U.S. Political Parties CP Political Systems. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings What is a political party? –Organization of people who share similar ideas.

U.S. Political Parties

CP Political Systems

U.S. Political Parties:Beginnings

What is a political party?– Organization of people who share similar ideas about the

way the country should be governed

Political Party Systems

• 3 Political Party Systems in the World1.) One Party System: Political party and the government

are the SAME

• Only 1 party, so no competing ideas

• Party membership based on lineage, wealth, military power, religious power

• Example: China (Communist Party)


2.) Multi-Party System: Three or more parties compete for control of the government

– Common in Europe, Israel, Japan– Advantage: provides voters with many different choices and ideas

– Disadvantage: difficult for one party to get majority of votes,

which leads to a Coalition:

EXAMPLE – Italy (50 different govts. since WWII)

Daisy Alliance Sunflower Alliance Italian Communist

500,000 votes 450,000 votes 200,000 votes

Coalition


3. Two-Party System: Two parties compete with each other to run the government.

– Party system of U.S.: Democrats and Republicans

– Advantages: Continuity

– Disadvantages: Minority parties (third parties) receive little attention – focus is on two main parties


• George Washington against political parties “parties serve their own interests” “parties not beneficial to American people”

• Parties formed after his exit:1. Democratic-Republicans2. Federalists


• Democratic-RepublicansSupported states rightsSupported economy

based on agriculturePower in hands of all

peopleLed by Thomas Jefferson


• FederalistsSupported strong

national govt.Supported economy

based on industryPower in hands of

wealthy and educatedLed by Alexander

Hamilton


• Federalists BreakupFederalists gradually

disappear – no political momentum

John Adams only party member to be elected President

Supporters formed new party: Whig Party (1834-1856)


• Mid 1820’s: Democratic-Republicans breaking up

• Democratic Party formed to continue representing small farmers and working people


• 1850’s: Democratic Party and Whig Party split over slavery– Pro-slavery voters form Democratic Party

– Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats formed Republican Party

U.S Political Parties: Beginnings

• Republican Party1860: Abe Lincoln

becomes 1st Republican President

Emerges as stronger of 2 parties after Civil War

1865-1931:Only 2 Democratic Presidents elected Grover Cleveland Woodrow Wilson

U.S. Political Parties:Characteristics

• Democratic Party– Tends to Attract

Working people (blue collar)

LiberalsCatholicsMinoritiesUnion MembersPeople in favor of

govt. involvement in social policies

U.S. Political Parties:Characteristics

• Republican Party– Tends to attract

Businesspeople (white collar)

ProtestantsConservativesNon-minoritiesNon-union supportersPeople against

govt.involvement in social policies

Democrats:The Issues

• Abortion: – Pro Choice– Favors contraceptive education to prevent

necessity of abortion


• Environment:– Support stronger environmental laws and

protection of nature– Push for cleaner air and water– Support funding for preservation (Everglades in

FL; Redwoods in CA, etc…)

http://www.savetheredwoods.org/


• Gay Rights:– Should be protected from workplace discrimination and

hate crimes

– Should be given equal work benefits like more traditional families

– Largely oppose President Bush’s proposal to ban gay marriage through a Constitutional Amendment


• Gun Control: – Strong advocates for gun control– Supported both the Brady Bill and the Assault

Weapons Ban


• Health Care: – Push for more Heath Care funding (Medicare, Children’s

Health Insurance Program)

– In favor of program to ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care. (100% government funded)


• Foreign Policy: – Generally much more supportive of international agencies

than are Republicans – support NATO and the UN

– More skeptical of the Bush Administration’s rush to war than were the Republicans

– Very skeptical of the handling of the reconstruction of Iraq


• Education: – More funding for struggling schools is necessary

– Highly critical of No Child Left Behind, which has been under funded

– Tax money should not be used on religious schools


• Social Security: – Fundamental right of Americans

– Best way to protect is to maintain federal government control

– Largely oppose privatizing


• Welfare:– Support increased child care for welfare recipients so they

are more able to work steady jobs

– Support funding for job training so recipients will be more competitive in the job market


• Women’s Rights: – For over 20 years, have been pushing to ratify the Treaty of

the Rights of Women that arose from the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (would be a statement on America’s part saying that we support equal rights for all women)


• Worker’s Rights:– Favor labor unions and workers rights

• Includes right to organize free from harassment and the right to challenge employers for disability and discrimination cases.

– Support worker movements to increase the minimum wage and worker benefits

Republicans:The Issues

• Abortion: Pro-life; Anti-Choice– Prefers funding go towards marriage education and

abstinence only campaigns– Have tried several times to pass statutes that would

allow prosecution of acts that harm fetuses


• Environment: – Favor the exploration of all resources in the U.S. for energy

production and have generally opposed looking for more environment-friendly power alternatives

– Pushed for oil drilling in ANWR, the building of more nuclear power plants, a shift towards the use of coal, and have submitted proposals that would weaken the Clean Air Act


• Gay Rights: – Against giving gays equal rights in the eyes of the law

– “We do not believe sexual preference should be given special legal protection or standing in law”

– Oppose idea of gay marriage; seek to define marriage as union between man and woman

– Supports amendment to the Constitution defining marriage


• Gun Control: – Favors allowing the sale of firearms to proceed more

easily, and with fewer safety precautions

– Opposes any new gun-control laws

– Fought the regulation and banning of assault weapons


• Health Care: – Believes health care should work within the free market

system where competition will lower the costs of healthcare (no federal govt. involvement)


• Foreign Policy: – Have brushed aside

international organizations in favor of unilateral policy of preemption

– Bush Doctrine supports preemptive invasion when necessary to protect the security of the U.S.

