Chapter 5: Political Parties

1. Chapter 5:Political Parties Tori Kolste Amelia Bobzien Jessica Schwartz

2. What Do Parties Do? • Inform and activate supporters • Campaigning, take stands on issues, criticize opponents, advertisements • “Bonding Agents” • ensure good performance, make sure candidates are qualified and perform well in office

3. What Do Parties Do? • Governing • Officeholders chosen on basis of party • Govern on basis of support of party and its political stands (partisanship) • Acts as Watchdog • Party out of power criticizes the party in power (the party controlling the executive branch)

4. Section 2 The Two-Party System

5. Tradition • The framers did not want political parties but they were first formed with the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists

6. The Electoral System and the Two-party System • Much of American election law is written to discourage minor parties • Republicans and Democrats work together to preserve the two-party system

7. Section 4 The Minor Parties

8. Why Minor Parties Are Important • A strong third-party can play a “spoiler role” pulling votes from one of the major parties • *Take clear-cut stands on controversial issues and draw attention to issues the major parties ignore

9. Ideological Parties • Based on a particular set of beliefs • Many built on Marxist thought • Socialist, Socialist Labor, Socialist Worker, and Communist parties • Libertarian Party • Emphasizes individualism • Ideological Parties seldom win many votes

10. Single-Issue Parties • Focus on only one public-policy matter • Free Soil Party • Opposed the spread of slaver in 1840-50s • American Party (“Know Nothings”) • Opposed Irish-Catholic immigration in the1850s • Right to Life Party • Opposes abortion today • Most die away as events have passed them by

11. Economic Protest Parties • Rooted in periods of economic disaster • No clear-cut ideological base • Proclaim their disgust for the major parties • Greenback Party, 1876-1884 • Populist Party of the 1890s • Disappear as the nation climbs out of difficult economic periods

12. Splinter Parties • Have split away from one of the major parties • Theodore Roosevelt’s Progressive Party of 1912 • Robert La Follette’s Progressive Party of 1924 • Henry Wallace’s Progressive Party, 1948 • States’ Rights Party,1948 • George Wallace’s Independent Party of 1968 • Most form around a person who failed to win the major party’s nomination

13. Green Party • Founded in 1996 • Began as a single-issue party but has evolved • Came to prominence in 2000 with Ralph Nader as its nominee • Nader’s campaign built around: • Environmental protection, universal health care, gay and lesbian rights, restraints on corporate power, etc.

14. Interest Groups and Public Opinion Local, State, and National Government

15. Interest Groups are NOT Political Parties • ...They do not nominate candidates. • …Only concerned with a few specific issues and do not try to gain members with different opinions. • …Organized on the basis of common values rather than on geographic location.

16. Why belong to an Interest Group? • Economic self-interest • Beliefs, values, and attitudes • Social reasons • ***Most who join tend to be from upper income levels.

17. Types of Interest Groups • Business and Labor (NAM and AFL-CIO) • Agricultural groups represent farmers. (Grange) • Professional Associations • Environmental groups • Public Interest groups

18. Major Special Interest Groups • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People http://www.naacp.org • American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organization http://www.aflcio.org • American Medical Associationhttp://www.ama-assn.org/ • National Education Association http://www.nea.org/ • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People http://www.naacp.org • American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organization http://www.aflcio.org • American Medical Associationhttp://www.ama-assn.org/ • National Education Association http://www.nea.org/

19. Purpose and Methods of Interest Groups • Provide Americans with additional Representation • Seek to Inform the Public and Officials of Issues • Letter Writing Campaigns • Media Campaigns

20. Lobbying/Lobbyist • Lobbying is the process of making direct contact with government leaders in attempt to influence policy. • Lobbyists are the representatives of interest groups who conduct such work.

21. Political Action Committees(PACs) • Another vehicle for interest groups to influence government is through PACs. • Organizations specifically designed to collect money and provide financial support for a political candidate. • Pros and Cons?

22. Mass Media • Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, recordings, movies, and books • AKA—”The Fourth Branch of Government” • Strategic methods in influencing public opinion—the ideas and attitudes a significant number of Americans hold about government and political issues

23. Media in Political Campaigns • Candidates use the media to creatively persuade people’s opinions of themselves and opponents • Ads costs lots of $ • Candidates spend lots of time raising money to fund the expensive ads

24. Voters & Voter Behavior Magruder’s American Government Chapter 6 CA Stds: 12.2.4; 12.5.4; 12.6.4; 12.6.6

25. I. The Right to Vote • History of Voting Rights • Constitution left suffrage qualifications to the States • Franchise is a synonym for suffrage • Expansion of the Electorate • 5 stages of expansion • Revolution to 1810 & end to religion test • 1870 – 15th Amendment & AAs • 1920 – 19th Amendment & Women

26. I. The Right to Vote • 5 stages of expansion (cont) • 1960’s – Voting Rights Act of 1965, 23rd Amendment (’61) & DC voting in pres. Elections, 24th Amendment (’64) & poll tax • 1971 – 26th Amendment & 18 yr olds

27. I. The Right to Vote • Qualifications & Restrictions • States setqualifications • Any person who votes for the “most numerous branch” of state gov’t must be able to vote in Fed elect’ns • Race, etc. cannot be a barrier • No gender restrictions • No poll tax • No age restrictions for 18+

28. II. Voter Qualifications • Universal Requirements • Citizenship • All native born or naturalized • Texas has no residential time frame • Residency – most have no time limit • Age – must be 18 or over • States may lower age if they wish • Registration

29. Voter Behavior • Why people don’t vote • Can’ t vote • Physically or mentally unable • Religious beliefs • In jail • Voluntary non-voters: two types • “Nothing will change no matter who wins and all’s well” • Those who lack political efficacy

30. Political socialization • NOT: • Media • Party • Family • Religion • Income / occupation • Race & ethnicity • Education • Age • Gender • Geography

31. The Electoral Process American Democracy Chapter 7 CA Stds: 12.2.4; 12.3.1; 12.6.1, 12.6.2, 12.6.3, 12.6.4

32. I. The Nominating Process • Self-Announcement • Caucus • Convention • Primary • direct primary • open primary • closed primary • semi-open primary • Petition

33. II. Elections • Administration of Elections • In several states, 16 & 17 year olds may aid in the administration of elections • Elections must be free, honest, & fair • Federal control • Most election law are set by the state • Must meet federal guidelines • Congress sets rules for electing members & for president

34. Help America Vote Act of 2002 • replace all lever machines by 2006 • better training for polling place wrkrs • computerize voter registration • provisional voting for those challenged • Election Day • Never on Sunday or 1st day of the mo. • Many states have early voter provisions • Early voting; vote by mail • The Coattail Effect