SB 1.1 TOPIC 5.3- POLITICAL PARTIES
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Social Studies
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10th - 12th Grade
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Medium
David Cruz
Used 3+ times
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15 Slides • 16 Questions
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TOPIC 5.3- POLITICAL PARTIES
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Linkage Institutions
Linkage institutions are channels, such as elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media, that allow individuals to communicate their preferences to policymakers.
By taking opposing stands on major issues, parties allow people to choose between two clear alternatives. Prior to the Civil War, the party system broke down and parties failed to offer people alternatives. Without the political channel, citizens had no place to vent their frustrations and extremists urged secession rather than compromise.
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Political Parties
Background
Parties were created outside of the Constitution and were not even mentioned in the document. James Madison warned about the excesses of factions and George Washington urged Americans not to fracture into parties.
Because they need to win elections in order to wield power, the parties have pragmatic goals such as winning elections that are more important to the party than ideology. The Republican Party, in particular, has a disconnect with many of its conservative voters because of this fact. Democrats, on the other hand, seem to be more united in their primary goal (that being to defeat Republicans) which enable them to often be more successful and build a coalition around more people.
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Political Parties
Because of the rational choice theory, when seeking election, parties try to appeal to moderates so they can capture the most votes, win the election, and then implement their policies. What is interesting is that in order to get nominated by their party, candidates often have to appeal to the extremes, then shift immediately to the middle to win the general election.
A 2019 Gallup poll found that a large plurality — 45% of Americans — viewed themselves as politically moderate. (More women than men identified as moderate.) Even if half that number were true, moderates and not those masking a strong political party preference would be a major voting bloc.
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Functions
Political parties are groups of citizens who organize to win elections, hold public office, operate the government, and determine public policy.
Parties recruit and nominate candidates for office by running political campaigns by fundraising and implementing a media strategy.
Parties articulate positions on issues, mobilize and educate voters, and often critique the policies of the party in power.
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Types of Party Systems
Two-Party System
Political system in which two major political parties compete for control of public offices.
The party with the majority typically dictates policy, but in the United States the minority party can often check the power of the majority.
The United States is one of about 15 nations with two-party systems. Others include the U.K., India, and Jamaica.
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Multi-Party System
Political system in which a number of political parties compete for political offices.
Parties in a multiparty system often represent widely different ideologies about government policies.
No party is likely to have a majority, so the parties often work with each other to form coalitions in order to pass legislation.
France, Italy, and Israel all have multiparty systems.
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One-Party System
Political system in which one party exercises total control over the government.
China, North Korea, and Iran all have one-party systems, as did Nazi Germany.
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Levels of Political Parties
Party in the Electorate
Includes citizens who identify themselves as Republicans or Democrats.
Unlike many European political parties, American parties do not require dues or membership cards to distinguish members from nonmembers.
Today, ticket-splitting is near an all-time high, where many people vote for different parties for different offices. For example, voting for a Democratic President but a Republican Congressman.
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Levels of Political Parties
Divided government has often been the result, whereby one party controls the presidency and the other controls Congress, leading to policy gridlock as compromise is difficult.
Gridlock or deadlock or political stalemate refers to a situation when there is difficulty passing laws that satisfy the needs of the people.
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Party Organization
The party organization consists of a full-time staff that develops rules, bylaws, and handles the party’s budget.
Includes national leaders, state chairpersons, county chairpersons, and other local activists who operate the party at the national, state, and local levels.
American political parties are decentralized and fragmented, so it is important to remember that the national, state, and local party organizations are independent and not centrally controlled.
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Party Organization
Therefore, the national party organizations have little power to enforce their decisions by offering rewards to officeholders who follow the party line and punishing those who do not.
The Supreme power within each of the parties is the national convention. At conventions, the party officially selects is presidential candidate and lays out its platform.
The national committee keeps the party operating between conventions.
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Party Organization
Each state goes through its election process differently, such as by choosing how to nominate candidates. They may hold a caucus, open primary, closed primary, or blanket primary. The national committee has no say over which method the states can use.
Until the 1930s, local parties had tremendous influence over city governments. These often-corrupt political machines maintained their power by using the patronage system to reward loyal members with important positions in the government. Today local parties have declined due to the merit system, while county-level organizations have increased their election activities.
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Party in Government
Includes the party’s candidates and officeholders, such as members of Congress and the President.
The party in control ultimately gets to determine policy. Parties do a fairly good job of translating their platform promises into public policy. For instance, the Democrats controlled both the Presidency and the Congress from 2009-2011 and initiated their main goals of the Stimulus and Obamacare.
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Multiple Choice
The United States, Mexico, South Korea, and Russia are all examples of what form of government?
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The United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and India, are all examples of a limited Government.
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North Korea is an example of a Totalitarian Dictatorship and an Unlimited Government
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Which of these is usually found in an Unlimited Government?
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Multiple Choice
How has the internet changed the political process?
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Open Ended
TOPIC 5.3- POLITICAL PARTIES
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