The document provides an overview of political parties in the United States. It discusses how political parties are decentralized organizations without clear central leadership. It also describes the three main components of political parties: the party organization, the party in the electorate, and the party in government. Additionally, it outlines different types of minor parties such as ideological parties, single-issue parties, and economic protest parties. The document also discusses how political parties are organized at the national, state, and local levels.

1. U.S. Government
Chapter 5 – Section 1

2. Political Party
Major Parties
Partisanship
Party in Power

3. Section Objectives:
 Define a political party
 Describe the major functions of political parties
 6.4 – Understand how the philosophies of liberalism and
conservatism correlate to the two major American
political parties.
 4.4 – Understand the major features of major forms of
government in the world.

4. Political Party- group of persons who seek to
control government through the winning of
elections and the holding of public office.
Major Parties- Republicans and Democrats

5. Major function is to nominate or name
candidates for public office.
Parties inform people, and inspire and
activate their interests and participation in
public affairs.
Pamphlets, signs, buttons
Parties make sure that the candidate is
qualified.

6. Naming candidates for public office.
Parties select candidates and send them to
voters.
Parties then work to help their candidates
win elections.

7. Parties try to inspire voters.
They campaign, stand on issues, and criticize
opponents.
Try to shape positions that will attract as
many voters as possible.

8. Bond is an agreement that protects a person
or company against loss caused by a third
party.
Political parties act as a “bonding agent” to
ensure the good performance of its
candidates and officeholders.

9. United States is government by party.
Public officeholders are regularly chosen on
the basis of party – which party they belong
to.
Congress and State Legislatures are
organized along party lines.
They conduct their business along the basis
of partisanship.

10. • The executive and legislative branches have
to work together regardless of party.
• Political Parties have played a significant role
in the process of constitutional change.

11. Parties act as watchdogs over the conduct of
the public’s business.
Party in Power- party that controls the
executive branch of the government.

12. In your opinion, do political parties tend
to unify, or divide, the American people?
Give details behind your opinion.

14. U.S. Government
Chapter 5 – Section 2

15. Minor party
Two-party system
Single-member district
Plurality
Bipartisan
Pluralistic society
Consensus
Multi-party
Coalition
One-party system

16. Section Objectives:
 Identify the reasons the United States has a two-party
system
 Understand multi-party and one-party systems and
how they affect the functioning government.
 6.4 – Understand how the philosophies of liberalism and
conservatism correlate to the two major American
political parties.
 4.4 – Understand the major features of major forms of
government in the world.

17. Minor Party- political party without a wide
voter support in this country.
This country has a two party system. (a
political system dominated by two major
parties.)

18. Democrats were throughout the South from
the post Civil War years to the 1960s.
They were dominant during this time.

19. The framers were opposed to political
parties.
First two political parties: Federalists (lead by
Alexander Hamilton) and Anti-Federalists
(lead by Thomas Jefferson).
George Washington’s view of parties: In his
farewell address he warned people against,
“Baneful effects of the spirit of the party”.
Constitution makes no mention.

20. In short, the U.S. has a two-party system
because it began that way.

21. The fact that the nation began with a two
party system, is a leading reason for the
retention of a two party system.
People accept a two party system b/c they
have never known different.

22. Single-Member Districts- electoral district
from which one person is chosen by the
voters for each elected office.
Most elections are single member.
The winning candidate are the ones who
receive a plurality, or the largest number of
votes cast for the office.
Plurality need not be a majority, which is
more than half of all votes cast.

23. Single-Member district patterns work to
discourage minor parties.
Bipartisan- the two major parties find
common ground and work together.
Non-major party candidates have made it to
the ballot everywhere in only seven
presidential elections.

24. • The U.S. is a pluralistic society –one
consisting of several distinct cultures and
groups.
• Consensus- a general agreement among
various groups.
• Both parties tend to be moderate, both built
on compromise, both seek the same prize.
• Democrats are more likely to support social
welfare programs, gov. regulation of business
practices, and improve the stats of minority.

