Political Parties and Ideology

Political Parties and Political Parties and IdeologyIdeology

What is a Party?What is a Party?

Political Party – a group of people Political Party – a group of people who seek to control government who seek to control government through the winning of elections through the winning of elections and the holding of public officeand the holding of public office– Major Party – a party that has a Major Party – a party that has a

chance to win representation in chance to win representation in governmentgovernment

– Minor Party – any political party that Minor Party – any political party that doesn’tdoesn’t

Major PartiesMajor Parties

There are two major parties There are two major parties in the U.S. Can you name in the U.S. Can you name them?them?

What is Ideology?What is Ideology? Ideology is basically the way you look at Ideology is basically the way you look at

how the world workshow the world works Ideologies tend to be grouped in the U.S. Ideologies tend to be grouped in the U.S.

into 3 main categoriesinto 3 main categories

Liberal Moderate Conservative

What is Ideology?What is Ideology? There are other “fringe” ideologies present There are other “fringe” ideologies present

as well (not as common)as well (not as common)– Socialist (far left)Socialist (far left)– Marxist (far far left)Marxist (far far left)– Libertarian (far right)Libertarian (far right)– Religious fundamentalist (far far right)Religious fundamentalist (far far right)

Liberal Moderate Conservative

Liberal and ConservativeLiberal and Conservative

People do not have to be People do not have to be strictly liberal on all issues, or strictly liberal on all issues, or conservative on all issuesconservative on all issues

You can mix the two to form You can mix the two to form your own individual ideologyyour own individual ideology

We group them because We group them because certain viewpoints tend to certain viewpoints tend to naturally go togethernaturally go together


Common Liberal CharacteristicsCommon Liberal Characteristics– Desire progressive change in Desire progressive change in

societysociety– Main values: Idealism, Equality, Main values: Idealism, Equality,

Fairness, Personal FreedomFairness, Personal Freedom– Examples: ACLU, Sierra Club, Examples: ACLU, Sierra Club,

NAACP, NOW, labor unions, Dems.NAACP, NOW, labor unions, Dems.


Common Liberal Issue StancesCommon Liberal Issue Stances– Pro-choicePro-choice– Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action– Gun controlGun control– Progressive taxes (higher on rich)Progressive taxes (higher on rich)– Aid to the poorAid to the poor– Equal access to health careEqual access to health care– Protecting the environmentProtecting the environment– Equal gay rightsEqual gay rights

Liberal and ConservativeLiberal and Conservative Common Conservative Common Conservative

CharacteristicsCharacteristics– Desire to keep things as they are, Desire to keep things as they are,

maintain the status-quo, change maintain the status-quo, change should be cautious and slowshould be cautious and slow

– Main values: Realism, Law and Order, Main values: Realism, Law and Order, Justice, Morality, Economic FreedomJustice, Morality, Economic Freedom

– Examples: Christian Coalition, NRA, Examples: Christian Coalition, NRA, Americans for Tax Reform, Americans for Tax Reform, RepublicansRepublicans

Liberal and ConservativeLiberal and Conservative Common Conservative Issue StancesCommon Conservative Issue Stances

– Anti-abortionAnti-abortion– Belief in private sector efficiency over Belief in private sector efficiency over

the governmentthe government– Free gun ownership rightsFree gun ownership rights– Cutting taxes, less progressive taxationCutting taxes, less progressive taxation– Cutting regulations on businessesCutting regulations on businesses– Immigration controlImmigration control– Increased military spendingIncreased military spending– Support traditional marriageSupport traditional marriage


Often times, people hear Often times, people hear what they want to hear from what they want to hear from facts to support their ideologyfacts to support their ideology

For example…For example…

What Do Parties Do?What Do Parties Do?That’s the easiest

question you’ve asked all semester.

What Do Parties Do?What Do Parties Do?Nominate CandidatesNominate Candidates Inform and Activate SupportersInform and Activate SupportersThe “Bonding Agent” Function The “Bonding Agent” Function

– making sure that – making sure that officeholders do a good job officeholders do a good job once they are electedonce they are elected

GovernGovernAct as a Watchdog – criticizes Act as a Watchdog – criticizes

the opposing partythe opposing party

The Two-Party SystemThe Two-Party System

Why do we have a two party Why do we have a two party system?system?– 1. Historical Basis – division 1. Historical Basis – division

between Federalists and Anti-between Federalists and Anti-FederalistsFederalists

– 2. Tradition – it has always been 2. Tradition – it has always been that way, so it naturally self-that way, so it naturally self-perpetuatesperpetuates


3. The American Ideological 3. The American Ideological Consensus – for the most part, Consensus – for the most part, we pretty much agree on all of we pretty much agree on all of the major stuffthe major stuff–People should own propertyPeople should own property–We should have equalityWe should have equality–People have the right to votePeople have the right to vote


4. The Electoral System – 4. The Electoral System – the U.S. uses single-the U.S. uses single-member districts… that member districts… that means only one person means only one person wins representation from wins representation from each districteach district

Multiparty SystemsMultiparty SystemsSeveral major parties, many Several major parties, many

lesser parties all compete for lesser parties all compete for and win public officeand win public office

Mostly in Europe and Latin Mostly in Europe and Latin American DemocraciesAmerican Democracies

Many parties must form a Many parties must form a coalition, or a group of parties coalition, or a group of parties that form a majoritythat form a majority

What’s the Big Deal?What’s the Big Deal?The Italians are crazy.The Italians are crazy.

