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DefinitionDefinition

What is a political party?What is a political party? A group of people with broad A group of people with broad common interests, who embrace a common interests, who embrace a core ideology, who organize to win core ideology, who organize to win elections and seek to control elections and seek to control government.government.

IDEOLOGYIDEOLOGY

The core beliefs of a political The core beliefs of a political party on economic, social, party on economic, social, military, and foreign policies are military, and foreign policies are called a party’s called a party’s ideologyideology

Therefore, parties are just Therefore, parties are just labelslabels for most voters who tend to for most voters who tend to identify with a particular identify with a particular ideology.ideology.

POLITICAL PARTY POLITICAL PARTY PURPOSESPURPOSES

. .

1. Link people and government together

2. Allow people to voice political opinions

3. Operate government and

enact legislation4. Help choose and run

candidates for office

PoliticalParty

AMERICAN PARTIESAMERICAN PARTIES

Parties in the U.S. have existed since 1789.

- The first two were the FederalistsFederalists and the Democratic-RepublicansDemocratic-Republicans.

- Many parties formed and failed in the first century of our nation’s history

- Since 1860, there have been only 2 major parties in U.S. :

REPUBLICANREPUBLICAN and DEMOCRAT.

POLITICAL PARTY SYSTEMSPOLITICAL PARTY SYSTEMS One-Party SystemOne-Party System - Exist mostly in nations with strict - Exist mostly in nations with strict

autocraticautocratic governments. governments.

Examples: dictatorships (Nazi Examples: dictatorships (Nazi Germany) or communist countries Germany) or communist countries (Cuba, North Korea)(Cuba, North Korea)

- May also appear in - May also appear in theocraciestheocracies (countries dominated by religious law).(countries dominated by religious law).

Examples: Iran, SudanExamples: Iran, Sudan

Two-Party SystemTwo-Party System

Used by theUsed by the United States United States and about a and about a dozen other democratic nations.dozen other democratic nations.

- Voters get a choice, but either - Voters get a choice, but either party can govern without the other’s party can govern without the other’s support. support.

- Both parties may have- Both parties may have similar similar beliefsbeliefs,, but implement those beliefs but implement those beliefs based on their ideology.based on their ideology.

- Minor parties also exist in U.S., but - Minor parties also exist in U.S., but often are often are not taken seriouslynot taken seriously by the by the voters.voters.

Multi-Party Systems - Have 3 or more parties3 or more parties

participating. - Used by most democracies. - Give voters a wide range of choices. * Disadvantage: A lack of one

party’s ability to control government by itself.

- Therefore, in order to govern effectively multi-party systems must often form

COALITIONSCOALITIONS Combinations of parties that join

together to obtain a majority to govern.

* Coalitions frequently have political disputes that lead to UNSTABLE government because they give small parties more influence than they might be entitled to. Frequent elections are normal.

Political IdeologyPolitical Ideology

People are often politically categorized People are often politically categorized as: as:

- - CONSERVATIVECONSERVATIVE

- - LIBERALLIBERAL

- - MODERATEMODERATE

What does each term mean?What does each term mean?

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF TO WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF TO

BE?BE?

The Ideological DivideThe Ideological Divide

A. Each party must appeal to theirA. Each party must appeal to their “base”“base” of supporters and count on of supporters and count on them to vote. No party wants to them to vote. No party wants to alienate groups that make up that base.alienate groups that make up that base.

B. Both major parties must capture the B. Both major parties must capture the critical independent vote. Neither critical independent vote. Neither party can win an election without a party can win an election without a large % of independent voters large % of independent voters supporting them. supporting them.

Republican Republican Party Party BaseBase Groups normally identified as Republican bases: 1. religious conservatives

2. anti-abortion, anti-gay rights3. most businessmen/businesswomen 4. those favoring small government5. most military veterans

6. those opposing illegal immigration; tough on crime

7. wealthier individuals (not celebrities!) 8. more educated people / professional

occupations 9. rural and suburban voters

DemocratDemocrat Party Party BaseBase Groups usually associated with the Groups usually associated with the

Democrat base: Democrat base: 1. pro-choice (for abortion), pro-gay rights1. pro-choice (for abortion), pro-gay rights

2. African-Americans and Hispanics2. African-Americans and Hispanics

3. blue-collar workers/union members3. blue-collar workers/union members

4. social activists (e.g. environmentalists)4. social activists (e.g. environmentalists)

5. most young (18-25) and older (65+) voters 5. most young (18-25) and older (65+) voters

6. the poor & less educated6. the poor & less educated

7. urban dwellers7. urban dwellers

8. intellectuals (writers, artists, professors, 8. intellectuals (writers, artists, professors, journalists)journalists)

9. entertainers 9. entertainers

Other PartiesOther Parties The U.S. political system also The U.S. political system also

containscontains minor partiesminor parties. They are . They are often referred to as often referred to as “third “third parties”parties”..

