Our 2Party System

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Our 2-Party System

• Politics of Pluralism

2
The Nature of Political Parties

• Political parties want to gain control of
  government by winning elections.
• Every 4 years the major parties hold a national
  convention to nominate candidates and write their
  platform.
• Between elections the national committee handles
  planning for the party.

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Political Parties the 2-party system

• This cartoon depicts the presidential campaigns
  of 1988. What opinion is the artist expressing
  about the American ideological consensus?

• By transposing the mascots of the candidates, the
  artist says that there seems to be no real
  difference between the parties.

What is the main objective of the characters in
this cartoon? Winning votes is the fuel that
concerns political parties, not, issues.
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Political Parties the 2-party system

• How does this cartoon support the concept that
  political candidates try to attract as much
  support for as many groups as they can?

• The cartoon shows a political candidate
  announcing that he will change parties in order
  to be loyal, get votes. He is attempting to
  attract votes from the opposition party as
  candidates from one party may support items in
  the other partys platform to attract more voters.

5
Quick Summary

• Political parties are organized to win elections.
• Most political parties are formed to promote
  certain public policies and programs.
• In the United States the two major parties are
  election oriented not issue oriented.

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This says it all!!!
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An Expression of Public Opinion???
8
Types of Party Systems
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The 2-Party System

• Four factors promote the stability of the 2-party
  system in the U.S.

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Challenges to the 2-Party System

• Internet
• 24-hr news media
• Interest groups/PAC
• Third Parties

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Types of Minor Parties(multi/third)
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Final Points

• The party out of power is the loyal opposition or
  opposition party.
• Like interest groups they perform watchdog
  duties.
• The party out of power has no leader comparable
  to the president.
• Sometimes citizens vote for candidates from both
  parties in a single election, this is
  split-ticket voting.
• In recent years, theres been an increase in the
  number of independent voters.
• Minor parties are more focused and offer a clear
  position on controversial issues.