Government

Chapter 9

Political Parties and Politics

Section 1

Key Terms

• Political Party: An association of voters with broad, common interests who want to influence or control decision making in govt. by electing the party’s candidate to public office.

• Two-party System: During most of American history there have been two major political parties.

• Third party: Parties that have rose to challenge the two major parties.

• Platform: Series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues.

• Plank: Each individual part of the platform.

Political Party

• Political Parties were formed– Washington did not want

this– Pg. 218 “Americans in

Action”

• Members share:– Beliefs about politics– Sense of proper role of

govt.

• Pick candidates who share these beliefs

U.S.

• Anyone can join a party

• Not necessary:– To pay dues– Take a test– Vote

• Only necessary to declare yourself a member

Two-Party System

• During most of American history there have been two major political parties.

• Republican• Democrats• Both have millions of

supporters• Very strong• Since 1860 one of the parties

has held the presidency and most seats in Congress

Roots of Two-party

• Constitution does not mention parties– Most delegates at

convention were against them

– Two parties formed shortly after Washington became president

• Rival parties

Jefferson/Hamilton

• Thomas Jefferson:– Favored individual rights– Wanted to limit power of

govt– Argued for more power for

state govt.

• Alexander Hamilton– Favored individual rights– Believed rights were at risk

if govt. was weak– Favored strong govt.– Wanted president to have

more power

Democratic Party

• Thomas Jefferson formed the Democratic-Republican party

• 1828: Andrew Jackson became the leader– Party split

– Jackson joined the Democratic Party

Federalist Party

• Led by Alexander Hamilton

• Party faded away• 1816-1828:

– Democratic Republicans faced no challenge

Whigs

• 1830: New party• Whigs:

– National republicans

• Competed with newly named Democrats

• Whigs and Democrats remained the major parties until the 1850’s

Republican Party

• 1854: Breakaway democrats and Whigs– Opposed slavery

• Formed Republican Party– Replaced the Whig Party

• 1860: Lincoln elected first Republican President

• Republicans and Democrats have been major parties in our system

Third Parties

• These parties have rose to influence politics

• No third party has ever won a presidential election– Rarely win major elections– Called minor parties

Third Parties

• Can affect outcome of elections

• May influence govt. and social policy

• Third parties have different beliefs– Do believe that neither major party is meeting

certain needs

Populists

• Third party• 1890’s:

– Farmers and laborers– Called for direct

election of senators– 8-hour working day

• Never won presidency– Two major parties

adopted many of their ideas

Progressive

• Third Party• Split from Republicans in 1912• Theodore Roosevelt

– Former Republican President– Ran for President as a

Progressive– Took votes away form William

Howard Taft• Democratic Nominee

– Woodrow Wilson won the election

• Roosevelt played a “spoiler” role

Single Issue Parties

• Third parties – arise to not win elections – Promote social, economic,

or moral issues– Single-issue party usually

doesn’t last long– Fades away if:

• Issue is no longer important

• Major party adopts issues

Prohibitionist Party

• Formed in 1872• Wanted to ban sale of

alcohol• Did not expect to be

elected• Used election campaigns

to influence citizens to accept their ideas

• Hoped to persuade lawmakers against sale of alcohol

Ideological Parties

• Focus on changing society in major ways

• Socialist Labor Party• Communist Party

USA• Libertarian• Green Party

Socialist Labor/Communist

• Socialist Labor Party• Communist Party

USA Support:– Govt. ownership of

factories

– Transportation

– Resources

– Farmland

– Other businesses

Libertarian

• Wants to cut size of govt. to increase individual rights

Green Party

• Oppose power of corporations

• Favor decision making at the grassroots level

Independent Candidates

• Form around candidates who are well-known but are not supported by the major parties

• Rarely win because of two-party tradition

• Often have a hard time raising money

• Single-member districts

Other Party Systems

• U.S. two-party system– Rare

• Most democracies have multiparty systems– 3 or more parties compete

for control

• Canada-3• Germany-5• Israel-20+• Parties represent different

ideas about govt.

One-Party System

• Party and the govt. are nearly same thing

• China has only 1 party– Communist– Only communist

candidates are allowed to run for office

– Carry out the party’s orders

Today’s Major Parties

• Competing parties are necessary for a democratic govt.

• Give voters a choice among candidates

Basic Differences

• Involvement of govt. in the lives of Americans

• Read the platform and planks each party writes– This will say what the

party claims it will do if they win