalist AlexanderAlexander Hamilton Hamilton ManufactureManufacture and and

Commercial InterestCommercial Interest Northeastern/New Northeastern/New

England StatesEngland States Strong Strong National National

GovernmentGovernment BroadBroad/ Loose / Loose

Interpretation of the Interpretation of the ConstitutionConstitution

Only Only EliteElite in politics in politics

Jeffersonian Jeffersonian Democratic-RepublicanDemocratic-Republican

ThomasThomas Jefferson and Jefferson and JamesJames Madison Madison

FarmersFarmers and small and small debtorsdebtors

Southern StatesSouthern States WeakWeak Central Central

Government, stronger Government, stronger state’sstate’s rights rights

StrictStrict interpretation of interpretation of the Constitutionthe Constitution

Only Only EliteElite in politics in politics

FederalistFederalist Democratic-Republicans

Election of 1800Election of 1800 JeffersonJefferson defeats John defeats John

Adams and Adams and Jeffersonians take over Jeffersonians take over from 1800-1824from 1800-1824

FirstFirst peaceful transition peaceful transition from one party to from one party to another in American another in American (maybe world) history(maybe world) history

Beginning of end for Beginning of end for Federalist Party, which Federalist Party, which eventually dissolved in eventually dissolved in 18201820

Growth of American PoliticsGrowth of American Politics

Anti-Federalist turn Anti-Federalist turn into Democratic into Democratic party of today party of today under under Andrew Andrew JacksonJackson in in 18281828

RepublicanRepublican Party Party started as an started as an anti-anti-slaveryslavery party and party and first president was first president was Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln

Role of Minor PartiesRole of Minor Parties

Third PartyThird Party- any party - any party other than one of the other than one of the two major partiestwo major parties

All have one thing in All have one thing in common: believe that common: believe that neitherneither party is party is meeting meeting certaincertain needsneeds

Want to propose Want to propose remedyremedy to this to this situationsituation

1) Single-Issue Party1) Single-Issue Party

Focuses exclusively Focuses exclusively on one major on one major socialsocial, , economiceconomic, , or or moralmoral, issue, issue

Generally is Generally is shortshort lived because issue lived because issue fadesfades away or away or major party major party adopts adopts the issue the issue

2) Ideological Party2) Ideological Party

Focuses on overall Focuses on overall changechange in society in society rather than on an rather than on an issueissue

Examples: Examples: SocialistSocialist Labor Party and Labor Party and CommunistCommunist Party Party

3) Splinter Party3) Splinter Party

SplitsSplits away from away from one of the major one of the major partiesparties because of because of some some disagreementdisagreement

Typically fade Typically fade away with the away with the defeatdefeat of their of their candidatecandidate

Impact of Third PartiesImpact of Third Parties

Have influenced the Have influenced the outcomeoutcome of national of national electionselections

Have often Have often promotedpromoted ideas that were at first ideas that were at first unpopularunpopular or hotly or hotly debateddebated

Example: Example: minimumminimum wage, wage, five-dayfive-day workweek, workweek, unemploymentunemployment insurance, and insurance, and healthhealth insuranceinsurance

Obstacles of Third PartiesObstacles of Third Parties

Third party candidates are usually Third party candidates are usually requiredrequired to obtain a large number of to obtain a large number of votervoter signatures in a short signatures in a short timetime

Single-member districtsSingle-member districts- no matter - no matter how number of candidates, only one how number of candidates, only one person will winperson will win

Proportional representationProportional representation- offices - offices are filled in are filled in proportionproportion to the votes to the votes that each party’s candidates receivethat each party’s candidates receive

ContCont One major problem is One major problem is

financingfinancing a campaign a campaign Americans are Americans are

reluctantreluctant to support or to support or contributecontribute to a to a campaigncampaign that they that they don’t think has a don’t think has a chance of winningchance of winning

Third Parties must Third Parties must plant plant politicalpolitical roots at roots at the the nationalnational level, and level, and few canfew can

Texas RangersTexas Rangers

Created by Created by Stephen F. Austin Stephen F. Austin in 1823in 1823

Used to protect the Used to protect the governor, track governor, track down fugitivesdown fugitives

Jurisdiction is Jurisdiction is Austin (capital) of Austin (capital) of TexasTexas

Texas RangersTexas Rangers

Oldest state law Oldest state law enforcement enforcement agency in the USagency in the US

Were involved in Were involved in the Bonnie and the Bonnie and Clyde case and Clyde case and John Wesley John Wesley Hardin, who once Hardin, who once killing a man for killing a man for snoringsnoring

Causes of Death Number of deaths

Accidental 1

Assault 23

Automobile accident

1

Duty related illness

7

Gunfire 65

Gunfire (Accidental)

2

Stabbed 1

Struck by train 2

Struck by vehicle 1