BELL RINGERHere’s what you need to do:

1. Unit I Packet together (#1 on top of pile!) and stapledStudy guide at end of packet

2. Essay outlines separate on desk (if you did this).

3. Start studying!!

BELL RINGERList 5 things you

know about elections.List 5 things you are interested in learning

about elections…(don’t write nothing)!

BELL RINGER1. What did you find

interesting about the political ideology surveys?

2. Why might it be important to understand your political ideologies?

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LiberalChange

Gov solves problems

Protect social programs

Protect environment

Pro gun control

Anti death penalty

More prevention & rehab

Pro-choice

Pro gay rights

ConservativeStatus quo

Small government

Individual responsibility

Protect economy

Anti gun control

Pro death penalty

More prisons

Pro-life

Oppose gay rights

ChangeStatus quoGov solves problemsSmall governmentIndividual responsibilityProtect social programsProtect economyProtect environmentAnti gun controlPro gun controlPro death penaltyAnti death penaltyPro-lifePro-choiceOppose gay rightsPro gay rights

Social – Where do they go?

LiberalRestrict econ. freedom

Regulate capitalism

Tax wealthy

money to military

Conservative

More economic freedom

Free enterprise

Flat tax

money to military

Economic– Where do they go?

More economic freedomRestrict econ. freedomRegulate capitalismFree enterpriseFlat taxTax wealthy money to military money to military

BELL RINGER1. What did you

notice about your political ideology compared to your families? Explain.

HOW GROUPS VOTE1996 2000 2004 2008

D R D R D R D R

National 43.2 37.8 48.7 48.6 48.3 50.7 52.9 45.7

Sex

Men 41 37 43 52 44 55 49 48

Women 46 38 53 45 51 48 56 43

Race

White 39 41 43 55 41 58 43 55

Minor. 77 11 87 9 86 11 92 7

Age

29-18 40 37 47 47 54 45 66 32

49-30 42 37 45 53 46 53 56 42

50+ 46 39 53 45 46 54 45 53

Education Higher education tends to vote more Republican

Income Higher income tends to vote more Republican

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BELL RINGER1. What did you find

interesting about the political ideology surveys?

2. Why might it be important to understand your political ideologies?

BELL RINGERWhat are some reasons we have a two party system here in the United States? What are they called?

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WHAT IS A PARTY?•A political party is a group of persons who seek to control government by winning elections and holding office.•The two major parties in American politics are the Republican and Democratic parties.

WHAT DO PARTIES DO? Nominate Candidates - Recruit, choose, and present candidates for public office.

Inform and Activate Supporters - Campaign, define issues, and criticize other candidates. Inform the peopleOther groups that do this: news media and interest groups (lobby groups, special interest groups, advocacy groups, and pressure groups)

WHAT DO PARTIES DO? Insuring good performance- Guarantee that their candidate is worthy of the office – Qualified and of “good character”

Govern - Members of government act according to their partisanship, or firm allegiance to a party. Candidate elected = party elected

Act as a Watchdog - Parties that are out of power keep a close eye on the actions of the party in power for a blunder to use against them in the next election.

PARTY SYSTEMSSingle-Party Systems:

one major political party holds power

Two-Party Systems:

two major political parties

Third parties may exist, but they hardly ever gain enough support to win elections.

This is the least common system around the world.

Multiparty Systems:

Three or more political parties holding office

No party gains control of the government, so parties must work together to get things done.

COUNTRY # PARTIES IN

OFFICE

Vietnam 1

United States 2

Australia 7

Denmark 11

Germany 5

Guatemala 11

Iceland 5

Israel 12

Turkey 4

WHY A TWO-PARTY SYSTEM? The Historical Basis. The nation started out with two-parties: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.

The Force of Tradition. America has a two-party system because it always has had one. Minor parties have never made a successful showing

The Electoral System. Certain features of government, such as single-member districts, are designed to favor two major parties.

Ideological Consensus. Most Americans have a general agreement on fundamental matters.

PARTY MEMBERSHIP PATTERNSFactors that can influence party membership:

Family 2 out of 3 Americans follow the party allegiance of their

parents

Major events Civil War and the Great Depression are the most

significant Economic Status

Higher income = Reps Lower income = Dems

Religion Religious = Reps

Non-religious = Dems

Occupation Issues that affect your job

can sway you to one party or the other

Age Younger (18-35) = Dems

Older (45-60) = Reps

THE NATION’S FIRST PARTIES

Federalists•Led by Alexander Hamilton

•Represented wealthy and upper-class interests

•Favored strong executive leadership and liberal interpretation of the Constitution

Anti-Federalists

•Led by Thomas Jefferson

•Represented the “common man”

•Favored Congress as the strongest arm of government and a strict interpretation of the Constitution

AMERICAN PARTIES: FOUR MAJOR ERAS

The Three Historical Eras

The Era of the Democrats, 1800—1860Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections.

The Whig Party emerges in 1834, but declines by the 1850s, electing only two Presidents.

The Republican Party is founded in 1854.

The Era of the Republicans, 1860—1932Republicans dominate all but four presidential elections.

The Civil War disables the Democratic Party for the remainder of the 1800s.

The Return of the Democrats, 1932—1968Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections.

Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected President four times.

AMERICAN PARTIES: PARTIES TODAY

The Start of a New Era: The Era of Divided Government

Since 1968, neither Republicans nor Democrats have dominated the presidency

and Congress has often been controlled by the opposing party.

• Republicans hold the presidency

• Congress is controlled by Republicans

2000 - 2004

• Democrats hold the presidency

• Congress controlled by Republicans, 1994 to present

1992 - 2000

• Republicans hold the presidency

• Senate controlled by Republicans 1980-1986, controlled by Democrats from 1986 to 1994

1980 - 1992

• Democrats hold the presidency

• Congress is controlled by Democrats

1976–1980

• Republicans hold the presidency

• Congress is controlled by Democrats

1968–1976

MINOR PARTIES IN THE UNITED STATES

Types of Minor Parties•Ideological Parties: Based on a set of beliefs – comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters• Ex. Libertarian, socialist, communist

•Single-issue Parties: concentrate on only one public policy matter• Right to Life, Free Soil, “Know Nothings”

•Economic Protest Parties: rooted in periods of economic discontent•Greenback Party, Populist Party

•Splinter Party: parties that split away from one or other major parties• Bull Moose, Progressive, Dixiecrat

WHY MINOR PARTIES ARE IMPORTANT:

1. “Spoiler Role”

Candidates can pull decisive votes away from one of the major parties’ candidates

Esp. if from splinter party: Parties that have split away from one of the major parties

2. Critic

take stands/draw attention to controversial issues that the major parties ignore

3. Innovator

draw attention to important issues and propose innovative solutions to problems

If gain support often integrated into the platforms of the two major parties.

THE FUTURE OF MAJOR PARTIES

Weakened connections to

political parties:

For voters :

1. Unwilling to label themselves as “Democrats” or “Republicans”

2. Split-ticket voting = voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election

For candidates:

1. Structural changes have increased conflict and disorganization within parties

2. Changes in the technology of campaigning (t.v./internet) have made candidates more independent of the party

3. The growth of single-issue organizations