Tapas Course 7 - Fight for the right to Party!
Political parties have become a major part of the American political landscape. Every policy has to be dissected categorized as either a Democratic policy or a Republican one. The parties are generally associated with liberal or conservative ideologies. The United States has become a two-party system in which the Democratic and Republican political machines control the respective sides of center. This center shifts occasionally, but there is a definite divide amongst red and blue. Where is purple you might say? Many feel that the two political parties have fought off third party options and in so doing have blended themselves into similar policy stances. They have both become, in essence, purple.
The histories of the two parties are very different. The Democratic Party was born under Thomas Jefferson who fought for state rights and individual freedoms. The Republican Party emerged during the abolition movement, to stand against slavery and for women's rights. Today these parties, ideologically speaking, have switched. Democrats pass economic and policy reforms to create big government with the idea of equality for all. Republicans want to reduce the size of government, laissez-faire economic policies and family values supported by white America. Many of the reasons for the evolution of these political parties can be traced back to the movement against slavery in the mid 1800s and the immigration and women's movement in the early 19th century.
Today, many see the two parties as: one which represents and supports the rights of minorities, and one which does not have a minority following. Whether these differences in the parties come from inherent party beliefs and choices, they can be seen in voting habits and fundraising support. Looking back at tapas course 7, a high percentage of minority voters supported Obama and the Democratic Party. His largest margin of voters was from various minority demographics. As also covered in course 7, the majority of minority representatives are mostly from the Democratic Party. Will the Republican Party respond to this shift in voting behavior and public opinion and move the party to meet the voters? If personal political ideology is moving towards acceptance and encouragement of equal power in the hands of minorities, then the Republican Party needs to conform and cater to the public's evolution. Only time and social changes will tell if there will be a party shift to appease these groups and win elections, or whether isolating and unifying the white racial population majority, as seen over the past eight years, will prevail.
Interest groups have become a major leg of the iron triangle the three-sided relationship between congress, interest groups and the bureaucracy. They have an overwhelming ability to raise campaign funds for candidates in all levels of government. Due to the media's ability to directly target potential voters (in many mediums) politicians recognize the high cost. Interest groups have provided a target audience for political candidates to tap. They are able to specify a message, garner support though campaign contributions and in the end votes. Interests groups, with the power of the dollar can sway congressmen to their side's opinions. In tapas 4, the National Rifle Association was used as an example of this ability to sway power with a devoted group of members and raise huge sums of money for candidate to support legislation on second amendment rights.
Both political parties and interest groups have had an influence on the modern political environment. Their power to elect and maintain a politician's seat in office has led to their continued influence. Minority membership in many interest groups has led politicians to analyze how they will garner their support. The 2008 election showed that getting groups of minorities to support the same candidate is a successful strategy for a victory.
Strategies:
Students will write about why they feel that the United States has a two party system. They will analyze whether that system is beneficial in representing American interests or whether reform should be made to increase the power of third party groups in this country. By looking at the current two parties and researching other political parties and their differing viewpoints on issues, students will be able to formulate an opinion of whether or not to increase the effectiveness of a third party. Students will debate different strategies and changes to the Constitution that might be made to successfully bring other parties to local and national prominence.
Interest groups have become a huge player in the US political system. Students will chart whether interest groups would most likely support the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. They will be given a list of different group's mission statements and be asked explain why they feel that they would support a particular party. The class answers will be tallied and we will discuss the results. We will compare the 2008 campaign contributions with party affiliation and determine if the groups help or hinder minority rights and representation.
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