America’s political parties

WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT THEY DO, WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT THEY DO, AND WHY YOU SHOULD CARE.AND WHY YOU SHOULD CARE.

[HISTORY, ORGANIZATION AND [HISTORY, ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS]FUNCTIONS]

America’s Political America’s Political PartiesParties

Democrats and Republicans – what’s Democrats and Republicans – what’s the deal?the deal?

What’s all the fuss about?What’s all the fuss about?What IS a political What IS a political partyparty? ? [and do [and do

they serve beer?]they serve beer?]

What are they What are they supposedsupposed to be to be doing anyway?doing anyway?

Why can’t they work together?Why can’t they work together?What does it have to do with What does it have to do with

me?me?Why does it matter what party Why does it matter what party

the President belongs to?the President belongs to?What if the party I join [if I do] What if the party I join [if I do]

is different from my parents?is different from my parents?Why did Geo. Washington Why did Geo. Washington

warn against political parties?warn against political parties?

Political Parties – a pre-testPolitical Parties – a pre-test

What are the two major parties in the U.S.?

What animals symbolize them?

What does GOP stand for? What is their most basic point

of disagreement? Do they agree on anything? How does one join a political

party? What is the main purpose of

political parties in America? What is a third party, and

what does it do?

Democratic and Republican Donkey and Elephant Grand Old Party = Republican

party What powers and how much

power the federal gov’t should have

Democratic form of government

Say which you want to join when you register to vote or when you get your driver’s license

Getting their members elected to office

A party not R or D; try to get on ballot or get issues before the people

Why only two?Why only two?

Historical roots:Historical roots: Fight over ratification of

the Constitution Fears of too strong a gov’t Concerns over state rights Results in Federalist v.

Anti-Federalist debate

Those two basic positions resulted in a two-party arrangement

Names have changed over the years, but issues have stayed much the same

Pattern, once established, has stayed “We’ve always done it this way!”

Why only two?Why only two?

Political realities Reflects American political

culture [federalism for one] Far more stable than a

multi-party system Yet more democratic than a

one-party sys. The two major parties are

loosely organized and very inclusive

The two major parties have all the advantages with media, voter activity and funding

So what do Democrats and Republicans So what do Democrats and Republicans believe?believe?

[Besides that the other party is made up of morons?][Besides that the other party is made up of morons?]

Proper size and power of the federal gov’t?

Implied v. delegated power?

Abortion?Gun control?Taxation?Education?Crime?Environmental issues?Business regulation?Health care?Gay rights issues?Foreign policy issues?

Entitlement programs? Social Security;

Medicare, welfare programs, etc.

Minorities? Including affirmative action

programs

Notice how the parties’ position on the first issue drives their position on most of the others [remember the Federalists and anti-Federalists?]

Question: do you have to agree on all or most of a party’s position on these issues in order to join it or belong to it?

What do political parties do?

Get their members Get their members elected! elected! Constant Constant campaigningcampaigning

Running the Running the government/shaping policygovernment/shaping policy

Watchdog on the other partyWatchdog on the other partyGet party ideas/message out Get party ideas/message out

to the peopleto the peopleOrganize the Convention/draft Organize the Convention/draft

party platformparty platformLinkageLinkage between party between party

members and government members and government

So what’s a third party, and why don’t they So what’s a third party, and why don’t they get a clue?get a clue?

Third parties form for various Third parties form for various reasons:reasons: Dissenters split away from a major Dissenters split away from a major

partyparty A single-issue group organizesA single-issue group organizes A strong leader figure gets a A strong leader figure gets a

followingfollowing

Third parties have never won Third parties have never won the presidency the presidency Well, maybe onceWell, maybe once

So what’s the point?So what’s the point? Winning other officesWinning other offices Getting their issues on the radarGetting their issues on the radar Can advance agenda, influence a Can advance agenda, influence a

major party or affect election major party or affect election outcomesoutcomes

Third parties and the stacked deckThird parties and the stacked deckMost see a vote for a third party candidate as a Most see a vote for a third party candidate as a

“wasted” vote, so they’ll vote for a major party“wasted” vote, so they’ll vote for a major partyStates manage all elections in their state. States manage all elections in their state.

Guess who makes up state government? Guess who makes up state government? [federalism][federalism]

So, major party candidates are on the ballot So, major party candidates are on the ballot automatically. Third party candidates have to automatically. Third party candidates have to work at it.work at it.

Media attention, and especially money go Media attention, and especially money go more to the major party candidates.more to the major party candidates.

Televised debates usually only have the major Televised debates usually only have the major party candidates participating. Guess who party candidates participating. Guess who runs the debates?runs the debates?

Party organizationParty organization

At the national level – RNC At the national level – RNC and DNC – the job is to:and DNC – the job is to: plan for the next plan for the next conventionconvention Help identify candidatesHelp identify candidates Support campaigns and fund raiseSupport campaigns and fund raise Be a voice for the party. [But the Be a voice for the party. [But the

main voice is members in office]main voice is members in office] The keeper of the The keeper of the party platformparty platform

Often difficult for the party Often difficult for the party org. to control its members in org. to control its members in officeoffice More More independent votersindependent voters Office holders and candidates no Office holders and candidates no

longer as dependent on the party longer as dependent on the party due to new technologiesdue to new technologies

Party organizationParty organizationLocal organization follows the voting district planLocal organization follows the voting district planWard and precinct “bosses” often keep party Ward and precinct “bosses” often keep party

activists well organized and effective, exercising activists well organized and effective, exercising more control than the national organization. This more control than the national organization. This is the “grassroots” level.is the “grassroots” level.

Party organization, local continuedParty organization, local continued

Local level is a place to Local level is a place to connect with the party connect with the party and get involvedand get involved Volunteering at the pollsVolunteering at the polls Canvassing [door-to-door]Canvassing [door-to-door] Fundraising eventsFundraising events Campaign activities Campaign activities

[putting out signs, [putting out signs, blogging, answering blogging, answering phone, etc.]phone, etc.]

Taking polls Taking polls