Political Parties and Interest Groups Chapters 9, 10, 11

1
Political Parties and Interest GroupsChapters
9, 10, 11
2
How have political parties formed throughout
history?

• Federalists
• Democratic-Republicans
• Whigs
• Republicans
• Various Third Parties
• Populist, Progressives, Communist, Reform, Green,
  Libertarian

3
What are the differences between the two major
parties?
4
(No Transcript)
5

• Republican
• HobbesHuman nature is a struggle between good
  and evil
• Capitalism feeds on self-interest but benefits
  the society
• Autonomy must be attached to personal
  responsibility

• Democrat
• RousseauHumans are intrinsically good
• No one is lazy, but is instead a victim of
  circumstances inflicted on him/her by society
• Conflicts arise out of misunderstandings and can
  be solved through dialog

6
(No Transcript)
7
Why did Washington not want political parties to
form?

• How unfortunate, and how much is it to be
  regretted, that whilst we are encompassed on all
  sides with avowed enemies and insidious friends,
  that internal dissentions should be harrowing and
  tearing our vitals.
• --Washington to Jefferson, 1792

8
Why do single issue parties form?

• To promote an idea, rather than win an election
• Example Prohibition Party

9
Why do the two major parties seem so similar?

• Get this right
• ITS All ABOUT RE-ELECTION, BABY!
• Moderate candidates have a greater chance of
  winning an election.

10
(No Transcript)
11
(No Transcript)
12
How do political parties nominate and campaign
for candidates?

• Step One Primary Elections
• Step Two Nominating Convention

13
(No Transcript)
14
Current batch of Democratic candidates for
President

• John Edwards
• John Kerry
• Joe Lieberman
• Richard Gephardt
• Al Sharpton

• Carol Moseley-Braun
• Dennis Kucinich
• Howard Dean
• Wesley Clark
• ???

Only ONE of the people can be the Democratic
candidate to run against President Bush in
November 2004.
15
(No Transcript)
16
Step One Primary Elections

• Each state holds separate elections, beginning in
  January of 2004 (NCs is in May).
• As candidates win or lose, other candidates begin
  dropping out of the race.
• Usually, only two or three remain by the time we
  are ready for Step Two.

17
What is the difference between an open and closed
primary?

• Open Primaryvoters can have EITHER a Democratic
  ballot OR a Republican ballot
• Closed Primaryvoters are given a ballot
  (Democrat or Republican) based on party declared
  on voter registration card

18
Step Two Nominating Convention

• Delegates from each state and Washington DC meet
  in a large US city to nominate a candidate for
  president.
• They base their votes on how their state voted in
  the primary it that candidate is out, they vote
  for another candidate.
• Votes are held until one candidate has a majority
  of the states votes. He (she) becomes the sole
  candidate for his/her party.

19
What other roles do political parties perform?

• Campaigning
• Informing
• Making policy/laws
• Acting as watchdog

20
Why do parties out of power act as watchdogs?

• Current Example Democrats

21
How has the right to vote expanded?

• Open to all races
• Open to both genders
• Open to younger Americans
• Open rich and poor

22
(No Transcript)
23
How does the registration and voting process
work?

• Registerits so easy its sickening
• Get informed
• To to the polls on Election Day
• Show your Voter Registration Cart
• Fill out your ballot
• Get your sticker
• Youre DONE!

24
What requirements must you meet to qualify to
vote?

• 18 years old
• Resident of NC for 30 days
• United States citizen (natural-born or
  naturalized)
• Must be registered to vote
• Not a convicted felon

25
What does it mean to vote a split ticket?

• Split Ticket
• Voting for candidates of different parties.
• Straight Ticket
• Voting for all the candidates in one party.
• Problem??

26
What are the types of elections available to
voters?

• General Election
• Primary Election
• Issue Election
• Special Election (i. e. Recall Election)

27
(No Transcript)
28
What are the steps in the presidential election
process?

• Primary Elections (January-May 2004)
• Nominating Convention (July 2004)
• Massive Campaign Period (July-November)
• Election (November 2004)
• Inauguration (January 2005)

29
What is the difference between an initiative and
a referendum?

• Initiative and PropositionCitizens proposing a
  new law by putting it to a vote
• ReferendumCitizens rejecting a law passed by the
  legislature by putting it to a vote
• Key to bothpetitions!!

30
How are campaigns financed, both publicly and
privately?

• Public FundingPresidential Election Campaign
  Fund
• Private Funding
• Soft Money
• PAC Donations
• Personal Donations

31
What are possible reforms of the campaign finance
system?

• Why is reform needed?
• Solutions??
• McCain-Feingold Act

32
(No Transcript)