LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS Flashcards
Definition of Political party
A group of citizens who organize to win elections, hold public offices, operate governments & determine public policy
3 parts of parties
electorate
organization
government
Party in the electorate
membership
Party in the organization
party’s national, state, and local offices & staffs, budgets, and rules
Party in the government
elected officials
Party identificaion
linking oneself to a particular political party
Tasks of the Parties
Pick Candidates to run for office
Run Campaigns & Provide Funds & media strategies 4 campaign
Give Cues to Voters
Articulate Policies – party platform
Dealignment
weak membership, more “independents” or moderates – popular trend in the last 50 years
Separating from a party typically when a 3rd party arises
Straight ticket voting
strong party membership, support all candidates for one party – Ex.) vote for all democrats on ballot
Split Ticket Voting
voting for candidates from multiple parties
The US has a _______ System?
Winner takes all (not proportional)
Winner takes all System
Winner receives a seat while loser receives nothing
Maine and Nebraska only split electoral votes
Proportional System
% of votes is directly applied as the % of representatives
Grass Roots
connecting with voters personally on a local level
“get out the vote”
Party Organization
people who work for the party
Party Machines
A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements (rewards) to win votes and to govern.
Boss Tweed
National Convention
The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party’s platform (blue print) and choose national committee and conduct party business.
National Committee
One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions.
Congressional campaign committee
supports party’s candidates
National Chairperson
Responsible for day-to-day activities of the party & leads the National Committee.
Types of Primaries
Open
Closed
Blanket
Runoff
Closed
Only vote in the party you are registered in
Open
Choose what party you vote in
Blanket
Gets a full list of candidates
Runoff
Second primary if there is a tie
Caucus
A meeting or gathering of members of a political party where members deliberate and choose from the list of those seeking the presidential nomination.
Caucus Pros
Transparent & direct democracy
Very engaged in political process
Serious debate before casting vote
Multiple rounds of voting can help long-shot candidates
Caucus Cons
Must show up at certain time & place to caucus.
No absentee ballot
Not all facilities are accessible for disabled.
No secret ballot may lead to peer pressure/intimidation
Partisans and Activists are more likely to vote in ___
Primaries
Candidates are becoming less dependent on ___
parties
How do political parties help win elections
Provide cues for voters
Provide platform of issues
Recruit candidates for government office
Nominate candidates for government office
Raise funds for their candidates campaigns
Support for candidates ‘campaign
Mobilize voters and get out the vote
Critical Election
An election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty
Party Realignment
The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually as an effect of a critical election. Ex.) FDR’s election
1st Party System
1796-1824
Madison warned of “factions”
First party were the Federalists (led by Hamilton)
Jefferson & Democratic-Republicans led from 1800-1820
Jackson and the Democrats vs. the Whigs
1828-1856
Modern democratic party founded by Jackson formed with realignment of Democratic-Republicans to become Democrats
Whigs formed under Martin Van Buren mainly in opposition to Democrats
Whigs split over pro slavery or anti-slavery
3rd Party System
1860-1896
Republicans rose as the antislavery party in late 1850s
1896 election revolved around the gold standard & Republicans won (William McKinley)
4th Party System
1896 – 1932
Progressives power and Republican dominance
Big Business Republicans vs. Jim Crow Democrats
5th Party System
1932-1968
Forged by the Democrats - relied upon urban working class, labor unions, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, and African American
3rd parties bring ___
new ideas
types of 3rd parties
Single issue
Offshoots of major parties
Vehicles for individual candidates
Contributions of 3rd parties
New or different ideas or issues
Voice for fringe
Safety valve for discontent
Enhanced participation
Room for critical voices
Pushes major parties to include otherwise underrepresented concerns/groups
Clarify major-party candidates positions
Why minority parties have a hard time winning elections
Winner-take all
Ballot access
Campaign financing
Media Coverage
Federal funding
Exclusion from presidential debates
Single-member plurality districts
gridlock
nothing can get done
party polarization
parties are divided over public policy
Party Polarization causes…
Decreases Bipartisanship
Increases Gridlock
Conservative Effect
Members of political parties vote along party lines; therefore they are less likely to cross party lines to vote with the other party.
