Political Parties ppt
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U.S. Political Parties
George Washington
If we had listened to George, there would be no political parties in the US today. “Let me warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party.”
What Are Political Parties?
A Political Party is a group organized… 1. To Nominate Candidates 2. To Win Political Power through elections 3. To Promote Ideas About Public Policies
Two Main Political Parties
Democratic Party
More Liberal
Republican Party
More Conservative
Democratic Party (DNC)
Swept into Congress in the 2006 election Held a Super Majority until 2010 Represented by the Donkey President Barack Obama
Republican Party (RNC)
Former President George W. Bush Represented by the Elephant Also known as the Grand Ole’ Party (GOP)
What Do the Parties Stand For?
Democrats 1.
2.
Core Belief: A strong government provides needed services and remedies inequalities Biggest Exception: Government should stay out of people’s moral decisions, e.g. abortion
What Do the Parties Stand For?
Democrats 3.
Issue Agenda: Education Health/social services Environmental protection Emphasizes…Fairness, especially for disadvantaged groups Relations with Labor Unions: Close and supportive
4.
5.
What Do the Parties Stand For?
Democrats 6.
Core Supporters:
Lower – Income People East & West Coasts Minority groups Secular (nonreligious) individuals Teachers – Mr. Green??? Trial Lawyers
What Do the Parties Stand For?
Republicans 1.
2.
Core Belief: A strong government interferes with business & threatens freedom Biggest Exception: Government should regulate people’s moral decisions, e.g. abortion
What Do the Parties Stand For?
Republicans 3. Issue Agenda: Strong Military Tax Cuts Property Rights Emphasizes…Individual success, not group rights Relations with Labor Unions: Distant & hostile
4.
5.
What Do the Parties Stand For?
Republicans 6.
Core Supporters: Higher – Income people – Mr. Green??? South, Mountain West Whites Conservative Christians Businesspeople
Party Identification
What Influences Party Identification? 1.
Family: #1 Indicator of which party you will vote for *Exception: If one parent sides with one party and the other sides with another
Party Identification
What Influences Party Identification? 2. Religion
Catholics tend to vote Democratic, however, this is changing because of Right to Life Jews – traditionally vote Democratic Christian Evangelicals – Republican ¾ supported George W. Bush
Party Identification
What Influences Party Identification? 3.
Socioeconomic Status (Income)
Lower – Income: Democratic Higher – Income: Republican
Party Identification
What Influences Party Identification? 4.
Regional Differences:
East and West Coasts – Democratic South and Mountain West Republican
Party Identification
What Influences Party Identification? 5.
Other Indicators Women tend to vote…Democrat, esp. single women Minorities tend to vote…Democrat, except for Cubans –Republican; more anti-communist Trend is for College–Educated to vote…Democratic Why? More women and minorities are getting college educations
Voter Turnout, 1992-2010 Year
Voting-age population
Voter Turnout of voting-age registration Voter turnout population (percent)
2010**
235,809,266
NA
90,682,968
37.8%
2008*
231,229,580
NA
132,618,580*
56.8
2006
220,600,000 135,889,600
80,588,000
37.1
2004
221,256,931 174,800,000 122,294,978
55.3
2002
215,473,000 150,990,598
37.0
2000
205,815,000 156,421,311 105,586,274
51.3
1998
200,929,000 141,850,558
73,117,022
36.4
1996
196,511,000 146,211,960
96,456,345
49.1
1994
193,650,000 130,292,822
75,105,860
38.8
1992
189,529,000 133,821,178 104,405,155
55.1
79,830,119
Influences on Voter Turnout 1.
2.
Socioeconomic Status – lower the income, the less likely you are to vote Education – the higher you are educated, the more likely you will vote
Influences on Voter Turnout 3.
Age – 18-25 year olds have the lowest turnout Who has the Highest??? -The Elderly – 60 and older
Influences on Voter Turnout 4.
5.
Social Connections – the more you have, the more likely you are to vote – more interested in what’s happening Attitude – those who find it to be a dirty profession, don’t vote
Third Parties
Third Parties in the US are Secondary Political Parties Historically, the US has a Two Party system
Some say the Electoral College with its “Winner take all” award of electors has done this Should we just use Popular Vote instead???
Third Parties
Third Parties rarely win elections but do play an important role in Democratic Governments Third Parties draw attention to issues that may be ignored by the Majority Parties & force them to adopt the issue(s) as part of its platform. Referendum: referring and issue to popular vote of the people for approval or rejection
Third Parties
Third Parties also help increase Voter Turnout. Example? Same-Sex Marriage Amendment in Ohio (2004)
Major Third Parties
Libertarian Support maximizing liberty, especially in the economy and in social codes of conduct Small government
Environmental Third Parties
Green Party of the United States Ralph Nader Environment The Greens/Green Party USA Smaller fringe party
More Third Parties
American Independent Party Key Issue: segregation American Nazi Party Racist often with shaved heads Has not fielded a candidate since Rockwell
Socialist Parties
Socialist Party USA Socialist Equality Party Socialist Labor Party Socialist Workers Party Democratic Socialists of America
Major Third Parties Reform Party Emphasize… Reform Especially in the economy
Briefly successful Parties
Prohibition Party Against the sale of alcohol Peace and Freedom Party Against Vietnam War
That’s a party?
Pansexual Peace Party Left-wing Free love Pot Party & U.S. Marijuana Party Advocate the legalization of Marijuana
Important 3rd Party Movements
Bull Moose Party (1912) – Teddy Roosevelt – also called the Progressive Party Women’s suffrage, banking reforms, social welfare assistance for women and children
Important 3rd Party Movements
Socialist Party (1900s) – Eugene Debs
Ran for president from jail
Important 3rd Party Movements
Dixiecrats (1948) – Strom Thurmond
Segregationist Platform – race was a major issue Significance: First splits in Democratic Party South used to be all Democratic
Important 3rd Party Movements
American Independent (1968) – George Wallace
Continuation of Dixiecrat – segregationist – “Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever Opposed to racial integration Receives 46 southern electoral votes Shot and paralyzed (1972) by Arthur Bremer (in order to gain fame)
Important 3rd Party Movements
Independent/Reform – Ross Perot
Key focus was the economy 1992 Election – received almost 20 million votes -19% of popular vote NAFTA –”giant sucking sound heading to Mexico”
Important 3rd Party Movements
Green Party (2000) – Ralph Nader
Stole votes from Al Gore The reason Bush won???
3rd Party Important Roles & facts
3rd Parties tend to exist to promote a Specific Issue or Personality Growing trend is for a major party to help a 3rd Party with the idea of taking votes that would likely go to a major party – This is the classic “Divide &Conquer” tactic
3rd Party Important Roles & Facts
Currently, the Green Party is viewed as pulling more from the Democrats while the Libertarian takes more votes from the Republicans
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