Political PartiesPolitical Parties

What is a Political Party?What is a Political Party? An organization of people An organization of people Share the same ideas of Share the same ideas of

governmentgovernment Members committed to Members committed to

party goalsparty goals Get candidates elected to Get candidates elected to

officeoffice Get laws passed to aid Get laws passed to aid

party goalsparty goals

Party SystemsParty Systems

Most countries have political partiesMost countries have political parties Party systemsParty systems

– One partyOne party– Two partyTwo party– Multi-partyMulti-party

U.S. Party SystemU.S. Party System

Two party systemTwo party system– Two major parties vie for officeTwo major parties vie for office– Other minor parties existOther minor parties exist– Major partiesMajor parties

– Democratic partyDemocratic party– Republican PartyRepublican Party

Similarities of Major Parties in U.S.Similarities of Major Parties in U.S.

All value personal rights, All value personal rights, freedomsfreedoms

Educational opportunities for Educational opportunities for allall

Economic opportunities for allEconomic opportunities for all Government duty- to protect Government duty- to protect

nationnation Preserve environmentPreserve environment Help citizensHelp citizens

DifferencesDifferences

Disagree on ways to meet goalsDisagree on ways to meet goals Example:Example:

– Democrats- government directly helps the poorDemocrats- government directly helps the poor

– Republicans- government helps economy and Republicans- government helps economy and poor get jobspoor get jobs

Benefits of Two Party SystemBenefits of Two Party System

StabilizingStabilizing– Keeps people near the centerKeeps people near the center– Extreme ideas not supported by Extreme ideas not supported by

populacepopulace

ContinuityContinuity– Government changes parties Government changes parties

oftenoften– Transition is usually smoothTransition is usually smooth

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Minority groups left outMinority groups left out

Ex. Civil rightsEx. Civil rights Women's movement Women's movement Needed major party support Needed major party support

Multi-Party SystemMulti-Party System

Three or more parties- Japan, Israel Three or more parties- Japan, Israel Advantage- More voter choiceAdvantage- More voter choice Disadvantage- Voters dividedDisadvantage- Voters divided

No party gets majority votesNo party gets majority votes Must form coalition governmentMust form coalition government Coalition may not work- Coalition may not work-

– 50 governments in Italy since W.W.II50 governments in Italy since W.W.II

One Party SystemOne Party System

Party and government are Party and government are almost the same- Chinaalmost the same- China

One party’s members run for One party’s members run for officeoffice

Head of government usually Head of government usually head of partyhead of party

Party members recruit new party Party members recruit new party membersmembers

Party members given top Party members given top government jobsgovernment jobs