Chapter 9 Political Parties Flashcards
According to Anthony Downs, a “team of men and women seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.”
Political party
The battle of the parties for control of public offices
Party competition
The channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda. Includes elections, political parties, interest groups and the media
Linkage institutions
The voter’s perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism
Party image
A theory that seeks to explain political processes and outcomes as consequences of purposive behavior, where political actors are assumed to have goals and who pursue those goals rationally. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives
Rational-choice theory
A citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other
Party Identification
Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices
Ticket-splitting
A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern, rewarding loyal party members
Party machines
One of the key inducements used by party machines whereby jobs are given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone
Patronage
Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party’s candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty
Closed primaries
Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests
Open primaries
Elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of candidates from all the parties. Voters can then select some Democrats and some Republicans if they like
Blanket primaries
The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party’s platform
National convention
One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. It is composed of representatives from the states and territories
National committee
The person responsible for taking care of the day to day activities and daily duties of the party. They are usually hand-picked by the presidential nominee
National chairperson
A group of individuals with a common interest upon which every political party depends
Coalition
Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections
Party eras
An electoral “earthquake” where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party
Critical election
The process whereby the major political parties form new support coalitions that endure for a long period
Party realignment
A coalition forged by the Democrats, who dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s. its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals
New Deal coalition
The gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties
Party dealignment
A term used to describe the fact that many Americans are indifferent toward to two major political parties
Party neutrality
Electoral contenders other than the two major parties
Third parties
An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies. In American presidential elections, the system in which the winner of the popular vote in a state receives all the electoral votes of that state
Winner-take-all system
An electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election
Proportional representation
When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature
Coalition government
An ideal model of party organization recommending that parties provide distinct programs, encourage candidates to be committed to the party platform, intend to implement their programs, and accept responsibility for the performance of government
Responsible party model
