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
dictates public policy-making in the U.S.Do both political parties favor big business(the capitalists)? 4.Party organizations 1)four types of party organizational structure in the world a.communist cell structure b.socialist branch structure c.caucus party structure d.Fascist militia party structure 2)U.S.political party organizational structure U.S.political parties are loose associations of national, state,and local organizations.Politicians and political candidates need political party machine to get elected. The naional party organizations have almost no say in the decisions of state and local party organizations
dictates public policy-making in the U.S. Do both political parties favor big business (the capitalists)? 4. Party organizations 1) four types of party organizational structure in the world a. communist cell structure b. socialist branch structure c. caucus party structure d. Fascist militia party structure 2) U.S. political party organizational structure U.S. political parties are loose associations of national, state, and local organizations. Politicians and political candidates need political party machine to get elected. The naional party organizations have almost no say in the decisions of state and local party organizations
a.local party organizations:city/town party committee and chair;county party committee and chair.People involved in these local party organizations are volunteers and these party organizations do not have much money and only play a facilitating role in elections.They usually have a mail list for potential party voters;they organize events for their own party candidates to speak to their party members/general voters;and they are good venues for political candidates to get their names out. b.state party committee and chair:At the state level, each party is headed by a central committee made up of members of local party organizations and local and state officeholders.These state central committees do not meet regularly,and they provide only general policy guidance for the state organizations.Day-to-day operations and policy are directed by a chairperson,who is full-time
a. local party organizations: city/town party committee and chair; county party committee and chair. People involved in these local party organizations are volunteers and these party organizations do not have much money and only play a facilitating role in elections. They usually have a mail list for potential party voters; they organize events for their own party candidates to speak to their party members/general voters; and they are good venues for political candidates to get their names out. b. state party committee and chair: At the state level, each party is headed by a central committee made up of members of local party organizations and local and state officeholders. These state central committees do not meet regularly, and they provide only general policy guidance for the state organizations. Day-to-day operations and policy are directed by a chairperson, who is full-time
paid employee of the state party.The central committee appoints the chairperson,but it often accepts the individual recommended by the party's leading politician, usually the governor or a U.S.senator.The state party committee has a budget and some paid staff members. State party organizations concentrate on statewide races, including those for U.S.senator,and race for the state legislature.They only play a small role in campaigns for national or local offices. c.National party committee and chair.The national party organizations are structured much like those at the state level:they have a national committee,a national party chairperson,and a support staff.The national headquarters for the Republican and Democratic parties are located in Washington,D.C.Although in theory the national parties are run by their committees,neither the Democratic National Committee(DNC)nor the Republican
paid employee of the state party. The central committee appoints the chairperson, but it often accepts the individual recommended by the party's leading politician, usually the governor or a U.S. senator. The state party committee has a budget and some paid staff members. State party organizations concentrate on statewide races, including those for U.S. senator, and race for the state legislature. They only play a small role in campaigns for national or local offices. c. National party committee and chair. The national party organizations are structured much like those at the state level: they have a national committee, a national party chairperson, and a support staff. The national headquarters for the Republican and Democratic parties are located in Washington, D.C. Although in theory the national parties are run by their committees, neither the Democratic National Committee (DNC) nor the Republican
Natonal Committee(RNC)has great power.A national committee never nominates anybody,never elects anybody,and never establishes any party policy.Their main function is to help elect their party candidates to national offices(辅选机器).This includes raising campaign funds for their party candidates.In the primaries the national party committee cannot play any favors among its party candidates.The national party committee's day- to-day operations are directed by a national chairperson chosen by the national committee (through election)
Natonal Committee (RNC) has great power. A national committee never nominates anybody, never elects anybody, and never establishes any party policy. Their main function is to help elect their party candidates to national offices (辅选机器). This includes raising campaign funds for their party candidates. In the primaries the national party committee cannot play any favors among its party candidates. The national party committee's dayto-day operations are directed by a national chairperson chosen by the national committee (through election)
Ill.Elections and Campaigns 1.How are national candidates chosen? 1)the first step for a candidate to run for national office is to survive the party primaries(党内初选).If it is the presidential election or senatoral election,a candidate has to survive the state party primary.If it is the Congressional election,he/she needs to survive the district primary. a.caucus:a caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement.Some states hold caucuses to elect their party candidates for national offices.The most well-known caucuses are the lowa Caucuses in early January in the election year.They are most covered caucuses in the U.S.because they are the first party presidential caucuses ()Caucuses are
III. Elections and Campaigns 1. How are national candidates chosen? 1) the first step for a candidate to run for national office is to survive the party primaries (党内初选). If it is the presidential election or senatoral election, a candidate has to survive the state party primary. If it is the Congressional election, he/she needs to survive the district primary. a. caucus: a caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement. Some states hold caucuses to elect their party candidates for national offices. The most well-known caucuses are the Iowa Caucuses in early January in the election year. They are most covered caucuses in the U.S. because they are the first party presidential caucuses (初选). Caucuses are