U.S.

Political Parties
CP Political Systems

U.S. Political Parties:

Beginnings
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 (Communist Party)

Political Party Systems

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 (50 different govts. since WWII)
Daisy Alliance
500,000 votes

Sunflower Alliance
450,000 votes

Coalitio
n

Italian Communist
200,000 votes

Political Party Systems

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

U.S. Political Parties:

Beginnings

George Washington against political parties

parties serve their own interests
parties not beneficial to American people
Parties formed after his exit:
1. Democratic-Republicans
2. Federalists

U.S. Political Parties:

Beginnings
DemocraticRepublicans
Supported states rights
Supported economy
based on agriculture
Power in hands of all
people
Led by Thomas Jefferson

U.S. Political Parties:

Beginnings
Federalists
Supported strong
national govt.
Supported economy
based on industry
Power in hands of
wealthy and educated
Led by Alexander
Hamilton

U.S. Political Parties:

Beginnings
1850s: Democratic Party and Whig Party split
over slavery
Pro-slavery voters form Democratic Party
Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats formed Republican
Party

U.S Political Parties:

Beginnings
Republican Party
1860: Abe Lincoln
becomes 1st Republican
President
Emerges as stronger of 2
parties after Civil War
1865-1931:Only 2
Democratic Presidents
elected
Grover Cleveland
Woodrow Wilson

U.S. Political Parties:

Characteristics
Democratic Party
Tends to Attract
Working people (blue
collar)
Liberals
Catholics
Minorities
Union Members
People in favor of
govt. involvement in
social policies

U.S. Political Parties:

Characteristics
Republican Party
Tends to attract
Businesspeople
(white collar)
Protestants
Conservatives
Non-minorities
Non-union supporters
People against
govt.involvement in
social policies

Democrats:
The Issues
Abortion:
Pro Choice
Favors contraceptive education to prevent
necessity of abortion

Democrats:
The Issues
Environment:
Support stronger environmental laws and
protection of nature
Push for cleaner air and water
Support funding for preservation (Everglades in
FL; Redwoods in CA, etc)

Democrats:
The Issues
Gay Rights:
Should be protected from workplace discrimination and
hate crimes
Should be given equal work benefits like more traditional
families
Largely oppose President Bushs proposal to ban gay
marriage through a Constitutional Amendment

Democrats:
The Issues
Gun Control:
Strong advocates for gun control
Supported both the Brady Bill and the Assault
Weapons Ban

Democrats:
The Issues
Health Care:
Push for more Heath Care funding (Medicare, Childrens
Health Insurance Program)
In favor of program to ensure all Americans have quality,
affordable health care. (100% government funded)

Democrats:
The Issues
Foreign Policy:
Generally much more supportive of international agencies
than are Republicans support NATO and the UN
More skeptical of the Bush Administrations rush to war
than were the Republicans
Very skeptical of the handling of the reconstruction of Iraq

Democrats:
The Issues
Education:
More funding for struggling schools is necessary
Highly critical of No Child Left Behind, which has been
under funded
Tax money should not be used on religious schools

Democrats:
The Issues
Social Security:
Fundamental right of Americans
Best way to protect is to maintain federal government
control
Largely oppose privatizing

Democrats:
The Issues
Welfare:
Support increased child care for welfare recipients so they
are more able to work steady jobs
Support funding for job training so recipients will be more
competitive in the job market

Democrats:
The Issues
Womens Rights:
For over 20 years, have been pushing to ratify the Treaty of
the Rights of Women that arose from the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women (would be a statement on Americas part saying
that we support equal rights for all women)

Democrats:
The Issues
Workers Rights:
Favor labor unions and workers rights
Includes right to organize free from harassment and the
right to challenge employers for disability and
discrimination cases.
Support worker movements to increase the minimum wage
and worker benefits

Republicans:
The Issues
Abortion: Pro-life; Anti-Choice
Prefers funding go towards marriage education and
abstinence only campaigns
Have tried several times to pass statutes that would
allow prosecution of acts that harm fetuses

Republicans:
The Issues
Environment:
Favor the exploration of all resources in the U.S. for energy
production and have generally opposed looking for more
environment-friendly power alternatives
Pushed for oil drilling in ANWR, the building of more
nuclear power plants, a shift towards the use of coal, and
have submitted proposals that would weaken the Clean Air
Act

Republicans:
The Issues
Gay Rights:
Against giving gays equal rights in the eyes of the law
We do not believe sexual preference should be given
special legal protection or standing in law
Oppose idea of gay marriage; seek to define marriage as
union between man and woman
Supports amendment to the Constitution defining marriage

Republicans:
The Issues
Gun Control:
Favors allowing the sale of firearms to proceed more easily,
and with fewer safety precautions
Opposes any new gun-control laws
Fought the regulation and banning of assault weapons

