Political Parties Political Spectrum Political Spectrum Political Spectrum

Political Parties

Political Spectrum

Political Spectrum

Political Spectrum

Political Spectrum

Political Parties n Political Party- organization of individuals with broad, common interest who organize to win elections, operate in government, and influence government policy n Two-party system- US party system with 2 main parties: Democrats and Republicans

Political Party Systems Two-Party System: Two parties compete with each other to run the government. – Party system of U. S. : Democrats and Republicans – Advantages: Continuity – Disadvantages: Minority parties (third parties) receive little attention – focus is on two main parties

U. S. Political Parties: Beginnings • George Washington against political parties Ø “parties serve their own interests” Ø “parties not beneficial to American people” • Parties formed after his exit: 1. Democratic-Republicans 2. Federalists

U. S. Political Parties: Beginnings • Democratic. Republicans Ø Supported states rights Ø Supported economy based on agriculture Ø Power in hands of all people Ø Led by Thomas Jefferson

U. S. Political Parties: Beginnings • Federalists Ø Supported strong national govt. Ø Supported economy based on industry Ø Power in hands of wealthy and educated Ø Led by Alexander Hamilton

U. S. Political Parties: Beginnings • Federalists Breakup Ø Federalists gradually disappear – no political momentum Ø John Adams only party member to be elected President Ø Supporters formed new party: Whig Party (1834 -1856)

U. S. Political Parties: Beginnings • Mid 1820’s: Democratic -Republicans breaking up • Democratic Party formed to continue representing small farmers and working people

U. S. Political Parties: Beginnings • 1850’s: Democratic Party and Whig Party split over slavery – Pro-slavery voters form Democratic Party – Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats formed Republican Party

U. S Political Parties: Beginnings • Republican Party Ø 1860: Abe Lincoln becomes 1 st Republican President Ø Emerges as stronger of 2 parties after Civil War § 1865 -1931: Only 2 Democratic Presidents elected § Grover Cleveland § Woodrow Wilson

U. S. Political Parties: Characteristics • Democratic Party – Tends to Attract ØWorking people (blue collar) ØLiberals ØCatholics ØMinorities ØUnion Members ØPeople in favor of govt. involvement in social policies

U. S. Political Parties: Characteristics • Republican Party – Tends to attract ØBusinesspeople (white collar) ØProtestants ØConservatives ØNon-minorities ØNon-union supporters ØPeople against govt. involvement in social policies

Third Parties- smaller minor parties n Influenced politics by promoting ideas that were at first unpopular n They have never won Presidency, but Democrats and Republicans adopted their ideas n

Third Parties cont. n Single Issue Parties- form to promote a social, economic, or moral issue (usually don’t last long) n Prohibitionists Party formed in 1872 to ban alcohol

Third Parties cont n Ideological Parties- form to support a particular philosophy or idea Socialists Labor Party and Communist Party USA believe that free enterprise should be replaced by one in which the government owns business n Libertarian Party want to cut the size of the federal government and increase personal freedoms n

Third Parties cont. n Independent Candidates- form around leaders with strong personalities (usually don’t last long) n H. Ross Perot ran for President in 1992 and 1996

Third Parties cont n Obstacles Third party candidates must obtain a large number of voter signatures to be placed on the ballot n Trouble raising n

Other Party Systems n Multiparty System- one party rarely wins enough support to completely control government n n Many countries have this: Germany has over 5 political parties, Israel has over 20 One-Party System- the party and government are the same n People’s Republic of China has 1 party: The

Political Party n Platform- series of statements expressing the parties principles, beliefs, and positions on issues n n Ex. Abortion, Death Penalty Plank- each individual part of the platform n Ex. Dem support Abortion, Rep support Death Penalty This communicates to voters what the party will do if elected n

Political Parties

Democrats and Republicans n Basic difference between the Democrats and Republicans is their belief in how much the government should be involved in the lives of Americans Democrats- federal government should be more directly involved in citizen’s lives n Republicans- federal government should be less directly involved in citizen’s lives n n Both parties try to adopt moderate positions and avoid extreme radical positions in order to attract more voters