Unit 3 Elections, Voting, & Political Parties Flashcards
Political Parties
A group of people with broad common interests and they organize to win elections, when they win elections they control the government, and when they control the government they influence government policies.
Ideologies
The basic beliefs about government.
Two-party system
When two parties dominate the government it is known as a two party system.
What party system does America have?
America has a two-party system.
What are the two major parties America has?
Democrats and Republicans
Third Party
Any party other than the two major/main parties.
Single-Issue parties
A party that focuses on one issue. For example the Republican party started out as a single-issue party and they focused on slavery.
Splinter Party
A splinter party breaks away from the major party like a splinter breaking away from the main wood. They typically fade away with the defeat of their candidate (they usually break away with/for a candidate)
What is an example of a famous splinter party and its candidate?
The Bull-Moose party with Theodore Roosevelt
Ideological Party
This party wants to change society as a whole.
Single-Member District
(one of the reasons why third parties always struggle) No matter how many people run, only one person will win the election. Voters will vote for who they think can win and usually will go for a major party candidate.
Proportional Representation
Elections where the proportion of voters fill each position
One Party System
The party and the government are one and the same. For example: a dictatorship.
Multi-Party System
Of the political systems this is the most common and allows more than one party. This is a parliamentary system.
Theocracy
When a government is dominated by religion. For example: Israel; Iran
Election of 1800
Thomas Jefferson defeats John Adams in the first peaceful transition of power.
Independent
When a voter does not support a particular party.
Precinct
This is a person’s voting district. Basically the place where you vote.
Ward
Several precincts that adjoin one another.
National Convention
Happens every four years, during even numbered years, to elect a party ticket.
Party National Chairperson
Elected to run the daily operations of each national party.
Who is the current Democrat National Chairperson (DNC)?
Ken Martin
Who is the current Republican National Chairperson (RNC)?
K C Crosbie
National Committee
A group that helps elect the leaders of each party.
Patronage
A big fancy term that means to give regards of favors to loyal party members
Caucus
Public meetings of party members who vote openly for their candidate
Nominating Convention
A public meeting in which party bosses usually nominate a candidate for office. (used before we had primaries) (Boss Tweed used this)
Boss
People who dominate the nominating convention.
Direct Primary
Method of nominating candidates in which there is an election. (Kentucky’s is in May)
Closed Primary
Only party members may vote for their candidate. (Kentucky has this)
Open Primary
You can vote candidates of any party you choose.
Plurality/First-past-the-post
All a candidate needs to win office is one more vote than the other person.
Runoff Primary
In elections where you win a percentage of votes, 2 candidates may have to complete in a second election.
Nonpartisan Primary
An election in which candidates do not identify with party.
Ticket
The party’s candidates for president and vice president
Platform
A party’s statement of their beliefs and position on issues.
Planks
An individual platform or position that is added and may cause division (if a plank divides a platform then the part stands a good chance at losing the race.)
Convention Delegates
They are party members from each state who go to the national convention to vote for president and vice president.
Campaign Manager
The person responsible for the strategy and planning of a candidate campaign.
Television
Most important communication tool and the most expensive is television.
What president used television the best?
Obama
What president used social media the best?
Trump
Political Action Committee (PAC)
Organization formed by interest groups to collect money and provide financial support. An individual can give $3,500 to a candidate and $5,000 to a PAC per year.
Soft Money
Money that was funneled to candidates (not always illegal) and this does not have to be revealed.
Federal Election Commission
Groups responsible for keeping an eye on federal election money.
Issue Advocacy Advertising
Groups who support an issue instead of a candidate and will argue for you to vote their way.
Abraham Lincoln’s Election
Lincoln won the election but lost the popular vote. He is the president who lost the most popular vote but still one the election. He won with less than 40% of the popular vote.
Kentucky’s Primary
Kentucky’s Primary is in may.
Election Day
The Tuesday after the first Monday, every four years during an even numbered year.
Founders and voting
Originally wanted only elite, land owning, tax paying, males to be voting.
Electoral College
America’s way of election a president. In order to win the presidency you have to win 270 electoral votes. There are a total of 538 electoral votes.
Why is there a total of 538 electoral votes?
There are 538 electoral college votes because there are 435 members in the house of representatives, 100 senators, and the remaining 3 come from Washington D.C.
California Electoral Votes
California has the most electoral votes at 54 and they are the largest democrat
Alice Paul
A militant leader of the women’s suffrage movement
Citizens United vs. FEC
2010, it will overturn a previous law and now allow corporations/big business unlimited spending on elections.
Precinct Captain
The precinct captain is a volunteer who runs and organizes the local party.
Coalition Government
In a multi-party system when parties combine to make the majority.
Rules Committee
The organization that creates the rules for how each party will run their national convention
Credentials Committee
Their task is to approve the delegates from each state.
Permanent Organization
The committee responsible for selecting the chairperson and other officials for the convention.
Alexander Hamilton
He was the first secretary of treasury and the early leader of the Federalist party. (He believed in a big and strong government)
George Washington
He was the first president. In his farewell address he warned about political parties because he said that they would divide this nation.
Andrew Jackson
In 1828 Andrew Jackson was the first democratic president in American history
Abraham Lincoln
In 1860 Abraham Lincoln was the first republican president in American history
Geraldine Ferraro
The first female on a major ticket as vice president (ran with Walter Mondale)
Iowa
The first caucus was in Iowa
New Hampshire
The first primary was in New Hampshire
Thomas Jefferson/James Madison
early political leaders of the democratic-republican party
Suffrage/Franchise/Vote
These are all fancy terms that mean the right to vote. (women’s suffrage)
Grandfather Clause
You had to have an ancestor who voted before a certain year to vote.
Poll Tax
This is where you had to pay to vote. Eventually outlawed by the 24th amendment.
Voting Rights Act
In 1965, the federal government can step in and help elections if discrimination is deemed to have happened.
15th Amendment
In 1870, they made it so that all males could vote.
