Chapter 8: Political Parties

Question 1

Party Polarization

Answer 1

Gap between what different parties support on policy issues.

Question 2

Political Party

Answer 2

A team of people who want to take control of the government by taking office.

Question 3

Rational-choice theory

Answer 3

Individuals act in their own best interest. If you want to win then you have to pursue topics that most people believe in and fight to stop it.

Question 4

What side do democrats lean towards?

Answer 4

left-center / liberal

Question 5

What side do republicans lean towards?

Answer 5

Right-center / conservative

Question 6

Party Image

Answer 6

A voter’s perception of what a Democrat/Republican stand for

Question 7

Party Identification

Answer 7

Aligning yourself with a party.

Question 8

Ticket splitting

Answer 8

Voting one party for one office and another party for another office

Question 9

Party machines

Answer 9

A political party org. that relies heavily on buying people’s allegiance to further their cause.

Question 10

Patronage

Answer 10

A tactic used by party machines, Usually a job given as a high promotion. Used to get money from people buying these jobs.

Question 11

Closed primaries

Answer 11

Only people who announced what party they support can come to vote.

Question 12

Open primaries

Answer 12

People who don’t have a preferred party, can come in to vote.

Question 13

National convention

Answer 13

Meeting every 4 years to choose a presidential nominee and party’s platform.

Question 14

National Committee

Answer 14

Keeps the party operating between conventions. Usually made up of representatives from the states.

Question 15

National chairperson

Answer 15

Person responsible for running the day-to-day activites of the party organization

Question 16

Coalition

Answer 16

A group that shares common interests

Question 17

New Deal coalition

Answer 17

A coalition forged by the Democrats, usually included the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics, Jews, and Africans.

Question 18

Party Eras

Answer 18

A period where one party reigned as the majority in power

Question 19

Critical Election

Answer 19

Where there is a enormous problem that leads to a new coalition and a new party replaces the old one

Question 20

Party Realignment

Answer 20

A new majority party replaces the old one.

Question 21

Party Dealignment

Answer 21

Where people move away from both competing parties.

Question 22

Third parties

Answer 22

Smaller parties aside from main two.

Question 23

Winner-take-all system

Answer 23

Where only the winner takes the seats and power, there isn’t anything for 2nd or 3rd.

Question 24

Proportional Representation

Answer 24

Used in Europe where legislative seats are given based on proportion to how many votes they got.

Question 25

Coalition Government

Answer 25

Used in Europe, where 2 or more parties join together to make one bigger party.

Question 26

Responsible party model

Answer 26

A view on how parties should work, parties should offer clear choices, carry out promises, etc.