Role of Political Parties Today

1
Chapter 9.3

• Role of Political Parties Today

2
Nominating Candidates

• Political parties are active year-round. They
  keep people informed and interested in issues and
  candidates. They try to see that the partys
  elected officials do a good job. They
  politically criticize actions of the opposing
  party.

3
continued

• Parties select candidates through the nomination
  process. In direct primaries, voters in each
  state choose candidates to represent the party in
  a general election. Often the winner of the most
  primaries wins the partys nomination.

4
continued

• Most states hold closed primaries in which only
  declared members may vote for the partys
  nominees. A few states hold an open primary in
  which voters need not declare a party preference
  to vote for the partys nominees.

5
continued

• For offices open to only one winner, the
  nomination usually goes to the candidate who
  receives a plurality the most votes among all
  those running. In a few states, the winner must
  have a majority a number greater than half of
  the total.

6
continued

• If no candidate receives a majority, the party
  holds a runoff primary between the two top vote
  getters.
• An independent candidate may get on the ballot if
  enough voters sign a petition a paper declaring
  support for the candidate

7
Other Party Roles

• Parties raise money for the campaign and help get
  the candidates views across to the public. They
  make sure supporters are registered to vote and
  actually vote.
• Through campaign pamphlets, speeches and
  advertising, parties inform citizens about issues
  and the way govt works.

8
continued

• After an election, party leaders recommend party
  supporters for govt jobs to be filled by
  appointment rather than through the civil service
  process.
• Party ties aid cooperation among levels and
  branches of govt. Shared views and
  relationships within a party make it easier for
  members to work together.

9
continued

• Parties play a watchdog role. The party out of
  power watches the actions of those in power
  mistakes and misuse of power. Competition
  between parties forces the party in power to pay
  attention to the will of the people.