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CH. 5-2 THE TWO-PARY SYSTEM

CH. 5-2 THE TWO-PARY SYSTEM. American Government. WHY A TWO-PARTY SYSTEM?. Do you know Earl Dodge? December 24, 1932 – November 7, 2007 He has run for President of the USA 6 times Member of the Prohibition Party 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004

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CH. 5-2 THE TWO-PARY SYSTEM

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  1. CH. 5-2 THE TWO-PARY SYSTEM American Government

  2. WHY A TWO-PARTY SYSTEM? • Do you know Earl Dodge? • December 24, 1932 – November 7, 2007 • He has run for President of the USA 6 times • Member of the Prohibition Party • 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 • He was a vice presidential candidate 1976, 1980 • The main reason he wasn’t successful was that he belonged to a MINOR PARTY. • He didn’t have wide-spread support

  3. In some states and communities one of the major parties might be overwhelmingly dominant • The two-party system has survived throughout most of our history • THE HISTORICAL BASIS • Framers were opposed to political parties • First parties: Federalist & Anti-Federalists • Framers wanted a united country • Parties was divisive • No mention of parties in the Constitution

  4. THE FORCE OF TRADITION • Human institutions tend to be self-perpetuating • Americans accept the two-party system because that is the way it has always been • THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM • SINGLE-MEMBER DISTICTS-Contests where it is winner-take-all and only 1 person serves • Person is elected if they receive a PLURALITY of the votes cast

  5. Single-member districts discourage minor parties • Voters usually face only 2 viable options in a race • Party holding office vs. Party wanting to hold office • Most people think that voting for a minor party would be wasting their vote • BIPARTISAN—Two major parties find common ground and work together

  6. Major parties deliberately shape election law to preserve their strength and frustrate minor parties. • Example—In 2004, George Bush and John Kerry were on the ballot in all 50 states and D.C. No other candidates were on all ballots. • Examples-Minor party candidates on all state ballots • 1912-Eugene V. Debs (Socialist); 1916-Allan L. Benson (Socialist); 1980-Ed Clark (Libertarian) & John Anderson (Ind.); 1988-Lenora Fulani (New Alliance); 1992-Andre Marrou (Libertarian) & Ross Perot (Ind.); 1996-Harry Browne (Libertarian) & Ross Perot (Reform)

  7. THE AMERICAN IDEOLOGICAL CONSENSUS • Americans tend to be ideologically homogeneous • Same ideas, beliefs, basic principles, patterns of belief • PLURALISTIC SOCIETY—one consisting of several distinct cultures and groups. • CONSENSUS—a general agreement among various groups • Americans can be quite divided on issues: Civil War, Great Depression, racial discrimination, war in Vietnam, and abortion

  8. MULTI-PARTY SYSTEMS • MULTIPARTY—a system which several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for, and actually win, public offices • Parties tend to be based on economic class, religious belief, sectional attachment, political ideology • Multi-party systems tend to produce a broader, more diverse representation of the electorate • Diverse representation could lead to instability in the government • COALITION—temporary alliance of several groups who come together to form a working majority and control the government

  9. ONE-PARTY SYSTEMS • Mainly found in dictatorships • One-party system is really “no party system” • Examples: Communist Party-Soviet Union and China; Nazi Party-Germany; Fascist Party-Italy

  10. PARTY MEMBERSHIP PATTERNS • Membership in a party is voluntary • Major parties are broadly based to get as many votes as possible • Members of a certain part of the electorate tend to be aligned more solidly with one party or the other. • Democrats—African Americans, Catholics, Jews, Union members • Republicans—white males, Protestants, and the business community • Studies show that 2/3 of Americans follow the party allegiance of their parents

  11. Political Party Contacts (table p. 124) • Major historical events have a decided influence on party affilitation • The Civil War and the Great Depression most significant • Higher income groups tend to be Republican • Lower income groups tend to be Democats • Other factors—age, place of residence, level of education, work environment • The End

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