Political Parties Flashcards

1
Q

Political spectrum

A

The range of political views

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2
Q

Partisanship

A

allegiance to a particular party

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3
Q

Plurality

A

in an election, the number of votes that the leading candidate obtains over the next highest candidate.

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4
Q

Bipartisan

A

Supported by two parties

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5
Q

Coalition

A

alliance of two or more parties to rule/ruin the government.

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6
Q

Consensus

A

general agreement among various groups on fundamental matters; broad agreement on public questions.

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7
Q

Incumbent

A

the current officeholder

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8
Q

Faction

A

A conflicting group

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9
Q

Spoils system

A

the practice of giving offices and other favors of government to political supporters and friends

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10
Q

Electorate

A

all of the people entitled to vote in a given election.

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11
Q

Federalists

A

those persons who supported the ratification of the Constitution in 1787-1788

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12
Q

Anti-federalists

A

Those persons who opposed the ratification of the Constitution in 1787-1788

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13
Q

Independents

A

Belong to no particular party

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14
Q

Pluralistic

A

made up of different cultures ad ethnic groups, but with the same political parties.

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15
Q

What are the 5 functions of the political parties?

A
  1. Nominating function: choose candidates
  2. Informer/Stimulator function: inform people of the issues and stimulate them to vote
  3. Bonding Agent function: ensures good qualifications and performance of their candidates; “seal of approval”
  4. Government function: ensures the cooperation of the legislative and executive branches (work together).
  5. Watchdog function: the party out of power “loyal opposition” watches over and criticizes the party in power.
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16
Q

What are the three types of political systems in the world?

A

Two party system: 2 major parties and several minor parties
Multi-party system: several major and several minor parties
One party system: no party system

17
Q

List the 4 reasons why the USA uses a two-party system.

A
  1. Historical reason: started out with two parties (Federalists/Anti-Federalist)
  2. Traditional reason: Always been that way!
  3. Electoral system reason: our system encourages only two parties.
  4. American Ideological Consensus reason: Americans share the same political beliefs - Democratic Republic - We the People rule!
18
Q

What is the major advantage and disadvantage of a multi-party system?

A

The advantage is more choices, the disadvantage is less stability.

19
Q

List the factors that cause people to identify with a particular party.

A
  1. Family
  2. Major events
  3. Place of residence
  4. Level of education
  5. Age
  6. Type of work (blue or white collar)
  7. Economic status
20
Q

What are the differences between the Democrats and the Republicans?

A

Democrats: (liberals) left wing

  1. Big government/regulation
  2. Big spending on social programs
  3. Higher taxes
  4. Government run health-care
  5. Anti-gun - 2nd amendment
  6. Alternative family - pro gay marriage
  7. Pro-choice/abortion
  8. Small military
  9. Open borders - immigration
 Republicans: (conservative) right wing
1. Small government - less/regulation
2. lower taxes
3. favors small business
4. private health-care
pro-gun - 2nd amendment
Traditional family - anti gay marriage
pro-life/anti-abortion
large military
closed borders - limit immigration
21
Q

Which groups tend to align themselves with the Democrats?

A
African-Americans 
Hispanics
Catholics and Jews
Government workers (public)
Blue collar workers (unions)
Over 60 (older)
Less educated/lower income
Urban (city)
Women
Homosexuals
22
Q

Which groups tend to align themselves with the Republicans?

A
Caucasians
Asians
Protestant Christians
White collar workers
Younger (yuppies)
Higher educated/higher income
Rural (country)
23
Q

What are the 4 periods of the American Party?

A

1) 1800-1860 - Democrats ruled 13/15 presidents - *Civil War
2) 1860-1932 - Republicans ruled 14/18 presidents - *Great Depression
3) 1932-1968 - Democrats ruled 7/9 presidents - *Vietnam War
4) 1968-2008 - Republicans ruled 5/7 presidents - *Iraq War/Economic recession

24
Q

What are the four types of Minor Parties?

A
  1. Ideological - based on a set of political beliefs - oldest (Socialist/Communist, Libertarian)
  2. Single-issue - based on one issue (Free-soil (anti-slavery), American (anti-immigrant), Pro-Life (anti-abortion), Prohibition (anti-alcohol)
  3. Economic protest - based on economic discontent - most short lived (Populist (anti-big business), Greenback (anti-gold), *Green (pro-environment, *Tea Party (anti-government debt)
  4. Splinter - when some famous person breaks away from a main party - most successful (Bull Moose (Theodore Roosevelt), Reform (Roos Perot), Rainbow coalition (Jessie Jackson)
25
Q

What are the reasons why the Minor parties are important?

A
  1. Bring about new fresh ideas - sometimes controversial!
  2. Serve as critics to the major parties
  3. Play the spoiler role/influence outcomes in elections
26
Q

What are the three components(parts) or make-up of the party?

A

Party organization - leaders
Party electorate - members or voters
Party government - candidates and office holders

27
Q

Majority

A

The greater number or part; a number more than half of the tota

28
Q

Moderate

A

Being within reasonable limits; not excessive

29
Q

Conservative

A

Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change

30
Q

Liberal

A

Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad minded

31
Q

Election oriented

A

could not find definition, but think about it during test

32
Q

Principle oriented

A

Could not find definition but think about it during test!

33
Q

Political Party

A

A group of persons who seek to control the government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.