A political party is a voluntary group of citizens who organize themselves for three purposes—winning elections, controlling government, and influencing public policy.

Question

Political parties provide a way for citizens to take part effectively in the political process. The right of U.S. citizens to express themselves through both the spoken and written word is protected by the First Amendment. It is difficult for one person to be effective, however, in the promotion or opposition to political candidates or political policy. By organizing with others of like mind, one person can increase his or her influence.

Political parties perform four very important functions for increasing the effectiveness of an American citizen. Political parties nominate, or name, candidates for public office. When selecting candidates to represent them, political parties are mostly interested in two things. First, a political party wants someone who is capable of winning an election. It does little good to put forth a candidate who is incapable of winning the election. Second, a political party is looking for a candidate who will, once elected, carry out the ideas of the party. It defeats the purpose of the party if they nominate a person who can win but works in direct opposition to the views of most party members.

Once a candidate has been selected, the party has the duty to campaign for its candidates. Political parties campaign for their candidates in several ways. A very important function of a political party is to increase its own strength by registering new voters. The more persons the party registers who think like the party, the more likely the party's candidates are to win the election. Parties will hold rallies and speeches to draw more attention to their candidates. Parties distribute literature for the candidates, ask for donations, and inform the public of their views on public issues. All of these activities contribute to the election of the party's candidates.

Political parties are organized on a federal model, like the United States government. Under the federal system, political power and sovereignty (the right to rule) is shared by the states and the national government. Because of this, there are actually 50 Democratic parties and 50 Republican parties. National party organizations are limited in their control of state party organizations. Each state party selects its own officers and takes its own positions on public issues.

Every four years, each of the two major parties holds a national convention of delegates from the several states and U.S. districts and territories. The national convention has two purposes. One is to adopt a party platform, or statement of beliefs of the party on the major public issues of the day. The second purpose is to nominate, or name, the candidates of the party for president and vice-president of the United States.

Between national conventions, party business is conducted by the national committee. The national committee consists of the national chairman (or chairperson), the national vice-chairman (or co-chair), the chairmen (or chairpersons) from each of the 50 states, along with a national committeeman and a national committeewoman from each state.

Each state holds its own conventions and elects its own officers, sending one national committeewoman and one national committeeman to the national committee. County parties also hold conventions to choose county officers. Each county selects a state committeeman and a state committeewoman to serve on the state committee that conducts state party business in-between state conventions.

Although George Washington warned against having political parties, the United States has long had a two-party political system. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having political parties in the U.S. government. Also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different party systems.

Answer 1

One advantage of having political parties in the U.S. government is that they provide a way for citizens to participate in the political process and have their voices heard. Political parties help to organize and mobilize citizens, making it easier for them to take part in elections and influence public policy. Additionally, political parties help to streamline the electoral process by narrowing down the field of candidates and presenting voters with clear choices.

Another advantage of political parties is that they help to provide stability and continuity in government. By organizing around shared ideologies and values, political parties help to create a sense of predictability in the political system. This can make it easier for policymakers to work together and make long-term decisions.

However, there are also disadvantages to having political parties in the U.S. government. One disadvantage is that political parties can sometimes prioritize winning elections over serving the best interests of the public. This can lead to partisan gridlock, where politicians are more focused on scoring political points than on finding solutions to pressing issues.

Another disadvantage of political parties is that they can create division and polarization within society. When citizens align themselves with a particular party, they may become less willing to listen to opposing viewpoints and less willing to compromise. This can lead to increased partisanship and a lack of cooperation in government.

In terms of party systems, there are several different models that countries can adopt. A two-party system, like the one in the United States, can provide stability and clarity for voters. However, it can also limit diversity of perspectives and make it difficult for third-party candidates to gain traction.

On the other hand, a multi-party system can offer a wider range of choices for voters and allow for more diverse representation in government. However, it can also lead to more fragmented and unstable governments, as parties may struggle to find common ground and form coalitions.

Overall, the presence of political parties in the U.S. government has both advantages and disadvantages. It is important for citizens to stay informed and engaged in the political process in order to ensure that parties are held accountable and that the voices of all people are heard.