Political Parties and their affect on political systems

Political Party- a group of people with broad common interests who

organize to win elections

Single Party system-where one party dominates the government and often does not allow other parties.

Authoritarian ruling family of N. Korea

China’s Communist Party

Theocratic rule in Iran of the Islamic Republic Party

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Multi-Party System- where many parties exist and no one party can gain control. A “coalition” of parties sometimes form to gain control of the gov’t, but eventually these break down.

Italy’s Chamber of deputies: The red is a coalition called Italy Common Good made up of five different parties; Democratic Party, Left Ecology Freedom, Italian Socialist Party, and Democratic Centre. The coalition formed in 2013. There have been many such coalitions.

Two Party System in America• Our system began with two competing

philosophies concerning what would have greater power; states or the national government.

Ross Perot: Reform Party-Republican ideology of economics caused Bill Clinton to win in 1992.

Ralph Nader: Green Party- draws votes away from democrats

Theodore Roosevelt: Bull Moose Party (Progressive)-Caused Taft, the man he hand picked to take his place as president to loose to Woodrow Wilson in 1912.

While no third party candidate for president has ever won the presidency, they have great influence on the elections. But usually not the influence they hope for.

Third Party candidates have a hard time winning an office because most elected officials come from single-member districts, which means there is only one winner, no matter how many compete. Basically a “winner takes all” situation in American politics.

The opposite situation is proportional representation, where elected offices are filled based on the proportion of votes a party recieves.

20th President: James Garfield was assassinated by Charles Guiteau, who expected the president to give him a job.

The practice of the winner of an election to give his supporters positions in government is called Patronage.

Voting Precinct: Is another name for voting districts where you go to vote based on your home address.

A precinct may have just a few registered voters or over a 1000.

Churches, fire stations, schools, community centers, or county court houses may serve as the location within a precinct for people to go and vote.

A Precinct Captain is one who is affiliated with a party who organizes party workers to distribute information and encourage people to get out and vote.