POLITICS AND PARTIES

Politics is a word used to describe a process by which decisions are made about who will be elected to public office and what decisions will be made by those in office.

Many people become involved in politics for good reasons.  They want to make a positive difference.  They care about our country, their state, and their community.  Some get involved in politics for other reasons.

People involved in politics try to win elections.  They want candidates who believe like they do to be elected.  Then, once elected, they want these officials to make decisions which are consistent with their political views and philosophy.


THINK ABOUT IT

WHAT DO POLITICAL PARTIES DO?

Political parties are formed when people who agreed on certain public issues began to unite into one group.  Those with other ideas would also band together.

What is the purpose of having political parties?  For one thing, they provide a way for people to combine their efforts to influence politics.  Parties sometimes take sides on issues.  Parties also work to get laws passed.

Most important, political parties nominate (or select) candidates to run for election to local, state, and federal offices.  Parties then work to get their candidates elected.

Political parties are not an official part of government.  Still, they must obey certain state and federal laws to prevent unfair tactics.

The United States has a two-party system.  The Democratic Party and the Republican Party are the major parties nationwide, although other parties (example: Libertarian, etc.) often field candidates. Since the Civil War, only candidates of these two political parties have been selected President of the United States.  Only a few candidates from minor parties have been elected to other major offices.

Until party nominees for the general election are selected, the state party machinery primarily attempts to assure that the primary process is administered fairly.  The state party will support no candidate over another candidate in the primary process.  However, after the candidates have been selected to represent the party in the general election, the state party actively supports the party's nominees.



WHAT IS A 'POLITICAL PARTY?'

At the time of the framing of the American constitutional system, there seems to have been a general distrust of political parties, as evidenced in the Federalist Papers and the Farewell Address of President Washington.  Yet, political parties were to become an integral part of the American political system in spite of the fact that the U.S. Constitution makes no reference to them.

Social scientists generally view a political party in America - and it should be noted that political parties in other nations have different powers and roles - as a political organization of people who seek to elect members of their party to public office.  American political parties - unlike those in some other nations - do not seek to formally control government, do not require ideological conformity of members, and do not possess a broad variety of sanctions to ensure party loyalty.

Each of the two major political parties in this country includes a broad variety of sanctions to ensure party loyalty.

Each of the two major political parties in this country includes a broad coalition of philosophies and viewpoints, leading some observers at times to suggest that the similarities between Democrats and Republicans are greater than their differences.  However, taken as a whole, distinguishable ideological themes can be identified in the two parties' platforms - particularly in the context of individualism versus expanded governmental involvement.