1. political parties not mentioned in the constitution two main parties: republicans and...

Political PartiesPolitical Parties Not mentioned in the ConstitutionNot mentioned in the Constitution Two main parties: Republicans and Two main parties: Republicans and

DemocratsDemocrats Four levels: national, state, county and Four levels: national, state, county and

precinctprecinct Stratarchy Stratarchy

2Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

Temporary Party OrganizationTemporary Party Organization Primaries and conventions where members Primaries and conventions where members

of the major political parties select of the major political parties select candidates for public officecandidates for public office

Precinct conventionsPrecinct conventions Occur every even-numbered year on the first Occur every even-numbered year on the first

Tuesday in MarchTuesday in March Usually sparsely attendedUsually sparsely attended Select delegate for county convention Select delegate for county convention Sometimes propositions are placed on the ballotSometimes propositions are placed on the ballot


Temporary Party OrganizationTemporary Party Organization County and District Conventions County and District Conventions

Occur the third Saturday after the precinct Occur the third Saturday after the precinct conventionsconventions

Elect state convention delegatesElect state convention delegates


Temporary Party OrganizationTemporary Party Organization State conventionsState conventions

June of even-numbered yearsJune of even-numbered years Certify nominees from primariesCertify nominees from primaries Write the rules that govern the partyWrite the rules that govern the party Draft and adopt a party platformDraft and adopt a party platform Select members of the partySelect members of the party’’s state executive s state executive

committeecommittee If presidential election, select delegates to If presidential election, select delegates to

National Convention and electorsNational Convention and electors


Selection of National Convention Selection of National Convention Delegates Delegates Presidential preference primary and Presidential preference primary and

caucusescaucuses Democratic selectionDemocratic selection

““Texas Two-StepTexas Two-Step”” – Primary vote and caucus – Primary vote and caucus Republican selectionRepublican selection

Presidential preference primaryPresidential preference primary


Permanent Party OrganizationPermanent Party Organization Precinct Chair Precinct Chair

Organizes the partyOrganizes the party’’s activities in a districts activities in a district County and District Executive Committees County and District Executive Committees

Conduct county primaries and arrange county Conduct county primaries and arrange county conventions conventions

District executive committee nominates District executive committee nominates candidates to fill district vacanciescandidates to fill district vacancies


Permanent Party OrganizationPermanent Party Organization State Executive Committee State Executive Committee

Highest permanent party organization in stateHighest permanent party organization in state Members elected at partyMembers elected at party’’s state conventions state convention Composed of a chair, vice chair, and two Composed of a chair, vice chair, and two

members from each senatorial districtmembers from each senatorial district State party chair is chief fundraiser.State party chair is chief fundraiser.


Conservatism Conservatism Belief in minimal government intervention in Belief in minimal government intervention in

economic and social/welfare programseconomic and social/welfare programs Gives high priority to reducing taxes and Gives high priority to reducing taxes and

cutting public spendingcutting public spending Neoconservative Neoconservative

Fiscally conservativeFiscally conservative Accepts limited governmental role in solving Accepts limited governmental role in solving

social problemssocial problems


LiberalismLiberalism Favor government regulation of economy to Favor government regulation of economy to

achieve more equal distribution of wealthachieve more equal distribution of wealth Favor government involvement in social Favor government involvement in social

programsprograms Protect individual freedoms and rightsProtect individual freedoms and rights Neoliberal Neoliberal

Less government regulation of business and Less government regulation of business and economy, but greater government involvement in economy, but greater government involvement in social programssocial programs


1840s to 1870s: Origin of the Party 1840s to 1870s: Origin of the Party System System Pro-Houston factionPro-Houston faction

Jackson DemocratsJackson Democrats Anti-Houston factionAnti-Houston faction

Calhoun DemocratsCalhoun Democrats Reconstruction Republicans – E.J. DavisReconstruction Republicans – E.J. Davis


1870s to1970s: A One-Party Dominant 1870s to1970s: A One-Party Dominant SystemSystem Strong Democratic Party Strong Democratic Party Populist PartyPopulist Party

Agrarian basedAgrarian based Conservative Democrats v. Liberal Conservative Democrats v. Liberal

DemocratsDemocrats


1970s to1990s: An Emerging Two-Party 1970s to1990s: An Emerging Two-Party System System Resurgence of Republican Party Resurgence of Republican Party

2000 to 2012: Republican Dominance2000 to 2012: Republican Dominance Controlled all state-wide elections Controlled all state-wide elections George Bush wins presidency in 2000George Bush wins presidency in 2000 Republicans take control of the Texas House Republicans take control of the Texas House

in 2002in 2002


Dealignment Dealignment Voters trend away from allegiance to political Voters trend away from allegiance to political

partiesparties

Realignment Realignment Voters shift away from one political party to Voters shift away from one political party to

anotheranother Straight-Ticket Voting Straight-Ticket Voting

Voting for all the candidates of one partyVoting for all the candidates of one party


Third Parties Third Parties Any political party other than the Democratic Any political party other than the Democratic

or Republican Partyor Republican Party Achieve success in making the public aware Achieve success in making the public aware

of their issues, persuading major parties of their issues, persuading major parties adopt some of their issuesadopt some of their issues

La Raza Unida La Raza Unida Reform PartyReform Party Libertarian PartyLibertarian Party


IndependentsIndependents Applies to candidates who have no party Applies to candidates who have no party

affiliationaffiliation Limited success due to no campaign Limited success due to no campaign

organization or fundraising abilities, difficulty organization or fundraising abilities, difficulty gaining ballot accessgaining ballot access


1.1. Describe the structure of political parties Describe the structure of political parties in Texas, distinguishing between the in Texas, distinguishing between the temporary party structure and the temporary party structure and the permanent party structure.permanent party structure.

2.2. Compare and contrast the different Compare and contrast the different political ideologies found in the Lone Star political ideologies found in the Lone Star State.State.


3.3. Trace the history of political parties in Trace the history of political parties in TexasTexas

4.4. Identify the roles that minor parties and Identify the roles that minor parties and independents have played in Texas.independents have played in Texas.


1. political parties not mentioned in the constitution two main parties: republicans and...

Documents

cengage learningcopyright

cengage learning1840s

cengage learning1870s

cengage learning1970s

party system

party platform

party draft

district county