Political parties attempt to influence government by electing members to office to control government, whereas interest groups seek to influence policy on specific issues. Political parties are connected to voters and get their power from being elected. There are arguments that the US would benefit from stronger parties that provide clear choices to voters. The US has historically had a two-party system dominated by Democrats and Republicans, though other party systems occurred in the past. The electoral system of single-member districts and plurality voting provides incentives for just two major parties.

1. Chapter 9 – Political Parties

2. Clicker QuestionWhich 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. Clicker QuestionDo you agree or disagree that political parties are good for American democracy?Strongly agreeAgreeDisagreeStrongly disagree

4. Clicker QuestionDo you think it is a good thing we only have two major parties in America?YesNo

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

6. What are Political Parties?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. Parties and DemocracyPrimary Goal – Influence Public PolicySecondary Goal – Win ElectionsTo 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. Clicker QuestionCompared with political parties in Europe, parties in the United States have always seemed: a. strong b. centralized c. weak d. coherent

9. The Case for STRONG Parties 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. Parties in HistoryTwo-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. Clicker QuestionHow many Party Systems have their been in American history?4126 9

12. Figure 9.1

13. Clicker QuestionThe Republican Party was formed: a. as a coalition of anti-slavery forcesb. as a coalition of pro-slavery forcesc. in response to Thomas Jefferson’s call for states rightsd. after suffering persecution under the Alien and Sedition Acts

14. Party Systems

15. Realignment/DealignmentRealignment – 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. Clicker QuestionHave you ever heard of Proportional Representation?YESNO

18. Clicker QuestionThe American electoral system is similar to most other electoral systems…TRUEFALSE

19. The Case for Third PartiesRepublicansDemocrats

20. Clicker QuestionIn PLURALITY voting, what does it take to be the winner?50% + 12/3 of the VoteAt least 35%1 more vote than anyone else

21. Why JUST 2 Parties?Electoral Laws - Winner-Take-All VotingSingle-Member Districts – Only 1 winner/seat per contestPlurality – 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...

22. Proportional Representation

23. Median Voter TheoryRather 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.

24. Median Voter TheoryObamaMcCainBOB

25. Clicker Question"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 PartiesOnly Angry at the RepublicansOnly Angry at the DemocratsNot Angry at Either Party

27. Clicker QuestionWould you support a change to a more proportional form of elections?YesNO