Political Parties Flashcards
Political Party
A group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office
Nominate candidates, unite politicians, ideological framework
Wha doe political parties do?
- Choose candidates (now done through primaries, not internally)
- Run campaigns
- Provide a political identity
- Endorse specific policies
- Coordinate policymaking
- Inform and activate support
- Act as a watchdog (check the other party in power)
Minor party examples
Reform
Bull Moose (progressive party) formed by Teddy Roosevelt when he could not run as Rep.
Green Party
Third Parties Impact on American Politics
Do not put a candidate into office
Rather force particular issues onto the political agenda and allow Americans to express their discontent with major parties
Can shift the votes of the electorate
Ideological Parties
Based on particular set of beliefs
Ideas and values that are not mainstream
Often built on Marxist ideas
Single Issue Parties
Focus on one public policy
Parties fade away when issues fade away
Example of ideological parties
Ex: socialist, communist, libertarian
Example of single issue parties
Ex: free soil party, right to life
Economic Protest parties
Rooted in periods of economic discontent
No ideological base, but rather fed up with major parties
Ex. of Economic Protest Parties
Greenback Party for farmers, Populist Party
Splinter Parties
Split away from one of the major parties
Often form around a strong individual
Ex: progressive party
Multiparty system
Several major and many lesser parties exist
Pos: provides broader representation to the electorate and is a more meaningful choice among voters
Cons: instability in government
Examples of multiparty system
Italy, Israel, France
One Party System
A dictatorship
Criticism of 2 party system
Little choice for voters
Less oppurtunity for political change
Decentralized that it fails to translate campaign promises into policy because politicians do not have to vote with the party