25. Republicans favor the play of private market
forces in the economy and argue that gov’t
should not be as involved in social welfare
programs.

26. Multiparty- system which several major and
many lesser parties exist, seriously compete
for, and actually win, public office.
Based on a particular interest such as religion,
economic class.
Coalition- temporary alliance of several
groups who come together to form a working
majority and so to control a government.

27. In nearly all dictatorships only one political
party is allowed.
One-Party System = “no party system”

28. Each party contains a wide variety of voters.
African Am., Jews, and Catholics have more
often voted Democrat.
White males, Protestant, and business
community have been inclined to back the
GOP (Republican Party).

29. Group of persons who seek to control
government through the winning of elections
and the holding of public office.
A. Democrats
B. Political Party
C. Coalition

30. Group of persons who seek to control
government through the winning of elections
and the holding of public office.
A. Democrats
B. Political Party
C. Coalition

31. Strong support of a party and its policy
stands:
A. Partisanship
B. Interest Groups
C. Bipartisan

32. Strong support of a party and its policy
stands:
A. Partisanship
B. Interest Groups
C. Bipartisan

33. Political party without a wide voter support in
this country.
A. Democrats
B. Underdog
C. Minor Party

34. Political party without a wide voter support in
this country.
A. Democrats
B. Underdog
C. Minor Party

35. Electoral district from which one person is
chosen by the voters for each elected office.
A. Single-Member District
B. Bipartisan
C. Coalition

36. Electoral district from which one person is
chosen by the voters for each elected office.
A. Single-Member District
B. Bipartisan
C. Coalition

37. Largest number of votes cast for the office.
A. Majority
B. Plurality
C. Pluralistic Society

38. Largest number of votes cast for the office.
A. Majority
B. Plurality
C. Pluralistic Society

39. Temporary alliance of several groups who
come together to form a working majority
and so to control a government.
A. Coalition
B. Consensus
C. Bipartisan

40. Temporary alliance of several groups who
come together to form a working majority
and so to control a government.
A. Coalition
B. Consensus
C. Bipartisan

42. U.S. Government
Chapter 5 – Section 4

43. Ideological Parties
Single-issue Parties
Economic Protest Parties
Splinter Parties

44. Section Objectives:
 Identify the types of minor parties that have been
active in American politics.
 Understand why minor parties are important despite
the fact that none has ever won the presidency.
 6.4 – Understand how the philosophies of liberalism and
conservatism correlate to the two major American
political parties.
 4.4 – Understand the major features of major forms of
government in the world.

45. Minor Party – Any one of the many political
parties without wide voter support in the U.S.

46. 1. Ideological Parties- based on a particular
set of beliefs- a comprehensive view of social,
economic, and political matters.
 Libertarian Party emphasizes individualism and
doing away with the present government’s
functions and programs.
 Others include: Socialist, Socialist Labor, Socialist
Workers, and Communist Party

47. 2. Single-Issue Party -focus on only one public
policy matter.
 Free Soil Party opposed the spread of slavery
 “Know Nothings” opposed Irish Catholic
immigration.
 Unites States Pirate Party- support the abolition
of piracy laws.

48. 3. Economic Protest Party - rooted in times
of economic unrest, they proclaimed their
disgust with major parties and demanded
better times.
 Greenback Party appealed to struggling farmers
by calling for a free coinage of silver, federal
regulation of railroads, an income tax, and labor
legislation.
 Populists demanded public ownership of
railroads, telephone and telegraph companies,
etc.

49. Splinter Parties - party that has split away
from one of the major parties.
Most of the more important minor parties
have been splinter parties.
Most splinter parties have formed around a
strong personality.
 Examples include: (T. Roosevelt’s) “Bull Moose”
Progressive Party; (Henry Wallace’s) Progressive
Party; (George Wallace’s) American Independent
Party

50. Minor parties have still had an impact on
American politics and on major parties.
It was a minor party that first used the
national convention to nominate their
presidential candidate in 1831.
 The Whigs and Democrats soon followed suit.

