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

What Do Parties Do? What Do Parties Do? Nominate Candidates Nominate Candidates —Recruit, choose, and —Recruit, choose, and

present candidates for public office.present candidates for public office. Inform and Activate SupportersInform and Activate Supporters—Campaign, —Campaign,

define issues, and criticize other candidates.define issues, and criticize other candidates. Act as a Bonding AgentAct as a Bonding Agent—Guarantee that their —Guarantee that their

candidate is worthy of the office.candidate is worthy of the office. GovernGovern—Members of government act according to —Members of government act according to

their their partisanship,partisanship, or firm allegiance to a party. or firm allegiance to a party. Act as a WatchdogAct as a Watchdog—Parties that are out of power —Parties that are out of power

keep a close eye on the actions of the keep a close eye on the actions of the party in party in powerpower for a blunder to use against them in the next for a blunder to use against them in the next election.election.

Partisanship Partisanship

Strong support of their Strong support of their party and policy standsparty and policy stands

Most appointments to Most appointments to executive offices have executive offices have party considerationsparty considerations

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?

Why a Two-Party System?Why a Two-Party System?

The Historical Basis.The Historical Basis. The nation started out with two-parties: The nation started out with two-parties: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.

The Force of Tradition.The Force of Tradition. America has a America has a two-party systemtwo-party system because it always because it always hashas had one. had one. Minor partiesMinor parties, lacking wide , lacking wide political support, have never made a successful showing, so political support, have never made a successful showing, so people are reluctant to support them.people are reluctant to support them.

The Electoral System.The Electoral System. Certain features of government, such as Certain features of government, such as single-member districtssingle-member districts, are designed to favor two major , are designed to favor two major parties. parties.

Ideological Consensus.Ideological Consensus. Most Americans have a general Most Americans have a general agreement on fundamental matters. Conditions that would spark agreement on fundamental matters. Conditions that would spark several strong rival parties do not exist in the United States.several strong rival parties do not exist in the United States.

Multiparty SystemsMultiparty Systems

AdvantagesAdvantages Provides broader Provides broader

representation of representation of the people.the people.

More responsive to More responsive to the will of the the will of the people.people.

Give voters more Give voters more choices at the polls.choices at the polls.

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Cause parties to Cause parties to

form coalitions, form coalitions, which can dissolve which can dissolve easily.easily.

Failure of coalitions Failure of coalitions can cause can cause instability in instability in government.government.

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

One-Party SystemsOne-Party SystemsTypes of One-Party Systems

Example:

Republican South and Democratic North until the 1950s.

Modified One-Party Systems where one party regularly wins most elections

One Party Systems where only one party is allowed.

Example:

Dictatorships such as Stalinist Russia

Party Membership Party Membership PatternsPatterns

Party membership is Party membership is voluntaryvoluntary

Each party must try to Each party must try to attract as much support as attract as much support as possiblepossible

Factors that can influence party Factors that can influence party membership:membership:

Party Membership PatternsParty Membership Patterns

Family Major events

Economic Status

Religion

Occupation Age

Party Membership PatternsParty Membership Patterns

Some demographic groups are Some demographic groups are more reliable to each partymore reliable to each party

Tend to be Democrat – Female, Tend to be Democrat – Female, African American, Hispanic, African American, Hispanic, Catholic, Jewish, Union Catholic, Jewish, Union Member, Lower Income, Lower Member, Lower Income, Lower Education, Under 30, Over 60Education, Under 30, Over 60

Party Membership PatternsParty Membership Patterns

Some demographic groups are Some demographic groups are more reliable to each partymore reliable to each party

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, Income, Higher Education, Middle-AgedMiddle-Aged

What is Ideology?What is Ideology?

Ideology is basically the way you Ideology is basically the way you look at how the world workslook at how the world works

There are two major ideologies There are two major ideologies in the United Statesin the United States– LiberalLiberal– ConservativeConservative

The Political SpectrumThe Political SpectrumPeople who have similar opinions on political issues are generally grouped according to whether they are “left,” “right,” or “center” on the political spectrum.

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 Common Liberal CharacteristicsCharacteristics– Desire progressive change in Desire progressive change in

societysociety– Main values: Idealism, Equality, Main values: Idealism, Equality,

Fairness, Personal FreedomFairness, Personal Freedom

Liberal and ConservativeLiberal and Conservative

Common Liberal IssuesCommon Liberal Issues– Pro-choicePro-choice– Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action– Gun controlGun control– Aid to the poorAid to the poor– Protecting the environmentProtecting the environment– Gay rightsGay 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 Main values: Realism, Law and Order, Justice, Morality, Economic Order, Justice, Morality, Economic FreedomFreedom

Liberal and ConservativeLiberal and Conservative

Common Conservative IssuesCommon Conservative Issues– Anti-abortionAnti-abortion– Allowing prayer in schoolsAllowing prayer in schools– Cutting taxesCutting taxes– Cutting regulations on Cutting regulations on

businessesbusinesses– Immigration controlImmigration control– Increased military spendingIncreased military spending

Liberal and ConservativeLiberal and Conservative

Often times, people hear Often times, people hear what they want to hear from what they want to hear from facts to support their ideologyfacts to support their ideology

Family and EducationFamily and Education

The FamilyThe Family Children first see the Children first see the

political world from within political world from within the family and through the family and through the family’s eyes.the family’s eyes.

