Unit 3 Flashcards
What do political parties have in common?
They aim to elect candidates, define platforms, and raise money
What are the three components of a political party?
Governmental party
Organizational party
Party in the electorate
What is the governmental party?
Office holders and policy makers who promote party objectives
What is the organizational party?
Workers and activists who organize the party’s formal organization structure
What is the party in the electorate?
Voters who consider themselves allied or associated with the party
How do parties nominate candidates?
Candidates compete for their party’s nomination in primaries, then chosen candidates move on to run in the general election
What are nominating conventions?
Where parties formally select a candidate, adopt a statement of party principles and goals otherwise known as platforms
Mostly ceremonial in presidential election cycles
How did Andrew Jackson contribute to the development of political parties?
The Democratic party held its first convention during his election and he was the first president to be elected as a nominee of a true, national popularly based political party
How did the Republican party form and how did they nominate a candidate in 1856?
Formed in 1854 in response to abolition and containment of slavery
Lost presidential effort in 1856 with John C. Fremont but won in 1860 with Lincoln
What happened during the “Era of Good Feelings?”
James Monroe’s presidency: party politics was nearly suspended at the national level
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on military and national defense?
Republican: pro increase in military spending, increase VA funding, increase bioterrorism budget, overall pro-military
Democrat: terrorism is a result of over-militarization and war should be avoided, respond to terrorism with threat and uphold Constitution
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on energy and conservation?
Republican: conserve but still balance economics, increase privatization of environmental agenda, cap-and trade market based pollution reductions, provide tax incentives for energy production
Democrat: encourage open space, increase hunting/fishing on conservation lands, restore and maintain environment
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on jobs and the economy?
Republican: employee ownership > union elites, better treatment towards small business, realizes that people live off the land
Democrat: help unemployed by creating jobs to stay in America, protect low income rights and union rights, cut middle class taxes, wealthy can’t lead while others struggle
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on education?
Republican: only insure private-loans for tuition, supports prayer in school, limit role of government in education
Democrat: invest Pell grants and tax credits, reduce tuition taxes, reduce class size, modernize rooms, hire new teachers
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on health care?
Republican: repeal Obamacare, implement ABC for AIDS education, encourages only “ethical” advancements, against assisted suicide, reform Medicare, allow personalization of health insurance
Democrat: Increase availability and coverage of health care, add prescriptions to medicines covered by Medicare
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on marriage?
Republican: marriage is between a man and a woman and homosexuality poses a problem to the military
Democrat: promotes same-sex marriage and attacks discrimination, allow churches to decide how to handle it for themselves
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on taxes?
Republican: charities should end poverty, no new taxes, reform will help poor buy homes, cut taxes to stimulate economy
Democrat: cut middle and working class taxes but not wealthy
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on immigration?
Republican: tighten borders, use biometric data to track foreign travelers, emphasize family in toughening immigration
Democrat: undocumented people should be given citizenship and protected from exploitation by employers
What is a party’s #1 goal?
To get their candidate elected for president with the beliefs that the party has previously agreed upon
What does the Constitution say about political parties?
Nothing, but George Washington warned against them in his farewell address
How does region affect party affiliation?
South - Democrats
North - Republicans
How does gender affect party affiliation?
Women - Democrats
Men - Republicans
How does race affect party affiliation?
African Americans/Hispanics - Democrat
Whites - Republican
How does age affect party affiliation?
Youngest and oldest - Democrat
Middle age - Republicans
How does social and economic factors affect party affiliation?
Blue-collar workers - Democrat College-educated - Republican Advanced degrees - Democrat Rich - Republican Poor - Democrat
How does religion affect party affiliation?
White Protestants - Republican
Catholics and Jewish - Democrat
How does marital status affect party affiliation?
Married people - Republican
Single and never married - Democrat
Widowed - Democrat
Divorced / separated - liberal
Why do 3rd parties fare better in Europe?
No winner takes all system, each party is represented base on number of supporters