Political Parties

Political Parties

1. Political Parties

2. Political Ideologies
•political ideology-your
political belief system
(how you think the
government should work)
•Ideologies are NOT political
parties
•Two main ideologies in
U.S. -liberalism and
conservatism

3. Liberalism
Liberals believe in:
•The freedom of the individual to
make choices that generally
only affect the individual
•Less gov’t control of private life
•More gov’t control of economy /
business
•Social justice -making sure
everyone is on an equal playing
field economically
•More likely to change with the
times (support radical/sudden
political change)

4. Conservatism
•Conservatives believe:
•The individual’s choices
have an effect on society
•More gov’t control of moral
issues / private life
•Less gov’t control of
economy / business
•Competition is a good thing
(not everyone will be on the
same level in terms of $$$)
•less likely to change over
time--support slow political
changes bit by bit

6. •Political Party-a group of people who
seek to control gov’t by being elected to
office
•Made up of people who believe
similar things about gov’t and how it
should run
•**POLITICAL PARTIES ARE BASED
ON A POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES**
•party identification-an individual’s
preference of a political party
•people tend to favor parties that they
agree with

7. What Do Political Parties Do?
•Choose candidates for
office
•Inform voters about
gov’t issues
•Govern according to
their beliefs
•Serve as a watchdog on
the party in power

8. The Two-Party System
•Originated over the debate on
the Constitution (Federalists
vs. Anti-Federalists)
•We keep it because of its long
tradition and how well it works
in the electoral system
•Today, our two main parties
are the Democrats and the
Republicans

9. Other Types of Party
Systems
•Multiparty System-
where there are several
major and minor parties
that compete and win office
•One Party System-where
only one political party is
allowed (ex: dictatorships)

10. Partisanship
•Partisan–to vote/do things
according to your political
party
•Partisan issues are favored
by ONE party
Bipartisan–the two parties
work together
Nonpartisan–not favoring
one political party or the
other

11. Liberal Ideology:
What Democrats Believe
(Generalized)
•More gun control
•Pro-choice (pro-abortion)
•Clean / green energy solutions
•More gov’t control of business and
economy
•Higher taxes for rich people
•Gov’t should provide for the people
in times of need
•Marriage equality
•Amnesty (forgiveness) for illegal
immigrants
•Anti-death penalty

12. Conservative Ideology:
What Republicans Believe
(Generalized)
•Less gun control
•Pro-life (anti-abortion)
•Use of natural resources for energy
•Less gov’t control of economy /
business
•Lower taxes on rich will help economy
•People shouldn’t rely on gov’t and
programs should be more limited
•Tradition marriage
•Strict border control of immigration
/no amnesty
•Pro-death penalty

20. Third (Minor) Parties
•Smaller political parties
outside the major two
parties (Repub. and
Dem.)
•4 types: ideological,
single-issue, splinter,
and economic protest

21. Ideological Parties
•Third parties that are
based on a particular
political belief system
•Ex: libertarians,
socialists, and
communists

22. Single-Issue Parties
•Third parties that focus
on ONE particular
topic/idea
•Ex: Free Soil, Know-
Nothing, and Green
Parties

23. Splinter Parties
•Third parties that break off
from the Democrat or
Republican parties
•Disagree with main party,
so they form their own with
some of the same ideas
•Ex: Progressive (Bull
Moose) Party

24. Economic Protest Party
•Third parties that focus
on improving the
economy, money
systems, and business
•Ex: Greenback Party
and Populist (People’s)
Party

25. Why Third Parties are
Important
•1.) They often point out what is
wrong with the two main political
parties (serve as a watchdog)
•2.) Give people other options to
vote for in elections
•3.) Bring fresh ideas to gov’t
•4.) Can split a major party
vote (and change an election)

26. Independents
•Favor neither party
(are neutral/in the
middle)
•Usually vote for
candidates they think
will do the best job
regardless of party

27. Party Platforms
•The principles/beliefs
that a political party
stands on
•Individual issues are
called “planks”, which
can be added and
removed by the party

32. Create Your Own Third Party
•1.) Choose a typeof third party (is
your party splinter, single-issue, etc.?)
and give it a NAME. (ex: The ____
Party)
•2.) Construct your party’s platform
with what your party believes (be
specific!) –with TENdetailed points.
•3.)Create a symbolto represent your
party (animal, person, etc.); think
about a slogan/sayingtoo!

33. Ch. 5 Quiz
•political
party
•partisan
•bipartisan
•nonpartisan
•political
ideology
•party
platform
•ideological
party
•single-issue
party
•splinter
party
•economic
protest
party