Political Parties Flashcards
Politics
The job of holding a position of power in the government
Political Ideology
Opinions or beliefs on the role of the government in people’s lives
3 views on the role of the national government in a person’s life:
- Conservatives: limited role
- Libertarians: almost no role
- Liberals: large role
Political Party
A group of people who seek to control government by winning elections and holding public office
“Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing”
Vince Lombardi
How are democrats and republicans oriented?
Election-oriented!
Election oriented
Only worried about winning elections
Goal of a party is to
WIN and control the government
Purpose of the political party:
Serve as the “vital link” between the people and the government
5 functions of the political party: (specific roles)
- Nominating function
- Informer/Stimulator function:
- Bonding Agent function:
- Governing function:
- Watchdog function
nominating function
choosing candidates
informer/stimulator function
inform people of the issues and stimulate them to vote (Share w/ media and special interest groups)
Bonding Agent Function
guarantee their candidate is worthy of the office “seal of approval”
Governing Function
ensures the cooperation between the legislative and the executive branches
Watchdog Function
the party out of power keeps an eye on the party in power
3 systems of governing in the world:
- Two party system:
- Multi-Party System
- One party system
two party system
2 major parties and several minor parties
Why did the US choose the two party system: (4)
- Historical basis: started out with two parties (federalist and anti-federalists)
- Force of tradition: Always been that way! (British)
- Electoral system (single-member districts) our system encourages only two parties
- American ideological consensus: we share similar political/economic beliefs (Dem/Republic and Capitalism)
difference between plurality and majority:
Plurality is whoever gets the most votes, majority is over 50%
Multi Party system
several major and several minor parties
Parties in a multi party system are based on: (3)
- Religion
- Economic class
- Political ideology (beliefs)
Advantage of a multi-party system:
More choices
Disadvantages of a multi-party system: (2)
- Less stability
- Forced to form a coalition
Coalition
alliance of two or more parties to rule/run the government
One party system
dictatorships – NO CHOICE
Examples of one party systems:
Communists/Nazis
“pluralistic society”
different cultures and ethnic groups but has similar political beliefs
How are both major parties similar?
Always take a “middle of the road” (moderate) stance on issues – never take a major stand on a controversial issue
Why do major parties always take a middle of the road stance on controversial issues?
Don’t want to lose a specific group of people
Bipartisan
both parties support
Consensus
general agreement among groups
Factors that cause people to identify with a party: (7)
- Family
- Major events
- Gender
- Education
- Age
- Type of work (blue collar or white collar)
- Economic status
Major differences between the democrats and republicans:
Generalizations
Democrats
(left – liberals/progressives) open to change – 27% of our population
What do most democrats believe: (10)
- Favor big federal government
- Health care – support universal healthcare run by government
- Pro socialism
- Favor high taxes
- Anti-gun rights – restrictions/reforms
- Increase minimum wage
- Pro-gay marriage/Pro - LGBT rights
- Pro choice/Pro-abortion
-Support a small military - Pro Open borders - expand immigration
Which groups tend to align with the democrats? (10)
- African Americans
- Hispanics
- Catholics and Jews
- “Blue Collar” workers (unions)
- Over 60 (older)
- Less educated/lower income
- Urban (city)
- Women - young
- College students
Homosexuals/Transgender
Republicans
(right-Conservatives) GOP (grand old party) – 27% of the population
What do most Republicans believe? (10)
- Favor small Federal government
- Favors business – “Free Market”
- Pro-Capitalism
- Lower taxes
- Pro individual rights – guns
- Keep minimum wage low
- Traditional family – anti gay marriage/LGBT
- Pro-life/anti-abortion
- Support a large military
- Closed borders – limit immigration
Which groups tend to align with the Republicans (8)
- Caucasians
- Protestants (Evangelical Christians)
- White Collar Workers
- Private business workers
- Young adults
- Higher educated/higher income
- Rural (country)
- Asians
Platform
a public statement of the party’s main beliefs and guiding principles
Three components/parts of the party:
- Party organization: leaders
- Party electorate – constituency/members
- Party government – office holders
Partisanship
the allegiance to a particular party
Where did the two party system come from? (history)
British: Whigs and Tories
Our nation’s two parties resulted from
the ratification of the Constitution 1789
opposed political parties – said they would divide the country! (Enemies of the government)
George Washington
Who led the federalists
led by Alexander Hamilton
Who led the anti-federalists
Thomas Jefferson
First two major US political parties
Federalists and Anti-federalists
History of the american party – 4 periods
- 1800-1860 Democrats ruled – Civil War
- 1860-1932 – Republicans ruled – Great Depression
- 1932-1968 – Democrats ruled – Vietnam War
- 1968-2008 – Republicans ruled - Iraq War/ Economic recession - Since “Divided Government”
Minor Parties (Third parties)
A less widely supported party
How are minor parties oriented
Principle/issue oriented:
Principe/issue oriented
focus on principles/issues rather than winning election
Four types of minor parties
- Ideological
- Single Issue
- Economic protest party
- Splinter
Ideological minor parties
Based on a set of political beliefs – oldest form of minor parties in the US
Examples of ideological minor parties (3)
Socialist, Communist, Libertarian
Single-Issue minor parties:
based on one issue
Examples of Single issue minor parties (4)
Free soil (anti-slavery), American party (anti immigrant), Right to life (anti-abortion), Prohibition party (anti-alcohol).
Economic protest party
based on economic discontent - most short lived
Examples of economic party (4)
Populist party (anti-big business), Greenback party (anti-gold), Green party (pro-environment), Tea Party (anti-government debt).
Splinter minor parties
When some famous person breaks away from a main party – most successful
Examples of splinter minor parties: (3)
Bull Moose Party (Theodore Roosevelt), Reform Party (Ross Perot), Rainbow Coalition (Jesse Jackson).
Why minor parties are important/purpose: (5)
- Represent alternative ideologies
- Promote alternative policies/ideas
- Serve as “protests” for dissatisfied voters
- Serve as critic to the major parties
- Play the spoiler role in some elections
Independents
Vote based on issues rather than ideologies! They belong to no particular party – 43% of the population
