What is a Political Party
an organization of citizens who share a SIMILAR view on government and politics
What are the Roles of the Political Party?
develop a platform/ideas/policies based on their view of government
create committees to organize the various functions
identify candidates to run for office
raise money/funds to promote the party's candidates
work on behalf of those candidates to get elected
political parties create committees which host various functions. Do they operate on either: local, state, or national levels?
local, state, AND national levels
How many congressional districts are there in New York?
26
What are primary elections?
voting for candidates WITHIN a party to determine WHO gets the party's support in a General Election
Endorsed Candidates
the person who won the primary election
WHO votes in a "Primary" elections is dependant on ...
each state
Two types of primary elections
open primary and closed primary
closed primary
ONLY registered party members can vote for their OWN party's candidates
open primary
ANY registered voter can vote IN ANY of the party's primary election of THEIR CHOICE.
How can an open primary lead to corruption?
People can vote for the weaker candidate of their enemy party so that their own candidate can win against them.
General Elections
voting for candidates from ALL parties to fill a position in government
When is general elections held?
1st Tuesday in November
What are presidential elections determined by?
electoral college
Where was the first political parties?
Emerged in Great Britain in the 1600s. They were created during the English Restoration, after Cromwell
Tories (British)
Wanted a Strong King with an important role as chief executive. Generally conservative
Whigs (British)
Wanted a Strong Parliament and to gain executive powers. Generally liberal.
Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton's views on political parties
Thomas Jefferson's View of Political Parties: "If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all." HATES political parties
Alexander Hamilton's View of Political Parties: "a vice which must be guarded against at all times." HATES political parties
James Madison views on political parties
they were probably necessary
T/F: The Federalists were the first political ideology/party in the US
true
Federalists
led by James Madison
followed by northern businessmen, bankers, merchants
supported a strong, centralized gov and laws that protected businesses and industrialization
Who were the first opposition to the federalists?
Democratic-Republicans
Democratic-republican
led by Thomas Jefferson
followed by farmers, small businesses, artisans (southerners)
wanted a weak, centralized gov, because gov is best which governs least
supported more state freedoms/powers
T/F: The Democract-Republicans supported extending democracy in Europe
True
Democract Party
founded by Andrew Jackson.
It was followed by conservatives, mostly southerners.
supported pro-state rights, free trade (anti-tariff), small government
The Democract Party evolved from
the Democrat-Republicans
The Whig Party (American)
followed by Liberals and mostly northerners
supported protective tariffs and big businesses.
The Whig Party (American) opposed
Democratic Party (Jacksonian democrats)
Southerners are generally _____ and Northerners are generally ___
conservative, liberal
Which two parties splintered off the Whig Party?
The Know-Nothings and the Free-Soilers
The Know-Nothings were generally anti...
anti-Catholic, anti-foreigners/immigrants, and were nationalistic
Free Soilers
abolitionists and expansionists (manifest destiny)
dissolved by the late 1850s because of slavery issues
The Republican Party was founded in
1854, John C. Fremont (a Republican) ran for president in 1856
Republican Party
formerly whigs and free soilers
northerners exclusively
abolitionists and expansionists and wanted Gov't support for Industrialization & Infrastructure
Conservative Ideology
a belief in LITTLE to NO Change in government
Conservatives believed that the gov is best when it
governs the least
Liberal Ideology
a belief that GOVERNMENT should be an agent of change
T/F: Liberals believe that the government should solve people's problems
True
The Civil War established which party as dominant after the war?
The Republican Party
Most industrial buisnesses were in the ____
North
Which two countries were a democracy in the 19th century?
ONLY the Netherlands and Britain
Liberalism
the right to vote and the right to express yourself freely
Slavery broke up the (Whig/Tories) Party
Whig
Highly centralized government
Few people make decisions. Federalists favored this
Decentralized
many people make decisions
Socialist/Liberals believe
Government is an agent for change
Prefer shared decision-making
Younger and poorer
Likes diversity and change
Conservatives believe
Like little change - prefer stabilty
Strong executives
Older and wealthier people
Order of political parties in America
Federalists, Democrat-Republicans, Democrat Party (splintered from the previous party), Whig Party, Know-Nothings and Free Soilers (splintered from the Whigs)
The republican party was made from the
whigs and free soilers
Which party believed that the gov is best when it governs the least?
