Political Parties & What they do

Unit 5: Ante Up

Major U.S. parties

•– Republicans & Democrats

Types of Systems

Two – Party System

political system dominated by two major political parties

History of two party system

• Federalist & Anti-Federalists– Began with the ratifying of the Constitution– Now it is tradition & is unlikely to change– Why:

• Single-member districts• Winner is the one who gains a plurality or largest

number of votes• Republicans & Democrats work in a bipartisan

manner to perpetuate the system

History of two party system

• Minor parties have difficulty getting on the ballot & be heard

Minor Parties in the US– Ideological: Based on a particular set of

beliefs Ex.: Communist Party

– Single-Issue: Major parties often take on their issue as their own

– Economic Protest Parties: Blames the business world & the major parties…

Ex: Populist party, Occupy Wall Street

– Splinter Party: Usually form around a certain personality that failed to win the nomination in a major party (Teddy Roosevelt, George Wallace)

Multi party system

• three or more parties compete for control of the government are common in Europe, Israel, & Japan

• Advantage – gives voters the opportunity of voting

from a variety of choices–Majorities are rare & pluralities usually

indicate winners

One party system

• Party & the government are the same thing.

• Example: People’s Republic of China

Platform

– A political party’s statement of its goals & positions on all issues

Plank

–A single issue on a political party’s platform