1. What they do.
AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES :
NOT AS MUCH FUN AS THEY SOUND
Why only two?

2. WHAT DO PARTIES DO?
What is the goal of the two major parties?
To win elections
Read p. 116 2 nd column: Is this still true?
Five Major Functions
Nominate Candidates
Informing Supporters
Bonding Agent
Governing
Watchdog

3. NOMINATING CANDIDATES
-- primary responsibility
-- presidential nomination is a
function of the parties

4. INFORMING AND ACTIVATING SUPPORTERS
-- campaign for their candidates
-- write platforms
Are presidential candidates beholden to
their party platforms?
How do parties “inform” the voters?
Advertising, buttons, bumper stickers etc.

5. BONDING AGENT
-- try to pick good candidates
-- try to make victorious candidates govern well
Why?

6. GOVERNING
-- Congress is organized around party

7. WATCHDOG
-- The party out of power holds the ruling party accountable for
their actions.
Does this function ever work against the American people?

8. WHY ONLY TWO PARTIES?
Historical Basis
Tradition
Electoral System
American Ideological Consensus

9. HISTORICAL BASIS
-- no mention of parties in Constitution
-- started with two parties (Federalist and Anti -Federalists

10. ELECTORAL SYSTEM
-- winner-take-all elections encourage two, moderate parties
-- voters view third parties as a “wasted vote”
-- dif ficult for third party pres candidates to appear on all
ballots
-- Gary Johnson (47 states)

11. IDEOLOGICAL CONSENSUS
-- American politics played within the 40 yard lines
-- Both parties are moderate
How does the size of the US impact its politics?
What is the fundamental dif ference between the two parties?

12. MULTI-PARTY SYSTEMS
-- Most European democracies are multi -party
-- Smaller, more narrow parties
-- Provide clear choices
-- Parties must form a coalition to govern

13. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF
MULTI-PART Y SYSTEM
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

14. PARTY MEMBERSHIP PATTERNS
-- Party membership is voluntary
-- Parties try to attract as many people as possible
-- Factors influencing party membership:
Family
Economic Status
Major Events
Age
Residence
Level of Education
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15. WHO’S AT THESE PARTIES?
Democrats Republicans