social 12- chapter 5 Flashcards
political party
a group of persons who seek to control goverment through the winning of elections and the holding of public office
what are the two major political parties found in america?
republicans and democrats
election-oriented
concerned with winning the election
3 elements of a political party
- the party organization
- the party in government
- the party in the electorate
political spectrum
range of political views
5 functions of political parties
- nominating condidates
- informing and activating supporters
- the bonding agent function
- governing
- the watchdog function
partisanship
the strong support of their party and its policy stands
4 factors to why we have a two party system
- historical basis
- the force of tradition
- the electoral system
- the americal ideological consensus
single member districts
electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office
plurality
largest number of votes cast for the office
bipartisan
supported by two parties
consensus
a general agreement among various groups on matters of fundamental importance
multiparty system
more than two parties
coalition
a temporary alliance of several groups who come together to form a working majority and so to control a government
one party system
only one political party- dictatorship