Political Parties and Two Party System Day 1

Political Parties and Two Party System Day 1

Opener Questions – p. 116 -117 1) What is a political party? 2) What are two major parties in the United States? 3) What is the major function of a political party? 4) How do parties try to inform and inspire voters?

Discussion Question George Washington warned people against what he called “the baneful (irritating) effects of the spirit of the party. ” Why do you think President Washington hated political parties so much?

Discuss: What is this?

Learning Target I will identify the function of the 2 -party system in the United States and their role in the American government.

Complete Political Survey Put Questionnaire face down when complete.

What is a Party? Political Party – group of persons who seek to control government through 1) winning of elections and 2) the holding of public office. United States has two major parties Republican and Democrats American Political Parties are election-oriented not issue-oriented or principle-oriented American Political parties shift their viewpoints depending on who their electorate is and what beliefs give them the best chance to win.

Duties of Parties 1) Nominating Candidates Select candidates and present them to voters 2) Informing and Activating Supporters Campaign for candidates, take stands on issues, and criticize the opponents positions 3) Insuring candidates are qualified and of good character. 4) Governing Parties work with members to accomplish things once elected 5) Acting as Watchdog Criticizing and keeping tabs on the actions of the party in power (assuming they don’t have it)

Party System Simulation Coach Parks asks you what high school football team you are going to cheer for on Friday. What do you feel pressured to say? (Bryan Station - Single Party System)

Party System Simulation Steve Beshear asks you what college basketball team you are going to cheer for this season. What options do you feel pressured to pick? (UK or Uof. L - Two Party System)

Party System Simulation Ms. Hopkins asks you what professional baseball team you hope wins the World Series. Do you feel pressured to pick a team? (Any team - Multi-Party System)

Which System is Best? Answer on your guided notes(Single, Two, Multi-party systems) 1) Which system gives you the most freedom to choose? The least freedom? 2) Which system can gain a majority the easiest? Which would have most difficult time gaining majority? 3) Which system reflects the beliefs of the people the best? 4) Predict a couple of pros and cons of 1 party? 2 party? Multi party system?

Single Party System Single Party – Leads to authoritarian or totalitarian control of country. (Dictatorship) People must listen to party in power. No choice.

2 Party System – Splits voters in half. Parties must represent wide variety of beliefs. Voters must choose party “most” similar to their beliefs. (Not always 100% agreement) Simplifies Election process for uninformed. Just need to know Democrat or Republican. Allows for easier path towards majority (51%)

Multi-Party System Several major parties and many lesser parties compete for public offices. Wide variety of interests and beliefs represented. Difficult to gain majority. Parties are forced to join together and form coalitions. Must compromise views to gain majority. Most European democracies have Multi-Party System.

2 Party System: Shades of Red or Blue

Parties in the USA Democrats Republican “Liberal” “Conservative” Mascot = Donkey Mascot = Elephant Shown with the color Blue Shown with the color Red Said to be “left” of center Said to be “right of center Most Famous Presidents = Most Recent = Barack Most Recent = George W. Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy Obama, Bill Clinton Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan Bush, George HW Bush

Vocab Crossword p. 116 -124 political party Consensus Republican Multiparty Democratic Coalition Partisanship One Party System Minor Party Plurality Two Party System Bipartisan Candidate Single Member District Campaign Office Anti-Federalists Majority

Exit Slip Why do you think candidates still run for office from minor parties, and why do millions of people vote for 3 rd party candidates every year? (Even though they have no chance to win)