Political Parties ppt

January 6, 2018 | Author: Anonymous | Category: Social Science, Political Science
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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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