Political Parties

Definition:

-A group of persons, joined together on the basis of certain common principles, who seek to control government in order to secure the adoption of certain public policies and programs.

Purposes of Parties

- Modify contending views and various interest groups, and encourage compromises.

- Their major function is to nominate candidates for public office.

- They aim to inform people and get them to vote for their candidates. They do so through campaigns.

Purposes cont….- Bonding agent- aims to ensure that its candidates perform well in office, and that the candidates that they choose are qualified.

- Political Parties aid in the cooperation of the executive and legislative branches.

- Watchdog- party out of power watches the party with power, and keeps the party in power accountable.

-Radical- Favors extreme change to create an altered or entirely new social system.

-Liberal- Believes that government must take action to change economic, political, and ideological policies thought to be unfair.

-Moderate- Holds beliefs that fall between liberal and conservative views, usually including some of each.

-Conservative- seeks to keep in place the economic. political, and social structures of society.

-Reactionary- Favors extreme change to restore society to an earlier, more conservative state of affairs.

Left Center Right

Radical Liberal Moderate Conservative Reactionary

The Two- Party System- 2 parties the Democrats and the Republican dominate American politics.

- Began as 2 Parties - Federalists and Anti-Federalists.

- Self perpetuating.- Single Member Districts- 1 person runs against a person already in office. Must gain plurality of votes.

2 Party System cont….

-A lot of American Election Law also discourages minor party candidates.

-Bipartisanship- 2 major parties work to make it harder for minority parties to win.

-Ideological Consensus- American society tends to be moderate as a whole. 2 major parties very similar.

Multiparty Systems-Several major parties, and lesser parties compete for election.

- Usually parties are based on a particular interest such as economic class, religious belief, sectional attachment, or political ideology.

- One issue is that often one party can not win a majority so a coalition must be made.

One Party Systems

-Dictatorship- only ruling class party allowed, really a “no-party” system.

- Can happen in U.S in a modified version, where in certain states one party consistently wins elections.

Minority Parties

Ideological Parties

-Particular set of beliefs.-Have views on social, economic, and political matters.

-Ex: Socialist, Communist, and Libertarian Parties.

-Some have lasted a long time, but win few votes.

Single-Issue Parties

-Focus on one policy matter. -Name often indicates parties concern.-Ex: right to Life Party

Economic Protest Parties

- Usually form during times of economic issues.

- They usually disappear when economic issues are solved.

-Ex: 1890’s Populist Party- want public ownership of companies.

Splinter Parties-A party that split away from a major party.-Usually formed around 1 strong person.- More than one issue. - Ex: The Green Party, The Tea Party.

Minority Party Importance

- Minority parties can affect elections. Pull votes away from major party candidates.

- Willing to take on controversial issues. Ex: Women’s suffrage.

- When minor party issues gain a lot of support a major party will accept the minor parties idea.