Chapter 8: Political Parties Flashcards
big tent principle
a strategy in which a political party seeks to build a broad coalition among individuals with wide-ranging beliefs, backgrounds, and priorities
buckley v. valeo
(1976) overturned limits on expenditures by both political parties and individual candidates, ruling that these limitations violated first amendment protection of free speech
candidate-centered campaign
a campaign in which the individual seeking election, rather than an entire party slate, is the focus
dealignment
the situation in which fewer voters support the two major political parties, instead identifying themselves as independent, or splitting their ticket between candidates from more than one party
divided government
the situation that exists when congress is controlled by one party and the presidency by the other
grassroots organizing
tasks that involve direct contact with voters or potential voters
independent
a voter who does not belong to any organized political party; often used as a synonym for an unaffiliated voter
loyal opposition
a role that the party out of power plays, highlighting its objections to policies and priorities of the government in power
new deal
FDR’s broad social welfare program in which the government would bear the responsibility of providing a safety net to protect the most disadvantaged members of society
new deal coalition
the group was composed of southern democrats, northern city dwellers, immigrants, the poor, catholic, labor union members, blue-collar workers, African Americans, and women who elected FDR to the presidency 4 times
party identifiers
individuals who identify themselves as a member of one party or the other
party in government
the partisan identifications of elected leaders in local county, state, and federal government
fed: pres, advisors, cabinet – loyalists
state: governors appt loyalists
town: city council – loyalists
party in the electorate
individuals who identify with or tend to support a party
measuring: declaring party in registration
determining: who belongs in party
party organization
the formal party apparatus, including committees, party leaders, conventions, and workers
natl level : natl committee elects chair and plans convention RNC/DNC
state level: inbetween officials, educate pop, mobilize voters
local: municipal → ward → presinct; fundraise, voter reg druve
party system
the categorization of the number of competitiveness of political parties in a polity
patronage
the system in which a party leader rewarded political supporters with jobs or government contracts in exchange for their support of the party
platform
the formal statement of a party’s principles and policy objectives
political machine
big-city organizations that exerted control over many aspects of life and lavishly rewarded supporters
political party
an organization that recruits, nominates, and elects party members to office in order to control the government
populism
a philosophy supporting the rights and empowerment of the masses as opposed to elites
primary election
an election in which voters choose the party’s candidates who within run in the later general election
proportional representation system
an electoral structure in which political parties within the number of parliamentary seats equal to the percentage of the vote the party receives
realignment
a shift in party allegiances or electoral support that propels a political party to majority status
responsible party model
political scientists’ view that a function of a party is to offer a clear choice to voters by establishing priorities or policy stances different from those of rival parties
→ make it a clear choice who to vote for
soft money loophole
the supreme courts interpretation of campaign finance law that enabled political parties to raise unlimited funds for party-building activities such as voter registration drives and get out the vote efforts
spoils system
the practice of rewarding political supporters with jobs
tea party movement
a grassroots, conservative protest movement that opposed recent government actions including economic stimulus spending and health care reform
third party
a party organized in opposition or as an alternative to the existing parties in a two-party system
ticket splitting
the situation in which voters vote for candidates from more than one party
truncated government
the situation that exists when one chamber of congress is controlled by the same party that controls the White House, while the other chamber is controlled by the other party
winner-take-all system
an electoral system in which the candidate who receives the most vote wins that office, even if that total is not a majority
candidate committees
organizations that candidates form to support their individual election
party characteristics
run candidate under party label
seek control over white house and full control over congress
make a statement about stance, goals, and promise (stance)
organize and start relations with gov
democrats
black, women, young, no edu/working class, minorities
- big gov
- pro healthcare
- pro choice
- immigrants
- rights
republicans
white, male, college, upper class, business owners, religious
- small gov
- less social welfare
- traditional roles
- pro life
similarities between the parties
keep country rich
manage immigration
keep our country safe from terrorism
quick response to natural disasters
support/loyalists
ppl who pay to win
