Political Parties

1
Political Parties
A group of people who seek to control government
through the winning of elections and the hold of
public offices.
2
Purpose of Political Parties

• Nominate candidates
• Inform and activate
• Acts as a Bonding Agent - Ensure good performance
• Govern
• Act as a watchdog

3
2 Party System

• History
• Originally not supported by Framers
• Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
• Force of Tradition
• Electoral System
• Single member districts winner takes all
• Discourages minor party votes
• American Ideological Consensus
• Americans tend to agree on fundamental issues
• Major parties tend to take moderate stands to
  attract the most votes

4
Multi-Party System

• Multi-party several major and many lesser
  parties exist, compete for, and win public
  offices
• Give more choice to voters
• Harder to come to a consensus
• Unstable because power is shared by many parties

5
One-Party System

• Dictatorships
• Areas dominated by a party
• 2-party competition is spreading