– Argue that the use of American military force is essential for keeping the world safe for Democracy


• Education: – Support both the “No Child Left Behind” program and the

school vouchers

– Favor school vouchers because they think that by giving students more educational options, including religious schooling, a competitive market will be created

• Argue public schools will be forced to improve in order to retain students


• Social Security: Favor privatization of social security– Citizens will be able to opt to place portions of money that

would have gone into Social Security into other types of accounts. Accounts will give the opportunity to play the stock market in an attempt to increase returns. (takes away Federal responsibility)


• Welfare: – Favors increasing the mandatory work week for those

receiving government assistance– Support cuts in child care and training funding while

pushing $200 million for marriage education– Pushing for more funding for religious organizations and

charities, which then will be responsible to caring for our nation’s poor


• Workers’ Rights: – Favor the rights of businesses to maximize profits

– Favors workers and management working together to do what is in the best of all involved; no outside influences (against Labor Unions)

– Believes Labor Unions restrict production of businesses; sees it as a regulation of business

How To Tell Em Apart

Republicans usually wear hats.

Ronald Reagan


Democrats usually don’t.

Jimmy Carter


Democrats buy banned books.

Bill Clinton


Republicans form censorship committees, and then read them.

Barbara Bush


Democrats eat the fish they catch.

FDR Fishing in Warms Springs, GA


Republicans hang them on their wall.


Republicans study the financial pages of the newspaper.


Democrats put them on the bottom of their bird cage.


On Saturday, Republicans head for the golf course, the yacht club, or the hunting lodge.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower huntingPresident GeorgeW. Bush yachtingand golfing.


Democrats get a haircut, wash the car, or go bowling.

A younger Bill Clinton bowling


Republicans have guest rooms.


Democrats have spare rooms filled with old baby furniture.


Republicans hire exterminators


Democrats step on the bugs


Republicans sleep in twin beds – some even in separate rooms.


That is why there are more Democrats.

The Kennedy Family

What Do Political Party Members Do??

• Major function of each party is to get its candidate elected to office

– Steps include

1. Party members nominate, or name the candidates they want to run for office

2004 Republican NationalConvention

What Do Political Party Members Do??

2. Party starts an election campaign– An effort to gather support for its candidates and inform

voters of the party’s stand on issues

– Requires many party workers and volunteers to perform dozens of job that include:

• Raising funds

• Polling voters/making phone calls

• Drive voters to the polls

• Register voters

John Kerry Campaigning

What Do Political Party Members Do?

Presidential Election Campaigns

What Do Political Party Members Do?

3. Once a party’s candidate is elected, the party helps the candidate organize and manage the govt.

– Example: When a President is elected, 100’s of job vacancies in govt. must be filled. Jobs usually filled by party members who have contributed time, energy and money to the campaign.

– Patronage: giving jobs or special favors to party workers

Political Party Organization

• Political Parties are organized at every level:– Local Party Committee : Goal is to get candidates from

party elected to local political office, like mayor, city councilman, school superintendent, etc…

Mayor of Atlanta:Shirley Franklin Alvin Wilbanks:

Superintendent of GCPS


• Political parties are organized at every level:– State Party Committee: Goal is to get candidates from

party elected to state political office, like governor, attorney general, state legislator, etc…

Georgia Governor: Sonny Perdue


• Political parties are organized at every level:– National Party Committee: Goal is to get candidates from

party elected to national political office, like President, Senator, House Representative

President of the U.S.: George W. Bush

Georgia Senator:Saxby Chambliss

Georgia Representative: John Linder

Third Parties

• What are Third Parties?– Parties representing minority opinions that challenge the

Democrats and Republicans

– Some successful Third Parties:• Populist Party – 1890’s

• Progressive Party – split off from Rep. Part in 1912

• Libertarian Party – third most popular party in U.S. today

Third Parties

• 3 Kinds of Third Parties– 1. Parties Tied to a Single Issue:

Examples: Prohibition Party: formed in 1872 to support banning of

alcohol in the U.S. U.S. Marijuana Party: formed to support the legalization of

marijuana in the U.S. Green Party: formed to protect the environment

Third Parties

• 3 Kinds of Third Parties– 2. Parties Tied to a Political Belief

Examples: Libertarian Party The Third Party Socialist Parties

Third Parties

• 3 Kinds of Third Parties– 3. Parties Tied to a Single Candidate

Examples: Reform Party – formed around Presidential candidate Ross

Perot in 1996 American Independent Party – formed around Presidential

candidate George Wallace in 1968

Third Parties• America First Party• American Heritage Party• American Independent Party• American Nazi Party• Communist Party USA• Constitution Party• Family Values Party• Grassroots Party• Green Party• Independence Party• Labor Party• Libertarian Party• Light Party• Natural Law Party• The Third Party• Worker’s World Party

• Peace and Freedom Party• Prohibition Party• Reform party• The Revolution• Socialist Party, USA• Southern Independence Party• U.S. Pacifist Party• Veterans Party of America• We the People Party• Knights Party• Libertarian National Socialist Green

Party• Pansexual Peace Party• Pot Party• Constitutional Action Party• American Falangist Party• U.S. Marijuana Party

U.S. Political Parties CP Political Systems. U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings What is a political party? –Organization of people who share similar ideas.

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