IDEOLOGY Your political ideology is determined by how much government control you think there should be over the economy and people s personal choices (social issues).
Socialists, Communists, National Socialists Seek a utopia Favor state control of/union with key industries. Strict control of personal liberties and freedoms EX: Gun ownership, economic choice, limits on free expression and religion etc.
Believe in using government power to bring about economic equality EX: Social Welfare Programs, Affirmative Action, Minimum wage laws More tolerant of behaviors considered to be outside of social norms. EX: Same-Sex Marriage
CONSERVATIVES Favor limiting government s role in the economy to produce opportunity. EX: Low taxes; Reduced government spending and regulations President Ronald Reagan is widely regarded as the most popular, and conservative Republican president of the last 50 years. Favor using government power to protect traditional standards of behavior and morality. EX: Drug laws, Censorship
Appeal to the concerns of the common man (Unemployment etc.) Attribute society s problems to the political establishment (elites) Can fall on the left or right of the spectrum President Trump is a populist
LIBERTARIANS (Old Liberal ) Favor minimal government involvement in the economy or personal behavior (It s not the government s job to feed you, house you or tell you that you can t smoke that)
What ideology do you think most students correspond to and why?
TWO- PARTY SYSTEM 1790s The divide between Federalists and Anti-Federalists over ratification of the Constitution led to the development of the first two political parties: Sought a more unified country through a strong central government. DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS Sought to safeguard state-power
1828 Farmers and smallbusiness owners unite behind Andrew Jackson. Form the Democrat Party Jackson claimed he represented the common man and favored southern and western interests.
TODAY Began shifting to Big Government solutions during FDR s presidency. Favor government solutions to economic and social inequalities Foreign Policy: America should act through the global community Liberals tend to vote democrat.
1828 Non-followers of Jackson formed the National Republican Party aka Whig Party. Represented northern business interests and abolitionists. Abolitionists leave the Whigs and party breaks up; re-formed as the Republican Party in 1854. Lincoln was the first Republican POTUS.
TODAY Very divided between two groups: Establishment: Believes what is best for Big Business is best for America Base: Conservatives and Libertarians who feel that THE Establishment and the Democrats have allowed government to get out of control.
Any party other than the two major parties can be called a Third party. Republicans are the only third party to win the White House (1860). Popular third party candidates can change the outcome of elections by siphoning votes from major party candidates (1912, 1992). EX: Bull Moose Party (1912), Libertarian Party
The Democrats and Republicans keep 3 rd parties from gaining control in three ways: If 3 rd parties become popular, the major parties adopt their ideas as their own. Election rules generally exclude them from presidential debates so their ideas won t be heard. Winner-Take-All elections, particularly in House districts (whomever wins the most votes) mean that third party candidates usually don t beat the Republican or Democrat.
MULTI-PARTY SYSTEMS Most countries have multiparty systems. Parties struggle to win a majority in the legislature. If there is not a clear majority, the parties must form a coalition government (a government made up of people from various parties)
Opposition parties are usually banned. Elections are still held (You can vote for the communist, the communist or the communist) China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran operate under oneparty systems.
States are responsible for administering all elections except the Presidential election (Reserved Power). 1790-Voting was initially only open to white, male land-owners (they paid the bulk of the taxes). Some religious restrictions existed. 1850-Propety requirement eliminated: All white males could vote.
1855-Literacy tests implemented to prevent Irishmen from voting. 1870-15 th Amendment: Black males allowed to vote. No one can be prevented from voting based on race. 1920-19 th Amendment gives women the right to vote.
1964-23 rd Amendment enables D.C. voters to vote in presidential elections. 1971-26 th Amendment lowers the voting age from 21 to 18. Movement to lower voting age began during WWII but intensified during Vietnam. If you re old enough to die, why can t you vote?