Chapter 5 Political Parties Political Parties Group of

Chapter 5 Political Parties • Political Parties – Group of persons joined together on the basis of certain common principles, who seek to control government in order to bring about the adoption of certain public policies and programs • Republican- Elephant • Democratic- Donkey • In the U. S. they are election-oriented and not issue-oriented • Parties are a Coalition- A union of diverse interests- who try to get candidates elected to public office

Two Party System Ø Historical Basis Ø Federalists- Alexander Hamilton Ø Anti Federalists- Thomas Jefferson ØTradition ØBegan that way why change it? ØElectoral System ØTo vote for a minor party would be a wasted vote ØSingle member districts- contest in which one candidate from the district is elected to each office on the ballot. ØWinning candidate only needs the plurality- the largest number of votes cast for the office

Eras of One Party Domination • Era of Democrats 1800 -1860 “Era of Good Feelings” – Only lost 2 elections to the Whigs • Era of Republicans 1860 -1932 -everyone except the deep south –Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War –Only two Democratic Presidents- Grover Cleveland Woodrow Wilson • Return of Democrats 1932 -1968 –Great Depression- FDR –Only 1 Republican- Dwight Eisenhower

The Minor Parties Ø Examples = Libertarian, Socialist, Prohibition, New Alliance, Communists Ø 4 distinct types of minor parties Ø 1) Ideological Parties- concentrating on a single issue ØExample-communist party, socialist party Ø 2) Economic Protest Parties ØDisgust with major parties and the economic situations ØExample- Green Back Party- 1876 -1884 ØPopulist Party- 1890 - Break up monopolies ØDisgust with private ownership of railroads and telephone companies

Minor Parties Cont…. . 3) Single Issue Parties- Concentrating on a single issue Example- free soil party- over slavery Know Nothing Party- Irish Catholic 4) Splinter Parties- those that split away from one of the major parties –Bull Moose Party- split from the republicans- T. Roosevelt 1912 –American Independent Party- split from the Democrats – George Wallace Roles of Minor Parties – 1) National Conventions to nominate a Presidential Candidate • Started by the minor party-Anti-Mason

Cont…. . • 2) Can play a Spoiler Role in an election –President election of 1912 –Roosevelt/Taft/Wilson • 3) Innovator Function –Introduce new ideas • Example- Women’s suffrage • Take a clear stand on controversial issues • Major political parties adopt their issues when they become popular

The Organization of Political Parties • Political Parties are highly decentralized and are often fighting with the members of their own party • The president is the leader of the party • A defeated presidential candidate is called the titular leader- leader on by title

Organizations Cont… • 2 reasons why parties are decentralized – 1) Federalism= the government is not all centered in one place so either are political parties – 2) Nominating Process= primaries cause Candidates of the same party to disagree 4 Elements of a Political Party at a National Level – 1) National Convention- meets in the summer of every presidential election year to nominate the parties presidential and vice presidential candidates –Also adopt the parties Platform- statement on how the party will stand on major issues

Cont…. Rep-Tampa, FL Dem-Charlotte, NC – 2) National Committee= organizes the national convention and handles the parties affairs between conventions the Democratic committee or (DNC) is larger than the Republican National Committee (RNC) – 3) National Chairperson= chosen by the parties presidential nominee, works with committee to promote party unity, raise money and recruit vote support between presidential elections • Only 2 women *Jean Westwood (D 1972) *Mary Smith (R 1974) One black man Ron Brown (D 1989)

Cont…. • 4) Congressional Campaign Committee= Each party also has a campaign committee in each house of Congress—Work to reelect incumbents and to save the seats given up by the retiring party members. They are also involved in trying to unseat incumbents in the other party.

