Political Parties

What is the role of political parties?

• Point out weaknesses in other parties & their candidates.

• Recommend programs & laws that guide the actions of the government.

• Keep citizens informed• Select candidates to run for public

offices in the government• Help candidates get re-elected

Party Platform

• A written statement that outlines the party’s views on important issues and sets forth a proposed program for the nation.

Political Spectrum

• Political Spectrum refers to the range of political beliefs that people have.

• Ideas normally associated with the democratic party are referred to as being to the "left”.

• Ideas associated with the republican party are often referred to as being to the "right".

Example of a Political Spectrum

LEFT RIGHT CENTER

RADICALFavors extreme changes to create an altered or entirely new social system.

LIBERALBelieves that government must take action to change economic, political, and ideological

MODERATEHolds beliefs that fall between the liberal & conservative views, usually including both.

CONSERVATIVESeeks to keep in place the economic, political, and social structures of society.

REACTIONARYFavors extreme changes to restore society to an earlier, more conservative state

History

More history…

• Our current two-party system emerged in 1854.

• Abe Lincoln became the 1st Republican President in 1860.

• In 1828, Andrew Jackson, a Democrat, became the first Democratic president

The Democratic Donkey and the Republican Elephant

Ever wondered what the story was behind these two famous party animals?

VS.

Donkey • The now-famous Democratic donkey was

first associated with Democrat Andrew Jackson's 1828 presidential campaign. His opponents called him a jackass (a donkey), and Jackson decided to use the image of the strong-willed animal on his campaign posters. Later, cartoonist Thomas Nast used the Democratic donkey in newspaper cartoons and made the symbol famous.

Elephant• Nast invented another famous symbol—

the Republican elephant. In a cartoon that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1874, Nast drew a donkey clothed in lion's skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of those animals, the elephant, was labeled “The Republican Vote.” That's all it took for the elephant to become associated with the Republican Party.

What does this mean today?• Democrats today say the donkey is

smart and brave, while Republicans say the elephant is strong and dignified.

The Republican Platform (GOP)

• Personal responsibility over welfare programs.

• Small or limited government.

• Free Markets• Traditional American

values• Strong National Defense• Generally Conservative• Notable Republicans

• Ronald Reagan• George Bush (both)• Dwight Eisenhower• Rush Limbaugh &

Glenn Beck (TV/Radio)

• Voter Base• Financial Sector,

low black vote, high income, military, few professors, older, straight, church goers, South, Midwest, Mountain West.

Democrats

• Welfare programs to achieve equality.

• Big government to serve peoples needs.

• Traditionally favored farmers, laborers, labor unions, religious and ethnic minorities.

• Notable Democrats• Bill Clinton• FDR• JFK

• Voter Base• Young

professionals, academia, organized labor, working class, women, LGBTQ, Minorities, Northeast, Great Lakes, and West Coast

Third Parties

• Third parties form when a group feels that the main parties do not represent their interests. • For example: The Green Party formed because there

were people who didn't think either major party was doing enough for the environment or social justice issues.

• Third party candidates very rarely win any elections.

• 3rd Parties today• Green Party• U.S. Marijuana Party• Tea Party

How to get elected President• Primary allows

registered voters to choose the party candidates who will run later in the general election.• Closed primary:

only party members can vote for each party’s candidate

• Open primary: voters can vote for either party’s candidates

How to get elected president

• General Election registered voters choose the leaders offered by all political parties.• Organizations,

newspapers, radio, television, and magazines help inform voters.

How to Get Elected President

• Electoral College is a group of 538 electors that cast a vote for the president.• They usually agree

to vote according to the popular vote in their district.

• One will need 270 electoral college votes to become president.

http://apps.npr.org/swing-state-scorecard/

Proportional Representation

Very different from our “winner take all” two party system

Primarily used in Europe

Based on total number of seats by percentage of popularity.

Not zero sum, or “plurality districts” one district one winner like in the US

Example: Republicans win 25% They would receive 25 seats Out of 100 in the government