Political Parties and Ideology

Political Parties and Ideology

What is a Party? • Political Party – people who seek to control government through the winning of elections • Major Party – a party that wins control of government

Major Parties • There are two major parties in the U.S. Can you name them? Democrats and Republicans

What is Ideology? • Ideology is basically the way you look at how the world works • There are two major ideologies in the United States • Liberal • Conservative

Liberal and Conservative • You can mix the two to form your own individual ideology

Liberal and Conservative • Common Liberal Characteristics • Desire progressive change in society • Concerned with protection of human and civil rights, equality • Examples: ACLU, Sierra Club, NAACP, NOW, labor unions, Dems.

Liberal and Conservative • Common Liberal Issues • Pro-choice • Affirmative Action • Gun control • Aid to the poor • Protecting the environment • Gay rights

Liberal and Conservative • Common Conservative Characteristics • Desire to keep things as they are, maintain the status-quo • Change should be cautious, slow • Concerned with stability and order in society • Desire to maintain moral values and traditions

Conservative • Common Conservative Issues • Anti-abortion • Allowing prayer in schools • Cutting taxes • Cutting business regulations • Immigration control • Increased military spending

Liberal and Conservative • Often times, people hear what they want to hear from facts to support their ideology • For example…

What Do Parties Do? That’s the easiest question you’ve asked all semester.

What Do Parties Do? • Nominate Candidates • Activate Supporters • The “Bonding Agent” Function – insure officeholders do a good job • Govern • Act as a Watchdog

Donkeys & Elephants • Democrat Republican • Harry Reid John Boehner

The Two-Party System • Why do we have a two party system? • 1. Historical Basis – Federalists & Anti-Federalists? • 2. Tradition – it has always been that way…

The Two-Party System • 3. American Ideological Consensus – • People should own property • We should have equality • People have the right to vote • Freedom of expression

The Two-Party System • 4. The Electoral System – the U.S. uses single-member districts… that means only one person wins representation from each district

What’s the Big Deal? • The Italians love women...

Multiparty Systems • Many lesser parties compete for a win public office • Mostly in Europe and South American democracies • Many parties must form a coalition, or a group of parties that form a majority

One-Party Systems • Found in dictatorships where only one party is allowed • Red is the international color of communism: Cold War slogan, “Better Dead than Red !”

Party Membership Patterns • Party membership is voluntary. • Each party must try to attract as much $upport as po$$ible • AZ. Senator Jeff Flake

Party Membership Patterns • Tend to be Democrat – • Women • African Americans, • Catholics& Jews, • Union Members, • Lower Income, • Lower Education, • Under 30, • Over 60

Party Membership Patterns • Tend to be Republican – • Men, • WASPs, • Work in the Business Community, • Higher Income, • Higher Education, • Middle-Aged

History of the Two-Party System • The First Two Parties • Federalists • Founded by Alexander Hamilton (on your $10 bill…) • Believed in forming a strong national government, supported policies that favored bu$ine$$... • “The business of America is business,” said Calvin Coolidge

History of the Two-Party System • The First Two Parties • Democratic-Republicans/Anti-Federalists • Founded by Thomas Jefferson • Believed in limiting the federal government’s power, and supported policies that benefited the “common man”

History of the Two-Party System • Era of the Democrats (1800-1860) • Democratic-Republicans had come to dominate politics, but then broke into two factions, the Democrats and Whigs

History of the Two-Party System • Era of the Republicans (1860-1932) • Began with Abraham Lincoln • Republicans dominated elections due to support from businesses and African Americans • Democrats only won in the South

History of the Two-Party System • The Return of the Democrats (1932-1968) • The Great Depression turned people against the Republican Party • Dwight Eisenhower was the only Republican from this period

History of the Two-Party System • Divided Government (1968-Present) • Nixon’s Watergate scandal has led people to distrust government • Characterized by different parties controlling Congress & POTUS • Country is evenly divided (remember the 2000 election?)

Minor Parties • Why run for election when you know you will lose? • Act as the “spoiler” (Perot in 1992, Nader in 2000)

Minor Parties • Why run for election when you know you will lose? • Make your issues public, get the major parties to adopt them • Ron Paul

Minor Parties • Why run for election when you know you will lose? • Criticize the major parties • (Ralph Nader)

Types of Minor Parties • Ideological Parties – based on a set of beliefs • Tend to be long lasting • Examples: Communist, Socialist, Libertarian

Types of Minor Parties • Single-Issue Parties – concentrate on one public policy matter • Name usually reflects their issue • Party dies after the issue fades or one of the major parties adopts their issue • Examples: Free Soil, Nativist, Right to Life, Prohibition, 2nd Amendment

Types of Minor Parties • Economic Protest Parties – arise during periods of poor economy, and express disgust with rallies/town halls, etc… • Usually sectional, drawing support from one region of the country • They invent an “enemy” of the economy and blame them • Examples: Greenback, Populist, Tea Party

Types of Minor Parties • Splinter Parties – break away from one of the major parties • Usually form around a strong personality • Typically have short-term success • Fade away when the leader steps aside • Examples: Bull Moose, American Independent, Reform

Political Parties and Ideology