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Magruder’s American Government

Learn about the functions of political parties and the two-party system in American government. Explore the role of parties in elections, governance, and representing the will of the people.

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Magruder’s American Government

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  1. Magruder’sAmerican Government C H A P T E R 5Political Parties

  2. C H A P T E R 5Political Parties SECTION 1Parties and What They Do SECTION 2The Two-Party System SECTION 3The Two-Party System in American History SECTION 4The Minor Parties SECTION 5 Party Organization 1 2 3 4 5 Chapter 5

  3. S E C T I O N 1Parties and What They Do • What is a political party? • What are the major functions of political parties? 2 3 4 5 Chapter 5, Section 1

  4. Section 1—Parties and What They Do • Why It Matters: • Political parties are essential to democratic government. In the United States, political parties have shaped the way the government works. Today, the major political parties perform several important functions without which our government could not function.

  5. What Is a Party? • Apolitical partyis a group of persons who seek to control government by winning elections and holding office. • Some are “issue” or “principle” oriented • Some are oriented toward winning elections. • The two major partiesin American politics are the Republican and Democratic parties: they are election-oriented. 2 3 4 5 Chapter 5, Section 1

  6. The Three Components of the Party Party Components The Party in Government Thousands of candidates and officeholders that hold elective/ appointive offices in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the federal, state, and local governments. The Party Organization: Those who run and control the party machinery. leaders, activists, and people who give time/money and they help run the party The Party in the Electorate Those who always or almost always vote for party candidates. 1 2 3 4 Chapter 5, Section 5 Chapter 5, Section 5

  7. What Do Parties Do? • Political parties are the link between the people and the government and way by which will of the people is made known to the government • They help to find a compromise and soften the impact of extremists at both ends of the political spectrum: or range of political views.

  8. Political Spectrum LEFT CENTER RIGHT Moderate Holds beliefs that fall between liberal and conservative views, usually including some of both. Reactionary Fascists [Hitler] Favors extreme change to restore society to an earlier, more conservative state. Radical Communism Favors extreme change to create an altered or entirely new social system. Liberal Democrats Believes that government must take action to change economic, political, and ideological policies thought to be unfair. Conservative Republican Seeks to keep in place the economic, political, and social structures of society.

  9. What Do Parties Do? • Nominate Candidates—Recruit, choose, and present candidates for public office. • Inform and Activate Supporters—Campaign, define issues, and criticize other candidates. • Act as a Bonding Agent—Guarantee that their candidate is worthy of the office. • Govern—Members of government act according to their partisanship, or firm allegiance to a party. • 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. 2 3 4 5 Chapter 5, Section 1

  10. Different kinds of Party systems • Multi-Party Systems: system in which several major and minor parties exist, seriously compete for, and actually win, public offices • Parties based on particular interest, economic class, religious belief, political ideology Disadvantages • Cause parties to form coalitions, which can dissolve easily. • Failure of coalitions can cause instability in government. Advantages • Provides broader representation of the people. • More responsive to the will of the people. • Give voters more choices at the polls.

  11. 2. One-Party Systems: only in a dictatorship and when only one political part, party of the ruler, is allowed to exist Types of One-Party Systems Modified One-Party Systems where one party regularly wins most elections One Party Systems where only one party is allowed. Example: Dictatorships such as Stalinist Russia Example: Republican North and Democratic South until the 1950s. 1 3 4 5 Chapter 5, Section 2

  12. Why a Two-Party System? 3. Two-Party System: Like the U.S: Democrats vs. Republicans • The Historical Basis. The nation started out with two-parties: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. • The Force of Tradition. America has a two-party systembecause it always has had one. Minor parties, lack wide political support, have never made a successful showing, so people are reluctant to support them. • The Electoral System. Certain features of government, such as single-member districts, are designed to favor two major parties. • Ideological Consensus. Most Americans have a general agreement on fundamental matters. 1 3 4 5 Chapter 5, Section 2