- Rarely win elections above - Rarely win elections above local level (have never won at local level (have never won at federal level).federal level).

- They allow for more choices for - They allow for more choices for voters who don’t feel the two major voters who don’t feel the two major parties address their concerns.parties address their concerns.

Third Party TypesThird Party Types

(1) Those that focus on a major social, (1) Those that focus on a major social, economic, or moral belief:economic, or moral belief:

SINGLE-ISSUE partiesSINGLE-ISSUE parties

(e.g. Free Soil Party; Green (e.g. Free Soil Party; Green Party)Party)

(2) Those that seek major (2) Those that seek major changes in society across changes in society across many issues and many issues and concerns are called:concerns are called:

IDEOLOGICAL partiesIDEOLOGICAL parties (e.g. Libertarian Party; (e.g. Libertarian Party; Communist Party USA; Communist Party USA; Reform Party)Reform Party)

(3) Those that break away (3) Those that break away from a major party due to from a major party due to some differences on policies, some differences on policies, but fade away when their but fade away when their candidates lose or the candidates lose or the dividing issue is resolved: dividing issue is resolved: SPLINTER partiesSPLINTER parties

States Rights Party

(Dixiecrats) (Bull Moose) Progressive

Party

EFFECTS OF THIRD EFFECTS OF THIRD PARTIESPARTIES

Influence the results of national electionsInfluence the results of national elections They can take votes away from the major They can take votes away from the major parties and change election outcomes. parties and change election outcomes.

Cause major parties toCause major parties to adopt their ideasadopt their ideas (e.g. 5-day, 40 hour work week; a minimum (e.g. 5-day, 40 hour work week; a minimum wage; government regulation; health wage; government regulation; health insurance)insurance)

Damage a major party’s existenceDamage a major party’s existence

(1850s-Whigs break apart under slavery (1850s-Whigs break apart under slavery issue)issue)

WHY CAN’T THIRD PARTIES WHY CAN’T THIRD PARTIES SUCCEED?SUCCEED?

Have a hard time getting onto state Have a hard time getting onto state ballots ballots

(e.g. different rules for each state; voter (e.g. different rules for each state; voter signatures on petitions hard to obtain) signatures on petitions hard to obtain)

Can’t raise enough money Can’t raise enough money to run a to run a campaign.campaign.

Thought ofThought of as extreme or narrow as extreme or narrow in in their beliefs to many voters.their beliefs to many voters.

Elected officials selected by a Elected officials selected by a plurality plurality system (basically “winner-take-all”) system (basically “winner-take-all”) that that allows a candidate to win with the allows a candidate to win with the MOSTMOST votes, not a majority of votes.votes, not a majority of votes.

Party MembershipParty Membership Registered voter as of theRegistered voter as of the 2008 electionelection:

- Democrats represent ~33% of registered voters.- Democrats represent ~33% of registered voters.

- Republicans claim ~ 25% of registered voters.- Republicans claim ~ 25% of registered voters.

- Minor parties claim ~3-4% of voters at any time.- Minor parties claim ~3-4% of voters at any time.

- Remaining voters belong to no party ~40%. - Remaining voters belong to no party ~40%.

What Is An Independent?What Is An Independent?

Voters who are not members of Voters who are not members of anyany political party. political party.

- They vote for the individual - They vote for the individual candidate, not the party or it’s candidate, not the party or it’s ideology.ideology.

- They don’t show loyalty to any - They don’t show loyalty to any party from one election to the next. party from one election to the next.

Party OrganizationParty Organization

NATIONAL LEVEL: - Each major party has a national committee that runs the day-to-day party business and campaign strategy. Examples: DNC & RNC - A chosen politician called a party chairman is in charge. Party HQ for Reps & Dems are in Washington DC.

