Unit 4 5 Political Parties

TEKS Covered

AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES

Party Identification

The two major political parties in the United States are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

Which philosophies, goals, and issue positions do you associate with each party? Write what you know in appropriate the boxes!

Democratic Party Republican Party

PARTIES-ORGANIZATIONS THAT SEEK TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC POLICY BY WINNING ELECTIONS & PUTTING THEIR OWN MEMBERS INTO POSITIONS OF GOVT. AUTHORITY

"political parties created democracy and democracy is impossible without them"

“ There is not a dime’s worth of difference between the Democratic and Republican parties.” - Gov. George Wallace

THREE COMPONENTS PARTY MODEL

PARTY-IN-THE- ELECTORATE CITIZENS WHO IDENTIFY WITH THE PARTY

PARTY-IN-GOVERNMENT THOSE ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO OFFICES AS MEMBERS OF A PARTY

PARTY MAKEUP- 111TH CONG. Membership 435 Reps. Party Divisions 179 Republicans 256 Democrats 0 Independent Membership 100 Senators Party Divisions 40 Republicans 58 Democrats 2 Independents

The Party in Government: Promises and Policy

PARTY-AS-AN- ORGANIZATION DAY-TO-DAY "PROFESSIONALS" WHO ORGANIZE & RUN THE PARTY

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington

The National Party Organizations

National Convention: the meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and the party’s platform

National Committee: one of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions

National Chairperson: responsible for day-to-day activities of the party

Tim Kaine DNC CHAIRMAN Michael Steele RNC CHAIRMAN

Let’s go see…shall we?

http://www.democrats.org/

http://www.gop.com/

Party you agree with:

3 issues you agree with

Why you agree with each issue

Other party:

3 issues you disagree with

Why you disagree with each issue

Political Parties

Not only are there national political parties

There are state political parties &

Local political parties

Party Machines: a type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements to win votes and to govern

Patronage: a job, promotion or contract given for political reasons rather than merit; used by party machines

Revitalization of party organization is at county level

Boyd Richie TD Chair STATE PARTY Boyd Richie-Chair

Let’s look at the state parties

http://www.txdemocrats.org/

http://www.texasgop.org/

www.williamsoncountygop.org/

www.williamsoncountydemocrats.org/

LOCAL PARTY

6 PARTY FUNCTIONS

NOMINATION FUNCTION BUSH ACCEPTS IN 2000

The Party Organizations: From the Grass Roots to Washington

To NOMINATE- winning your party’s “nomination” gets you on the ballot. (most federal and state elections).

The 50 State Party System

Closed primaries: Only people who have registered with the party can vote for that party’s candidates.

Open primaries: Voters decide on Election Day whether they want to vote in the Democrat or Republican primary.

Blanket primaries: Voters are presented with a list of candidates from all parties.

State parties are better organized in terms of headquarters and budgets than they used to be.

FUND-RAISING FUNCTION

” YES! I want to help support President Bush and his agenda of reform and renewal. Here is my contribution in support of President Bush, the GOP Congress and our candidates.” FROM RNC WEB PAGE

With your one-time gift of $25 or more or your sustaining donation, we'll send you a "Kick 'Em Out" bumper sticker! Please send my "Kick 'Em Out" bumper sticker today ! FROM DNC WEB PAGE

CAMPAIGNING FUNCTION

INFORMATION FUNCTION "THIS IS WHY HE IS THE BEST!"

PARTIES PROVIDE VOTERS WITH CUES

PUBLIC OPINION SHOWS THAT MORE AND MORE AMERICANS ARE GETTING FED UP 78% of Americans Think the Economy Is in Bad Shape; 74% Say It's Not Getting Better

MOBILIZATION FUNCTION

Let’s see how they “mobilize”

Grassroots- starting on the local level and having your voice heard, then moving to the state and finally the national seen

Mass mobilization- getting as many people as you can to write, protest, give money, take action, etc..

http://www.democrats.org/page/content/partybuilderLTE/

GOVERNING FUNCTION STATE & LOCAL NATIONAL

PARTY PROCEDURES, POLICIES, & PROCESSES ARE ALL ORGANIZED ALONG PARTY LINES

MAJORITY PARTY CONTROLS CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES

NANCY PELOSI (D-CAL) THE SPEAKER OF THE HoR IS ALWAYS FROM THE MAJORITY PARTY

Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics

Third parties: electoral contenders other than the two party parties; rarely win elections

Third parties are important.