  13. Section 1 Review 1. A political party can be • (a) principle-oriented. • (b) issue-oriented. • (c) election-oriented. • (d) all of the above. 2. Political parties fulfill all of the following functions EXCEPT • (a) acting as watchdog. • (b) informing and activating supporters. • (c) supplying all campaign funding. • (d) governing by partisanship. Want to connect to the Magruder’s link for this chapter? Click Here! 2 3 4 5 Chapter 5, Section 1

  14. S E C T I O N 2The Two-Party System in American History • How did the United States’ political parties originate? • What are the three major periods of single-party domination? • What characterizes the current era of government? 1 2 4 5 Chapter 5, Section 3

  15. The Nation’s First Parties Federalists • Led by Alexander Hamilton • Represented wealthy and upper-class interests • Favored strong executive leadership and liberal interpretation of the Constitution Anti-Federalists • Led by Thomas Jefferson • Represented the “common man” • Favored Congress as the strongest arm of government and a strict interpretation of the Constitution 1 2 4 5 Chapter 5, Section 3

  16. American Parties: Four Major Eras The Three Historical Eras 1. The Era of the Democrats, 1800—1860: Started w/ Thomas Jefferson • ‘Era of Good Feelings” • Mid-1820s: split intofactions or competing groups • Democratsdominate all but two presidential elections. • Andrew Jackson’s Administration: • Changes: Voting rights for all white males…increase in number of elected offices… and spread of spoils system which is practice of awarding public offices and contracts to those who support party in power • TheWhigParty emerges in 1834, but declines by the 1850s, electing only two Presidents. • Democrats split into North and South because of slavery which barely let them survive • The Republican Party is founded in 1854. 1 2 4 5 Chapter 5, Section 3

  17. 2. The Era of the Republicans, 1860—1932 • Civil War allowed Republicans to hold office for next 75 years • Republicans dominate all but four presidential elections. • The Civil War disables the DemocraticParty for the remainder of the 1800s: they remained only because they held the “Solid South” • Able to win presidency in 1884 and 1892 with Grover Cleveland • Republicans regained presidency with William McKinley

  18. 3. The Return of the Democrats, 1932—1968 • Great Depression 1929 • Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections. • Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected President four times because of his revolutionary economic and social welfare… helped win support of southerners, small farmers, organized labor, big-city political organizations, African Americans and minorities • After his death during his 4th term, Harry S. Truman stepped in and he was elected in 1948 • 1952/1956: Dwight Eisenhower [Republican] won • Democrats came back with John F. Kennedy until he was killed and Lyndon B. Johnson stepped in

  19. American Parties: Parties Today 4. The Start of a New Era: The Era of Divided Government Since 1968, neither Republicans nor Democrats have dominated the presidency and Congress has often been controlled by the opposing party. 1976–1980 Democrats hold the presidency -Carter Congress is controlled by Democrats 1968–1976 Republicans hold the presidency -Nixon/Ford Congress is controlled by Democrats 1980–1992 Republicans hold the presidency-Reagan/Bush Senate controlled by Republicans 1980-1986, controlled by Democrats from 1986 to 1994 1992 – 2000 Democrats hold the presidency-Clinton Congress controlled by Republicans, 1994 to present 2000 Republicans hold the presidency-Bush Congress is controlled by Republicans 1 2 4 5 Chapter 5, Section 3

  20. Section 2 Review 1. The nation’s first two parties were • (a) the Democrats and the Republicans. • (b) the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. • (c) the Democratic-Republicans and the Republican-Democrats. • (d) the Federalists and the Republicans. 2. The Republican Party dominated the presidency from • (a) 1932–1968. • (b) 1860–1932. • (c) 1800–1860. • (d) 1783–1800. Want to connect to the Magruder’s link for this section? Click Here! 1 2 4 5 Chapter 5, Section 3

