American political parties

What they do.

Why there’s 2.

AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES:

NOT AS MUCH FUN AS THEY SOUND

What is the goal of the two major parties?To win elections

Read p. 116 2nd column: Is this still true?

Five Major FunctionsNominate CandidatesInforming SupportersBonding Agent GoverningWatchdog

WHAT DO PARTIES DO?

-- primary responsibility-- presidential nomination is a function of the parties

NOMINATING CANDIDATES

-- campaign for their candidates-- write platformsAre presidential candidates beholden to their party platforms?

How do parties “inform” the voters?Advertising, buttons, bumper stickers etc.

INFORMING AND ACTIVATING SUPPORTERS

-- try to pick good candidates-- try to make victorious candidates govern well

Why?

BONDING AGENT

-- Congress is organized around party

GOVERNING

-- The party out of power holds the ruling party accountable for their actions.

Does this function ever work against the American people?

WATCHDOG

Historical BasisTraditionElectoral SystemAmerican Ideological Consensus

WHY ONLY TWO PARTIES?

-- no mention of parties in Constitution-- started with two parties (Federalist and Anti-Federalists

HISTORICAL BASIS

-- winner-take-all elections encourage two moderate parties-- voters view third parties as a “wasted vote”

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

-- American politics played within the 40 yard lines-- Both parties are moderateHow does the size of the US impact its politics?

What is the fundamental diff erence between the two parties?

IDEOLOGICAL CONSENSUS

IDEOLOGICAL SPECTRUM

-- Most European democracies are multi-party-- Smaller, more narrow parties-- Provide clear choices-- Parties must form a coalition to govern

MULTI-PARTY SYSTEMS

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

-- Party membership is voluntary-- Parties try to attract as many people as possible-- Factors influencing party membership:

FamilyEconomic StatusMajor EventsAgeResidenceLevel of Education

http: / /www.sacbee.com/2012/11/06/4966431/2012-e lect ion-exi t -pol l -shows.html

PARTY MEMBERSHIP PATTERNS

WHO’S AT THESE PARTIES?

Democrats Republicans