51. Minor parties can sometimes play a “spoiler”
role in major elections.
This happens when a minor party pulls away
votes from a major party, which can affect
the outcome of the election.
 This happened in 2000 with the Green Party.
-
So where do political parties fall along the political spectrum?

58. On a sheet of paper (each person), list the
results of your political quiz.
 Did you more closely relate with a minor party or
major party?
 Did your results surprise you?

59. Want to find out where you fall along the
political spectrum?
 http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz/quiz.php
(World’s Smallest Political Quiz)
 http://www.isidewith.com/political-quiz
(ISideWith.com)*
 http://www.gotoquiz.com/politics/political-spectrum-quiz.(GoToQuiz.com)

60. What does the boxing ring represent?
Why are Bush and Gore standing next to one
another, facing Nader?
What does the cartoonist think about Nader’s
chances against Bush and Gore? Give two details
that support your conclusion.
Did the results of the 2000 election support or
challenge the cartoonist’s view of Nader?

63. U.S. Government
Chapter 5 – Section 5

64. Ward
Precinct
Split-ticket Voting

65.  Section Objectives:
 Understand why major parties have a decentralized structure
 Describe the national party machinery and how parties are
organized at the State and local level
 Identify the three components of the parties.
 Examine the future of the major parties.
 6.4 – Understand how the philosophies of liberalism and
conservatism correlate to the two major American political
parties.
 4.4 – Understand the major features of major forms of
government in the world.

66. Political parties are decentralized – with no
clear central leadership.
 Fragmented, disjointed, and often plagued with
internal conflict.
No chain-of-command running from national
to local level
 Usually, they cooperate, but not always.

67. President (of the U.S) is automatically the
party leader.
 Party in power usually more organized
 Party out of power has no obvious leader.
Nominating Process: Nominations are made
within the party. Then fights are made within
the same party. Democrat vs. Democrat

68. Handles the parties affairs.
man and woman chairperson in each state.
Chairperson is the leader of the national
committee, and directs the work of the
party’s headquarters.
Each party has a campaign committee in
each house of Congress.
They make sure that seats given up by
retiring officials remain in the party.

69. Party structure is usually set by state law.
 At the state level, political parties are headed by a
state chairperson.
 At the local level, parties organization varies
widely.

70. Ward- is a unit into which cities are often
divided for the election of city council
members.
Precinct- smallest unit of election
administration.

71. 1. The party organization- party leaders,
activists, and “hangers-on”
2. The party in the electorate- Party loyalists
who regularly vote for that party.
3. The party in government- officeholders
who hold office in the ex., legs, or jud.
Branches.

72. Weakened state of parties can be explained
by:
 1. drop in the number of voters.
 2. Big increase in split-ticket voting- voting for
candidates of different parties for diff. offices at
the same election.
 3. Changes in party views.
 4. Changes in technology of campaigning for
office.

73. Based on a particular set of beliefs- a
comprehensive view of social, economic, and
political matters.
A. Precinct
B. Ideological Parties
C. Economic Parties

74. Based on a particular set of beliefs- a
comprehensive view of social, economic, and
political matters.
A. Precinct
B. Ideological Parties
C. Economic Parties

75. Focus on only one public policy matter.
A. Splinter Party
B. Single Issue Party
C. Greenback Party

76. Focus on only one public policy matter.
A. Splinter Party
B. Single Issue Party
C. Greenback Party

77. Proclaimed their disgust with major parties
and demanded better times.
A. Economic Protest Party
B. Splinter Party
C. Socialist Party

78. Proclaimed their disgust with major parties
and demanded better times.
A. Economic Protest Party
B. Splinter Party
C. Socialist Party

79. Who is automatically the party leader?
A. Vice President
B. Spokesperson
C. President

80. Who is automatically the party leader?
A. Vice President
B. Spokesperson
C. President

81. Smallest unit of election administration.
A. Ward
B. Precinct
C. Town

82. Smallest unit of election administration.
A. Ward
B. Precinct
C. Town