unit 3 - political parties Flashcards
define political party
group of people with a broad, shared interest
describe the federalist party
- alexander hamilton created this party
- this party favored a strong central government
-thought a strong government would equate to a healthy economy
describe the democratic-republican party
- founded by thomas jefferson
- favored a weaker central government, giving more power to the states
when did the democrat republican party split
1828
why did the democrat republican party split
because after the 1824 presidential election, tensions increased between the north, south and west
what happened after the democrat republican party split?
jackson supporters became democrats
anti jacksons were republicans
did the national republican party last?
no it faded quickly
describe the whig party
- became the main opposition to the democrat party
- tried to win broad support by being neutral
- in order to stay neutral, this party ignored talking about slavery
in 1854, anti slavery people came together to form what party?
republican party
why did the whig party dissolve?
as talk of slavery became more prevalent, the neutrality and ignorance of this party towards the topic turned people away
define single issue party
a political party that forms to promote a particular causeq
describe the roles of political parties
- support candidates
- communicate with people
- run the government
- linking different levels of government
- become a watchdog for the other party
describe present-day democrats
- think federal government should be more directly involved in regulating economy
- think federal government should provide housing, income, education, jobs for poor
describe present-day republicans
- want the government to be less involved in regulating the economy
define platform
a series of statements that are expressing the party’s core beliefs and plans for the next presidency
define planks
each individual statement or idea of a platform
describe national committees
- each party has them
- each state has members
- the national chairperson heads the committee
- organizes the party’s national convention
- have campaign committees for the party’s congressional candidates
describe the national convention
- delegates formally choose the party’s candidate for president and vice (chosen through primaries or a caucus)
- important time for building party unity and launching the election campaign
define precinct
a geographic area that has a specific number of voters
define political machine
a local organization that has candidates that win their elections year after year
define primaries
election to choose who will represent your party in the general elections
define closed primaries
elections in which only the declared members of a political party are allowed to vote for that party’s nominees
define open primaries
an election in which voters don’t need to declare their party preference
when is the general election held
first tuesday after the first monday in november
define initiative
process that lets voters propose new laws or amendments to state constitutions
define referendum
asks voters to accept or reject a law passed by a state or local legislature
electors of the electoral college meet at their state capitals to cast their ballots, when?
the first monday after the second wednesday in december
when does the president of the senate (vice president) count the electoral votes?
january 6th
when are the new president and vice sworn in?
january 20th
examples of sources of public opinions
- personal background
- mass media
- interest groups
define interest group
a group of people who share a point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs
define public opinion polls
a survey in which individuals are asked to answer questions about an issue
define polster
a specialist whose job is to conduct polls
define propaganda
information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread to hep or harm a person, group, movement, institution, or nation
how do interest groups influence the government?
- being active in elections
- work through the case
- directly influencing officials
- shaping public opinion
define p.a.c.
political action committee
define public agenda
issues considered significant by government officials
define mass media
various methods of communication that reach large numbers of people
define libel
false information that will harm another person’s reputation
define emotional appeal (propaganda)
propaganda that appeals to the emotions of viewers
define glittering generalities (propaganda)
a device that seeks to make the audience approve and accept without examining the evidence
define testimonials (propaganda)
famous figures or people who will appear trustworthy to an audience
define bandwagon (propaganda)
“everyone is doing it and so should you)
define plain folk (propaganda)
speakers try to convince their audience that they’re ‘of the people’
define snob appeal (propaganda)
giving the impression that wealthy and prestigious people are on board
define scientific approach (propaganda)
using science to convince an audience of something
define card stacking (propaganda)
only presenting one side of an argument
define transfer (propaganda)
where a propagandist carries over the authority, sanction and prestige of something we respect and revere to something they would have us accept
define name calling (propaganda)
linking a person to a negative symbol
define euphemisms (propaganda)
attempts to pacify an audience in order to make an unpleasant reality more palpable
