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The Two-Party System: Democrats, Republicans, and GDIs

Consider : S hould the United States consider adopting a “multiparty” model?. The Two-Party System: Democrats, Republicans, and GDIs.

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The Two-Party System: Democrats, Republicans, and GDIs

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  1. Consider:Should the United States consider adopting a “multiparty” model? The Two-Party System:Democrats, Republicans, and GDIs “Saying we should keep the two-party system simply because it is working is like saying the Titanic voyage was a success because a few people survived on life rafts.” - Eugene McCarthy Unit 3 AP Government and Politics • Homework: • Assignment 5 for tomorrow; initial Collaborize post by Thursday; responses by Monday

  2. Our Two-Party System "A party of order or stability, and a party of progress or reform, are both necessary elements of a healthy state of political life."John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859 • Relatively unique in the world, even among democracies • Both national parties have been relatively evenly balanced during most of modern history; but… • More recently…who owned the White House? • Who owns Congress? • And at state and local levels, parties dominate different areas

  3. Beliefs of Dems and Reps: A Short Quiz • Generally speaking, which party… • Supports gay marriage? • Supports gun ownership by individuals? • Is pro-life? • Favors more government regulation of economy • Favors expelling illegal immigrants instead of amnesty • Continue defense spending at current levels • Believe taxes on wealthy are “job killers” • Believe government should act to make health care available to all • Is anti-globalization • Calls for passage of Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) • Favors repealing the 17th amendment • Full public financing of campaigns • Supports compulsory government service

  4. Why 2 Parties? • Historical circumstance • Two ways of seeing the Constitution • Two major factions emerged in our early years. • Once this happened, it became difficult for any third faction to survive. This is because a third group would “steal” votes from one of the other existing parties, thus splitting the vote. Thus, new groups usually merged into one of the two existing factions. • Elections are slanted in favor of two party system • Plurality and winner-take-all in both state and federal elections. • Single-memberdistricts for MoCs • ElectoralCollege and WTA system – voters don’t want to “waste” votes. • Electorallaws make it more difficult for third parties to get on the ballot in many states; • In addition, Dems often battle their ideological “brethren” Greens, and Reps battle Libertarians to keep them off the ballot. • Opinions of the voters • For some reason, voters seem content to split with the two major parties on most of the important issues in our country • Alternative/Possible party coalitions have not formed or do not last

  5. Problems with First-past-the-post-voting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo

  6. Not Invited: Minor Parties • Do they play a significant role in our 2-party system? • If so, how? If not, why not?

  7. Consider:What is the impact of minor parties on US elections? The Two-Party System:Democrats, Republicans, and GDIs Unit 3 AP Government and Politics • Homework:Assignment 6 for tomorrow; Collaborize Thursday and Monday

  8. Two party vs. Multiparty systems • Both systems, being democratic, rest on compromise. • – In a two party system, compromise takes place prior to elections as parties (and factions within them) select (or settle on?) candidates who they believe can win a majority. • – In multiparty systems, ideologically pure parties are forced to compromiseafter elections in order to form a majority coalition to pass laws (and often select a prime minister).

  9. Multiparty systems – the Israeli Knesset

  10. Two party vs. Multiparty systems • Two party systems tend to be more stable. • Multi-party systems offer voters more choice. • Having only two choices may dampen voter turnout. • Two Party Systems narrow legislative debate: • – Even if outvoted, small parties if represented are likely to raise public awareness of issues the other parties wouldn’t otherwise discuss. • Two Party Systems may be more polarizing: • – Parties in multiparty systems must work together and form coalitions which forces members to reach across party lines.

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