1 / 11

Today’s Agenda Political Parties

Explore the different types of political parties, their role in democracy, and the impact of electoral systems on party dynamics. Learn about the historical development of party systems and the theory of realignment.

powella
Download Presentation

Today’s Agenda Political Parties

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. It’s a Party Up in here!!! • Today’s Agenda • Political Parties

  2. Party Time • The definition of a political party: A political organization whose goal is to organize political interest by creating an ideological platform with the goal of gaining elected office • You cannot have democracy without some form of political parties…they are vital for democracy

  3. Is it a Kegger or Wine Night? • Different types of Parties • Catch-all parties (United States) focus on attempting to consolidate several areas of interest under the umbrella of one political party • Ideological parties (Europe) stake out an ideological area, and only represent individuals who are close to those beliefs. Example: Labor, Green, or Beer-Drinking Party (no kidding)

  4. Catch-All Parties Broad ideology Shifts over time More focus on winning elections and gaining a clearly plurality of the electorate Tends to not speak with one voice in government Ideological Parties Specific and clear ideology Puts forth consistent programs despite small following Tends to speak with one voice in government Catch-all vs. Ideological parties

  5. So why do we get the sleazy parties? • Electoral System • single member districts • plurality system (“first-past-the-post” or winner-take-all elections) • This favors large catch-all parties since only the party with the most votes wins • Alternatives adopted in other countries • multi-member districts • proportional representation

  6. If we were British:A Hypothetical Example • 54 Representatives Total for Texas - NO GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICTS • Democrats get 41% of the statewide vote • get 41% of 54 seats, for a total of 21 seats • Republicans get 50% of the statewide vote • get 50% of 54 seats, for a total of 27 seats • Libertarians gets 9% of the statewide vote • get 9% of 54 seats for a total of 6 seats

  7. Disadvantages Cannot get on the ballot No federal funding No name recognition Looked to as “messing things up” No organization Roles Represent new interests and ideas “Call out” the two major parties when they aren’t doing a good job Splinter groups Ideological Third Parties

  8. So we have these catch-all things, but were we supposed to? • No, not really. James Madison warned repeatedly of the creation of political parties in Federalist Paper #10 • Fear of the Majority (Factions) • However, divisions are bound to occur in politics and so within five years of the Constitution being signed we had political parties

  9. Realignment Theory • Realignment Theory states that every 32 years…or so…there is a durable shift in the political behavior of the public • These shifts can be brought on by new voters, depression or war, but once they occur the political environment is substantively different than before • We see evidence of this theory in the development of political parties

  10. History Lesson • First Party System (1800-1828) • Jeffersonian Democrats v. Federalists • Second Party System (1828-1860) • Jacksonian Democrats v. Whigs • Third Party System (1860-1896) • Republican v. Democrat (split by 1877) • Fourth Party System (1896-1932) • Republican v. Democrat

  11. History Lesson • Fifth Party System (1932-1968) • Democrat v. Republican • Sixth Party System (1968-Present) • Democrat v. Republican (divided government) • Seventh Party System (2008-???) • Democratic Era???

More Related