Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

POL101 24-25 > Chapter 8: Political Parties > Flashcards

Chapter 8: Political Parties Flashcards

1
Q

Political Party

A

an organization influenced by political ideology

In the USA, political parties are formed on a broad group of ideas, rather than a single ideology. This is why thinking in the Democratic and Republican Parties have changed over time; leadership affects the thinking of political parties.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a political party’s primary interest?

A

gain control of the government by winning elections

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Ideology

A
  • a system of beliefs
  • form the basic principles of a party
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does economic conservatism advocate for in the government?

A
  • minimal intervention by government in social and economic manners
  • high priority to reducing taxes and public spending

Or: Smaller government that does less. Smaller taxes, and less spending.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What values does social conservatism uphold?

A

community and tradition

What is considered a “traditional value” depends on the person. This is also why religious conservatism influenes political conservatism.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does liberalism favor in the government?

A

government regulation to achieve a more equitable distribution of wealth

Move money around; tax the wealthy more, and redistribute money to the those in need. Higher taxes, and more spending.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What ideology do most Americans align themselves with?

A
  • conservatives or moderates
  • only a quarter of Americans consider themselves as liberal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What ideology do ethnic minority groups tend to have?

A

more liberal

Immigrants perceive the Democratic Party to be more welcoming to immigrants.

More Conservative: African-Americans and Hispanics can be more conservative on some social issues. Recent immigrants are more religious.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What does the gender gap in ideology show?

A

women are more socially liberal than men

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What ideology do different age groups tend to have?

A
  • elderly - conservative
  • young adults - liberal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What ideology do people of different religions tend to have? How does denomination factor into ideology?

A
  • Catholics and Jews tend to be more liberal, while Protestant groups tend to be more conservative
  • denomination is not as important as how religious someone is
    • historically, ideology depends upon denomination
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the tasks of parties?

A
  • pick candidates
  • run candidates
    • run for office
  • give information to voters
    • through website, social media, paid advertisements
  • articulate policies
    • party platform lists everything a political party believes in
  • coordinate policymaking
    • party in power shape law based on their beliefs before next election
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Party Platform

A

document that lists everything the party believes in

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the 4 levels parties are usually subdivided into?

A
  1. National
  2. State
  3. County
  4. Precinct

Parties are built from the bottom up.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What organization does a political party build for itself?

A

party machine

used to dominate local politics - remember parties are built from ground up

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is heavily used by party machines?

A

patronage

  • If one has a job on or donates to a political party, they can work for the government or get a government contract.
  • It’s corruption.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Dealignment

A
  • citizens abandon allegiance to a political party and become independents
  • common for younger generations to not be attached to a political party
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Realignment

A

occurs when members of one party shift their affiliation to another party

Long-term and happens over time. Not back-and-forth from one election to another.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the current electoral trend?

A

dealignment

20
Q

Straight-Ticket Voting

A

voting for all the candidates of one party

Ballots have the option to straight-ticket vote to automatically vote for all of the candidates for one party.

21
Q

Why do parties emphasize straight-ticket voting?

A
  • people are busy, takes less time
  • parties maintain dominance, bank on uninformed voters and hope that voter would not see a candidate from the opposing party that they prefer
22
Q

What party system has the USA had from the beginning?

A

two-party system

Two parties dominate.

23
Q

What is the chronological order of party eras throughout history?

A
  1. The First Party System
  2. The Democrats vs. The Whigs
  3. The Two Republican Eras
  4. The New Deal Coalition
  5. The Era of Divided Government (current)
24
Q

What two parties were established during the First Party System? What type of people were in each party?

The First Party System.

