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US Government > Chapter 17 - Political Parties > Flashcards

Chapter 17 - Political Parties Flashcards

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1
Q

Define “political party”

A

A group of people with broad common interests who:
1. Organize to win elections
2. Organize to control government
3. Influence government policies

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2
Q

T or F: The Constitution does not mention political parties

A

True

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3
Q

Name the functions of political parties

A
  1. Electing candidates
  2. Educating the public
  3. Involving people in the political process
  4. Operating the government
  5. Dispensing patronage
  6. Developing and Implementing policy
  7. Government watchdog
  8. Stability
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4
Q

Functions of Political Parties

Electing Candidates

A
  1. Recruit
  2. Raise Money
  3. “Get out the vote”
  4. Transportation to the polls
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5
Q

Functions of Political Parties

Educating the Public

A

Publishes positions on issues-candidates present views in speeches, television, etc.

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6
Q

Functions of Political Parties

Involving People in the Political Process

A
  1. Registering voters
  2. Posting signs
  3. Donating money
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7
Q

Functions of Political Parties

Operating the Government

A

Running and staffing executive and legislative branches of government

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8
Q

Functions of Political Parties

Dispensing patronage

A
  1. Granting jobs to party members
  2. Giving contracts to party members
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9
Q

Functions of Political Parties

Developing and Implementing Policy

A

Working to implement key policy initatives

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10
Q

Functions of Political Parties

Government Watchdog

A

This is assumed by the party OUT of power

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11
Q

Functions of Political Parties

Providing Stability

A

When one party loses control of the government, the transfer of power takes place peacefully

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12
Q

What is “divided government?”

A

When one party controlls the White House and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.

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13
Q

Define “patronage”

A

The practice of granting favors to reward party loyalty.

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14
Q

Two-party or Multi-party system

Candidate gets 51% of the vote and represents the entire district

A

Two-party

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15
Q

Two-party or Multi-party system

Parties are awarded seats in the legislature based on the percentage of votes they receive in each district.

A

Multi-party

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16
Q

Two-party or Multi-party System

Allows for more points of view to be heard

A

Multi-party

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17
Q

Two-party or Multi-party System

Promotes stability

A

Two-party

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18
Q

Define “one-party system”

A

A system in which only one political party exists, often because the government tolerates no other opposition; usually in authoritarian governments.

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19
Q

These are usually found in nations with authoritarian governments.

A

One-party system.

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20
Q

List the features of a one-party system

A
  1. Party is the government.
  2. North Korea/Vietnam/Russia
  3. No opposition party tolerated
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21
Q

What is a “two-party system”

A

A system in which two major parties compete for power, although minor parties may exist.

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22
Q

Only about a dozen nations have this system

A
  • Two-party system.
  • I.E. United States
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23
Q

What is the most common political system?

A
  • Multi-party system
  • France and Italy
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24
Q

Define “coalition government”

A

One formed by several parties who combine forces to obtain a majority

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25
Q

Why do multi-party systems need coalition governments?

A

Because one party rarely gets enough support to control the government

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26
Q

What were the first two political parties in the United States?

A
  1. Democratic-Republicans
  2. Federalists
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27
Q

This party formed before the Civil War called for a strong central government.

A

Federalists

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28
Q

This party formed before the Civil War believed the States should have more power.

A

Democratic-Republicans

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29
Q

What did the Democratic-Republicans eventually split into?

A
  1. Democrats
  2. National Republicans, or Whigs
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30
Q

What party did the Whigs join which opposed slavery?

A

The Republican Party

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31
Q

After the Civil War, who did the Republicans represent?

A

The Northern States

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32
Q

After the Civil War, who did the Democrats represent?

