Political Parties: Crash Course Government and Politics #40

Today, Craig is going to talk about political parties and their role in American politics. So, when most people think about political parties they associate them with the common ideologies of the voters and representatives within that party, but the goal of a party is NOT to influence policies. The role of political parties is much simpler: to win control of the government. So today, we’re going got talk about why we have political parties in the first place and then finish with the five functions they use in reaching that goal. It’s a lot to cover, so next week we’ll talk about what each political party stands for and how that has changed historically.

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[mukhlisaf]

2015: would never have 15 candidates in the same party
2019: how about 20?

[zompeddepmoz]

You realize that George Washington has the biggest ‘I Told You So’ in American History.

[aliakhtar]

"16 candidates running for the president from the same party... It would never happen." Democrats in 2020 Hold my beer.

[simplymaci]

*has a Crash Course US Government marathon hours before my midterm* #CollegeLife

[NooniesGlop]

Damn it, I came here for an actual party.

[minimooster]

Why do Americans have to register for specific groups. I mean why do you have to be a Democrat or a Republican? Wouldn't it be easier to just vote for whoever seems to have the best policies that year, be it a Republican or Democrat?

[ShawnRavenfire]

Pennsylvania has closed primaries.  In 2008, before the election started, I registered Republican so I could cast my vote for Ron Paul, but by the time election day came in PA, John McCain already had enough votes to win the nomination, so my vote was useless.  However, Clinton and Obama were still virtually tied, and I definitely preferred Obama over Clinton, but because all registrations must be made a month in advance, I couldn't change my registration to Democrat to vote for Obama, and Hilary Clinton ended up winning in my district.  Because of the closed primary system, I couldn't vote for the candidate I most wanted, and I also couldn't vote against the candidate I least wanted.

[EvdogMusic]

"But you're free to disagree, and if you do, go form your own party"
Except that the first-past-the-post voting system that America currently has punishes third parties for existing (thanks to the spoiler effect), and makes it impossible for them to bring about any significant change.

[therubberducktube]

"In the same way that seeing, say, a Netflix logo let's you know that you are about to chill."

This makes me think of Craig as the hip uncle that uses teenage slang, while misunderstanding the actual meaning.

[anthonypoints]

I've learned more from these 10 minute videos than I have sitting in an hour and a half lecture twice a week for the past semester. Thank you.

[EugeneKhutoryansky]

There another way to get into political office, without ever winning a single primary. The vice-presidential candidate doesn't have to win any primaries, but is simply picked by the presidential candidate. If this ends up being a poor selection, then all the other member of the party have no say in this.

[Master_Therion]

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to...

[elisabethsandoval]

Just because someone has a different opinion than you doesn't make them stupid, uneducated, and it doesn't give you the right to assume you know who they are and what they've been through. We constantly argue until the arguing dissolves into name calling and threatening. We don't even try to see things from a different perspective most of the time. We're thinking selfishly. How hard is it to just try to be more open minded for once, especially when this election is going to have an impact on the whole world? Just once?

[SolelyACasualRambler]

my reaction of parties:
democratic party: i sleep...
political party:
mario party: OH YEAH!

[jordanmoore]

I absolutely love these videos!! I am in American Government 1113 and we watch some of these for homework, but I use them to study all the time. I really love Government so it's amazing to have an education video series that is serious but funny all the same. Also I anxiously await the eagle punch every episode!

[jliller]

Political parties are inevitable. There will always be large groups of people with similar political opinions who will work together to support their political beliefs.

[paulpwns]

Since everything is shut down via coronavirus; including classes at my fancy *community* college, my American Government professor is now just sending us links to watch these Crash Course vids. 😂👌🏻

You know, so I could teach myself the chapters needed in order to study for this really important final... which is today. I’ll be alright though.

Unfortunately, I’ve been bogged down with late-stage procrastination, leaving me to forever stumble around upon an unending path of useless distractions & commenting

[Imagawa]

I love these videos so much! They help me study for my class so well :D

[juanmondragon]

Netflix and Chill... 7:20
I cant even. He just said that.

[Mobius]

Political Parties: The party of money. Not you.