Political Parties in U.S.

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Political Parties in U.S.

• Chapter 7

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Thomas Jefferson

• If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I
  would not go there at all

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Political Parties

• What are political parties?

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Functions of Political Parties in the U.S.

• Recruiting candidates
• - challenge incumbents
• Organizing elections
• - voter drives
• Present alternative policies
• Concentrate on winning elections
• Carrying out policies

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2 major U.S. Parties Today

• Two- Party System
• Most politicians are either democrats or
  republicans
• Democratic Republican supporters

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Regions party support
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The Three Faces of Party

• party-in-the-electorate
• - loyalty/ emotional tie
• party organization
• - recruit, identify, organize
• party-in-government govt officials who identify
  with a political party

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Economic belief of parties

• Democrats
• - govt assistance
• - programs taxes
• - big govt
• Republicans
• - limited govt
• - less emphasis on programs
• - tax breaks

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Party Preference
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• Third Party candidate
• Independent candidate
• - does not identify with a political party

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Role of third or minor parties in U.S.

• Why do we have 3rd parties?
• Dissatisfied / split-off
• Particular leader or message
• Media coverage / candidate

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Third Parties

• 3rd parties can make a difference in an election
• Roosevelts Progressive Party (28 in 1912)
• Perot- Independent Party (19 1992)
• Nadar- Green Party (2.8 million votes in 2000)
• Do third parties ever win?

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Why are political parties important?

• The party in power ends up with most of the
  important leadership positions in Congress.
  Therefore, a political partys electoral success
  may lead to new laws and regulations that affect
  your daily life. You may pay higher or lower
  taxes, face greater or fewer employment
  opportunities, or experience changes in the
  social environment around you- all depending on
  which political party prevailed in the last
  election. Political Scientist Barbara A. Bardes