Political Parties,Campaigns and Elections in the U.S
Political Parties, Campaigns and Elections in the U.S
I.Introduction 1.Why pollical parties?Modern democracy would be meaningless without political parties.The party is the only institution that has the purpose of developing broad policy and leadership choices and then presenting them to the voting public for acceptance or rejection. 2.Party systems in the world 3.How electoral system affects the number of political parties? 1)single-member/simple majority electoral system 2)pure proportional representation system 3)multi-member electoral system 4)a combination of single-member/simple majority and proportional representation electoral system
I. Introduction 1. Why pollical parties? Modern democracy would be meaningless without political parties. The party is the only institution that has the purpose of developing broad policy and leadership choices and then presenting them to the voting public for acceptance or rejection. 2. Party systems in the world 3. How electoral system affects the number of political parties? 1) single-member/simple majority electoral system 2) pure proportional representation system 3) multi-member electoral system 4) a combination of single-member/simple majority and proportional representation electoral system
Il.Political Parties in the U.S. 1.The history of the two-party system in the U.S. 1)Political parties developed spontaneously in the U.S. Some of the Founding Fathers,like George Washington and James Madison,did not like political parties at all. 2)The Republicans (for states'rights and small landholders)led by Thomas Jefferson and the Federalists (favoring a strong national government)led by Alexander Hamilton within the Washington administration. 3)The Republicans split in the 1820s into National Republicans (favoring commercial interests and a larger role for the national government)and Democratic Republicans (supporting small landholders and states' rights
II. Political Parties in the U.S. 1. The history of the two-party system in the U.S. 1) Political parties developed spontaneously in the U.S. Some of the Founding Fathers, like George Washington and James Madison, did not like political parties at all. 2) The Republicans (for states' rights and small landholders) led by Thomas Jefferson and the Federalists (favoring a strong national government) led by Alexander Hamilton within the Washington administration. 3) The Republicans split in the 1820s into National Republicans (favoring commercial interests and a larger role for the national government) and Democratic Republicans (supporting small landholders and states' rights
4)The Civil War:Republicans led by Abraham Lincoln fought against slavery while the Democrats fought for states'rights (including the right to have the slave system). 5)Since the New Deal (during the Roosevelt administration),the two parties switched identities.The Republican Party has become the party in support of small government and states'rights;while the Democratic Party now is the party for more national government's power. 6)Other small political parties: a.single issue parties:such as the Right-to-Life party b.ideological parties:the Communist party,the Socialist Workers party and the Libertarian party
4) The Civil War: Republicans led by Abraham Lincoln fought against slavery while the Democrats fought for states' rights (including the right to have the slave system). 5) Since the New Deal (during the Roosevelt administration), the two parties switched identities. The Republican Party has become the party in support of small government and states' rights; while the Democratic Party now is the party for more national government's power. 6) Other small political parties: a. single issue parties: such as the Right-to-Life party b. ideological parties: the Communist party, the Socialist Workers party and the Libertarian party
2.Why only two parties in the U.S. a.cultural reason:the black and white/right and wrong type of thinking (partly influenced by religion) b.the single-member/simple majority electoral system 3.The consequences of the two-party system? 1)party responsible system 2)Both parties have to broaden their appeal and move to the middle.To win general elections,both parties have to seek the political center.There are factions within each party:conservatives and liberals in both parties. Are there differences between the two parties or do political parties matter in American public policy-making? The answer is yes and no.Yes,because there are policy differences between the two parties.No,because differences are really not that big.Also they both have to move to the center.In addition,the economic system
2. Why only two parties in the U.S. ? a. cultural reason: the black and white/right and wrong type of thinking （partly influenced by religion) b. the single-member/simple majority electoral system 3. The consequences of the two-party system? 1) party responsible system 2) Both parties have to broaden their appeal and move to the middle. To win general elections, both parties have to seek the political center. There are factions within each party: conservatives and liberals in both parties. Are there differences between the two parties or do political parties matter in American public policy-making? The answer is yes and no. Yes, because there are policy differences between the two parties. No, because differences are really not that big. Also they both have to move to the center. In addition, the economic system