Political Parties

1
Political Parties

• Chapter 5

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Political Parties

• An organized group of persons who seek to control
  government through the wining of elections and
  holding of public office
• Major Party- A party that has a reasonable
  chance to win public office
• Minor Party- Any political party that does not
  have this chance

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What Do Parties Do?

• Parties nominate candidates- Pick the best
  from their party
• Inform and activate supporters, by trying to
  shape opinion

4
What Do Parties Do?

• Bonding Agent, make sure candidates do a good job
  once elected.
• Govern- Once parties are in power, they influence
  and establish policy.

5
Why Use A Two Party System?

• History and Tradition- The way it started, so
  why change it?
• American Values- Most Americans see their values
  and ideals represented in the two major parties.

6
Minor Parties

• Candidates representing minor parties are
  featured in the majority of political races at
  all levels.
• Draw attention to controversial issues ignored by
  major parties
• Though these candidates have very little chance
  of wining they can play the Spoiler Role

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2000 Presidential Election
2000 Election
Election Video
8
Multiparty Systems

• A system in which several major and many lesser
  parties exist, seriously compete for, and
  actually win, public offices.
• Pro This system can better represent the
  varying types of people
• Con There is no majority so parties have to
  team up in groups called coalitions
• Examples Taiwan, Germany, Denmark, India,
  Indonesia, France, Kosovo and Israel

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One Party Systems

• Seen in Dictatorships
• People are given no choice over what party to
  belong to because there is only one.
• Examples China, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, Syria,
  Turkmenistan, and Vietnam

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Joining A Party

• You register as a party member when you register
  to vote
• If you choose not to be a member of any party,
  you are called an Independent
• You can change your party at any time

11
Ideology

• The way you look at the world, politically
• The people of the United States are grouped into
  three categories
• There are other fringe ideologies present as
  well (not as common)
• Socialist (far left)
• Marxist (far far left)
• Libertarian (far right)
• Religious fundamentalist (far far right)
• Liberal Moderate
  Conservative

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Liberal Characteristics

• Desire progressive change in society
• Main values Idealism, Equality, Fairness,
  Personal Freedom
• Examples ACLU, Sierra Club, NAACP, NOW, labor
  unions, Dems

• Pro-choice
• Affirmative Action
• Gun control
• Progressive taxes (higher on rich)
• Aid to the poor
• Equal access to health care
• Protecting the environment
• Equal gay rights

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Conservative Characteristics

• Desire to keep things as they are, maintain the
  status-quo, change should be cautious and slow
• Main values Realism, Law and Order, Justice,
  Morality, Economic Freedom
• Examples Christian Coalition, NRA, Americans for
  Tax Reform, Republicans

• Anti-abortion
• Belief in private sector efficiency over the
  government
• Free gun ownership rights
• Cutting taxes, less progressive taxation
• Cutting regulations on businesses
• Immigration control
• Increased military spending
• Support traditional marriage

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Liberal and Conservative

• IMPORTANT TO KNOW
• 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
• We group them because certain viewpoints tend to
  naturally go together