A
  • Federalist Party
    • federalists
    • USA’s first political party
  • Democratic-Republican Party
    • anti-federalists
    • Americans preferred this party
    • coalition of agrarian interests (farmers, or the average working man)
25
When did the parties during the First Party System disband? ## Footnote The First Party System.
* Federalist Party * John Adams was the leader, party disbanded after his presidency * Democratic-Republican Party * disbanded after presidency of James Monroe
26
Why did Andrew Jackson originally form the Democratic Party? ## Footnote The Democrats vs. The Whigs.
* he realized that the president's powers were limited, needed allies to join him in Congress * thought the best solution was to form a national party with people who agreed with his values
27
When the Democratic Party was first formed, what groups of people were Democratic? What values did Democrats originally have? ## Footnote The Democrats vs. The Whigs.
* southerners, westerners (current midwest), immigrants * Democrats welcomed immigrants and made them loyal voters, while everyone else did not like immigrants * favored farming, rural parts of the country * more conservative party at the time
28
Why did people form the Whig Party? What groups of people were Whigs? ## Footnote The Democrats vs. The Whigs.
* people did not like Andrew Jackson, so they made an opposing party * northerners, early industrialists * favored industry and technology
29
The Whig Party was extremely divided, especially over slavery. What 3 groups was the Whig Party divided into? ## Footnote The Democrats vs. The Whigs.
1. abolitionists 2. compromise - balance wants of North and South 3. pro-slavery
30
When people left the Whig Party, what parties did they form or join? ## Footnote The Democrats vs. The Whigs.
* abolitionists, formed Free Soil Party * pro-slavery, joined Democrats * **majority of Whigs joined Republicans**
31
The Republican Party is the only time a smaller party did what? ## Footnote The Two Republican Eras.
overtake a larger party ## Footnote The Republican Party gained favor through election.
32
Why did the Republicans dominate elections after the Civil War and again after 1896? ## Footnote The Two Republican Eras.
* the country was mainly confederates * Democrats were seen as traitors * only 2 Democrats were in power during this time * party machines in the North
33
During an economic recession, what is typically seen during an election? ## Footnote The Two Republican Eras.
voters kick out party in power by voting for the opposing party ## Footnote e.g. When the Republican Party was in power during an economic recession, voters voted for the Democratic Party.
34
Why is the the Two Republican Eras called as such? ## Footnote The Two Republican Eras.
the Republicans were in power, then the Democrats took over, then the Republicans took over again
35
How did the Republican Party change at the end of the Two Republican Eras? ## Footnote The Two Republican Eras.
* different group of Republicans pushed **conservative values** * took an anti-union stance to attract the elites, the economic conservatives
36
When both parties were conservative, what opportunity arose for third parties? ## Footnote The Two Republican Eras.
liberal third parties were able to attract enough voters to win elections
37
Roosevelt ran two terms, followed by Taft. Roosevelt wanted to run for another term, but the Republicans were not willing to vote for him. What did Roosevelt do? ## Footnote The Two Republican Eras. Roosevelt was a progressives Republican, while Taft was a conservative Republican.
created a new party, the Progressive Party
38
How did Roosevelt’s formation of the Progressive Party affect the election? ## Footnote The Two Republican Eras.
* the Republican voters were divided between the Republican Party and the Progressive Party * Wilson won, for the Democratic Party was more unified
39
When the Great Depression occurred, what happened politically? ## Footnote The New Deal Coalition.
the Republicans, as the party in power, were blamed for the Great Depression and the Democrats took power the next election
40
FDR wanted to rebuild the Democratic Party. What did he promise he would do to attract voters? ## Footnote The New Deal Coalition.
government should help people and be hands on in the economy
41
Under FDR, what groups of people were Democratic? ## Footnote The New Deal Coalition.
* urban dwellers, labor unions, Catholics, Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans * overall people who were discriminated against
42
What is the current era of government?
Era of Divided Government
43
What is the political trend in the Era of Divided Government?
* no party dominates - back and forth between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party * became normal for the White House to be controlled by one party, while Congress is controlled by the other
44
Where does the Democratic Party fall on the political spectrum? What issues do they support?
* moderate to liberal * issues * increase minimum wage * equal pay for equal work * stricter gun control * pathway for citizenship
45
Where does the Republican Party fall on the political spectrum? What issues do they oppose and support?
* conservative * oppose * increasing minimum wage * Affordable Care Act * support * free trade * less government regulation on business
46
Where does the Libertarian Party fall on the political spectrum? What issues do they support?
* economically conservative, socially liberal (based on Libertarian ideology) * issues * lessen the minimum wage * eliminate several government departments * repeal the income tax * free trade and free market * legalize marijuana
47
Where does the Green Party fall on the political spectrum? What issues do they support?
* liberal (based on Green philosophy) * issues * increase minimum wage * full equal rights * comprehensive immigration reform * increase health care coverage * environmentalism

POL101 24-25 (17 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions