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AP GOVERNMENT

AP GOVERNMENT. POLITICAL PARTIES Chapter 7. What is a political party?. A group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate government, and determine public policy. How do PPs differ from Interest Groups?. IGs do not want to operate government

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AP GOVERNMENT

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  1. AP GOVERNMENT POLITICAL PARTIES Chapter 7

  2. What is a political party? • A group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate government, and determine public policy.

  3. How do PPs differ from Interest Groups? • IGs do not want to operate government • IGs sharpen issues (make distinctions) and PPs try to manipulate issues in order to get support

  4. How do PPs differ from factions? • Factions come before the PP • Factions are not always permanent • Factions are smaller • Factions are out to obtain certain benefits for themselves

  5. What do political parties do? • Organize the competition • Recruit and Nominate candidates • Register voters • Train candidates • Aid candidates ($) • Organize volunteers

  6. Unify the Electorate • Moderate Conflict by bringing together different viewpoints under one party Extreme Conservative Extreme Liberal

  7. Help Organize Government • Not as cohesive or “vital” in the US as in Europe • Committees dictate the issues Congress addresses and committee membership is determined by pp and seniority

  8. Enact policies and implement campaign promises (effectively changing government with legislation) • No guarantee that candidates will follow party platform • Soft Money usually means candidates follow party platform

  9. Provide opposition to the party that controls the White House or Congress • Honeymoon period everyone gets along • The “out” party provides the public with alternatives to the “in” parties policies

  10. The Three Faces of a Party 1. Party-in-the-Electorate • Those who identify themselves with the party

  11. 2. Party Organization • Formal structure and leadership • National Convention • Every 4 years • To nominate a candidate • Party platform (written & ratified)

  12. National Committee -direct party activities for the next four years • National Chairperson -spokesperson for the party AND Manage national election

  13. State Central Committee – runs the party within the state • Made up of representatives • Unit Rule – all of a state’s electoral votes are cast for the candidate with the most votes

  14. 3. Party-in-Government • Elected or appointed officials from the party • Ticket splitting – voting for candidates from two or more parties • Prefer divided gov’t • Other issues

  15. How do parties nominate a candidate? • Caucus-closed meeting to pick candidate • Party convention-candidates chosen by party members • Direct primary-elections to determine candidates (mostly used today!)

  16. Different types of Primaries: • Open Primaries-any voter can participate in elections (no matter the party affiliation) • Crossover voting • Closed Primaries-only voters registered as that party can vote

  17. Party System • Know the following terms: • Two-party system • Multiparty system • Presidential system • Parliamentary system • Coalition gov’t • Proportional representation • Winner-take-all system

  18. Minor Parties • Third parties • Grouped by ideology • Examples: Anti-Mason, Bull Moose Party, American Independent Party, Reform Party, Green Party

  19. History of Political Parties in the US • Founding fathers did not support parties • Not mentioned in Constitution • Federalists v. Democratic-Republicans • Realigning Elections-turning points in history that align voters and political agendas • 1824, 1860, 1896, 1932

  20. 1824 Jackson and the Democrats • Four Democrat-Republican candidates • Andrew Jackson won the popular vote but did not get the majority in the electoral college • John Q Adams and the “corrupt bargain” with Henry Clay • 1828 Rematch-Jackson won (Democrat v. National Republican) • Two-party system established

  21. 1860 Civil War and the Republicans • Crisis of slavery lead to a new party-the second Republican party (“Grand Old Party” or GOP) • Abraham Lincoln won • 1860, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 88, 96, 1900, 04, 08 –all Republican victories • 1884 &1892 –Cleveland’s (D) • The Democrats survived b/c of strong base of white males in the south

  22. 1896 Repubican Party in Transition • Party does not lose power but realigns due to the industrial revolution • Hard times for farmers and miners • United with workers in the East and Midwest to combat foreign investments in US

  23. The Progressive Era in the Republican Party • 1900-1920 • Progressive wing of Republican Party • Focused on corrupt political parties • Direct primary elections • 17th Amendment (1913) Senators elected by popular vote • Remained dominate party until the 1930s

  24. 1932 FDR and the New Deal • difficulty

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