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U.S. Political Parties

U.S. Political Parties. CP Political Systems. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings. What is a political party? Organization of people who share similar ideas about the way the country should be governed. Political Party Systems. 3 Political Party Systems in the World

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U.S. Political Parties

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  1. U.S. Political Parties CP Political Systems

  2. U.S. Political Parties:Beginnings What is a political party? • Organization of people who share similar ideas about the way the country should be governed

  3. Political Party Systems • 3 Political Party Systems in the World 1.) One Party System: Political party and the government are the SAME • Only 1 party, so no competing ideas • Party membership based on lineage, wealth, military power, religious power • Example: China (Communist Party)

  4. Political Party Systems 2.) Multi-Party System: Three or more parties compete for control of the government • Common in Europe, Israel, Japan • Advantage: provides voters with many different choices and ideas • Disadvantage: difficult for one party to get majority of votes, which leads to a Coalition: EXAMPLE – Italy (50 different govts. since WWII) Daisy Alliance Sunflower Alliance Italian Communist 500,000 votes 450,000 votes 200,000 votes Coalition

  5. Political Party Systems 3. 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

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

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

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

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

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

  11. 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

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

  13. U.S. Political Parties:Characteristics • Democratic Party • Tends to Attract • Working people (blue collar) • Liberals • Catholics • Minorities • Union Members • People in favor of govt. involvement in social policies

  14. U.S. Political Parties:Characteristics • Republican Party • Tends to attract • Businesspeople (white collar) • Protestants • Conservatives • Non-minorities • Non-union supporters • People against govt.involvement in social policies

  15. Democrats:The Issues • Abortion: • Pro Choice • Favors contraceptive education to prevent necessity of abortion

  16. Democrats:The Issues • Gay Rights: • Should be protected from workplace discrimination and hate crimes • Should be given equal work benefits like more traditional families • Largely oppose President Bush’s proposal to ban gay marriage through a Constitutional Amendment

  17. Democrats:The Issues • Gun Control: • Strong advocates for gun control • Supported both the Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban

  18. Democrats:The Issues • Education: • More funding for struggling schools is necessary • Tax money should not be used on religious schools

  19. How about the other side?

  20. Republicans:The Issues • Abortion: Pro-life; Anti-Choice • Prefers funding go towards marriage education and abstinence only campaigns • Have tried several times to pass statutes that would allow prosecution of acts that harm fetuses

  21. Republicans:The Issues • Gay Rights: • Against giving gays equal rights in the eyes of the law • “We do not believe sexual preference should be given special legal protection or standing in law” • Oppose idea of gay marriage; seek to define marriage as union between man and woman • Supports amendment to the Constitution defining marriage

  22. Republicans:The Issues • Gun Control: • Favors allowing the sale of firearms to proceed more easily, and with fewer safety precautions • Opposes any new gun-control laws • Fought the regulation and banning of assault weapons

  23. Republicans:The Issues • Education: • Support both the “No Child Left Behind” program and the school vouchers • Favor school vouchers because they think that by giving students more educational options, including religious schooling, a competitive market will be created • Argue public schools will be forced to improve in order to retain students

  24. How To Tell Em Apart • Republicans usually wear hats. Ronald Reagan

  25. How To Tell Em Apart • Democrats usually don’t. Jimmy Carter

  26. How To Tell Em Apart • Democrats buy banned books. Bill Clinton

  27. How To Tell Em Apart • Republicans form censorship committees, and then read them. Barbara Bush

  28. How To Tell Em Apart • Democrats eat the fish they catch. FDR Fishing in Warms Springs, GA

  29. How To Tell Em Apart • Republicans hang them on their wall.

  30. How To Tell Em Apart • Republicans study the financial pages of the newspaper.

  31. How To Tell Em Apart • Democrats put them on the bottom of their bird cage.

  32. How To Tell Em Apart • On Saturday, Republicans head for the golf course, the yacht club, or the hunting lodge. President George W. Bush yachting and golfing. President Dwight D. Eisenhower hunting

  33. How To Tell Em Apart • Democrats get a haircut, wash the car, or go bowling. A younger Bill Clinton bowling

  34. How To Tell Em Apart • Republicans have guest rooms.

  35. How To Tell Em Apart • Democrats have spare rooms filled with old baby furniture.

  36. How To Tell Em Apart • Republicans hire exterminators

  37. How To Tell Em Apart • Democrats step on the bugs

  38. How To Tell Em Apart • Republicans sleep in twin beds – some even in separate rooms.

  39. How To Tell Em Apart • That is why there are more Democrats. The Kennedy Family

  40. What Do Political Party Members Do?? • Major function of each party is to get its candidate elected to office • Steps include • Party members nominate, or name the candidates they want to run for office 2004 Republican National Convention

  41. What Do Political Party Members Do?? 2. Party starts an election campaign • An effort to gather support for its candidates and inform voters of the party’s stand on issues • Requires many party workers and volunteers to perform dozens of job that include: • Raising funds • Polling voters/making phone calls • Drive voters to the polls • Register voters John Kerry Campaigning

  42. What Do Political Party Members Do? Presidential Election Campaigns

  43. What Do Political Party Members Do? 3. Once a party’s candidate is elected, the party helps the candidate organize and manage the govt. • Example: When a President is elected, 100’s of job vacancies in govt. must be filled. Jobs usually filled by party members who have contributed time, energy and money to the campaign. • Patronage: giving jobs or special favors to party workers

  44. Political Party Organization • Political Parties are organized at every level: • Local Party Committee : Goal is to get candidates from party elected to local political office, like mayor, city councilman, school superintendent, etc… Mayor of Atlanta: Shirley Franklin Alvin Wilbanks: Superintendent of GCPS

  45. Political Party Organization • Political parties are organized at every level: • State Party Committee: Goal is to get candidates from party elected to state political office, like governor, attorney general, state legislator, etc… Georgia Governor: Sonny Perdue

  46. Political Party Organization • Political parties are organized at every level: • National Party Committee: Goal is to get candidates from party elected to national political office, like President, Senator, House Representative Georgia Representative: John Linder Georgia Senator: Saxby Chambliss President of the U.S.: George W. Bush

  47. Third Parties • What are Third Parties? • Parties representing minority opinions that challenge the Democrats and Republicans • Some successful Third Parties: • Populist Party – 1890’s • Progressive Party – split off from Rep. Part in 1912 • Libertarian Party – third most popular party in U.S. today

  48. Third Parties • 3 Kinds of Third Parties • 1. Parties Tied to a Single Issue: • Examples: • Prohibition Party: formed in 1872 to support banning of alcohol in the U.S. • U.S. Marijuana Party: formed to support the legalization of marijuana in the U.S. • Green Party: formed to protect the environment

  49. Third Parties • 3 Kinds of Third Parties • 2. Parties Tied to a Political Belief • Examples: • Libertarian Party • The Third Party • Socialist Parties

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