Government Chapter 9. Political Parties and Politics Section 1.
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Transcript of Government Chapter 9. Political Parties and Politics Section 1.
Government
Chapter 9
Political Parties and Politics
Section 1
Key Terms
• Political Party: An association of voters with broad, common interests who want to influence or control decision making in govt. by electing the party’s candidate to public office.
• Two-party System: During most of American history there have been two major political parties.
• Third party: Parties that have rose to challenge the two major parties.
• Platform: Series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues.
• Plank: Each individual part of the platform.
Political Party
• Political Parties were formed– Washington did not want
this– Pg. 218 “Americans in
Action”
• Members share:– Beliefs about politics– Sense of proper role of
govt.
• Pick candidates who share these beliefs
U.S.
• Anyone can join a party
• Not necessary:– To pay dues– Take a test– Vote
• Only necessary to declare yourself a member
Two-Party System
• During most of American history there have been two major political parties.
• Republican• Democrats• Both have millions of
supporters• Very strong• Since 1860 one of the parties
has held the presidency and most seats in Congress
Roots of Two-party
• Constitution does not mention parties– Most delegates at
convention were against them
– Two parties formed shortly after Washington became president
• Rival parties
Jefferson/Hamilton
• Thomas Jefferson:– Favored individual rights– Wanted to limit power of
govt– Argued for more power for
state govt.
• Alexander Hamilton– Favored individual rights– Believed rights were at risk
if govt. was weak– Favored strong govt.– Wanted president to have
more power
Democratic Party
• Thomas Jefferson formed the Democratic-Republican party
• 1828: Andrew Jackson became the leader– Party split
– Jackson joined the Democratic Party
Federalist Party
• Led by Alexander Hamilton
• Party faded away• 1816-1828:
– Democratic Republicans faced no challenge
Whigs
• 1830: New party• Whigs:
– National republicans
• Competed with newly named Democrats
• Whigs and Democrats remained the major parties until the 1850’s
Republican Party
• 1854: Breakaway democrats and Whigs– Opposed slavery
• Formed Republican Party– Replaced the Whig Party
• 1860: Lincoln elected first Republican President
• Republicans and Democrats have been major parties in our system
Third Parties
• These parties have rose to influence politics
• No third party has ever won a presidential election– Rarely win major elections– Called minor parties
Third Parties
• Can affect outcome of elections
• May influence govt. and social policy
• Third parties have different beliefs– Do believe that neither major party is meeting
certain needs
Populists
• Third party• 1890’s:
– Farmers and laborers– Called for direct
election of senators– 8-hour working day
• Never won presidency– Two major parties
adopted many of their ideas
Progressive
• Third Party• Split from Republicans in 1912• Theodore Roosevelt
– Former Republican President– Ran for President as a
Progressive– Took votes away form William
Howard Taft• Democratic Nominee
– Woodrow Wilson won the election
• Roosevelt played a “spoiler” role
Single Issue Parties
• Third parties – arise to not win elections – Promote social, economic,
or moral issues– Single-issue party usually
doesn’t last long– Fades away if:
• Issue is no longer important
• Major party adopts issues
Prohibitionist Party
• Formed in 1872• Wanted to ban sale of
alcohol• Did not expect to be
elected• Used election campaigns
to influence citizens to accept their ideas
• Hoped to persuade lawmakers against sale of alcohol
Ideological Parties
• Focus on changing society in major ways
• Socialist Labor Party• Communist Party
USA• Libertarian• Green Party
Socialist Labor/Communist
• Socialist Labor Party• Communist Party
USA Support:– Govt. ownership of
factories
– Transportation
– Resources
– Farmland
– Other businesses
Libertarian
• Wants to cut size of govt. to increase individual rights
Green Party
• Oppose power of corporations
• Favor decision making at the grassroots level
Independent Candidates
• Form around candidates who are well-known but are not supported by the major parties
• Rarely win because of two-party tradition
• Often have a hard time raising money
• Single-member districts
Other Party Systems
• U.S. two-party system– Rare
• Most democracies have multiparty systems– 3 or more parties compete
for control
• Canada-3• Germany-5• Israel-20+• Parties represent different
ideas about govt.
One-Party System
• Party and the govt. are nearly same thing
• China has only 1 party– Communist– Only communist
candidates are allowed to run for office
– Carry out the party’s orders
Today’s Major Parties
• Competing parties are necessary for a democratic govt.
• Give voters a choice among candidates
Basic Differences
• Involvement of govt. in the lives of Americans
• Read the platform and planks each party writes– This will say what the
party claims it will do if they win