Republicans:
The Issues
Health Care:
Believes health care should work within the free market
system where competition will lower the costs of
healthcare (no federal govt. involvement)

Republicans:
The Issues
Foreign Policy:
Have brushed aside
international organizations in
favor of unilateral policy of
preemption
Bush Doctrine supports
preemptive invasion when
necessary to protect the
security of the U.S.
Argue that the use of
American military force is
essential for keeping the
world safe for Democracy

Republicans:
The Issues
Education:
Support both the No Child Left Behind program and the
school vouchers
Favor school vouchers because they think that by giving
students more educational options, including religious
schooling, a competitive market will be created
Argue public schools will be forced to improve in order to retain
students

Republicans:
The Issues
Social Security: Favor privatization of social security
Citizens will be able to opt to place portions of money that
would have gone into Social Security into other types of
accounts. Accounts will give the opportunity to play the
stock market in an attempt to increase returns. (takes away
Federal responsibility)

Republicans:
The Issues
Welfare:
Favors increasing the mandatory work week for those
receiving government assistance
Support cuts in child care and training funding while
pushing $200 million for marriage education
Pushing for more funding for religious organizations and
charities, which then will be responsible to caring for our
nations poor

Republicans:
The Issues
Workers Rights:
Favor the rights of businesses to maximize profits
Favors workers and management working together to do
what is in the best of all involved; no outside influences
(against Labor Unions)
Believes Labor Unions restrict production of businesses;
sees it as a regulation of business

How To Tell Em Apart

Republicans usually wear hats.

Ronald
Reagan

How To Tell Em Apart

Democrats usually dont.

Jimmy
Carter

How To Tell Em Apart

Democrats buy banned books.

Bill
Clinton

How To Tell Em Apart

Republicans form censorship committees, and
then read them.

Barbara
Bush

How To Tell Em Apart

Democrats eat the fish they catch.

FDR Fishing in Warms Springs, GA

How To Tell Em Apart

Republicans hang them on their wall.

How To Tell Em Apart

Republicans study the financial pages of the
newspaper.

How To Tell Em Apart

Democrats put them on the bottom of their bird
cage.

How To Tell Em Apart

On Saturday, Republicans head for the golf
course, the yacht club, or the hunting lodge.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower hunting

President George
W. Bush yachting
and golfing.

How To Tell Em Apart

Democrats get a haircut, wash the car, or go
bowling.

A younger Bill Clinton bowling

How To Tell Em Apart

Republicans have guest rooms.

How To Tell Em Apart

Democrats have spare rooms filled with old baby
furniture.

How To Tell Em Apart

Republicans hire exterminators

How To Tell Em Apart

Democrats step on the bugs

How To Tell Em Apart

Republicans sleep in twin beds some even in
separate rooms.

How To Tell Em Apart

That is why there are more Democrats.

The Kennedy
Family

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

2004 Republican National

Convention

What Do Political Party Members Do??

2. Party starts an election campaign
An effort to gather support for its candidates and inform
voters of the partys stand on issues
Requires many party workers and volunteers to perform
dozens of job that include:

Raising funds
Polling voters/making phone calls
Drive voters to the polls
Register voters

John Kerry Campaigning

What Do Political Party Members Do?

Presidential Election Campaigns

What Do Political Party Members Do?

3. Once a partys candidate is elected, the party helps
the candidate organize and manage the govt.
Example: When a President is elected, 100s of job
vacancies in govt. must be filled. Jobs usually filled
by party members who have contributed time, energy
and money to the campaign.
Patronage: giving jobs or special favors to party
workers

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

Mayor of Atlanta:
Shirley Franklin

Alvin Wilbanks:
Superintendent of
GCPS

Political Party Organization

Political parties are organized at every level:
State Party Committee: Goal is to get candidates from
party elected to state political office, like governor,
attorney general, state legislator, etc

Georgia
Governor:
Sonny Perdue

Political Party Organization

Political parties are organized at every level:
National Party Committee: Goal is to get candidates from
party elected to national political office, like President,
Senator, House Representative

President of the U.S.:

George W. Bush

Georgia
Senator:
Saxby Chambliss

Georgia Representative:
John Linder

Third Parties
What are Third Parties?
Parties representing minority opinions that challenge the
Democrats and Republicans
Some successful Third Parties:
Populist Party 1890s
Progressive Party split off from Rep. Part in 1912
Libertarian Party third most popular party in U.S. today

Third Parties
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.
Green Party: formed to protect the environment

Third Parties
3 Kinds of Third Parties
2. Parties Tied to a Political Belief
Examples:
Libertarian Party
The Third Party
Socialist Parties

Third Parties
3 Kinds of Third Parties
3. Parties Tied to a Single Candidate
Examples:
Reform Party formed around Presidential candidate Ross
Perot in 1996
American Independent Party formed around Presidential
candidate George Wallace in 1968