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Understanding Political Parties: Functions, Systems, and Impact

Explore the role of political parties, major functions like candidate nomination and governance, benefits and drawbacks of a two-party system, and the importance of minor parties in the United States political landscape.

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Understanding Political Parties: Functions, Systems, and Impact

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  1. Chapter 5 Political Parties https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lt-f3QQ7-A

  2. What Is a Party? • Apolitical partyis a group of persons who seek to control government by winning elections and holding office. • The two major partiesin American politics are the Republican and Democratic parties. • Parties can be principle-oriented, issue-oriented, or election-oriented. • Major parties are election-oriented. • Minor Parties are principle and issue oriented

  3. Major Functions of Political Parties 1. NominateCandidates—Recruit, choose, and present candidates for public office. 2. Inform and Activate Supporters—Campaign, define issues, and criticize other candidates. 3. Act as a Bonding Agent—Guarantee that their candidate is worthy of the office. 4. Govern—Members of government act according to their partisanship, or firm allegiance to a party. 5. Act as a Watchdog—Parties that are out of power keep a close eye on the actions of the party in powerfor a blunder to use against them in the next election.

  4. Why a Two-Party System? • The Historical Basis. The nation started out with two-parties: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. First election w/ pp was 1796. • The Force of Tradition. America has a two-party systembecause it always has had one. • The Electoral System. Certain features are designed to favor two major parties.

  5. Advantages Provides broader representation of the people. More responsive to the will of the people. Give voters more choices at the polls. Disadvantages Cause parties to form coalitions, which can dissolve easily. Failure of coalitions can cause instability in government. Multiparty Systems

  6. American Politicians on the Spectrum • Here is how one website places important American political figures on the spectrum.You can take the quiz athttp://www.madrabbit.net/webrabbit/quizshow.html

  7. Party Membership Patterns Factors that can influence party membership:

  8. Minor Parties in the United States

  9. Minor Parties in the United States

  10. Minor Parties • Minor party- one of many political parties without wide voter support • Largest in US • Libertarian Party - Libertarianism, laissez-faire, pro-civil rights, anti-war • Green Party of the United States - Green politics, eco-socialism, progressivism • Constitution Party - Social conservatism, religious right, paleo conservatism

  11. Ideological Parties • Based on a particular set of beliefs surrounding a social, economic, or political matter. Socialistic in nature • Ex: Socialist Party, Communist Party • Ex: Libertarian party • do away with present government functions/programs

  12. Single Issue Parties • Focus on one public policy matter • Ex: Right to Life Party-against abortion • Short lived-fail to attract supporters or major parties adopt their issue

  13. Economic protest parties • Disenfranchised with the major parties: • demand better times • focus on economic powers such as industrialists, foreign markets, Wall Street • Ex: Populist Party • Die out when economy gets better

  14. Splinter parties • Break away from a major party • Form around a strong personality, often the person who did not get a major party nomination • Die when the person rejoins major party or gets out of politics • Ex: Teddy Roosevelt “Bull Moose” Party

  15. Why Minor Parties Are Important “Spoiler Role” • Minor party candidates can pull decisive votes away from one of the major parties’ candidates (allows other candidate to get voted in) Critic and Innovator • Minor parties often take stands on and draw attention to controversial issues that the major parties would prefer to ignore. (makes them take a stand)

  16. Party Components The Party Organization: Those who run and control the party machinery. The Party in the Electorate Those who always or almost always vote for party candidates. The Party in Government Those who hold office in the government. The Three Components of the Party

  17. The Future of Major Parties • Weakened connections to political parties: For voters : • More people are unwilling to label themselves as “Democrats” or “Republicans” • Split-ticket voting—voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election

  18. The Future of Major Parties For candidates: • increased conflict and disorganization within parties • Changes in the technology of campaigning have made candidates more independent of the party organization

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