Chapter 8: Political Parties

Question 1

What are the four main linkage institutions?

Answer 1

• political parties
• elections (voting)
• interest groups
• media

Question 2

What is party competition?

Answer 2

The battle between republicans and democrats on who controls public offices

Question 3

What three things are referred to when speaking of the “Three Headed Giant” in political parties?

Answer 3

• party-in-the-electorate (voters)
• party-as-an-organization (republican and democrat national conventions, staff that runs the party)
• party-in-government (Washington DC)

Question 4

What are big components in party-in-the-electorate?

Answer 4

• party identification
• split ticketing
• all of this leads to divided government (policy gridlock)

Question 5

What are big components in party-as-an-organization?

Answer 5

• political parties are decentralized and fragmented
• party machine (organization that works for a party based on patronage)
• primary season (open, closed, and blanket primary)
• National committee (representatives from states keep party running between conventions)
• National convention (meets every four years, 1) addresses party platform, 2) nominates president and vp)

Question 6

What is important to remember with party-in-government?

Answer 6

They are doing their best to get re-elected

Question 7

What is the Rational Choice Theory?

Answer 7

Parties and politicians want to win office, so they have a broader appeal, which means they are more moderate to attract more voters

Question 8

What are Party Eras?

Answer 8

This is an era of time where one party dominates politics. A critical election is what separates these eras, and it is referred to as a “political earthquake.” New ideas emerge and changes occur

Question 9

What is party realignment?

Answer 9

This is when the minority party becomes the majority

Question 10

What was the first party era?

Answer 10

1796-1824. Federalist era under Hamilton. The critical election had to do with political parties

Question 11

What was the second party era?

Answer 11

1828-1856. Jackson and the Democrats. Critical election was slavery

Question 12

What was the third party era?

Answer 12

1860-1928. Two republican eras. Critical election was the Great Depression

Question 13

What was the fourth party era?

Answer 13

1932-1964. The New Deal coalition. Dominated by democrats

Question 14

What is the fifth party era?

Answer 14

1968-present day. Divided government, flipping back and forth between democrats and republicans.

Question 15

What is party dealignment?

Answer 15

This is when people deviate from the two major parties, democrat and republican, and register otherwise, usually as an independent

Question 16

What are third parties?

Answer 16

Any political party that is not republican or democrat

Question 17

Who are some important third party figures?

Answer 17

• Ross Porot, 1992. He ran as an independent with the most important issue being federal debt
• Rold Nader, 2000. He was a green party, and the most important issue to him was environmentalism

Question 18

What is the winner takes all philosophy?

Answer 18

Majority wins

Question 19

What is proportional representation?

Answer 19

Legislative seats are given based on a percentage. This is how it is in Europe

Question 20

What is a coalition government?

Answer 20

This is when two or more governments work together (Germany)

Question 21

What responsibilities are under “The Responsible Party Model?”

Answer 21

• represent their party’s interests

- carry out every program

Question 22

What are “Blue Dog Democrats?”

Answer 22

Democrats that are fiscally conservative

Question 23

What are the two most important terms associated with divided government?

Answer 23

Policy gridlock and ticket splitting