U.S. Political Parties

1. U.S. Political Parties

2. George Washington • If we had listened to George, there would be no political parties in the US today. • “Let me warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party.”

3. What Are Political Parties? • A Political Party is a group organized… • To Nominate Candidates • To Win Political Power through elections • To Promote Ideas About Public Policies

4. Two Main Political Parties • Democratic Party • More Liberal • Republican Party • More Conservative

5. Democratic Party (DNC) • Swept into Congress in the 2006 election • Held a Super Majority until 2010 • Represented by the Donkey • President Barack Obama

6. Republican Party (RNC) • Former President George W. Bush • Represented by the Elephant • Also known as the Grand Ole’ Party (GOP)

7. What Do the Parties Stand For? • Democrats • Core Belief: A strong government provides needed services and remedies inequalities • Biggest Exception: Government should stay out of people’s moral decisions, e.g. abortion

8. What Do the Parties Stand For? • Democrats • Issue Agenda: • Education • Health/social services • Environmental protection • Emphasizes…Fairness, especially for disadvantaged groups • Relations with Labor Unions: Close and supportive

9. What Do the Parties Stand For? • Democrats • Core Supporters: • Lower – Income People • East & West Coasts • Minority groups • Secular (nonreligious) individuals • Teachers – Mr. Green??? • Trial Lawyers

10. What Do the Parties Stand For? • Republicans • Core Belief: A strong government interferes with business & threatens freedom • Biggest Exception: Government should regulate people’s moral decisions, e.g. abortion

11. What Do the Parties Stand For? • Republicans • Issue Agenda: • Strong Military • Tax Cuts • Property Rights • Emphasizes…Individual success, not group rights • Relations with Labor Unions: Distant & hostile

12. What Do the Parties Stand For? • Republicans • Core Supporters: • Higher – Income people – Mr. Green??? • South, Mountain West • Whites • Conservative Christians • Businesspeople

13. Party Identification • What Influences Party Identification? • Family: #1 Indicator of which party you will vote for *Exception: If one parent sides with one party and the other sides with another

14. Party Identification • What Influences Party Identification? • Religion • Catholics tend to vote Democratic, however, this is changing because of Right to Life • Jews – traditionally vote Democratic • Christian Evangelicals – Republican • ¾ supported George W. Bush

15. Party Identification • What Influences Party Identification? • Socioeconomic Status (Income) • Lower – Income: Democratic • Higher – Income: Republican

16. Party Identification • What Influences Party Identification? • Regional Differences: • East and West Coasts – Democratic • South and Mountain West - Republican

18. Party Identification • What Influences Party Identification? • Other Indicators • Women tend to vote…Democrat, esp. single women • Minorities tend to vote…Democrat, except for Cubans –Republican; more anti-communist • Trend is for College–Educated to vote…Democratic Why? • More women and minorities are getting college educations

19. Voter Turnout, 1992-2010

20. Influences on Voter Turnout • Socioeconomic Status – lower the income, the less likely you are to vote • Education – the higher you are educated, the more likely you will vote

21. Influences on Voter Turnout • Age – 18-25 year olds have the lowest turnout Who has the Highest??? -The Elderly – 60 and older

23. Influences on Voter Turnout • Social Connections – the more you have, the more likely you are to vote – more interested in what’s happening • Attitude – those who find it to be a dirty profession, don’t vote

24. Third Parties • Third Parties in the US are Secondary Political Parties • Historically, the US has a Two Party system • Some say the Electoral College with its “Winner take all” award of electors has done this • Should we just use Popular Vote instead???

25. Third Parties • Third Parties rarely win elections but do play an important role in Democratic Governments • Third Parties draw attention to issues that may be ignored by the Majority Parties & force them to adopt the issue(s) as part of its platform. • Referendum: referring and issue to popular vote of the people for approval or rejection

26. Third Parties • Third Parties also help increase Voter Turnout. • Example? • Same-Sex Marriage Amendment in Ohio (2004)

27. Major Third Parties • Libertarian • Support maximizing liberty, especially in the economy and in social codes of conduct • Small government

28. Environmental Third Parties • Green Party of the United States • Ralph Nader • Environment • The Greens/Green Party USA • Smaller fringe party

29. More Third Parties • American Independent Party • Key Issue: segregation • American Nazi Party • Racist often with shaved heads • Has not fielded a candidate since Rockwell

30. Socialist Parties • Socialist Party USA • Socialist Equality Party • Socialist Labor Party • Socialist Workers Party • Democratic Socialists of America

31. Major Third Parties • Reform Party • Emphasize… Reform • Especially in the economy

32. Briefly successful Parties • Prohibition Party • Against the sale of alcohol • Peace and Freedom Party • Against Vietnam War

33. That’s a party? • Pansexual Peace Party • Left-wing • Free love • Pot Party & U.S. Marijuana Party • Advocate the legalization of Marijuana

34. Important 3rd Party Movements • Bull Moose Party (1912) – Teddy Roosevelt – also called the Progressive Party • Women’s suffrage, banking reforms, social welfare assistance for women and children

35. Important 3rd Party Movements • Socialist Party (1900s) – Eugene Debs • Ran for president from jail

36. Important 3rd Party Movements • Dixiecrats (1948) – Strom Thurmond • Segregationist Platform – race was a major issue • Significance: First splits in Democratic Party • South used to be all Democratic

37. Important 3rd Party Movements • American Independent (1968) – George Wallace • Continuation of Dixiecrat – segregationist – “Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever • Opposed to racial integration • Receives 46 southern electoral votes • Shot and paralyzed (1972) by Arthur Bremer (in order to gain fame)

38. Important 3rd Party Movements • Independent/Reform – Ross Perot • Key focus was the economy • 1992 Election – received almost 20 million votes -19% of popular vote • NAFTA –”giant sucking sound heading to Mexico”

39. Important 3rd Party Movements • Green Party (2000) – Ralph Nader • Stole votes from Al Gore • The reason Bush won???

40. 3rd Party Important Roles & facts • 3rd Parties tend to exist to promote a Specific Issue or Personality • Growing trend is for a major party to help a 3rd Party with the idea of taking votes that would likely go to a major party – This is the classic “Divide &Conquer” tactic

41. 3rd Party Important Roles & Facts • Currently, the Green Party is viewed as pulling more from the Democrats while the Libertarian takes more votes from the Republicans