1. What they do.
Why t h e re ’ s 2 .
AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES:
NOT AS MUCH FUN AS THEY SOUND
2. WHAT DO PARTIES DO?
What is the goal of the two major par ties?
To win elections
Read p. 116 2nd column: Is this sti l l true?
Five Major Functions
Nominate Candidates
Informing Suppor ters
Bonding Agent
Governing
Watchdog
3. NOMINATING CANDIDATES
-- primary responsibil ity
-- presidential nomination is a
function of the par ties
4. INFORMING AND ACTIVATING SUPPORTERS
-- campaign for their candidates
-- write platforms
Are presidential candidates beholden to
their par ty platforms?
How d o p a r t i es “ i nfo rm” t h e vote r s ?
Adver tising, buttons, bumper stickers etc.
5. -- try to pick good candidates
-- try to make victorious candidates govern wel l
Why?
BONDING AGENT
7. WATCHDOG
-- The par ty out of power holds the rul ing par ty accountable for
their actions.
Does this function ever work against the American people?
8. WHY ONLY TWO PARTIES?
Historical Basis
Tradition
Electoral System
American Ideological Consensus
9. HISTORICAL BASIS
-- no mention of par ties in Constitution
-- star ted with two par ties (Federalist and Anti-Federalists
10. ELECTORAL SYSTEM
-- winner-take-all elections encourage two moderate par ties
-- vote r s v i ew t h i r d p a r t i e s a s a “wa s te d vote ”
11. IDEOLOGICAL CONSENSUS
-- American pol itics played within the 40 yard l ines
-- Both par ties are moderate
How does the size of the US impact its pol itics?
What is the fundamental dif ference between the two par ties?
13. MULTI-PARTY SYSTEMS
-- Most European democracies are multi -par ty
-- Smal ler, more narrow par ties
-- Provide clear choices
-- Par ties must form a coal ition to govern
15. PARTY MEMBERSHIP PATTERNS
-- Par ty membership is voluntary
-- Par ties try to attract as many people as possible
-- Factors influencing par ty membership:
Fami ly
Economic Status
Major Events
Age
Residence
Level of Education
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