Political party Essay

I. What is a political party? II. Functions of Political Parties in the U. S. III. The Three Faces of a Party IV. Why do we have Two Party system? V. Major and Minor Party Ideologies VI. The role of Minor Parties in the U. S Political Party VII. Differences between Interest Groups and Political Parties I. What is a Political Party? ?Political Party-A group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine public policy. ?Functions of Political Parties in the United States ?Recruiting candidates for public office ?Organizing and running elections†¦ (political parties do not write state laws) ?Presenting alternative policies to the electoral ?Accepting responsibility for operating the government- cannot simply just quit their job ?Acting as the organized opposition to the party in power- acting as the â€Å"watch dog† to the opposite in power II. The Three Faces of a Party ?Party-in-the-Electorate- Those members of the general public who identify with a political party or who express a preference for one party over another. Does not necessarily mean they have to show who they are for, but in their â€Å"heart† they have a preference. ?Party Organization- The formal structure and leadership of a political party, including election committees; local, state, and national executives; and paid professional staff ?Party-in-Government- all of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a political party. Example) President, Vice President, Congress; Federal Judges are not part of a party, goes for State Judges as well. III. Why do we have a Two-Party System? ?Historical foundations (Federalists v. Antifederalists) ?Self-Perpetuation of the two-party system? Political culture of the United States ?The winner-take-all electoral system ?Plurality- the most ?Majority-more than 50%+1% ?Proportional Represenation- example) depending of the percentage of the votes, is the percentage of what they will take in the Parliament. IV. Political Ideologies ?Republicans- Economical and Social Conservative ?Conservatism †¢Conservatives generally support the Republican Party †¢Oppose massive government intervention in politics, economics, and looks instead to market mechanisms, states localities and voluntarism to resolve the country’s problems. †¢Endorse liberty as the primary political value †¢Support traditional moral, religious, and family values and ask government to enforce the ?Democrats- Economical and social Liberal ?Liberals †¢Generally support the Democratic Party †¢Support government intervention in politics and economics to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties and improve the conditions of the poor, minorities and women, †¢Endorse â€Å"equality† as their primary and political value †¢Favor politics of inclusion that seeks representation and participation for all V. The Role of Minor(Third) Parties (Look at Table 8. 2) ?Act as barometers of changing political mood ?Act as safety valve for dissident groups (Greens splitting from the Democrats) ?Affecting the outcome of an ?Libertarians- Economical Conservative and Social Liberals ?Want to shrink the size of the government to the bare necessities because big government is wrong and non-effective (They agree with Conservatives on that) ?On individual liberties and social issues they agree with liberals. ?Greens-Nader ?Left to Center ?Pro Environmental ?Anti Corporations ?Anti Globalization.