Chapter 5 – Political Parties

What is a Political Party?

• A group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.

Major Party – a party that has a reasonable chance to win public office

Minor Party – any political party that does not have this chance

Two Party System

• There are two major parties in the United States

• What are they called?

What Do Parties Do?

• Nominate candidates – they pick the best from their party

• Inform and activate supporters – try to shape opinion

What Do Parties Do?

• The “Bonding Agent” – Make sure candidates do a good job once elected

• Govern – Parties influence policy

• Act as Watchdog – criticize party in power

Mark Sanford

Harry Reid

Why a Two-Party System?

• Historical Basis – The U.S. started with Federalists and Anti-federalists

• The Force of Tradition – society keeps doing what it is used to

• The Electoral System – The US uses single member districts

• The American Ideological Consensus – Americans share many of the same ideals so we do not need many parties

Minor Parties in the US

• Minor party candidates have almost no chance of winning but they are still important

Minor Party Importance

• Spoiler Role – pull votes from a major party– Example: Ralph Nader (Green Party) pulled

votes from Al Gore (Dem) in the 2000 presidential election against George W. Bush (Rep).

George W. Bush47.87% Popular Vote271 Electoral Votes

Al Gore

48.38% Popular Vote

266 Electoral Votes

Ralph Nader

2.74% Popular Vote

0 Electoral Votes

Minor Party Importance

• Role of critic and innovator – draw attention to controversial issues ignored by the major parties– Examples: Right to Life party, Ralph Nader

(Green Party)

Multiparty Systems

• A system in which several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for, and actually win, public offices.

• Examples: Taiwan, Germany, Denmark, India, Indonesia, France, Kosovo and Israel

Multiparty Systems

• Pro – This system can better represent the varying types of people

• Con – There is no majority so parties have to team up in groups called coalitions

• Example: Canada

One Party Systems

• Often in a dictatorship• You have no choice what party to

belong to because there is only one• Examples: China, Cuba, Eritrea,

North Korea, Laos, Syria, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam

How to Join

• You register as a party member when you register to vote

• If you choose not to be a member of any party, you are called an Independent

• You can change your party at any time

What is Ideology?

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

• Ideologies tend to be grouped in the U.S. into 3 main categories

Liberal Moderate Conservative

What is Ideology?

• There are other “fringe” ideologies present as well (not as common)– Socialist (far left)– Marxist (far far left)– Libertarian (far right)– Religious fundamentalist (far far right)

Liberal Moderate Conservative

Liberal and Conservative

• People do not have to be strictly liberal on all issues, or conservative on all issues

• You can mix the two to form your own individual ideology

• We group them because certain viewpoints tend to naturally go together

Liberal and Conservative

• Common Liberal Characteristics–Desire progressive change in

society

–Main values: Idealism, Equality, Fairness, Personal Freedom

–Examples: ACLU, Sierra Club, NAACP, NOW, labor unions, Dems.

Liberal and Conservative

• Common Liberal Issue Stances– Pro-choice– Affirmative Action– Gun control– Progressive taxes (higher on rich)– Aid to the poor– Equal access to health care– Protecting the environment– Equal gay rights

Liberal and Conservative• Common Conservative

Characteristics– Desire to keep things as they are,

maintain the status-quo, change should be cautious and slow

– Main values: Realism, Law and Order, Justice, Morality, Economic Freedom

– Examples: Christian Coalition, NRA, Americans for Tax Reform, Republicans

Liberal and Conservative

• Common Conservative Issue Stances– Anti-abortion– Belief in private sector efficiency over the

government– Free gun ownership rights– Cutting taxes, less progressive taxation– Cutting regulations on businesses– Immigration control– Increased military spending– Support traditional marriage