Democrat-Republicans
Has a presidential election ever been won by a third party candidate?
No
The GREATEST indicator of 3rd Party Influence in elections is _____ because ___
The ECONOMY. When economic times are TOUGH and the leadership/government is NOT responsive, other Parties tend to form
Political Party Ideology Can SHIFT/CHANGE due to conditions in Society, such as...
abuse of working class, budget deficits. voting rights
P r o g r e s s i v e (Bull Moose) - a Reform Party created by _____ and splintered off the _____
Theodore Roosevelt (was a Republican) and splintered off the Republican party
Platform/Beliefs of Bull Moose Party
women's suffrage
-wanted limits on campaign contributions, tariff reduction, "social security"/retirement pensions, and 8 hour workday
What happened to the Bull Moose Party?
They died out in the late 1920s and its members joined the Democrat party
How did the Bull Moose party contribute to the Democrat/Republican role reversal?
Many "Progressives" joined the Democratic Party
Wilson GRUDGINGLY giving-in to the Suffragettes led to women identifying more closely to the Democratic Party, as Republicans were MUCH MORE supportive of Industrial/Corporate interests
This was a PIVOTAL POINT in which the Democratic and Republican platforms began a policy role reversal which would more reflect the party political alignments of present day - with Democrats, Franklin Roosevelt
Discuss why Woodrow Wilson supported women's suffrage
Woodrow Wilson (a Democrat) joined the Suffrage movement AFTER the U.S. entered World War I to: 1. QUIET the criticism for abusing Suffragettes who were Abused and Imprisoned. 2. UNIFY people who were critical of U.S. entry into a "European War"
WHAT does it mean to be politically independent?
These are people of NO STRONG political ideology. They are moderates, meaning at times leaning left or right depending on the issue.
WHAT political party has MORE registered voters since the 1940s?
the Democratic party.
Discuss WHAT the Moral Majority was.
The socially conservative were the "Moral Majority". They supported "Pro-Life"/Anti-Abortion. Did NOT support same gender marriage. Did NOT support "affirmative action" to help hire minorities.
Describe HOW Ronald Reagan changed the Republican Party.
He captured the spirit of conservative values and won very easily. Southern Evangelical followers were ATTRACTED to Reagan's "Social Conservatism". Within 10 YEARS, millions of "Dixiecrats" became Republican. This was how the South became more Republican and the parties switched.
Socalist party
Created to HELP the working class against laissez-faire gov't policies
Leaders: Eugene V. Debs, Walter Lippmann
Conflicts within the party over organization around the use of violence, race, and democracy
Platforms/Beliefs of the Socialist Party
BETTER wage and working conditions for the working class
Neutrality in International affairs - Anti-war
Gov't is THE AGENT for changes to make people equal
What were the cons of the Socialist Party?
Marginalized - made insignificant from "both ends" of the party
they were the "right-wing", non-violent, working with democracy/voting by the working class
were eventually absorbed by F.D.R. Democrats
social welfare programs
C.C.C. - Civil Conservation Corps - National Parks & Environmental Projects
T.V.A. - Tennessee Valley Authority - Power/Electrical
W.P.A. - Works Progress Administration - Infrastructure
D i x i e c r a t
Created by Southern Leaders/Politicians
a breakaway faction of the Democratic Party,
protect States' Rights to keep Racial Segregation
a. they did NOT LIKE INTEGRATION of schools & the military
Leaders of the dixicrat party
Strom Thurmond, Fielding Wright
the "Platform"/Beliefs of Dixiecrats
"Jim Crow" & "Separate, but Equal"
Democratic Sponsorship of the 1964 Civil Rights Act _____ southern Democrat leaders
ANGERED
Why did most Dixiecrats become Republican
the "Reagan Revolution" was very attractive to MOST DIXIECRATS, SO, MANY became Republicans throughout the 1980s to present
Dixiecrats were generally
Southern Evangelical followers, who were attracted to Reagan's "Social Conservatism". Within 10 YEARS, millions of "Dixiecrats" became Republican
T e a P a r t y
1.Vehemently, Passionately and ANTI-TAX Party
2.Splintered-off from the Republican Party, Leaders: Mitch McConnell, Ron Paul
3.formed AFTER Obama was elected and the Federal RELIEF of nearly bankrupt Banks and Auto Manufacturers occurred
leaders of tea party
Mitch McConnell, Ron Paul
the "Platform"/Beliefs: of the Tea Party
they OPPOSE U.S. tax dollars going to private businesses. they wanted to balance the Federal Budget
Also, OPPOSED to the Affordable Care Act of 2010
. foreign policy - ONLY get involved in conflicts that promote "American Values" and can be "easily" won
Why did the Tea Party criticize the Affordable Care Act? (2 reasons)
(1) "socialized" medicine - "reduces" freedom of choice(s) in choosing doctors, procedures
(2) "limits" profitability in health research/drug development
Ronald Reagan believed in
Socially Conservatism, Rapid Military Build-Up, like a strong Strategic Defense Initiative, and HUGE Budget Deficits to Lower Taxes & INCREASE Military spending
Bill
a proposed law
Sources for Bills
a proposed LAW can come from ANYONE!
