Introduction to the Introduction to the New LD Topic: New LD Topic:

Democracy and Democracy and the Two Party Systemthe Two Party System

New L.D. Resolution New L.D. Resolution

RESOLVED: The two-party system undermines RESOLVED: The two-party system undermines democracy in U.S. presidential elections. democracy in U.S. presidential elections.

Crucial elements: Crucial elements: What is democracy?What is democracy? What is the two-party system? What is the two-party system? Restricted to U.S. presidential elections Restricted to U.S. presidential elections

Definitions - DemocracyDefinitions - Democracy Origin of the Term: It is derived from the Greek δημοκρατία "dimokratia" Origin of the Term: It is derived from the Greek δημοκρατία "dimokratia"

or "popular government" which is a fusion of two seperate words, δήμος or "popular government" which is a fusion of two seperate words, δήμος (dēmos), "people" and κράτος (kratos), "rule, strength." In the middle of (dēmos), "people" and κράτος (kratos), "rule, strength." In the middle of the 5th century BC to denote the political system in Athens and other the 5th century BC to denote the political system in Athens and other Greek city-states. Greek city-states.

Term has been abused and twisted. Even totalitarian regimes claim the Term has been abused and twisted. Even totalitarian regimes claim the title. Example: Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea is a brutal title. Example: Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea is a brutal regime run by a dictator and the communist partyregime run by a dictator and the communist party

Must agree to the “rules of the game” ? Must agree to the “rules of the game” ?

Definitions – Democracy Definitions – Democracy Focus on Actors Focus on Actors

Who has political power? The people are sovereign. Who has political power? The people are sovereign.

Restrictions? Only males, only whites, only adults, only property Restrictions? Only males, only whites, only adults, only property owners, etc.owners, etc.

Scope: Citizens and Territory Scope: Citizens and Territory

One Person = One Vote. One Person = One Vote.

Elected representatives Elected representatives

Definitions – Democracy Definitions – Democracy

No universally accepted definition of the term. No universally accepted definition of the term.

Crucial for you to find a definition that is both strategic Crucial for you to find a definition that is both strategic and reasonable to your judges and reasonable to your judges

Actors, or Process, or Results? Actors, or Process, or Results?

Definitions – Democracy Definitions – Democracy Focus on Process or Procedure Focus on Process or Procedure

How are government officials selected? Voting in free & fair How are government officials selected? Voting in free & fair electionselections

No Fraud, No Intimidation, Etc. No Fraud, No Intimidation, Etc.

Gerrymandering - a form of redistricting in which district Gerrymandering - a form of redistricting in which district boundaries are manipulated for electoral advantage. boundaries are manipulated for electoral advantage. Gerrymandering may be used to help or hinder particular Gerrymandering may be used to help or hinder particular constituents, such as members of a political, racial, linguistic, constituents, such as members of a political, racial, linguistic, religious or class group.religious or class group.

Free Speech, Freedom of the Press, and Open Political Free Speech, Freedom of the Press, and Open Political Campaigning Campaigning

Definitions – Democracy Definitions – Democracy Focus on Results Focus on Results

Serving the interests of the people with less emphasis on process and Serving the interests of the people with less emphasis on process and procedures procedures

““Substantive Democracy” is a form of democracy according to which the Substantive Democracy” is a form of democracy according to which the outcome of the decisions is real democracy. In other words, substantive outcome of the decisions is real democracy. In other words, substantive democracy is a form of democracy that functions in the interest of the democracy is a form of democracy that functions in the interest of the governed. It is important to note that even in societies where voting is governed. It is important to note that even in societies where voting is unrestricted to the entire adult population, this characteristic does not unrestricted to the entire adult population, this characteristic does not necessarily qualify it as a substantive democracy. Opposite: formal necessarily qualify it as a substantive democracy. Opposite: formal process of democracy but one that lacks actually democracy in practice, process of democracy but one that lacks actually democracy in practice, such as the Soviet Union.such as the Soviet Union.

