Chapter 8: Political Parties

Question 1

Political party

Answer 1

A team of people seeking to control the government apparatus gaining office and duly constituted election

Question 2

Three headed political Giants

Answer 2

The party electorate, the party as an organization, and the party governments are three separate groups of political parties that works together in a decentralized manor

Question 3

Party in the electorate

Answer 3

Largest component
do not require membership cards or dues, not legally binding, don’t need to participate in campaigns, or even always vote for parties candidates

Question 4

Party as an organization

Answer 4

National, state, and local headquarters with full-time staff bylaws and budgets

Question 5

Party in government

Answer 5

Elected officials who call themselves members of the party they translate party promises into law although sometimes they do their own thing

Question 6

Tasks

Answer 6

Pick party candidates- nominate
run campaigns- coordinate and give money fundraise
give cues to voters- knowing a candidates party can tell you a lot about their views
articulate policies: advocate policy alternatives
coordinate policymaking: when officials need support they often go to their fellow party members

Question 7

Rational choice theory

Answer 7

A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians it assumes that individuals act in their own best interest carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives

Question 8

Party image

Answer 8

The voters perception of what the parties stand for such as conservatism at liberalism

Question 9

Party ID

Answer 9

A citizens self proclaimed preference for one party or the other

Question 10

Ticket splitting

Answer 10

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for the other office it is becoming normal in American voting behavior

Question 11

Party machine

Answer 11

A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material and inducements such as patronage to win votes and to govern popular up into the 1930s

Question 12

Patronage

Answer 12

One of the key inducements used by party machines a patronage job promotion our contract is given for political reasons other than merit or competence alone

Question 13

State party system

Answer 13

There are 50 fluid party organizations loosely together

organization of elections influence the strength of the party if it’s closed open or blanket

Question 14

National convention

Answer 14

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the parties platform

Question 15

National committee

Answer 15

One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions the national committee is composed of representatives from the states and territories
(including committee woman and men and assorted party leaders)

Question 16

National chairperson

Answer 16

Responsible for the day-to-day and picked by the presidents nominee 
hires the staff 
pays bills 
raises money 
visible spokesperson

Question 17

Coalition

Answer 17

A group of individuals with a common interest in which every political party depends

influenced by what a party has done and what it promises to do

Question 18

Critical election

Answer 18

When new issues emerge and new coalitions replace old ones
the majority party is displaced
sometimes this is marked by a crisis the start of a new party era

Question 19

Party realignment

Answer 19

Replacement of the majority party with the minority

Question 20

First party system: 1796 to 1824

Answer 20

Federalist the shortest live major party (created by start with constitution)
and Democrat Republicans or Jeffersonians agrarian base torn apart by factionalism later

Question 21

1828 to 1856 Jackson democrats vs. Whigs

Answer 21

Jackson created the Democratic Party causes to broaden political opportunity and unite more people (workers in the north and farmers)
the wig party was united by the opposition to the Democrats in there planters and industrialists

Question 22

1860 to 1928 Two rep eras

Answer 22

Republican or anti-slavery lasted from the 1960s with Lincoln for 60 years and in the

second era started in 1896 with the democratic v. the Republican over silver versus gold and that change party alignments

Question 23

New deal coalition 1932 to 1964

Answer 23

Herbert Hoover handled the depression poorly so Americans elected Democratic Roosevelt who pass the new deal to reform

the new deal coalition was formed by Democrats who dominated American politics from the 30s to 60s elements were ethnic groups Catholics Jews poor Southerners African-Americans and intellectuals

Question 24

1968 to now south and party government

Answer 24

Nixon work to win over southern conservatives who were previously democratic also began trend of having opposing party in Congress back-and-forth over control

party Dealignment begin to happen which caused party neutrality because people were not identifying with parties and were less involved in politics giving people a more neutral attitude

Question 25

Party Dealignment

Answer 25

The graduate disengagement of people in politics from the parties as seen in part by shrinking party identification

Question 26

Third parties and winner take all

Answer 26

Electoral contenders other than the two major parties, not unusual but rarely win elections
Ex) libertarian socialist Green party

the winner take all system prevents them from getting votes in the elect oral college because all of the votes go to the candidate with the popular vote

Question 27

Proportional representation

Answer 27

Votes are awarded based on the vote so the votes are proportional to the vote

The multiparty system used in Europe

Question 28

Responsible party model

Answer 28

A view favored by some political scientists about the party should work
according to the model party should
1.) present distinct comprehensive programs for governing the nation
2.)each party’s candidates must be committed to its program and have the internal cohesion and discipline to carry out its program
3.) the majority party must implement it’s programs and the minority party must state what it would do if it were in power
4.) the majority party must except responsibility for the performance of the government

Question 29

Party competition

Answer 29

The battle of the parties for control of public offices

ups and downs of the two major parties are one of the most important elements in American politics because it provides a choice and allows for democracy