Are “safety valves” for popular discontent

Bring new groups and ideas into politics

Two-party system

Discourages extreme views

Contributes to political ambiguity

WHY ONLY TWO PARTIES?

WE HAVE A HOMOGENEOUS POLITICAL CULTURE

WHO MAKES THE ELECTION LAWS? DO YOU THINK EITHER PARTY WANTS TO ALLOW OTHERS TO PLAY?

Georgia passed a law in 1943 requiring that new party and independent candidates submit a petition signed by 5% of the number of registered voters in order to get on the ballot for any office . The result has been that since 1943, there has not been one third party candidate on the Georgia ballot for U.S. House of Reps.

"It takes five times as many more petition signatures for our party to be on the ballot than a major name candidate," MINOR PARTIES

Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics

Multiparty Systems in Other Countries

Winner-take-all system: legislative seats awarded only to first place finishers

Proportional Representation: legislative seats awarded based on votes received by the party - more votes, more seats

Coalition Government: two or more parties join to form a majority in a national legislature

ARGUMENT- PARTIES ARE IN A STATE OF DECLINE!

MANY CLAIM THAT THE MAJOR PARTIES NO LONGER PERFORM MANY OF THEIR INTENDED FUNCTIONS

REASON 1 INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF THE PRIMARY

PRIMARIES CREATE MAVERICK CANDIDATES

DON'T CONFORM OR ADHERE TO IMAGE & VALUES OF THE PARTY

PRIMARIES CREATE DISUNITY WITHIN A PARTY 6 CANDIDATES?

REASON 2 PERSONAL CAMPAIGNS

CANDIDATES RELY ON THEIR OWN CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION RATHER THAN THE PARTY'S

NOT THE PARTY CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION

PERSONAL ORGANIZATION

CLINTON RELIED ON HIS OWN "LITTLE ROCK" CAMPAIGN TEAM, NOT FROM THE DNC, IN 1992

REASON 3 PERSONAL CAMPAIGN FINANCING

PARTIES GIVE LESS THAN 1% OF $$$ RAISED TO CANDIDATES

$$$ IS RAISED BY PERSONAL CAMPAIGN SOLICITING INDIVIUALS & PACs

REASON 4 TELEVISION

"TV HAS SUPPLANTED THE PARTY AS THE MAIN CONDUIT BETWEEN CANDIDATE AND VOTER"

CANDIDATES CONTROL THE MESSAGE- NOT THE PARTY

REASON 5 TECHNOLOGY

RATHER THAN RELYING ON THE PARTY TO MOBILIZE VOTERS, PERSONAL CAMPAIGNS USE WEBSITES, FAXES, VOLUNTEERS, & PHONE BANKS

CANDIDATES HAVE THEIR OWN WEBSITES

REASON 6 PARTY DISCIPLINE IS POOR

"D.C. IS RUN BY 536 INDIVIDUAL ENTREPENEURS- EACH OF WHOM GOT HERE ON HIS OWN"- THIS INDIVIDULAISM HAS KEPT THE PARTIES FROM KEEPING THEIR MEMBERS IN LINE.

REASON 7 FEDERALISM

PARTIES ARE DECENTRALIZED

FRAGMENTATION & DIFFERENT POLICIES

REASON 8 RISE OF INDEPENDENTS

"THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HAS BEEN DRIFTING AWAY FROM THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES."

“ The increase in independent voters in recent years has presented a challenge to political candidates, who no longer can rely on their parties to deliver the bulk of their votes.” LEANING INDEPENDENT 1960 1980 2000 22% 13% 28%

WHAT DOES THIS SUGGEST?