Chapter 5- Political Parties

Question 1

What are political ideologies?

Answer 1

Opinions or beliefs on the role of the government in people’s lives

Question 2

What are the 3 views (political ideologies)

Answer 2

1. Conservatives: limited role
2. Libertarians: almost no rule
3. Liberals: large role

Question 3

What is a Political Party?

Answer 3

A group of people who seek to control government by winning elections and holding office

Question 4

What are the USA’s political parties oriented towards

Answer 4

Election oriented

Question 5

What is the goal of a party?

Answer 5

To control government

Question 6

What is the purpose of the political party?

Answer 6

Serve as a vital link between the people and the government

Question 7

What are the 5 major duties of the political party?

Answer 7

1. Nominating function:choose candidates
2. Informer/stimulator function: inform people of the issues and stimulate to vote (social media, and special interest groups)
3. Bonding agent function: guarantee their candidate is worthy of the office “seal of approval”
4. Governing function: ensures the cooperation between the legislative and executive branches
5. Watchdog function: the party out of power keeps an eye pn the party in power

Question 8

What are the 3 systems of governing?

Answer 8

Two party
Multi party
One party

Question 9

What is a two party system?

Answer 9

2 m@jor parties and several minor parties

Question 10

What are the 4 reasons the usa has a two party system?

Answer 10

• historical basis: started out w/two parties (federalists and antifederalistsj
• force of tradition: always been that way
• electoral system: single member districts- our system encourages only two parties and plurality (the most) vs majority (over 50%)
• american ideological consensus: we share similar political beliefs (rule of the people)

Question 11

What does it mean that the USA is a pluralistic society?

Answer 11

Different cultures and ethnic groups but has similar political beliefs.

Question 12

What is a multiparty system?

Answer 12

Several major and several minor parties.

Question 13

What are the parties of the multiparty system based on?

Answer 13

Religion, economic cost, and political ideology

Question 14

What is the advantage and disadvantage of a multiparty system? What are they forced to form?

Answer 14

Advantage: more choices
Disadvantage: less stability
Forced to form a coalition alliance of two or more parties to rule and run the government

Question 15

What is a one party system?

Answer 15

Communists/nazis etc dictatorship no choice

Question 16

What stance do both parties take?

Answer 16

A middle of the road stance in major controversial issues because they don’t want to alienate people—NEED VOTES

Question 17

What is bipartisan?

Answer 17

Both parties support

Question 18

What is a consensus?

Answer 18

General agreement among groups

Question 19

What are the 7 major factors that cause people to identify with a party?

Answer 19

Family (MAIN ONE)
Major events
Gender
Education
Age
Type of work (blue or white collar)
Economic status

Question 20

Three components and parts of the party?

Answer 20

1. Party organization- leaders
2. Party electorate- constituency/members
3. Party government- office leaders

Question 21

What is partisanship?

Answer 21

Allegiance to a particular party

Question 22

What is the history of the two party system?

Answer 22

Nations first two parties resulted from ratification of the constitution.
George Washington opposed political parties
Federalists vs anti federalists led by Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson

Question 23

History of the American Party- 4 periods?

Answer 23

1. 1800-1860: democrats ruled 13/15 presidents- civil war
   2.1860-1932: republicans ruled 14/18 presidents- great depression
2. 1932-1968: democrats ruled 7/9 presidents-vietnam
3. 1968-2008: republicans ruled 5/7 presidents- iraq war and economic recession
   2008-? Divided government

Question 24

What are minor parties (third parties)

Answer 24

A less widely supported party

Question 25

What is the orientation of minor parties!

Answer 25

They are principle/issue oriented: focus on principle issues rather than winning elections

Question 26

What are the 4 types of minor parties?

Answer 26

1. Ideological- based on a set of political beliefs-oldest (socialist/communist,libertarian)
2. Single issue: based on one issue- free soil (antislavery), american (anti immigrants), right to life (antiabortion), prohibition (anti alcohol)
3. Economic protest: based on economic discontent- most short lived- populist (anti big business) , green back (antigold), green (pro environment), tea party (antigovernment debt)
4. Splinter: when some famous person breaks away from a main party-most successful- Bull Moose (Theodore Roosevelt), Reform (Ross Perot), Rainbow coalition (Jessie Jackson)

Question 27

4 reasons minor parties are important?

Answer 27

1. Bring about new fresh ideas
2. Bring important issues to the people
3. Serve as critics to the major parties
4. Play the spoiler role in some major elections

Question 28

What are independents?

Answer 28

Belong to no particular political party