POLITICAL PARTIESand

INTEREST GROUPS

CIVICS & ECONOMICSUNIT 4

American’s are divided by their Political Ideology - basic political beliefs.

“Liberal”Democrats

“Conservative”Republicans

Political Spectrum

Political Parties - a group of citizens withsimilar views on public issues who work to

put their ideas into effective government action.

WHAT DO PARTIES DO?

*Recruit candidates & support campaigns

*Help organize elections and inform voters

*Organize the government

*Unite diverse interests and make collective actionpossible

Known as Conservatives

More likely to be white, male, and relatively affluent

Favor limiting the size of the nt’l gov. - more power to the states

Broad-based tax cuts

Oppose excessive business regulation by the government

Tend to favor prayer in public schools, while opposing abortion and gun control laws

Tend to oppose minimum wage laws as unnecessary economic regulation

WHO AREWHO ARETHE THE

REPUBLICANS?REPUBLICANS?

WHO AREWHO ARETHE DEMOCRATS?THE DEMOCRATS?

*Known as Liberals

*More likely to be a member of a minority group, female, and less affluent

*Strong federal government to solve a variety of problems

*Tax cuts for the poor, higher taxes for the affluent to support social programs

*Gov. regulation of business to protect consumers, workers, or the environment

*Democrats are more likely to support abortion rights and gun control laws, whileopposing school prayer

*Favor regular increases in minimum wage to support poor families

THIRD PARTIESTHIRD PARTIESTYPE OF PARTYTYPE OF PARTY EXAMPLES FROMEXAMPLES FROM

U.S. HISTORYU.S. HISTORYSingle-issue partySingle-issue party

Formed to oppose or promote1 issue

National Woman’s Party (1913-1920)National Woman’s Party (1913-1920)Promoted voting rights for womenRight to Life Party (1970-present)Right to Life Party (1970-present)Opposes legalized abortion

Economic protest partyEconomic protest partyFormed to promote “better times”

Greenback Party (1874-Greenback Party (1874-1884)1884)

Promoted use of paper $, silver coinage, and the 8 hour workday

Ideological partyIdeological partyFormed by people committed to a set

of beliefs

Libertarian Party (1971-Libertarian Party (1971-Present)Present)

Favors reducing the role of gvn’t in citizens’ lives

Splinter partySplinter partyFormed by people unhappy with a

major party

Progressive “Bull Moose” Party (1912-Progressive “Bull Moose” Party (1912-1952)1952)

Separated from the Republicans to promote progressive reforms

Third parties have limited success in the two-party Third parties have limited success in the two-party system in the U.S. Smaller parties find it hard to raise $system in the U.S. Smaller parties find it hard to raise $$$ and get the media coverage needed to challenge the $$ and get the media coverage needed to challenge the 2 major parties.2 major parties.

MOST PEOPLE ARE

MODERATES

IN THEMIDDLE

How do we form our Political How do we form our Political Opinions?Opinions?

Family - 95% of high school seniors id the same party as their parents.

School - the more educated Americans are, the more likely they are to participate in politics.

Religion - Religious teaching help shape political values.

Peer Groups - Our friends, co-workers and the groups we join influence our political views.

Gender & Ethnicity - effect our political loyalties.

News Media - shapes opinion by the information given to us about our world

PoliticalSocializatio

nthe process by the process by which you which you

acquireacquireyour political your political

beliefs & beliefs & attitudesattitudes

SPECIAL-INTEREST SPECIAL-INTEREST GROUPSGROUPS

when a group seeks to influence when a group seeks to influence government at any levelgovernment at any level

the term the term special interestspecial interest refers to a refers to a particular goal or set of goals that unite particular goal or set of goals that unite the members of a groupthe members of a group

why join an interest group?why join an interest group?

offer information and benefitsoffer information and benefits

agree with the group’s goals and agree with the group’s goals and want to join others that feel the want to join others that feel the samesame

SPECIAL-INTEREST SPECIAL-INTEREST GROUPSGROUPS

SPECIAL-INTEREST SPECIAL-INTEREST GROUPSGROUPS

*One way that interest groups try to influencegovernment is by contributing $$$ to political

parties and candidates during elections.

*Political Action Committees (PACs) $$- private funding groups sponsored by corporations,

unions, or other interest groups

*Do interest groups buy elected officials??