Politcal Parties And Interest Groups Flashcards
Four types of political groups
Political parties, interest groups, political action committees (PACs), and 527 groups
Political parties play a formal role in these two processes:
Try to influence the outcomes of elections and legislative structures
Are political parties mentioned in the constitution?
No
Did the Framers want political parties?
No- the Framers of the Constitution disliked political parties and hoped to prevent them
By when did political parties become a mainstay of U.S. elections?
by the year of 1800
Why did parties arise the the united states? (3)
a means of uniting those who shared political ideals
enabling them to elect like-minded representatives
pursue similar legislative goals
In return for their support, parties expect candidates to
remain loyal to goals defined by the party leadership
two-party of bipartisan system is reinforced by what?
the nation’s electoral system
Political parties serve as intermediaries between
people and the government
Parties are made up of (3)
grassroots members, activist members, and leadership
Parties are organized to (3)
raise money, present positions on policy, and get their candidates elected to office
Were parties created in the constitution?
No-they are not even mentioned in the document
What is the major purpose of political parties?
to get candidates elected to office
How were candidates chosen in the past?
By the party hierarchy, with little or no public input
Since 1960, more states have passed laws requiring parties to select candidates through
state-run primary elections
Primary elections have done what to the power of political parties?
reduced
Why do third parties form?
to represent constituencies that feel disenfranchised parties
Example of a splinter party
Reform Party
What are doctrinal parties?
Third parties formed to represent an ideology considered too radical by the mainstream parties
What are splinter or bolter parties?
Usually unite around a feeling that the major parties are not responding to the demands of some segment of the electorate
Examples of doctrinal parties
Socialist Party and Libertarian Party
What are single-issue parties formed to do?
promote one principle
Example of single-issue party
The American Independent Party
Give an examlpe for how third parties influence elections
The Green Party (which facors strict environmental policies, more government social programs, and controls over big business) ran Ralph Nader for president in 200, taking votes from Al Gore, thus tipping the scales in favor of George W. Bush
What are independent candidates?
Candidates that run without party affiliation
Why do independent candidates fail?
It is very difficult for them to overcome the money and organization of the two major parties
Examples of independent candidates
Eugene McCarthy and John Anderson
