This document discusses different political party systems. It begins by explaining that in democracies, citizens often join political parties that share their views and work to implement similar policies and goals. It then focuses on the two-party system in the US, describing the Democratic and Republican parties and some advantages and disadvantages of a two-party system. The document also briefly outlines one-party, multi-party, and third-party systems.

1. Do Now, Week 6, Day 5
• Explain what a federal government is.
• What are the benefits of having a
local government.

2. Unit 4. Electing Leaders
In democratic countries, citizens often join or support political parties. A Political
party is a group of citizens with similar views on public issues who work together to
put their ideas, goals and objectives into place.
A 2 Party System
Political parties also select, nominate, candidates to run for political office. A
candidate is a person that applies, or considered, for a position.

3. Unit 4. Electing Leaders
Parties are often labeled as "liberal" or "conservative" depending on their points of
view. The term political spectrum refers to the range of differences in opinion
between political parties.
Liberal: Wanting or allowing a lot of political and freedom and supporting steady social,
political or religious change.
Conservative: Opposed to great sudden social change; showing that you prefer
traditional styles and values.
A 2 Party Syste

4. Unit 4. Electing Leaders
In the US there are 2 main political parties.
A 2 Party System
There are more parties, smaller ones, but they don't have a significant impact on
national politics. The Democratic party is the most liberal and the republican is the
most conservative.

5. Unit 4. Electing Leaders
A 2 Party System
Generally, the Democratic party favors a greater role of
the federal government in providing for the people, in
social programs.
The Republican party prefers less government
intervention in the life of people, and for state and local
government to have more power.

6. Unit 4. Electing Leaders
A 2 Party System
Advantages of a 2 Party Political System.
Avoids extremism.
Because the parties try to attract the votes of the citizens, the parties
try to offer ideas and policies that are more centered in the public opinion.
Majority.
Having fewer voting choices allows the majority to be reached easier.
Remember a total of 270 votes are needed out of 538 to become
President.
Speed.
Because there are 2 parties, reaching agreements are easier than if more
parties existed.
Chaos vs Understanding.
It is hard to understand the ideals of the political parties if there are
many. Having less parties makes it easier for citizens to pick their vote.

7. Unit 4. Electing Leaders
A 2 Party System
Disadvantages of a 2 Party Political System.
Standstill.
There are some ideas that the parties do not agree on, and so the problems
continue and never get solved.
Limited Options.
When it comes to voting, the options are limited, and voters are forced to
choose a party that has the most things in common with their ideals, but
many are not covered.
Corruption.
Practices like patronage may not be morally correct, but they are common,
especially in the cases of companies that have paid for candidate
campaigns.
Ignores some ideals.
Because of the limits on the parties that control the government, there is a
limit to the new ideas and ideals that can enter the political spectrum.

8. Unit 4. Electing Leaders
A 2 Party System
If all parties are more or less of equal strength, no one party can win majority of
votes. To run the government, two or more parties need to agree, and compromise, and
work together. This agreement between parties is called a coalition.
Several European countries are Multiparty system,
they have several parties that are majority in the
government.

9. Unit 4. Electing Leaders
A 2 Party System
In a one-party system the law normally forbids the formation of new parties.
Governments that follow this system are normally called dictatorships or
totalitarianism governments. The main difference being that a totalitarianism tries to
control and monitor every aspect of every citizen.
Some countries are One-Party system, they don't
give a choice to the voters.

10. Unit 4. Electing Leaders
A 2 Party System
In some elections, the number of votes given to independent third parties have cost
votes to be lost from the major parties, making them lose the elections. Major
influences are caused in state and local level because of third parties.
In the US there are 2 major parties, but they are
not the only parties that do exist. Other parties do
exist, and sometimes have caused major changes in
the government. These are called minor parties
or Third parties.