when a Representative or Senator agrees to INTRODUCE a Bill, "they" are its
SPONSOR
Bills are assigned a number
True. Example: (1) HR123 - House Resolution 123
All bills start in
either the house of reps or senate
What is the ONE bill that can only come from the House?
Appropriation Bills - proposals to tax and spend money, MUST start in the House
Committees (3 points)
Organized by ISSUES - Budget, Climate, Education, Energy, Labor, Science, Environment, Military, Agriculture.
they meet to discuss POSSIBLE laws/policies regarding the purpose of government
IF a proposed law DOES NOT pass the vote in a committee, it will NOT become a law
Types of Committees in Congress
standing, select, joint, conference
Standing Committee
a PERMANENT Committee. Oldest, and deals with "ways and means", like tax spending.
Select Committee
a NEW(ER) Committee on a relatively NEW Issue/Problem
Advisory Committee
does NOT have Much Power, just advises on issues
Joint Committee (Conference Committee)
members are from BOTH the House & the Senate. Both Senate and House meet to reconcile bills (make the bills identical)
How are committees separated?
All the other committees are separated between the house and the senate, like two for standing committees, two for select, two for advisory. But NOT the Joint Committee
ANY Bill introduced MUST go to
A Particular House AND Senate STANDING Committees. Like, a Bill Related to Education goes to the Standing Committee on Education
FOUR things HAPPEN Once a Bill is Assigned. What are they?
the Bill is Set ASIDE by the Chairman - effectively KILLING the Bill
Hearings are Called. Hearings - "experts" BOTH in Support of the Bill and Opposed to the Bill are called to express their OPINIONS on the proposal
a VOTE within the committee to accept the Bill and send it to the Floor for a VOTE
Sent to the Floor OR Killed in Committee
House Action in Committees
the Speaker Decides WHEN or IF that Bill is sent to the Floor
IF it is put on the Agenda, THEN the House Rules Committee determines HOW MUCH time will be given for DEBATE
a VOTE is Made, must have a Quorum - more than 50% of the Reps
IF APPROVED, sent to the Senate
Senate Action
SAME STEPS as the House
IF the Senate has a SIMILAR BILL, it's sent to a Joint House/Senate Committee
Filibuster - one senator can "talk the Bill to DEATH" to PREVENT a Vote on the Bill or stop Debate. This Speech can ONLY be stopped by 3/5ths vote in the Senate
Cloture - a Vote to end Debate and Vote on the proposed Bill
Bill Goes to the President - THREE (3) Things can Happen
He/She approves It
He/She VETOES It
He/She "pocket vetoes" It, refuses to take action within 10 DAYS and the Congressional Term ENDS - It will NOT be a LAW
Override
a 2/3rds Vote by BOTH the House and the Senate to approve of the Bill to make it a Law
90% of all bills never pass!
true
The senate leader is
Chuck Schumer
The speaker of the house
Kevin McCarthy
Two committees made recently
January 6th committee - investigating the insurrection of the capitol
Cyber terrorism committee