Vocab

Question 1

Political Party

Answer 1

A “team of men [and women] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election”

Question 2

In the US, political parties have brand names: use of names evoke certain positions or issues. Voters uses these names as a cue to decide whom to vote for in an election. We call these

Answer 2

voting cues

Question 3

Linkage Institution

Answer 3

the channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda; provide citizens a voice in government

Question 4

Parties can be thought of in three parts:

Answer 4

Party in the electorate,
Party as an organization, and
Party in government

Question 5

Party System

Answer 5

Period in which the names of the major political parties, their supporters, and the issues dividing them have remained relatively stable

Question 6

Party Eras

Answer 6

Historical periods in which a majority of votes cling to the party in power

Question 7

Critical Election

Answer 7

An electoral “earthquake” where new issues and new coalitions emerge

Question 8

Party Realignment

Answer 8

The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election
A change in the size or composition of the party coalitions or in the nature of the issues that divide the parties. Typically occur within an election or two, but can occur gradually over the course of a decade or longer

Question 9

1796-1824: The First Party System

Answer 9

Federalists: first political party

Question 10

1828-1856: Jackson and the Democrats Versus the Whigs

Answer 10

Democratic-Republicans split
Modern Democratic party founded by Jackson
Whigs formed mainly to oppose Jacksonian Democrats and strong executive branch

Question 11

1860-1928: The Two Republican Eras

Answer 11

Republicans rose as the antislavery party (formed in 1854 in WI)
1896 election centered on industrialization (McKinley v. Bryan)

Question 12

1932-1964: The New Deal Coalition

Answer 12

New Deal coalition: forged by the Democrats; consisted of urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics, Jews, the poor, Southerners

Question 13

Divided government:

Answer 13

one party controls Congress and the other controls White House

Question 14

Party dealignment:

Answer 14

disengagement of people from parties as evidenced by shrinking party identification

Question 15

Party neutrality:

Answer 15

people are indifferent towards the two parties

Question 16

Party image

Answer 16

A voter’s perception of what Republicans or Democrats stand for

Question 17

Party identification

Answer 17

A citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other
Republican, Democrat, or Independent

Question 18

Ticket-splitting

Answer 18

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices
Independents are most likely to split tickets.
No state or race is completely safe due to split tickets.

Question 19

Party Principle:

Answer 19

idea that a political party exists as an organization distinct from its elected officials/leaders

Question 20

Party Machines:

Answer 20

a type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements to win votes and to govern (ex: Tammany Hall/Boss Tweed)

Question 21

Patronage:

Answer 21

a job, promotion or contract given for political reasons rather than merit; used by party machines

Question 22

Spoils System:

Answer 22

practice of rewarding party supporters with benefits like government positions
Due to progressive reforms, urban party organizations are generally weak.
Revitalization of party organization at county level

Question 23

Closed primaries:

Answer 23

Only people who have registered with the party can vote for that party’s candidates.

Question 24

Open primaries:

Answer 24

Voters decide on Election Day whether they want to vote in the Democrat or Republican primary.

Question 25

Blanket primaries:

Answer 25

Voters are presented with a list of candidates from all parties.

Question 26

The National Party Organizations are:

Answer 26

National Convention, National Committee, and Nation Chairperson

Question 27

National Convention:

Answer 27

the meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and the party’s platform

Question 28

National Committee:

Answer 28

one of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions

Question 29

National Chairperson:

Answer 29

responsible for day-to-day activities of the party

Question 30

In Congress, the Democratic and Republican parties are organized around working groups called

Answer 30

a caucus (Democrats) or a conference (Republicans).

Question 31

(Multiparty Systems)

Coalition Government:

Answer 31

two or more parties join to form a majority in a national legislature
Germany: Christian Democrats and Social Democrats in “Grand Coalition”: 448 of 614 seats
Netherlands: Christian Democratic Appeal, Labour Party, and Christian Union: 80 of 150 seats

Question 32

Winner-take-all system:

Answer 32

legislative seats awarded only to first place finishers

Question 33

Proportional Representation:

Answer 33

legislative seats awarded based on votes received by the party - more votes, more seats

Question 34

Coalition Government:

Answer 34

two or more parties join to form a majority in a national legislature

Question 35

What does a Two-party system

Answer 35

Discourages extreme views

Contributes to political ambiguity

Question 36

What did The Downs Model help to do

Answer 36

The Downs Model helps explain why Americans—normally very individualistic—have fewer parties than most democracies.
Voters maximize chances that policies they favor are adopted by government.
Parties want to win elected office.

Question 37

What is did the Rational-choice theory?

Answer 37

Assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives

Question 38

What is “Duverger’s Law”?

Answer 38

Winner-take all = Two-party system

Proportional Representation = Multiparty System

Question 39

Is the Party Over?

Answer 39

Political parties are no longer main source of information for voters; media are
Yet parties will play an important but diminished role in American politics
State and national party organizations have become more visible and active
Majority of people still identify with a party