Unit 4 5 Political Parties - Presentation Transcript
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..
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%
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