Types of Democracy, Types of Democracy, Problems, and Remedies Problems, and Remedies

Simple Majority RuleSimple Majority Rule Potential Problem: tyranny of the majorityPotential Problem: tyranny of the majority Remedy: Constitutional Rights Remedy: Constitutional Rights Remedy: Competing BranchesRemedy: Competing Branches Remedy: Federal System Remedy: Federal System

Direct DemocracyDirect Democracy Potential Problem: Logistics Potential Problem: Logistics Potential Problem: Voter Knowledge and Deliberation Potential Problem: Voter Knowledge and Deliberation Remedy: Representatives selected by regular elections Remedy: Representatives selected by regular elections

Contemporary Contemporary Democracy Democracy in the United States in the United States

Constitutional DemocracyConstitutional Democracy

Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy

Liberal Democracy Liberal Democracy

Separation of Powers & Overlapping Duties Separation of Powers & Overlapping Duties

Federal System Federal System

Universal Suffrage for All Adults Universal Suffrage for All Adults

““Winner Take All”Winner Take All”

Electoral CollegeElectoral College

Complex System created in our original constitutionComplex System created in our original constitution

Electoral College, Not Direct Popular Vote, determines the President and Electoral College, Not Direct Popular Vote, determines the President and Vice-President Vice-President

Each State is allocated electoral votes based on its congressional Each State is allocated electoral votes based on its congressional delegation. State’s Electoral Votes = # in House plus # in Senate delegation. State’s Electoral Votes = # in House plus # in Senate

Most states have a “winner take all” system for their electoral votesMost states have a “winner take all” system for their electoral votes

Currently need 270 electoral votes to win Currently need 270 electoral votes to win

History of Two Party History of Two Party SystemSystem

Splits Began Early Splits Began Early Constitutional Ratification Constitutional Ratification Adams v. Jefferson Adams v. Jefferson

Whig Party disintegrated in 1856 over the Whig Party disintegrated in 1856 over the issue of slavery, soon replaced by Republican issue of slavery, soon replaced by Republican Party in the north Party in the north

Notable Third Party Notable Third Party CandidatesCandidates

1844: James Birney of the anti-slavery Liberal Party in 1844 wins 2.3% of popular 1844: James Birney of the anti-slavery Liberal Party in 1844 wins 2.3% of popular vote, possibly tipping the election to pro-slavery Democrat James Polk vote, possibly tipping the election to pro-slavery Democrat James Polk

1892: James Weaver of the Populist Party wins 8.6% of the popular vote and 22 1892: James Weaver of the Populist Party wins 8.6% of the popular vote and 22 electoral college votes electoral college votes

1912: Theodore Roosevelt, former Vice President and President as a Republican, 1912: Theodore Roosevelt, former Vice President and President as a Republican, loses the battle for the Republican nomination to William Howard Taft. loses the battle for the Republican nomination to William Howard Taft. Roosevelt runs as member of a Populist or “Bull Moose” Party and split the Roosevelt runs as member of a Populist or “Bull Moose” Party and split the Republican party. He wins 27% of the popular vote, carried six states, and Republican party. He wins 27% of the popular vote, carried six states, and earned 88 electoral votes. He finished behind Democrat Woodrow Wilson but earned 88 electoral votes. He finished behind Democrat Woodrow Wilson but ahead of Taft. Best showing ever by a third party candidate ahead of Taft. Best showing ever by a third party candidate

Notable Third Party Notable Third Party CandidatesCandidates

1920: Socialist Party candidate Eugene Debs wins 3.4% of the popular vote 1920: Socialist Party candidate Eugene Debs wins 3.4% of the popular vote despite being imprisoned for politically-inspired espionage charges despite being imprisoned for politically-inspired espionage charges

1948: Strom Thurmond of South Carolina splits from the Democratic Party over 1948: Strom Thurmond of South Carolina splits from the Democratic Party over issue of racial segregation and forms the “Dixiecrat” Party. He earns over a issue of racial segregation and forms the “Dixiecrat” Party. He earns over a million votes and 39 electoral votes in Southern States. million votes and 39 electoral votes in Southern States.