One-Party Systems

• Found in dictatorships where only one party is allowed

•Also found in places where one of the major parties has no chance of winning

Party Membership PatternsParty Membership Patterns

Party Party membership is membership is voluntaryvoluntary

Each party Each party must try to must try to attract as much attract as much support as support as possiblepossible


Some demographic groups are Some demographic groups are more reliable to each party, more reliable to each party, thoughthough

Tend to be Democrat – Female, Tend to be Democrat – Female, African American, Hispanic, African American, Hispanic, Catholic, Jewish, Union Member, Catholic, Jewish, Union Member, Lower Income, Lower Education, Lower Income, Lower Education, Under 30, Over 60Under 30, Over 60


Some demographic groups are Some demographic groups are more reliable to each party, more reliable to each party, thoughthough

Tend to be Republican – Male, Tend to be Republican – Male, White, Protestant, Work in the White, Protestant, Work in the Business Community, Higher Business Community, Higher Income, Higher Education, Middle-Income, Higher Education, Middle-AgedAged

Words of WisdomWords of Wisdom

With Ashlee SimpsonWith Ashlee Simpson

History of the Two-Party History of the Two-Party SystemSystem

The First Two PartiesThe First Two Parties– FederalistsFederalists

Founded by Alexander HamiltonFounded by Alexander HamiltonBelieved in forming a strong Believed in forming a strong national government, supported national government, supported policies that favored businesspolicies that favored business


The First Two PartiesThe First Two Parties– Democratic-RepublicansDemocratic-Republicans

Founded by Thomas JeffersonFounded by Thomas JeffersonBelieved in limiting the federal Believed in limiting the federal government’s power, and government’s power, and supported policies that supported policies that benefited the “common man”benefited the “common man”


Era of the Democrats (1800-Era of the Democrats (1800-1860)1860)– Democratic-Republicans had Democratic-Republicans had come to dominate politics, but come to dominate politics, but then broke into two factions, then broke into two factions, the Democrats and Whigsthe Democrats and Whigs

– Democrats, led by Andrew Democrats, led by Andrew Jackson, won most of the time Jackson, won most of the time over the Whigsover the Whigs


Era of the Republicans (1860-1932)Era of the Republicans (1860-1932)– Began with election of Abraham Began with election of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil WarLincoln and the Civil War

– Republicans dominated elections Republicans dominated elections due to support from businesses and due to support from businesses and African AmericansAfrican Americans

– Democrats only won in the SouthDemocrats only won in the South


The Return of the Democrats The Return of the Democrats (1932-1968)(1932-1968)– The Great Depression turned The Great Depression turned people against the Republican people against the Republican Party, especially as FDR led Party, especially as FDR led the U.S. out of the Depressionthe U.S. out of the Depression

– Dwight Eisenhower was the Dwight Eisenhower was the only Republican from this only Republican from this periodperiod


Divided Government (1968-Divided Government (1968-Present)Present)– Nixon’s Watergate scandal has Nixon’s Watergate scandal has led people to distrust governmentled people to distrust government

– Characterized by different parties Characterized by different parties controlling Congress and the controlling Congress and the PresidencyPresidency

– Country is evenly divided Country is evenly divided (remember the 2000 election?)(remember the 2000 election?)

Minor PartiesMinor Parties

Why run for Why run for election when you election when you know you will know you will lose?lose?– Act as the Act as the “spoiler” (Perot “spoiler” (Perot in 1992, Nader in 1992, Nader in 2000)in 2000)


Why run for Why run for election when you election when you know you will lose?know you will lose?– Make your issues Make your issues public, get the public, get the major parties to major parties to adopt themadopt them


Why run for Why run for election when you election when you know you will know you will lose?lose?– Criticize the Criticize the major parties major parties (That’s basically (That’s basically all Nader does)all Nader does)

Types of Minor PartiesTypes of Minor Parties

Ideological Parties – based on a Ideological Parties – based on a set of beliefsset of beliefs– Tend to be long lastingTend to be long lasting– Have very little electoral Have very little electoral successsuccess

– Examples: Communist, Examples: Communist, Socialist, LibertarianSocialist, Libertarian

Types of Minor PartiesTypes of Minor PartiesSingle-Issue Parties – concentrate Single-Issue Parties – concentrate

on one public policy matteron one public policy matter– Name usually reflects their Name usually reflects their issueissue

– Party dies after the issue fades Party dies after the issue fades or one of the major parties or one of the major parties adopts their issueadopts their issue

– Examples: Marijuana, Right to Examples: Marijuana, Right to Life, ProhibitionLife, Prohibition

Types of Minor PartiesTypes of Minor Parties Economic Protest Parties – arise Economic Protest Parties – arise

during periods of poor economy, during periods of poor economy, and express disgustand express disgust– Usually sectional, drawing Usually sectional, drawing

support from one region of the support from one region of the countrycountry

– They invent an “enemy” of the They invent an “enemy” of the economy and blame themeconomy and blame them

– Examples: America First, Examples: America First, PopulistPopulist

Types of Minor PartiesTypes of Minor Parties Splinter Parties – break away from Splinter Parties – break away from

one of the major partiesone of the major parties– Usually form around a strong Usually form around a strong

personalitypersonality– Typically have short-term electoral Typically have short-term electoral

successsuccess– Fade away when the leader steps Fade away when the leader steps

asideaside– Examples: Bull Moose, American Examples: Bull Moose, American

Independent, ReformIndependent, Reform

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Political Parties and Ideology