The document discusses the differences between political parties and interest groups, as well as various aspects of the American political party system. It notes that political parties attempt to influence government by electing members to office and control the government, while interest groups seek to influence government on specific issues. It also discusses the history of American party systems, noting there have been four distinct systems, and how realignments have occurred when new parties replace old dominant ones. The document examines features of the US two-party system and electoral laws that promote two parties competing for the center of voters.

2. Which of the following differentiates an interest
group from a political party?
a. A party attempts to influence policy, whereas an
interest group attempts to gain control of government
by running candidates for office.
b. An interest group is more comprehensive than a party.
c. An interest group seeks to influence government on a
narrow range of issues, whereas a party attempts to
win elections.
d. An interest group attempts to appeal broadly to many
groups of voters.

3. Do you agree or disagree that political
parties are good for American
democracy?
a. Strongly agree
b. Agree
c. Disagree
d. Strongly disagree

4. Do you think it is a good thing we
only have two major parties in
America?
a. Yes
b. No

5. Would you ever consider supporting a
third party candidate?
a. YES
b. NO
c. MAYBE

6. • Political parties are organized groups that
attempt to influence the government by electing
their members to important government offices,
thereby controlling government.
• Interest groups, while similar in goals
(influencing the government), are very different
in terms of characteristics and strategies.

7. • Primary Goal – Influence Public Policy
–Secondary Goal – Win Elections
• To get what they want, they have to give us what
we want – they have to convince us to elect them.
• Political parties are fundamentally connected to
voters – their power comes from us delegating our
power.

8. Compared with political parties in Europe,
parties in the United States have always
seemed:
a. strong
b. centralized
c. weak
d. coherent

9. • Partisanship is not America’s political problem; instead, our
parties are not strong enough to function effectively.
• STRONG parties promote CHOICE!
• Parties are the principle organizations that…
– 1. Recruit Candidates for public office (Choice)
– 2. Organize and Run Competitive Elections (Choice)
– 3. Present Alternative Policies to the Electorate (Choice)
– 4. Accept Responsibility for Operating the Gov.
– 5. Act as the Organized Opposition to the Party in Power (Choice)

10. • Two-Party System - a political system in which
only two political parties have a realistic
opportunity to compete effectively for control
• Has dominated American politics.
• Has not always been Ds and Rs, but always 2
“nationally competitive” political parties.

11. How many Party Systems have their been in
American history?
a. 4
b. 12
c. 6
d. 9

12. Figure 9.1

13. The Republican Party was formed:
a. as a coalition of anti-slavery forces
b. as a coalition of pro-slavery forces
c. in response to Thomas Jefferson’s call for
states rights
d. after suffering persecution under the Alien
and Sedition Acts

14. Party System Dates Competing Parties
1st Party System 1800-1824
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalist
(Democratic-Republicans)
2nd Party System 1828-1854 Democrats vs. Whigs
3rd Party System 1860-1896 Republicans vs. Democrats
4th Party System 1896-1932 Republicans vs. Democrats
5th Party System 1932-1968 Republican vs. Democrats
6th Party System 1968 ? Republicans vs. Democrats
7th Party System 2000? Republicans vs. Democrats

15. • Realignment – the point in history when a new party
supplants the ruling party, becoming in turn the
dominant political force.
• Dealignment – a trend or process whereby a large
portion of the electorate abandons its previous
partisan affiliation, without developing a new one to
replace it.
• Divided Government - the condition in American
government wherein the presidency is controlled by
one party while the opposing party controls one or
both congressional houses.

16. Party Systems
and
Realignments

17. Have you ever heard of Proportional
Representation?
a. YES
b. NO

18. The American electoral system is similar to most
other electoral systems…
a. TRUE
b. FALSE

19. "Overall, which party -- the Democrats or the
Republicans -- do you trust to do a better job in
coping with the main problems the nation faces
over the next few years?" Options rotated
a. Democrats
b. Republicans
c. Both
d. Neither

20. "Overall, which party -- the Democrats or the Republicans --
do you trust to do a better job in coping with the main
problems the nation faces over the next few years?" Options
rotated
Democrats Republicans Both (vol.) Neither (vol.) Unsure
% % % % %
4/22-25/10
46 32 2 18 3
2/4-8/10 43 37 2 17 2
11/12-15/09
47 31 2 17 3
9/10-12/09
48 28 3 19 2
2/19-22/09
56 30 3 9 3
12/11-14/08
56 23 3 15 3
5/8-11/08 53 32 2 10 2

21. Democrats
Republicans

22. In PLURALITY voting, what does it take to be
the winner?
a. 50% + 1
b. 2/3 of the Vote
c. At least 35%
d. 1 more vote than anyone else

23. • Electoral Laws - Winner-Take-All Voting
– Single-Member Districts – Only 1 winner/seat per
contest
– Plurality – Just 1 more vote than anybody else.
• The rules we have affect who wins, and therefore,
who participates in the political process. Our
system offers NO REWARDS
for 2nd, 3rd, 4th...

24. Country = 10 Districts Delegates Won
% of Vote (Each District) PR Plurality
Party A 40% 4 10
Party B 30% 3 0
Party C 20% 2 0
Party D 10% 1 0

25. • Rather than differentiate themselves, there
are clear incentives for candidates to “go to
the middle” because that’s where the
voters are.
• Electoral competition drives parties
together…
• So, the reason candidates appear to be so
centrist is because they are both competing
for “Bob’s” vote in order to win.

26. Obama McCain

27. "Which of the following statements comes closest to your
view of the way the Democratic Party and Republican Party
have been dealing with the country's problems? You are angry
at both parties. You are only angry at the Republicans. You are
only angry at the Democrats. You are not angry at either
party."
a. Angry at Both Parties
b. Only Angry at the Republicans
c. Only Angry at the Democrats
d. Not Angry at Either Party

28. "Which of the following statements comes closest to your
view of the way the Democratic Party and Republican Party
have been dealing with the country's problems? You are
angry at both parties. You are only angry at the
Republicans. You are only angry at the Democrats. You are
not angry at either party."
Angry at
Both
Parties
Only Angry
at the
Republicans
Only Angry
at the
Democrats
Not Angry
at Either
Party
% % % %
1/22-24/10 48 9 11 32

29. Would you support a change to a
more proportional form of
elections?
a. Yes
b. NO