THE NATIONAL THE NATIONAL CONVENTIONCONVENTION

A major party gathering conducted every four years in the summer of the presidential election year.

Its main purpose is to formally nominate its presidential and V.P. candidates to run in the fall election.

Party Organization Party Organization (cont’d)(cont’d)

STATE LEVEL: - In each state there is a

state party committee that coordinates party activities and reports to the party’s National Committee.

- It is composed of members from all parts of the state.

Ward

Precinct

Local Comittee

State Committee

Party Organization Party Organization (cont’d)(cont’d)

LOCAL LEVEL: - The WARD is the basic

unit of local party activity and voting. They are geographically divided based on population.

* Waynesboro has 4 wards (A-D). Augusta County uses districts instead.

- Precincts make up wards in large cities and are the smallest voting territories (not used in Waynesboro).

PRESIDENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONSELECTIONS

Getting Elected to OfficeGetting Elected to Office

Step 1: Step 1: Declare candidacy.

- Create a campaign - Create a campaign staff, start raising staff, start raising money, organize money, organize volunteers, get on volunteers, get on state ballots, and state ballots, and allow the public to get allow the public to get to know you.to know you.

CAMPAIGN CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION

A strategic race for A strategic race for office is called a office is called a campaign.

The person in charge of the running a candidate’s race for office is called the campaign manager.

Candidate Selection Candidate Selection ProcessProcess

Step 2: Step 2: Become your party’s candidate.

Done via three Done via three methods: methods:

Method 1. Method 1. Primaries

- These are elections at the s state level where voters select a preferred candidate from among other candidates of the same party.

Method 2. Caucuses: - Closed meetings of selected party leaders and members from state and local levels who choose their preference for a candidate to run in the next election.

Method 3. Petitions: - A candidate files a petition with each state with a required number of voter signatures necessary to get on the next election’s ballot.

TYPES OF PRIMARIESTYPES OF PRIMARIES Closed primary - Members of a party may - Members of a party may

vote only in their own party’s vote only in their own party’s primary.primary.

Open primary Any registered voter

(including independents) may vote in any party’s primary, but can vote only in one.

Which type does Virginia use?

Winning a PrimaryWinning a Primary In most states, a primary In most states, a primary

candidate only needs to get candidate only needs to get the most votes to win (a plurality).

In other states, candidates must get a MAJORITY (more than 50%) of votes to claim victory. If no candidate gets more than 50%, a RUN-OFF primary is held between the two candidates having the most votes.

Purpose of a primary…Purpose of a primary…

Winners of state primaries are rewarded with with delegates. delegates. They areThey are pledged to vote for pledged to vote for their candidate later their candidate later at the national at the national convention.convention.

Winners of most Winners of most state primaries win state primaries win ALL the delegates ALL the delegates (winner-take-all).(winner-take-all).

PRIMARY PROBLEMSPRIMARY PROBLEMS

1. The primary season extends from Jan - June making it long and costly.

- Causes campaign “burn out” among voters.

2. The candidate’s image becomes more important than the issues.

3. Early primary winners capture the most media attention; others are seen as “losers.”

Problems (cont’d)

4. Candidates who don’t win primaries drop out of the race because campaign contributions dry up (as well as media attention).

- Thus, voters in other states that have later primaries get upset by not having a chance to vote for dropped candidates that they had hoped to support.

THE NATIONAL THE NATIONAL CONVENTIONCONVENTION

Step 3:Step 3: Gain your Gain your party’s presidential party’s presidential nomination.nomination. Candidate is nominated at his party’s national convention, a 5 day event held in the summer of the election year. Delegates won earlier in the primaries cast their votes for their candidate.

National Convention National Convention (cont’d)(cont’d)

The The party’s platform, , a statement of the party’s a statement of the party’s core beliefs and positions core beliefs and positions on key issues, is also on key issues, is also completed and ratified at completed and ratified at the convention. This has the convention. This has the potential to alienate the potential to alienate some party members. some party members.

- Each major part of - Each major part of the platform is called a the platform is called a plank.

National Convention National Convention (cont’d)(cont’d)

The Convention also nominates vice presidentialvice presidential candidate.