1968: Former Democratic Governor of Alabama George Wallace ran on the 1968: Former Democratic Governor of Alabama George Wallace ran on the American Independent Party line. Wallace received 9,901,118 votes for 13.5% American Independent Party line. Wallace received 9,901,118 votes for 13.5% of the popular vote, receiving 45 electoral votes in the South and many votes of the popular vote, receiving 45 electoral votes in the South and many votes in the North.in the North.

Notable Third Party Notable Third Party CandidatesCandidates

1992: Billionaire Ross Perot, an independent, won 18.9% of the popular vote (but 1992: Billionaire Ross Perot, an independent, won 18.9% of the popular vote (but no electoral votes). This was the second-best popular vote showing ever for a third-no electoral votes). This was the second-best popular vote showing ever for a third-party candidate, trailing only Theodore Roosevelt in 1912. Perot finished second in party candidate, trailing only Theodore Roosevelt in 1912. Perot finished second in three states: in Alaska and Utah ahead of election winner Bill Clinton, and in Maine three states: in Alaska and Utah ahead of election winner Bill Clinton, and in Maine ahead of incumbent President George H. W. Bush. ahead of incumbent President George H. W. Bush.

1996: Ross Perot wins the nomination of the new “Reform” Party. He earns 8% of 1996: Ross Perot wins the nomination of the new “Reform” Party. He earns 8% of the popular vote but no electoral votes.the popular vote but no electoral votes.

2000: Ralph Nader, nominee of the Green Party, wins 2.7 of the popular vote and 2000: Ralph Nader, nominee of the Green Party, wins 2.7 of the popular vote and no electoral votes. The vote count in Florida between Bush and Gore is razor thin – no electoral votes. The vote count in Florida between Bush and Gore is razor thin – only about 500 votes of out nearly 6 million votes cast there. Nader won only about 500 votes of out nearly 6 million votes cast there. Nader won thousands of votes in Florida and possibly tipped the election there to Bush. thousands of votes in Florida and possibly tipped the election there to Bush. Eventually Bush lost the national popular vote but won 271 electoral votes, Eventually Bush lost the national popular vote but won 271 electoral votes, including those electoral votes from the state of Florida. including those electoral votes from the state of Florida.

History of the Two Party History of the Two Party SystemSystem

Democrats and Republicans since 1864Democrats and Republicans since 1864

Only Three other parties have party registrations above 100,000: Only Three other parties have party registrations above 100,000: the Green Party, the Liberian Party, and the Constitution Partythe Green Party, the Liberian Party, and the Constitution Party

Roughly 20 other parties are active. They exist across the political Roughly 20 other parties are active. They exist across the political spectrum, from left to right to special issuespectrum, from left to right to special issue

Barriers to Third Party Barriers to Third Party SuccessSuccess

Winner Take All, not proportional representationWinner Take All, not proportional representation

Ballot Access LawsBallot Access Laws

Media Coverage Media Coverage

Debate CommissionDebate Commission

Return to the ResolutionReturn to the Resolution

RESOLVED: The two-party system undermines democracy in RESOLVED: The two-party system undermines democracy in U.S. presidential elections.U.S. presidential elections.

Must focus on the term “democracy”Must focus on the term “democracy”

Debate commission is a prime example. It is a private body that Debate commission is a prime example. It is a private body that crafts its own rules. It is run by a group of both Republicans and crafts its own rules. It is run by a group of both Republicans and Democrats, but not other parties. It creates rules that allow only Democrats, but not other parties. It creates rules that allow only major candidates into the debate. And then the media major candidates into the debate. And then the media broadcasts those debates for free. broadcasts those debates for free.

However, this is an INDIRECT effect. However, this is an INDIRECT effect.

Negative Negative

Two Party System is not to blameTwo Party System is not to blame Electoral CollegeElectoral College Majority = Victory, not proportional Majority = Victory, not proportional Media Coverage Media Coverage Debate CommissionDebate Commission

Negative Negative

Alternative Definitions of Democracy Alternative Definitions of Democracy

Process / Procedural Process / Procedural

Substantive Substantive