Political Parties and Ideology What is a Party? Political Party – a group of people who seek to control government through the winning of elections and.

Political Parties and Political Parties and IdeologyIdeology

What is a Party?What is a Party?

Political Party – a group of Political Party – a group of people who seek to control people who seek to control government through the winning government through the winning of elections and the holding of of elections and the holding of public officepublic office

Major Party – a party that Major Party – a party that manages to win control of manages to win control of governmentgovernment

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 Ideology is basically the way you look at how the world workslook at how the world works

There are two major ideologies There are two major ideologies in the United Statesin the United States– LiberalLiberal– ConservativeConservative

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


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

societysociety– Concerned with protection of Concerned with protection of

humanhuman and and civil rightscivil rights, , equalityequality– Examples: ACLU, Sierra Club, Examples: ACLU, Sierra Club,

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


Common Liberal IssuesCommon Liberal Issues– Pro-choicePro-choice– Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action– Gun controlGun control– Aid to the poorAid to the poor– Protecting the environmentProtecting the environment– Gay rightsGay rights

Liberal and ConservativeLiberal and ConservativeCommon Conservative Common Conservative

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

are, maintain the status-quoare, maintain the status-quo– Change should be cautious, Change should be cautious, slowslow– Concerned with Concerned with stabilitystability and and

order order in societyin society– Desire to maintain Desire to maintain moral valuesmoral values

and and traditionstraditions


Common Conservative IssuesCommon Conservative Issues– Anti-abortionAnti-abortion– Allowing prayer in schoolsAllowing prayer in schools– Cutting taxesCutting taxes– Cutting regulations on Cutting regulations on

businessesbusinesses– Immigration controlImmigration control– Increased military spendingIncreased military spending


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

The American political system The American political system is so developed and complex, is so developed and complex, that we choose the very finest that we choose the very finest candidates, right?candidates, right?


So, why do we have a two party So, why do we have a two party system?system?– 1. Historical Basis – remember 1. Historical Basis – remember

the Federalists and Anti-the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?Federalists?

– 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

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

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 South Mostly in Europe and South 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

One-Party Systems

• Found in dictatorships where only one party is allowed

• Red is the international color of communism: Cold War slogan, “Better Dead than Red !”

Party Membership PatternsParty Membership Patterns Party membership is Party membership is

voluntary. Many voluntary. Many change parties or go to change parties or go to an independent party…an independent party…

Each party must try to Each party must try to attract as much attract as much $upport as po$$ible$upport as po$$ible

Congressman Jeff Flake Congressman Jeff Flake from U.S. from U.S. Congressional District 6Congressional District 6

Party Membership PatternsParty Membership Patterns

Some demographic groups are Some demographic groups are more reliable to each party, though more reliable to each party, though these:these:

Tend to be Democrat – African Tend to be Democrat – African Americans, Catholics, Jews, Union Americans, Catholics, Jews, Union Members, Lower Income, Lower Members, Lower Income, Lower Education, Under 30, Over 60Education, Under 30, Over 60

Party Membership PatternsParty Membership Patterns

Some demographic groups are Some demographic groups are more reliable to each party, though more reliable to each party, though these:these:

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

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

The First Two PartiesThe First Two Parties– FederalistsFederalists

Founded by Alexander Hamilton Founded by Alexander Hamilton (on your $10 bill…)(on your $10 bill…)

Believed in forming a strong Believed in forming a strong national government, supported national government, supported policies that favored bu$ine$$...policies that favored bu$ine$$...

““The business of America is The business of America is business,” said Calvin Coolidgebusiness,” said Calvin Coolidge


The First Two PartiesThe First Two Parties– Democratic-Republicans/Anti-Democratic-Republicans/Anti-

FederalistsFederalistsFounded by Thomas JeffersonFounded by Thomas JeffersonBelieved in Believed in limitinglimiting the the federal federal government’s government’s powerpower, , and supported policies that and supported policies that benefited the “benefited the “common mancommon 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 the DemocratsDemocrats and and WhigsWhigs

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


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

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

– Democrats only won in the Democrats only won in the SouthSouth


The Return of the Democrats The Return of the Democrats (1932-1968)(1932-1968)– The The Great DepressionGreat Depression turned turned

people against the Republican people against the Republican Party, especially as FDR led the Party, especially as FDR led the U.S. out of the Depression. U.S. out of the Depression. (Though it took many, many (Though it took many, many years…)years…)

– Dwight Eisenhower was the only Dwight Eisenhower was the only Republican from this periodRepublican from this period


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, ?????? in in 2012???)2012???)


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 Ralph Nader all Ralph Nader does)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 Tend to be long lastinglong lasting– Have very Have very little electoral 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 on one public policy matterone 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: Free Soil, Nativist, Examples: Free Soil, Nativist, Right to Life, ProhibitionRight to Life, 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 disgust with and express disgust with rallies/town halls, etc…rallies/town halls, etc…– 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: Greenback, Populist, Examples: Greenback, Populist, Tea Party (party or ideology?)Tea Party (party or ideology?)

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

personality (Teddy Roosevelt)personality (Teddy Roosevelt)– 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

Political Parties and Ideology What is a Party? Political Party – a group of people who seek to control government through the winning of elections and.

Documents

opposing party slide

district slide

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majority slide

control of government

individual ideology

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