Political Parties and Ideology

Political Parties and Ideology

What is a Party? • Political Party – a group of people who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office • Major Party – a party that manages to win 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 • People do not have to be strictly liberal on all issues, or conservative on all issues • 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

Liberal and Conservative • Common Conservative Issues • Anti-abortion • Allowing prayer in schools • Cutting taxes • Cutting regulations on businesses • 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 • Inform and Activate Supporters • The “Bonding Agent” Function – making sure that officeholders do a good job once they are elected • Govern • Act as a Watchdog – criticizes the opposing party

The Two-Party System • The American political system is so developed and complex, that we choose the very finest candidates, right?

The Two-Party System • So, why do we have a two party system? • 1. Historical Basis – remember the Federalists and Anti-Federalists? • 2. Tradition – it has always been that way, so it naturally self-perpetuates

The Two-Party System • 3. The American Ideological Consensus – for the most part, we pretty much agree on all of the major stuff • People should own property • We should have equality • People have the right to vote

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 are crazy.

Multiparty Systems • Several major parties, many lesser parties all compete for and 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. Many change parties or go to an independent party… • Each party must try to attract as much $upport as po$$ible • Congressman Jeff Flake from U.S. Congressional District 6

Party Membership Patterns • Some demographic groups are more reliable to each party, though these: • Tend to be Democrat – African Americans, Catholics, Jews, Union Members, Lower Income, Lower Education, Under 30, Over 60

Party Membership Patterns • Some demographic groups are more reliable to each party, though these: • Tend to be Republican – White, Protestant, 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 • Democrats, led by Andrew Jackson, won most of the time over the Whigs

History of the Two-Party System • Era of the Republicans (1860-1932) • Began with election of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War • 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, especially as FDR led the U.S. out of the Depression. (Though it took many, many years…) • 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 and the Presidency • 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, ??? in 2012???)

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

Minor Parties • Why run for election when you know you will lose? • Criticize the major parties (That’s basically all Ralph Nader does)

Types of Minor Parties • Ideological Parties – based on a set of beliefs • Tend to be long lasting • Have very little electoral success • 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

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 (party or ideology?)

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

Political Parties and Ideology