The strong influence the The strong influence the family has on the family has on the development of political development of political opinions is due to the opinions is due to the large amount of time large amount of time children spend with the children spend with the family.family.

The SchoolsThe Schools Children acquire political Children acquire political

knowledge throughout knowledge throughout their time in the their time in the classroom. classroom.

Students are taught about Students are taught about political systems, political systems, patriotism, and great patriotism, and great Americans. Some are Americans. Some are even required to take a even required to take a course on government in course on government in high school.high school.

Many factors influence our political opinions and political socialization over the course of a lifetime.

Other Factors Influencing Public Other Factors Influencing Public OpinionOpinionMass MediaMass Media

The The mass mediamass media include those means of communication that reach include those means of communication that reach large, widely dispersed audiences (masses of people) simultaneously. large, widely dispersed audiences (masses of people) simultaneously. The mass media has a huge effect on the formation of public opinion.The mass media has a huge effect on the formation of public opinion.

Peer GroupsPeer Groups Peer groupsPeer groups are made up of the people with whom one regularly are made up of the people with whom one regularly

associates, including friends, classmates, neighbors, and co-workers.associates, including friends, classmates, neighbors, and co-workers.Opinion LeadersOpinion Leaders

An An opinion leaderopinion leader is any person who, for any reason, has an unusually is any person who, for any reason, has an unusually strong influence on the views of others. strong influence on the views of others.

Historic EventsHistoric Events Historic events can have a major impact on public opinion. The Great Historic events can have a major impact on public opinion. The Great

Depression is one event that shaped the political views and opinions of Depression is one event that shaped the political views and opinions of a generation.a generation.

History of the Two-Party History of the Two-Party SystemSystem

FederalistsFederalists Led by Alexander Led by Alexander

HamiltonHamilton Represented wealthy Represented wealthy

and upper-class and upper-class interestsinterests

Favored strong Favored strong executive leadership executive leadership and liberal and liberal interpretation of the interpretation of the ConstitutionConstitution

Anti-FederalistsAnti-Federalists Led by Thomas Led by Thomas

JeffersonJefferson Represented the Represented the

“common man”“common man” Favored Congress as Favored Congress as

the strongest arm of the strongest arm of government and a government and a strict interpretation strict interpretation of the Constitutionof the Constitution

History of the Two-Party History of the Two-Party SystemSystem

Era of the Democrats (1800-Era of the Democrats (1800-18601860))– 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 all but 2 of Jackson, won all but 2 of elections against the Whigselections against the Whigs

History of the Two-Party History of the Two-Party SystemSystem

Era of the Republicans (1860-Era of the Republicans (1860-19321932))– Began with election of Abraham Began with election of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil WarLincoln and the Civil War

– Republicans dominated all but Republicans dominated all but 4 elections due to support from 4 elections due to support from businesses and African businesses and African AmericansAmericans

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

The Start of a New Era: The Era of Divided GovernmentThe Start of a New Era: The Era of Divided GovernmentSince 1968, neither Republicans nor Democrats have dominated the presidency and Congress has often Since 1968, neither Republicans nor Democrats have dominated the presidency and Congress has often

been controlled by the opposing party.been controlled by the opposing party.

1968–1976 Republicans hold the presidency Congress is controlled by Democrats

1976–1980 Democrats hold the presidencyCongress is controlled by Democrats

1980–1992 Republicans hold the presidency Senate controlled by Republicans 1980-1986, controlled by Democrats from 1986 to 1994

1992 – 2000 Democrats hold the presidency Congress controlled by Republicans, 1994 to present

2000 Republicans hold the presidencyCongress is controlled by Republicans

2009 Democrats hold the presidency Congress is controlled by Democrats

Why Minor Parties Are Why Minor Parties Are ImportantImportant

Minor parties play several important roles:Minor parties play several important roles:

““Spoiler Role”Spoiler Role” Minor party candidates can pull decisive votes away from Minor party candidates can pull decisive votes away from

major parties’ candidates.major parties’ candidates.

CriticCritic Minor parties, especially single-issue parties, often take Minor parties, especially single-issue parties, often take

stands and draw attention to controversial issues that the stands and draw attention to controversial issues that the major parties would prefer to ignore.major parties would prefer to ignore.

InnovatorInnovator Minor parties will draw attention to important issues and Minor parties will draw attention to important issues and

propose solutions to problems. If proposals gain popular propose solutions to problems. If proposals gain popular support, they are added to platforms of the two major support, they are added to platforms of the two major parties.parties.

Minor Parties in the United Minor Parties in the United StatesStates

Splinter Party: break away from one of the major parties

Example: “Bull Moose” Progressive Party

Economic Protest Parties: arise during periods of poor economy

Example: The Greenback Party

Ideological Parties: based on a set of beliefs

Example: Libertarian Party

Types of Minor Parties

Single-issue Parties: concentrate on one public policy matter

Example: Free Soil Party, Marijuana, Right to Life, Prohibition

Minor Parties in the United StatesMinor Parties in the United States