Chapter 4 Flashcards
Functions of a political party
1) Nominating
2) Informer/stimulator
3) Bonding agent
4) Government
5) Watchdog
Political party
A group of people who seek to control government by winning elections and holding public office
Nominating function
They select people to run for office
Informer/stimulator function
Informs the public and tries to stimulate interest to increase participation
Bonding agent function
They insure the good performance of office holders and candidates
Government function
Running the government
Watchdog function
Responsible for the minority party and watches over the conduct of the publics business
Why does the U.S. have two parties?
History and tradition
Electoral system
Ideological consensus
What is the reasoning behind the “history and tradition” argument?
It started with federalists and anti-federalists
What is the reasoning behind the “electoral system” argument?
We use single district pattern; winner takes all of the electoral votes
What is the reasoning behind the “ideological consensus” argument?
We share the same political values; both believe in democracy
Why do people choose a political party?
Family Major events Economic status Age Residence Education
Who is most likely to be a democrat?
Urban Labor union Jews Catholic Black Poor Upper class
Who is most likely to be a republican?
Rural
Small business owners
Evangelicals
Middle class
Why do people not vote?
Apathy The limitations on voting They think it won't make a difference People are uninformed The weather It's against their principles
Organization of National Party
President National chairman National committee National convention Congressional campaign committee
National chairman
Runs the day to day affairs of the party
National committee
Made up of people from different states
National convention
Meets every 4 years to:
Select a presidential and vice presidential candidate
Write the party platform
Congressional campaign committee
Re-elect incumbents (someone running for re-election)
Elect challengers
4 purposes of state and local parties:
Build an effective organization
Promote unity
Find candidates
Provide campaign funds
Minor party purpose
To force the major parties to address controversial issues
Minor party goal
Play the spoiler role
Spoiler role
Take the majority vote away from major parties
4 types of minor parties
Ideological
Single issue party
Economic protest party
Splinter party
Ideological party
Based on a specific set of beliefs
Single issue party
Their origins are founded on a single issue
Economic protest party
Rise during times of economic hardship
Splinter party
Broken away from a majority party
Usually forming around a strong personality
Examples of 3rd parties
Free-soil party Know-nothings party Greenbacks party Populist party Socialist party Bull moose party States rights democrats/dixiecrats American independent party Reform party
Leader of free-soil party
Martin van Buren
Leader of greenback party
James Weaver
Leader of populist party
William Jennings Bryan
Leader of socialist party
Eugene Debbs
Leader of bull moose party
Theodore Roosevelt
Leader of states rights democrats/dixiecrats
Strom Thurmond
Leader of American independent party
George Wallace
Leader of reform party
Ross Perot
Electoral process
Nomination Primary elections Direct primary Run-off primary Non partisan primary Contestant primary Non-contestant primary
Nomination
The naming of those who seek office
How do nominations happen?
Self announcement
Caucus (a group of likeminded people who meet to select a candidate)
Convention (party members chose delegates who will represent them at a national convention)
What was the first party to have a convention for nominations?
Anti-Mason party
Direct primary
An election held within the party to pick the parties candidates for the general election
Closed primary
Only declared party members can vote
Open primary
Any qualified voter can vote
Run off primary
Run off between the top two voters
Non partisan primary
Candidates are not identified by a political party
Contestant primary
Two or more candidates running for office
Non contestant primary
Only one candidate running
