Political Parties & Ideologies Flashcards
Realignment
Happens when the minority party develops strength than the majority party, usually as the result of a minority party candidate winning a critical poll. This is the opposite of party dealignment.
Dealignment
Unconnect to either of the parties; A movement among voters toward nonpartisanship, resulting in a weakening of party structure.
Current nomination of candidates
Winner-Take-All System
(one person represents district - Single Member)
*Winner takes all representation
Modern political parties in America (2 questions)
Republican
- Against Gun Control
- For Traditional Values
- Against Tax Cuts for Middle Class
- For Military Spending
Democratic
- For Gay Marriage
- Against Tax Cuts on Rich
- For Gun Rights
- Against Military Spending
- For Spending on Social Programs
Roles that political parties play in a democracy
-Provide Voter Cues
-Overcome gridlock (Framers wanted things to go more slowly for democracy so parties over this
-Provide a Change in Power (Accountability provided, option to vote for other party)
-Link between people and gov’t
(participating w/ parties can bring you closer to gov’t)
Partisans
- Election Laws favor status quo (Congress writes Status Quo)
- American Voter is middle of the road and view third parties as extreme
- Rep. and Dem. tend to be moderate.
Two party system in the U.S.
Federalists+John Adams leaving office=Whigs
Whigs + Slavery=Republican
Antifederalists ——> Democrats
Change of party lines in 1964 because of race.
Third parties in the U.S.
-Encourage Civil Engagement
-Put issues on the Nat’l Political Agenda
+Can talk about issues Rep and Dem don’t
(Ross Pero-Reformist wanted to Balance the Budget *Bill Clinton, Al Gore took global warming issue from Ralph Nader)
-Protest Vote
(Can use this to show candidates aren’t good)
-Low Ability to win Elections
(No one thinks they are going to win; Laws discourage third parties, not enough funding)
-Some Influential Third Party Candidates
(Teddy Roosevelt had the Bull Mosses Party (27% in General Election is Highest, Ross Pero and the Reform Party had 19% in 1992 and Ralph Nader and the Green Party had 3% in 2000)
Platform
a document stating the aims and principles of a political party;
Political machine
disciplined political organization in which an authoritative boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses (usually campaign workers), who receive rewards for their efforts.
