chapter 8 test Flashcards
political party
a group of citizens who organize to win elections, hold public office, operate governments and determine public policy
meaning of political party
to win elections and seek control in governemtn
3 types of party
party in electorate
party as an organization
party in government
party in electorate
party membership
party as an organization
party’s national, state, and office and staff, budgets and rules
system in the US for politics
winner takes all system
not proportional system
party in government
elected officials who are members of party and main spokespeople for party
winner takes all system
single member districts
candidate with most votes win seat
loser gets nothing
proportional system
political parties in legislature receive number of seats proportional to percentage of vote received
partonage
a job, promotion, or contract given for political reasons rather than merit
Used by party machines to gain vote or contributions
grass roots
parties reaching voters personally and GOTV on a local level
Party machine
type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements to win votes and to govern
national convention
meeting of party delegate every 4 years to choose presidential ticket and write party platform
choose committee and conduct party business
national committee
one of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions
Congressional campaign committee
supports their own party candidates
national chairsperson
responsible for day to day activities of party and lead the national committee
types of primaries
closed, open, and caucus
(less important are blanet and run off)
closed primaries
voters must be registered with their party in advance and only vote for that party
open primaries
voters decide on election day which party to participate in, then only that party
front loading primaries
rush to be the first, early primaries are most influential
long news lull between primaries and national conventions, due to early primaries
candidate centered campaign
the campaign is more focused on the candidate and their personality and goals than the political party they stand for
party eras
historical periods in which majority of votes cling to the party in power
critical elections
an electoral earthquake where new issues and new coalitions emerge
2 examples of party eras (1)
1828-1856 Jackson and the democrats vs the whigs
modern democrat party founded by Jackson formed with realignment of democratic republicans
whigs formed under Martin Van Burne to oppose Democrats
Whigs were anti slavery and Democrats were pro slavery
More southerns joined the democrats because pro slavery.
2 examples of party eras (2)
1860-1896 two republican era
republicans rose as the antislavery party in late 1850s
whigs became Republicans with lincoln
democrats control south after reconstruction til 1960
1896 election revolved around gold standard and republicans won with McKinley
brought more people to republican side
gridlock
a freeze in the government action, since the political parties are polarized and can’t find agreement in voting public policy
what causes gridlock
clear issue differences between parties
media effect on politics
direct primaries
changing campaign finance rules
Divided government
when there is dealignment and neutrality
leads to gridlock
divided government modern example
1968 to present
more independent parties form and weaken political party power
why do third parties not win elections
winner takes all system
less money
less media
major parties take policies onto their own platform
why have political parties weakened over time
more divided government and less trust in the government
caucus
when people come to meet in person to vote for a candidate
they need a specific percentage for their candidate to be included
party polarization
division along party lines or increasing ideological differences
higher in house than senate
ticket splitting
voting for different candidates of different parties (not focusing on a specific party)
straight ticket
voting for only all candidates of the party they register for
why 2 parties in America
results of tradition and election policies
political parties aren’t in constitution
realignment
the displacement of the majority party by the minority party
usually an effect from critical election
dealignment
disengagement of people in a party
ways political parties impact elections
mobilization, GOTV
educating voters and policymakers
establish a party platform
recruit and nominate candidates
support campaigns
1796-1824
first party system
Madison warned of factions
first party was federalist (Hamilton)
jefferson and democratic Republicans led 1800-1820
1896-1932
4th party system
progressive power and republican dominance
big Buisness Republicans vs. Jim crow democrats
1932-1968
5th party system
the new deal coalition
forged by Democrats - relied upon urban working class, labor groups, Catholics jews
got rid of republicans
Nixon southern strategy
support state rights (anti-civil rights) law and order, strong military
win southern Democrats and made realign to republicans
1968-present
era of divided party government
lots of party realignment and independence