  21. S E C T I O N 3The Minor Parties • What types of minor parties have been active in American politics? • Why are minor parties important even though they seldom elect national candidates? 1 2 3 5 Chapter 5, Section 4

  22. Minor Parties in the United States Types of Minor Parties Ideological Parties: particular set of beliefs Example: Libertarian Party which wants independence from govt. and take away its functions Single-issue Parties: focus on a single public question Example: Green Party, Free Soil Party opposed spread of slavery in 1840s/50s, Know-Nothings against Irish Immigration, Right to Life Party oppose abortion Splinter Party: split away from major party and form around a strong personality who didn’t win major party’s presidential nomination Example: Theodore Roosevelt's “Bull Moose” Progressive Party of 1912 which split from Republicans Economic Protest Parties: come out during bad economic times Example: The Greenback Party when farmers were unhappy in 1876, Populist Party which wanted public ownership of railroads/telephones/ telegraphs 1 2 3 5 Chapter 5, Section 4

  23. Minor Parties in the United States 1 2 3 5 Chapter 5, Section 4

  24. Why Minor Parties Are Important Minor parties play several important roles: 1. “Spoiler Role” • Minor party candidates can pull decisive votes away from one of the major parties’ candidates, especially if the minor party candidate is from a splinter party. 2. Critic • Minor parties, especially single-issue parties, often take stands on and draw attention to controversial issues that the major parties would prefer to ignore. 3. Innovator • Often, minor parties will draw attention to important issues and propose innovative solutions to problems. If these proposals gain popular support, they are often integrated into the platforms of the two major parties. 1 2 3 5 Chapter 5, Section 4 Chapter 5, Section 4 Chapter 5, Section 4

  25. Section 3 Review 1. Types of minor parties in the United States include all of the following EXCEPT • (a) ideological parties. • (b) single-issue parties. • (c) regulatory parties. • (d) splinter parties. 2. Ross Perot, who ran as a third-party candidate in 1992 and 1996, falls into which minor party category? • (a) single-issue party • (b) splinter party • (c) economic protest party • (d) none of the above Want to connect to the Magruder’s link for this section? Click Here! 1 2 3 5 Chapter 5, Section 4

  26. S E C T I O N 4Party Organization • Why do the major parties have a decentralized structure? • How does the national party machinery and the State and local party machinery operate? • What are the three components of the parties? • What are the future possibilities for the major parties? 1 2 3 4 Chapter 5, Section 5

  27. The Decentralized Nature of the Parties Both of the major parties are highly decentralized and fragmented [disorganized] Why? • The party out of power lacks a strong leader because they don’t have the president. . • The federal system distributes powers widely, in turn causing the parties to be decentralized. • The nominating process pits party members against one another because only one person can chosen to be the party’s presidential candidate. 1 2 3 4 Chapter 5, Section 5

  28. National Party Machinery All five elements of both major parties work together loosely to achieve the party’s goals. • The National Convention: meet to pick presidential and VP nominee • The National Chairperson: leader of national committee who have 4-yr term and picked by presidential candidate • The National Committee: found in each state/territory • Two Congressional Campaign Committees: in each house of Congress to help reelect incumbents and serve 2 years 1 2 3 4 Chapter 5, Section 5

  29. State and Local Party Machinery • State and local party organization varies from State to State, but usually follow the general principles below. 1 2 3 4 Chapter 5, Section 5

  30. Section 4 Review 1. Where did the decentralized structure of the two major parties originate? • (a) with the Fourteenth Amendment • (b) popular opinion demanded decentralization • (c) the Federalist nature of the government • (d) all of the above 2. All of the following are factors in the present, weakened state of parties EXCEPT • (a) split-ticket voting. • (b) changes in the technology of campaigning. • (c) scandal surrounding national conventions. • (d) the growth of single-issue organizations. Want to connect to the Magruder’s link for this section? Click Here! 1 2 3 4 Chapter 5, Section 5

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