This document discusses the history and functions of political parties in the United States. It begins with an overview of the two major parties, Democrats and Republicans, and asks several questions about their roles and disagreements. It then provides more details on the origins of the two-party system from the Federalist/Anti-Federalist debate. Third parties are discussed, noting they rarely win major offices but can influence issues. The document concludes with descriptions of the organization of political parties at national and local levels.

1. WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT THEY DO,WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT THEY DO,
AND WHY YOU SHOULD CARE.AND WHY YOU SHOULD CARE.
[HISTORY, ORGANIZATION AND[HISTORY, ORGANIZATION AND
FUNCTIONS]FUNCTIONS]
America’s Political PartiesAmerica’s Political Parties

2. Democrats and Republicans – what’s theDemocrats and Republicans – what’s the
deal?deal?
What’s all the fuss about?What’s all the fuss about?
What IS a politicalWhat IS a political partyparty?? [and do they[and do they
serve beer?]serve beer?]
What are theyWhat are they supposedsupposed to beto be
doing anyway?doing anyway?
Why can’t they work together?Why can’t they work together?
What does it have to do with me?What does it have to do with me?
Why does it matter what party theWhy does it matter what party the
President belongs to?President belongs to?
What if the party I join [if I do] isWhat if the party I join [if I do] is
different from my parents?different from my parents?
Why did Geo. Washington warnWhy did Geo. Washington warn
against political parties?against political parties?

3. Political Parties – a pre-testPolitical Parties – a pre-test
 What are the two major parties
in the U.S.?
 What animals symbolize them?
 What does GOP stand for?
 What is their most basic point of
disagreement?
 Do they agree on anything?
 How does one join a political
party?
 What is the main purpose of
political parties in America?
 What is a third party, and what
does it do?
 Democratic and Republican
 Donkey and Elephant
 Grand Old Party = Republican
party
 What powers and how much
power the federal gov’t should
have
 Democratic form of government
 Say which you want to join when
you register to vote or when you
get your driver’s license
 Getting their members elected to
office
 A party not R or D; try to get on
ballot or get issues before the
people

4. Why only two?Why only two?
Historical roots:Historical roots:
 Fight over ratification of
the Constitution
 Fears of too strong a gov’t
 Concerns over state rights
 Results in Federalist v.
Anti-Federalist debate
 Those two basic positions
resulted in a two-party
arrangement
 Names have changed over
the years, but issues have
stayed much the same
 Pattern, once established,
has stayed “We’ve always
done it this way!”

5. Why only two?Why only two?
Political realities
 Reflects American political
culture [federalism for one]
 Far more stable than a multi-
party system
 Yet more democratic than a
one-party sys.
 The two major parties are
loosely organized and very
inclusive
 The two major parties have all
the advantages with media,
voter activity and funding

6. So what do Democrats and Republicans believe?So what do Democrats and Republicans believe?
[Besides that the other party is made up of morons?][Besides that the other party is made up of morons?]
Proper size and power of the
federal gov’t?
Implied v. delegated power?
Abortion?
Gun control?
Taxation?
Education?
Crime?
Environmental issues?
Business regulation?
Health care?
Gay rights issues?
Foreign policy issues?
 Entitlement programs?
 Social Security; Medicare,
welfare programs, etc.
 Minorities?
 Including affirmative action
programs
 Notice how the parties’
position on the first issue
drives their position on most
of the others [remember the
Federalists and anti-
Federalists?]
 Question: do you have to
agree on all or most of a
party’s position on these
issues in order to join it or
belong to it?

7. What do political parties do?
Get their members elected!Get their members elected!
Constant campaigningConstant campaigning
Running the government/shapingRunning the government/shaping
policypolicy
Watchdog on the other partyWatchdog on the other party
Get party ideas/message out to theGet party ideas/message out to the
peoplepeople
Organize the Convention/draftOrganize the Convention/draft
party platformparty platform
LinkageLinkage between party membersbetween party members
and governmentand government

8. So what’s a third party, and why don’t they get aSo what’s a third party, and why don’t they get a
clue?clue?
Third parties form for variousThird parties form for various
reasons:reasons:
 Dissenters split away from a majorDissenters split away from a major
partyparty
 A single-issue group organizesA single-issue group organizes
 A strong leader figure gets a followingA strong leader figure gets a following
Third parties have never won theThird parties have never won the
presidencypresidency
 Well, maybe onceWell, maybe once
So what’s the point?So what’s the point?
 Winning other officesWinning other offices
 Getting their issues on the radarGetting their issues on the radar
 Can advance agenda, influence a majorCan advance agenda, influence a major
party or affect election outcomesparty or affect election outcomes

9. Third parties and the stacked deckThird parties and the stacked deck
Most see a vote for a third party candidate as aMost see a vote for a third party candidate as a
“wasted” vote, so they’ll vote for a major party“wasted” vote, so they’ll vote for a major party
States manage all elections in their state. GuessStates manage all elections in their state. Guess
who makes up state government? [federalism]who makes up state government? [federalism]
So, major party candidates are on the ballotSo, major party candidates are on the ballot
automatically. Third party candidates have toautomatically. Third party candidates have to
work at it.work at it.
Media attention, and especially money go more toMedia attention, and especially money go more to
the major party candidates.the major party candidates.
Televised debates usually only have the majorTelevised debates usually only have the major
party candidates participating. Guess who runsparty candidates participating. Guess who runs
the debates?the debates?

10. Party organizationParty organization
At the national level – RNC andAt the national level – RNC and
DNC – the job is to:DNC – the job is to:
 plan for the nextplan for the next conventionconvention
 Help identify candidatesHelp identify candidates
 Support campaigns and fund raiseSupport campaigns and fund raise
 Be a voice for the party. [But theBe a voice for the party. [But the
main voice is members in office]main voice is members in office]
 The keeper of theThe keeper of the party platformparty platform
Often difficult for the party org.Often difficult for the party org.
to control its members in officeto control its members in office
 MoreMore independent votersindependent voters
 Office holders and candidates noOffice holders and candidates no
longer as dependent on the party duelonger as dependent on the party due
to new technologiesto new technologies

11. Party organizationParty organization
Local organization follows the voting district planLocal organization follows the voting district plan
Ward and precinct “bosses” often keep party activists wellWard and precinct “bosses” often keep party activists well
organized and effective, exercising more control than theorganized and effective, exercising more control than the
national organization. This is the “grassroots” level.national organization. This is the “grassroots” level.

12. Party organization, local continuedParty organization, local continued
Local level is a place toLocal level is a place to
connect with the party andconnect with the party and
get involvedget involved
 Volunteering at the pollsVolunteering at the polls
 Canvassing [door-to-door]Canvassing [door-to-door]
 Fundraising eventsFundraising events
 Campaign activities [puttingCampaign activities [putting
out signs, blogging, answeringout signs, blogging, answering
phone, etc.]phone, etc.]
 Taking pollsTaking polls