A

The Southern States

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33
Q

Define “third party”

A

Any policital party other than one of the two major parties

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34
Q

Define “single issue party”

A

A political party that focuses exclusively on one major social, economic, or moral issue

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35
Q

Third parties are also called this ____

A

Minor parties

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36
Q

Minor parties fall into one of three categories:

A
  1. Single issue parties
  2. Ideological parties
  3. Splinter parties
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37
Q

Define “ideological party”

A

A political party that has a particular set of ideas about how to change society overall rather than focusing on a single issue

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38
Q

Define “splinter party”

A

A political party that splites away from a major party because of some disagreement

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39
Q

Give examples of single issue parties

A
  1. Liberty party and Free soil party-against slavery
  2. Pirate party - wanted reformed copyright and patent laws.
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40
Q

Give examples of ideological parties

A
  1. Socialist Labor Party and the Communist Party - want gov’t ownership of factories.
  2. Libertarian Party-smaller government
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41
Q

Give examples of splinter parties

A
  1. Bull Moose Party
  2. Dixiecrats
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42
Q

Name the most successful third party candidate in US history

A

Ross Perot. Won 19% of the popular vote.

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43
Q

Define “single-member district”

A

An electoral district in which only one candidate is elected to each office.

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44
Q

Define “proportional representation”

A

A system in which several officials are elected to represent the same area in proportion to the votes each party’s candidates receives.

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45
Q

T or F. Single-member districts encourage minority parties.

A

False. Because most voters support a major party candidate, the winner will almost always be a Democrat or Republican.

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46
Q

Name some obstacles for third parties

A
  1. Financing - don’t qualify for public financing
  2. Getting on the ballot
  3. Prevelance of single-member districts
  4. Lack of media coverage
  5. Less campaign contributions - people don’t want to donate b/c they think they can’t win
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47
Q

What was Arkansas Educational Televison Commission v. Forbes about?

A

A third-party candidate sued to be alowed to participate in a televised debate between Republican and Democratic candidates in an election.

48
Q

Define “ideology”

A

A set of basic beliefs about life, culture, government and society

49
Q

Define “liberal”

A

The belief that the proper tole of government is to actively promote health, education and justice.

50
Q

Define “conservative”

A

The belief that the government should play a limited role in citizens’ lives; also the belief in “traditional family values” and what is viewed as a moral lifestyle.

51
Q

Define “moderate”

A

The belief in both liberal and conservative viewpoints.

52
Q

Generally, people on the “left” have a _______ ideolology.

A

Liberal

53
Q

Generally, people on the right have a ______ ideology.

A

Conservative

54
Q

This party is more associated with liberals and moderate-liberals

A

Democratic Party

55
Q

This party is more associated with conservatives and moderate-conservatives.

A

Republican Party

56
Q

This party is called the “Grand Old Party” (GOP), and is represented by the color RED and the ELEPHANT.

A

Republicans

57
Q

This party is associated with the color BLUE and a DONKEY

A

Democrats

58
Q

What shared values do the Democratic and Republican Parties have?

A
  1. Mixed capalist economy
  2. Support the Constiution and Bill of Rights
  3. Value of private property
  4. Emphasize individual achievment
59
Q

Define “platform”

A

A statement of a party’s beliefs on issues.

60
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Supports Individual Rights in opposition to large, intrusive government

A

Republican

61
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Gov’t should not burden business with excessive regulation.

A

Republican

62
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Prefer lower taxes and opposed taxing wealthy at higher rates than the poor.

A

Republicans

63
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Support restrictions on public employee unions.

A

Republicans

64
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Marriage should be limited to one man and one woman

A

Republicans

65
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Opposed to abortion

A

Republicans

66
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Wants to replace Medicare with private health insurance plans

A

Republicans

67
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Believe environmental protection should be handled by private landowners, not the government

A

Republicans

68
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Generally advocate for coal, oil, and gas

A

Republicans

69
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Typically want federal lands oen for timber harvesting and mining

A

Republicans

70
Q

What is “American Exceptionalism”

A

America occupies a uique place in human history and that it is America’s resp. to take a significant role in world affairs.

71
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Believes in American Exceptionalism

A

Republicans

72
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Government should take a bigger role in providing social services and security to Americans.