Chapter 6 Voters and Voter Behavior • Voting qualifications are set by each state • Suffrage- right to vote – When the constitution went into effect it was restricted to white male property owners • Electorate- the potential voting population it is now at 190 million • The electorate has increased in 5 stages in our history – 1) Early 1800’s- religious tests were stopped all white males could vote

Voting Cont… – 2)1860’s- Civil War 15 th Amendment black men could vote – 3)1920’s- 19 th Amendment women could vote • 1869 - Wyoming was the 1 st state to give women the right to vote – 4)1960’s- Voting Rights Act-ended discrimination against African Americans • 24 th Amendment- eliminated poll taxes • 1961 -23 rd Amendment-District of Columbia – 5)1971 26 th Amendment –lowered the voting age to 18

Voting Qualifications Among the States • Citizenship – Aliens are generally denied the right to vote – But there is nothing in our constitution that says aliens cannot vote • It is up to the state • Arkansas was the last state to permit them to vote 1926 – Residence • Most states require you to live within that state for at least some time period to qualify to vote

Qualifications Cont… • 2 Reasons – 1) Bring outsiders in to influence local elections – 2) Time to become familiar with the Candidates and issues in an election • Most states must have residence for 30 days in presidential elections – They used to be longer. Shortened for 2 reasons • 1) Voting Rights Act Amendments (1970) – Congress said no longer than 30 days in presidential election

Cont… • 2) Supreme Court Case 1972 – Dunn vs. Blumstein- 1 year in the State of Tennesseeunconstitutional because of 14 th Amendment

Chapter 6, sec 3 Suffrage and Civil Rights • 15 th Amendment did give African Americans the right to vote in 1870, but the states denied them until the 1960’s –The South also used gerrymandering- drawing the lines of electoral districts in order to limit the voting strength of a particular group or party –Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made Congress take action against racial discrimination –Civil Rights Act of 1957= set up the U. S Civil Rights Commission • Inquired into claims of voter discrimination

Cont…. . • Also gave the U. S. attorney general the power to seek injunctions- federal court orders to prevent the interference of voting in federal elections –Civil Rights Act of 1964= outlawed job discrimination • Outlaws States using voter registration requirements in a discriminating manner • Dr. King organized a voter registration drive in Selma, Alabama- were met by police and it was shown on T. V.

Cont…. – Civil Rights Act of 1965= this act applied to all elections • Suspended literacy tests; if a community has 5% of the voting age belongs to “language minority” ballots must be printed in that language – Non Voting, Sec 4 • The word idiot came from Athens, Greece- were citizens who did not vote • 85 million people did not vote in the last presidential election • Off year election- non presidential elections, the percentage much lower. 33%

Advertising Techniques • Nostalgia— • Back to Nature—”Just the way grandma used to make it. ”

Cont. • Bandwagon • Everyone has it—don’t be the person left out!

Cont. • Transfer/Testimonial • Famous people endorse the product • (ex. Michael Jordan and Gatorade)

More…. . • Humor • People will tend to remember it when they laugh

Cont… • Sense Appeal • Sounds or pictures that appeal to the senses

Last one…. • Statistics • Using facts/figures…. even if they are pointless

Why people don’t vote • “Cannot Voters”- 6 million aliens, 6 million too ill, 3 million traveling suddenly, mentally ill, religious beliefs • Actual non voters – Political Efficacy= lack any sense of their own influence or effectiveness in politics= believe government is controlled by the rich, media, special interests – Registration requirements, long ballots, long lines and bad weather discourages voter turnout – Time Zone Fallout= in presidential elections- polls close on the east cost hours before the west coast

Why we don’t vote Cont… – Biggest reason is Lack of interest (Apathy) – Non voters are younger (under 35) unmarried, unskilled – Voter behavior (Sociological Factors)

Membership of Parties • Democrats- African Americans, Catholics, Jews, union members, lower income families, farmers, women • Republicans- White males, Protestants, business community, higher educated – G. O. P- Grand Old Party

Why do people identify themselves with a particular party? 1. Major events in history – Civil War- Republican – Great Depression- Democrat 2. Family- follow what their parents do

Psychological Factors • Party identification= loyalty to a particular party – This will result in straight ticket voting- voting for candidates of all one party – More voters are becoming independents- people who have no party identification – This causes the people to vote on a split ticket-voting for candidates of both parties at the same election – The candidates and the issues they support are a big factor when people are voting