Political Parties

1. Political Parties An Overview Target: I can explain the purpose of Political Parties in our system.

2. Political Parties • A group of people who seek to control the government through the winning of elections, and the holding of office

3. The Two Major Parties • The two major parties today are not principle or issue oriented, rather they are election oriented

4. The Two Major Parties • The two major parties today are not principle or issue oriented, rather they are election oriented • Each party is a coalition who have come together to get a candidate elected

5. The Two Major Parties • The two major parties today are not principle or issue oriented, rather they are election oriented • Each party is a coalition who have come together to get a candidate elected • Results in different beliefs and ideals with in one party

6. The Two Major Parties • The two major parties today are not principle or issue oriented, rather they are election oriented • Each party is a coalition who have come together to get a candidate elected • Results in different beliefs and ideals with in one party • Not like-minded

7. What the Parties Do • A link between the people and the government

8. What the Parties Do • A link between the people and the government • Let the will of the people be known to the government

9. What the Parties Do • A link between the people and the government • Let the will of the people be known to the government • They modify and make compromises between the various sides and issues

10. What the Parties Do • A link between the people and the government • Let the will of the people be known to the government • They modify and make compromises between the various sides and issues • This unifies

11. What the Parties Do • Al ink between the people and the government • Let the will of the people be known to the government • They modify and make compromises between the various sides and issues • This unifies • Softens the impact of decisions

12. What the Parties Do • The major function is to nominate candidates

13. What the Parties Do • The major function is to nominate candidates • Want to gain control of the government

14. What the Parties Do • The major function is to nominate candidates • Want to gain control of the government • They inform and stimulate voters

15. What the Parties Do • The major function is to nominate candidates • Want to gain control of the government • They inform and stimulate voters • You should vote because…

16. What the Parties Do • The major function is to nominate candidates • Want to gain control of the government • They inform and stimulate voters • You should vote because… • Grant their seal of approval upon candidates

17. What the Parties Do • The major function is to nominate candidates • Want to gain control of the government • They inform and stimulate voters • You should vote because… • Grant their seal of approval upon candidates • Endorse a candidate

18. What the Parties Do • They shape how the government functions

19. What the Parties Do • They shape how the government functions • Partisan issues

20. What the Parties Do • They shape how the government functions • Partisan issues • They are a watchdog

21. What the Parties Do • They shape how the government functions • Partisan issues • They are a watchdog • The party out of power will watch the other and report on wrong-doings

22. The Two-Party System • Why do we have a two-party system?

23. The Two-Party System • Why do we have a two-party system? • Historical reasons, Federalist and Anti-Federalists

24. The Two-Party System • Why do we have a two-party system? • Historical reasons, Federalist and Anti-Federalists • tradition

25. The Two-Party System • Why do we have a two-party system? • Historical reasons, Federalist and Anti-Federalists • Tradition • The functioning of the electoral system

26. The Two-Party System • Why do we have a two-party system? • Historical reasons, Federalist and Anti-Federalists • Tradition • The functioning of the electoral system • Single-member districts • Plurality (winner-takes-all)

27. The Two-Party System • The American Ideology

28. The Two-Party System • The American Ideology • In the grand scope, the American peoples’ political beliefs are quite similar

29. The Two-Party System • The American Ideology • In the grand scope, the American peoples’ political beliefs are quite similar • This has allowed a two-party system to persist

30. Other Systems • Multiparty System

31. Other Systems • Multiparty System • In many European countries, they have systems that support many parties

32. Other Systems • Multiparty System • In many European countries, they have systems that support many parties • Usually based upon religion, economic, political ideology

33. Other Systems • Multiparty System • In many European countries, they have systems that support many parties • Usually based upon religion, economic, political ideology • This leads to truer representation of the people

34. Other Systems • Multiparty System • In many European countries, they have systems that support many parties • Usually based upon religion, economic, political ideology • This leads to truer representation of the people • Leads to instability and deadlock when parties must share the government

35. Other Systems • One-Party Systems

36. Other Systems • One-Party Systems • In essence, this is a no-party system

37. Other Systems • One-Party Systems • In essence, this is a no-party system • The only party is the party in power

38. Membership in Parties • Parties typically are a cross-section of the American Society, however, some broad generalizations can be drawn

39. Democrats • African-Americans, Catholics, Jews, union members, not college educated

40. Republicans • White, males, Protestants, business, community, wealthy, college educated