A

Democrats

73
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Prefer to increase taxes on the wealthy and reduce taxes on poorer Americans.

A

Democrats

74
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Encourage a variety of government regulatios to protect consumers

A

Democrats

75
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Support an increase in minimum wage

A

Democrats

76
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Strong support for unions

A

Democrats

77
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Support same-sex marraiges

A

Democrats

78
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Support a women’s right to access for reproductive services including abortion

A

Democrats

79
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Support legislation to ban discrimination against gay and lesbians

A

Democrats

80
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Believes climate change is a significant threat

A

Democrats

81
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Prefers to conserve publicly owned lands and limit resource extraction

A

Democrats

82
Q

Republican or Democrat?

A
83
Q

Republican or Democrat?

Less likely to want to become involved in military conflicts

A

Democrats

84
Q

Want to reduce military spending

A

Democrats

85
Q

Name the three most prominent third parties:

A
  1. Green Party
  2. Libertarian Party
  3. Constitution Party
86
Q

Features of the Green Party

A
  • More liberal than Democratic party
  • Founded to focus on environmental issues
87
Q

Features of the Libertarian Party

A
  • Believes in personal responsibility and minimal government intrusion into American’s lives.
  • Military should only be used in response to aggression.
88
Q

Features of the Constituion party

A
  • More conservative than Republicans
  • Wants to abolish most federal taxes, including income tax
  • Would make English the official language
  • Would send social welfare
89
Q

Define “party identification”

A

Measures a voter’s sense of psychological attachment to a political party.

90
Q

What is an “independent”?

A

A voter who does not support any particular party

91
Q

This party tends to have more white, male, educated, religious members.

A

Republicans

92
Q

This party tends to have more women, minorities, and young voters.

A

Democrats

93
Q

This party tends to have more voters in cities.

A

Democrats

94
Q

This party tends to be over-represented in the South and mountain West

A

Republicans

95
Q

Define “polarized”

A

To divide into opposing groups

96
Q

What is a “centrist?”

A

A person whose views tend to be moderate

97
Q

What are “Tea Party” organizations

A

Conservative Americans dissatisfied with the positions of the major parties.

98
Q

T or F. Americans are becoming more polarized.

A

True

99
Q

One of the vital functions of political parties is to ______.

A

Nominate candidates for elected office.

100
Q

Define “canvass”

A

To solicit votes and determine opinions

101
Q

Define “petition”

A

An appeal

102
Q

Define “caucus”

A

A private meeting of party leaders to choose candidates for office.

103
Q

Name two ways a candidate can get on the ballot:

A
  1. Pay a small filing fee
  2. Petition - meaning collect enough signatures from people who live in the district.
104
Q

What’s the main function of a party at the state level

A

Main function is to help elect the party’s candidates to state office

105
Q

What’s the national committee do?

A
  1. Raises money for the party
  2. touts it’s achivements
  3. promotes national, state, and reublicans have local party cooperation
106
Q

T or F. Do most elections make you affiliate with a specific party

A

True. not every election but for the most part you have to have a party preferance

107
Q

Describe regional cacuses

A

Regional chooses candidates for local and state office and delegates for states meetings

108
Q

Describe state level caucuses

A

delegates choose candidates for state wide office and send delegates to go to the national convention

109
Q

what kinds of primaries are there?

A
  1. direct
  2. open
  3. closed
110
Q

Define direct primary

A

an election in which party members select people to run in the general election

111
Q

Define closed primary

A

an election in which only members of a political party can vote

112
Q

Define open primary

A

an election in which all voters can participate

113
Q

What happens if no candidate recieves a majority?

A

A runoff primary is held which is a primary between the two most voted candidates in the orginal primary

114
Q

what are the critisicisms of the presidential primary?

A

It’s a costly and exhausting process and very few people actually attend primarys and caucuses

115
Q

What’s the platform committee do?

A

Writes the party’s platform, a statement of its principles, beliefs, and positions on vital issues

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