1 / 27

Political Parties

Political Parties. “Linkage Institution”. Essential Question. To what extent are political parties necessary to democracy?. Linkage. Political parties “link” government and its power to us, the people They provide a bridge to government

ezra
Download Presentation

Political Parties

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Political Parties “Linkage Institution”

  2. Essential Question • To what extent are political parties necessary to democracy?

  3. Linkage • Political parties “link” government and its power to us, the people • They provide a bridge to government • Did you know political parties are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution?

  4. The Framers • The Founding Fathers actually viewed “factions” as dangers which needed to be controlled. They distrusted them! • Yet those same guys became the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists (the first political “parties”) • This was the main debate transitioning from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution of 1787.

  5. The Framers cont. • Here are the basics….. • Anti-Federalists • Opposed a strong federal government • Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams • Federalists • For a strong federal government • Alexander Hamilton, John Adams

  6. Why Parties? • The competition for power in a democracy needs to be organized • Otherwise the democracy would be chaotic and unworkable • Even though we inherently distrust their partisanship

  7. Party Structure • National Convention – meets every 4 years, nominates President • National Committee – manages party affairs on daily basis • Congressional campaign committee – supports party’s candidates • National chair – manages daily work

  8. Goal of a Political Party? • WIN ELECTIONS

  9. Function of Parties • Connecting citizens to government (linkage institution) -Political Efficacy – citizen participation level and awareness of government decisions • Run candidates for political office • Inform the public – help voters decide who to vote for in elections • Organizing government – coordinate government policy-making • Act as a watchdog

  10. Parties are unifying • Too many parties might splinter society • A few, well organized parties: • Encourage compromise • Blunt tensions • Marginalize extremism • This is why political parties formed in every democracy • Despite a lack of definition in Constitution

  11. Why 2 parties? • Winner-take-all system • Winner receives a seat while loser receives nothing • 3rd party usually joins one of other parties • Opposite – Proportional Representation – % of votes is directly applied as the % of representatives

  12. U.S. Political Parties

  13. Left Federalists Whigs Republicans Progressives Democrats Liberal Right Anti-Federalists Democratic-Republicans Democrats Republicans Conservative Left or Right?

  14. “Grass Roots” • “Grass Roots” – parties can also reach the voters personally and “get-out-the-vote” on a local level

  15. Minor Parties Third Parties have played a role in politics Types • Individual personality – those dominated by one figure head (Ex. – 1912 Theodore Roosevelt – Bull-Moose, 1968 George Wallace – American Independent Party) • Long-lasting goal or ideology – (Ex. – Abolitionists, Prohibitionists, Socialists)

  16. Major Third Parties • Ideological • Socialist Party, Communist Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party • One-issue (or single-issue) • Free-soil, “Know-Nothing”, Prohibition, Woman’s Party • Economic protest • Populists • Factional • Progressives, Dixiecrats, Reform

  17. Party Identification • Dealignment – weak membership, more “independents” or moderates – popular trend in the last 50 years. • “I’m not Republican or Democrat” • Strait ticket voting – strong party membership, support all candidates for one party • Ticket splitting – voting for candidates from multiple parties

  18. Eras in American History • Founding (1789 – 1824) • Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists/Dem-Rep • Controversy: Federalism • Jacksonian Period (1824 – 1840) • Democrat vs. Whig • Controversy: Jackson himself

  19. Eras in American History • Sectionalism (1840 – 1876) • Democrats vs. Whigs (and Republicans) • Controversy: Slavery and Reconstruction • Era of Reform (1876 – present) • Democrats vs. Republicans • Controversy: Government in economy

  20. Realignments • 1800 • First peaceful transition of power • 1828 • First “heated” election • 1860 • Lead to Civil War based around civil rights • 1896 • Decided social roles of the parties re: business • 1932 • Decided social roles of the parties re: the people

  21. Realignment? • “Gridlock” – Congress and Presidency controlled by different parties • 2004 - Republican sweep of Congress and Presidency - party loyalty stronger? • 2006 - split the Presidency and Congress again • 2008 - brought a Democratic sweep • 2010 – Republican sweep, but Senate still barely Democrat • 2012?

  22. Divided government • When one branch is one party, the other branch is the other party • President Obama, Democrat • House of Reps, Republican • Senate, Democrat • How might this affect the dynamic process of government? • Does it constrain or enhance change? • Is this good for government?

  23. Review • Political parties “link” government and its power to us, the people • They provide a bridge to government • Political parties are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution.

  24. Why Parties? • The competition for power in a democracy needs to be organized • Otherwise the democracy would be chaotic and unworkable • Even though we inherently distrust their partisanship

  25. Essential Question • To what extent are political parties necessary to democracy?

More Related