Political Party Notes
U.S Political Parties: Beginning
What is a political party?
– Organization of people who share similar ideas about the
way the country should be governed
Political Party Systems
• 3 Political Party Systems in the World
1.) One Party System: Political party and the government are the SAME
• Only 1 party, so no competing ideas
• Party membership based on lineage, wealth, military power, religious
power
• Example: China
2.) Multi-Party System: Three or more parties compete for control of the government
– Common in Europe, Israel, Japan
– Advantage: provides voters with many different choices and ideas
– Disadvantage: difficult for one party to get majority of votes, which
– leads to a Coalition
EXAMPLE – Italy
3. Two-Party System: Two parties compete with each other to run the government.
– Party system of U.S.: Democrats and Republicans
– Advantages: Continuity
– Disadvantages: Minority parties (third parties) receive
little attention – focus is on two main parties
• George Washington against political parties
⮚ “parties serve their own interests”
⮚ “parties not beneficial to American people”
• Parties formed during his time:
1. Democratic-Republicans
2. Federalists
• Democratic-Republicans
⮚ Supported state rights
⮚ Supported economy based on agriculture
⮚ Power in hands of all people
⮚ Led by Thomas Jefferson
• Federalists
⮚ Supported strong national govt.
⮚ Supported economy based on industry
⮚ Power in hands of wealthy and educated
⮚ Led by Alexander Hamilton
• Federalists Breakup
⮚ Federalists gradually disappear – no political momentum
⮚ John Adams only party member to be elected President
⮚ Supporters formed new party: Whig Party (1834-1856)
•
• Democratic Party formed to continue representing small farmers and working people
• 1850’s: Democratic Party and Whig Party split over slavery
⮚
⮚ Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats formed Republican Party
• Republican Party
⮚
⮚ Emerges as stronger of 2 parties after Civil War
⮚ 1865-1931:Only 2 Democratic Presidents elected
•
U.S Political Parties: Characteristics
• Democratic Party
⮚ Tends to Attract
• Working people (blue collar)
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•
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• People in favor of govt. involvement in social policies
• Republican Party
– Tends to attract
⮚ Businesspeople (white collar)
⮚
⮚ Non-minorities
⮚ People against govt. involvement in social policies
What Do Political Party Members Do??
• Major function of each party is to get its candidate elected to office
– Steps include
1. Party members nominate, or name the candidates they want to run for office
2.
– An effort to gather support for its candidates and inform voters of the party’s
stand on issues
– Requires many party workers and volunteers to perform dozens of job that
include:
•
• Polling voters/making phone calls
•
• Register voters
3. Once a party’s candidate is elected, the party helps the candidate organize and
manage the govt.
– Example: When a President is elected, 100’s of job vacancies in govt. must be
filled. Jobs usually filled by party members who have contributed time, energy
and money to the campaign.
–
Political Party Organization
• Political Parties are organized at every level:
– Local Party Committee : Goal is to get candidates from party elected to local
political office, like mayor, city councilman, school superintendent, etc…
• Political parties are organized at every level:
– State Party Committee: Goal is to get candidates from party elected to state
political office, like ______________________________
• Political parties are organized at every level:
– National Party Committee:
Third Parties
• What are Third Parties?
– Parties representing minority opinions that challenge the Democrats and
Republicans
– Some successful Third Parties:
•
• Progressive Party – split off from Rep. Part in 1912
• Libertarian Party – third most popular party in U.S. today
• 3 Kinds of Third Parties
– 1. Parties Tied to a Single Issue:
• Examples:
• Prohibition Party: formed in 1872 to support banning of alcohol
in the U.S.
• U.S. Marijuana Party: formed to support the legalization of
marijuana in the U.S.
•
• 3 Kinds of Third Parties
– 2. Parties Tied to a Political Belief
• Examples:
• Libertarian Party
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• 3 Kinds of Third Parties
– 3. Parties Tied to a Single Candidate
• Examples:
• Reform Party – formed around Presidential candidate Ross Perot
in 1996
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