- Candidates for VP are chosen to balance the party’s ticket to make it more appealing to voters. VP considerations are:

* Geographic balanceGeographic balance * * Experience & knowledgeExperience & knowledge * * Race and gender Race and gender diversitydiversity

* * Personal characteristicsPersonal characteristics

Step 4:Step 4: The Fall Campaign:The Fall Campaign:

- During August - October, candidates travel around the - During August - October, candidates travel around the country trying to get voters’ attention by conducting country trying to get voters’ attention by conducting speeches, rallies, debates, and fundraisers. speeches, rallies, debates, and fundraisers.

- The candidate is now running - The candidate is now running against the other party’s against the other party’s candidate.candidate.

The Final StepThe Final Step

Step 5: General General electionelection. This is held on the Tuesday after Tuesday after the first Monday in the first Monday in NovemberNovember during which during which voters go to the polls to voters go to the polls to choose a president.choose a president.

The Electoral College votes about 1 month later.

You’ve Won !You’ve Won !

The winner of the general election is inauguratedinaugurated at noonnoon, on January 20th.

You now get the mansion, big airplane, 24/7 security and other perks!

WHY DO ELECTIONS COST SO WHY DO ELECTIONS COST SO MUCH?MUCH?

Running for office is expensive and costs go higher Running for office is expensive and costs go higher every election. Look at the costs on your note sheet.every election. Look at the costs on your note sheet.

What are the reasons that campaign costs have What are the reasons that campaign costs have risen?risen?

- - advertising (especially on TV) is biggest advertising (especially on TV) is biggest reason reason

- larger campaign staffs & more consultants- larger campaign staffs & more consultants

- longer campaigns - longer campaigns (2008 campaign was 23 months)(2008 campaign was 23 months)

- travel costs - travel costs

- inflation - inflation

- more candidates running for office - more candidates running for office

SOURCESSOURCES OF CAMPAIGN OF CAMPAIGN FUNDSFUNDS

Different sources of money can be tapped:Different sources of money can be tapped: - - individual donations (the source of most funds)individual donations (the source of most funds)

- special interest groups, corporations, labor unions- special interest groups, corporations, labor unions

- fundraisers- fundraisers

- political party funds- political party funds

- loans- loans

- candidates’ own money- candidates’ own money

- federal matching funds (presidential candidates only) - federal matching funds (presidential candidates only)

Limits on DonationsLimits on Donations The Federal Election Commission (FEC) monitors The Federal Election Commission (FEC) monitors

campaign money compliance with federal rules.campaign money compliance with federal rules. Donations of more than Donations of more than $100$100 is reportable to FEC. is reportable to FEC. Money donated DIRECTLY to a candidate or his Money donated DIRECTLY to a candidate or his

campaign is called campaign is called HARD MONEYHARD MONEY and is limited to and is limited to no more than no more than $2,600$2,600 to any single election in a year. to any single election in a year.

“We have the best president money can buy!”

SOFT MONEYSOFT MONEY

SOFT MONEYSOFT MONEY can be donated can be donated in unlimited amounts, but cannot in unlimited amounts, but cannot be given directly to a be given directly to a candidate or his campaign. candidate or his campaign. Soft money is given to the Soft money is given to the party, not the candidates. party, not the candidates.

Controversial because it Controversial because it further drives up campaign costs and… further drives up campaign costs and…

May be questionable as to its source.May be questionable as to its source.

Political Action Committees A lot of soft money A lot of soft money

comes from from comes from from organizations called organizations called special interest groups.

These groups try to get These groups try to get lawmakers to help their lawmakers to help their causes by changing or causes by changing or making laws beneficial making laws beneficial to their members. to their members.

Examples: NRA, Examples: NRA, AARP, NEA, AMA, AARP, NEA, AMA, Sierra ClubSierra Club

Cleaner Money?Cleaner Money?

In the 1990s, the In the 1990s, the government instituted government instituted the practice of the practice of Federal Federal Matching Funds.Matching Funds.

Come from voluntary Come from voluntary donations checked off on donations checked off on income tax forms by income tax forms by individual taxpayers.individual taxpayers.

- comes out of the - comes out of the TreasuryTreasury

- limited to $3.00- limited to $3.00 - places limitations on - places limitations on

how much more $ a how much more $ a candidate can collect candidate can collect from other sourcesfrom other sources

THE ENDTHE END