Political Behavior: Government by the people

1. Political Behavior: Government by the people Unit 3

2. Parties and what they do Unit 3, Notes 1

3. Political Parties • A political party is a group of people who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office • We have 2 major parties in the U.S. • Democrats • Republicans • Parties want to control government because they want to have an effect on certain public policies and programs • Example • Democrats wanted to get in office to get us out of war

4. Major Functions • Political Parties are a vital link between people and their government • Presents opinions to the people and informs them of gov. actions • They are how the will of the people is made known to the gov. and how the gov. is held accountable for answering to the will of the people • They help get people to office so they can change the gov. and they also help get people out of office who are not doing their job • The major function of political parties includes… • Nominating candidates • Selecting candidates • Presenting them to voters • Helping the candidates win elections • Parties are the best device for finding candidates and gathering support for them

5. Major Function, Cont. • Parties also inform and inspire voters…they do this many ways • Campaign, take stand of issues, criticize opponents of their position • Each party tries to inform people as to how they want them to be informed • Give voters the information they want them to have • Present their candidates in the best light possible • Use pamphlets, bumper stickers, signs, advertisements, speeches, rallies, etc. to gather support and inspire people to vote • Ultimate goal of both parties • Win election, so they won’t be too radical with the stands they take • Don’t want to alienate voters

6. “Bonding Agent” • Insure that people they nominate are of good character and are qualified • Makes sure that while in office that person upholds party ideals • Important because if that person doesn’t then that party risks not winning future elections • Much governing in US is conducted according to party lines • Based what they do on party organization and ideals • Partisanship - strong support of party and policy stands • Most political appointments to office are based on party ideology

7. Constitutional Change • Parties have played a role in constitutional change • Parties have developed the way that we nominate a president • This was not mentioned in the Constitution • They have also reshaped the complicated election process and made it easier

8. Watchdog • Parties in the role of “watchdog” • Watch over public business • The party out of power especially does this • Watch what the party in power does (the party that controls the executive branch) and criticizes it • Do this to point out to people and encourage them to get rid of that party in next election • Important role because this keeps the party in power on its toes • They don’t want to mess up and give the party out of anything to criticize

9. Rick Perry Herman Cain VS President Barak Obama

10. Two-Party System History • Beginnings of American 2-Party system traced to the battle for ratification of constitution • Federalist Party = first to appear • Formed around Alexander Hamilton • Supported Constitution • Wanted stronger national government • Liberal (loose) interpretation of Constitution • stretch it as need be • Jeffersonians (Anti-Feds) led by Thomas Jefferson • Wanted very limited role of gov. • Congress should dominate gov. • Favored “common man” • Strict interpretation Constitution

12. Jefferson’s party • Jefferson resigned from Washington’s cabinet to focus on building party • Eventually became known as Democratic-Republican Party • Jefferson won next election • Defeated incumbent (current officeholder) John Adams • American Party System = 4 major periods • First 3, one major party dominated • 4th era, today – divided gov.

13. Minor parties in the U.S. • Large number • Some only in certain states or regions • Others all over country • Most are short-lived, some have been around • Most focus on one ideal, others are more broad

14. 4 Types of Minor parties 1) Ideological party – based on particular set of beliefs • Based on views regarding social, economic, political matters • Most built on Marxism (Socialist, Socialist Labor, Communists) • Libertarian – emphasizes individual, do away with most gov. functions and programs 2) Single-issue Party – focus on one public policy matter • Name associated with issue = Prohibition • Most fade away

15. 4 Types of Minor parties, Cont. 3) Economic Protest Party – tend to form in periods of economic problems • No clear-cut political ideology, usually angry at present situation • Populist Party – demanded public ownership of Railroad, telephone • They proclaim disgust at major parties • Focus anger on monetary system 4) Splinter Parties – have split from major parties • Usually form around strong person • Usually someone who has failed to win the major party’s presidential nomination • Usually collapse when leader steps aside • Examples • Theodore Roosevelt “Bull Moose Party” • George Wallace “American Independent Party” – he rejoined the Dem. Party once he performed well in 1968 election • Ralph Nadar “Green Party”

16. Why Minor parties important • A minor party was first to use national convention to nominate president candidates • Others followed them • Many times a 3rd party (minor) in election plays role of “spoiler” • It pulls votes away from one of the major parties • Green in 2000 • Not afraid to take controversial stands on issues, bring many important points to light • women’s suffrage

17. Party organization • We think of the two major parties as strong and very organized, but the opposite is true • they aren’t that closely tied together and are very decentralized • Do not have a chain of command to run them, coming from the national level down to state level • Each state has its own organization, even broken down into local organizations • Most of these act independently of one another

18. Role of the Presidency • President’s party is usually more united and better organized than the opposing party • President automatically becomes the party leader • Simply because he is the president • Uses this power by making appointments to federal office • He chooses members of his party to put in office • Other parties have no one even close to that much power • They usually don’t have one person to lead the party • Anumber of people usually compete with one another for that position

19. Role of nominating process • The central role of political parties • Candidate selection happens within the party • They don’t choose an outsider • Many times it divides the party, puts Democrat against Democrat, etc. • This is a reason parties are decentralized

20. National Party 4 elements that make up political parties on a national level • National Convention • National voice of the party • Meet in summer of election year to nominate party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates • Also adopt the party’s platform (what it will stand for) • National Committee • Between conventions they handle party business • Led by a national chairperson • Republican National Committee (RNC) and the democratic National Committee (DNC) • Both have a national chairperson and committee members from each state • Appears to have power because it contains leading members of the party, but really all it does is plan for the next convention

21. National party, cont • National Chairperson • Chosen by the national committee to a 4-yr term • Choice is made by the presidential candidate just nominated at the convention • Works to strengthen the party, promote party unity, raise $, recruit new voters • Congressional Campaign Committees • In each house of Congress • Work to re-elect incumbents and make sure seats that are given up by retiring Congress members stay within their party Michael Steel Tim Kaine

22. State organization of political parties • Built around the state central committee • Headed by state chairperson • Could be governor, U.S. Senator, other important figure within party • Work on finding candidates and campaign funds

23. Local organization • There are party units in each part of the state that hold elected offices • cities, counties, districts, etc. • Ward- (we call it a district) unit in which the city is divided for the election of its city council members • Precinct - where you go to cast your vote • polling place