Political Parties

Question 1

Burke’s definition of “party”

Answer 1

A body of men united for promoting by their joint endeavors the national interest, upon some particular principle in which they are all agreed.” -Public Policy Focused

Question 2

Anthony Downs’ definition of “party”

Answer 2

“A team of men seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.” - a vehicles for re-election/power

Question 3

Party in government

Answer 3

coordinates officeholders, especially in legislatures

Question 4

Party as organization

Answer 4

collects and deploys resources to help candidates compete in elections

Question 5

Party in electorate

Answer 5

fosters reputation and cues that help voters back their candidates

Question 6

Party identification

Answer 6

leads to bias, greatly impacts voters, Racial divisions are the sharpest in American partisanship religion is second

Question 7

Factors producing a two-party system

Answer 7

• Our Electoral System=single-member, simple plurality districts lead to just two parties
• Duverger’s law
• Cooptation= Major parties absorb third party’s goals
• Cartelism= work to prevent others from entering, debates, party ballot, etc.
• Nationalization of politics

Question 8

Split ticket voting

Answer 8

has been declining in recent years due to immense polarization

Question 9

Democrats’ New Deal Coalition

Answer 9

in the aftermath of the great depression Roosevelt rebuilt the democratic party uniting the south (still mainly one party at the time), and northern urban elites as well as african-americans, and poorer rural whites who benefitted from the New Deal programs.

Question 10

“Golden Age” of Presidential Nominations

Answer 10

1912-1968, nominees chosen by delegates at national conventions, primaries in 10-15 states only

Question 11

1970s Party Reforms

Answer 11

new system with presidential primaries, now voters decide not “the party”

Question 12

Primary Elections

Answer 12

dem vs dem; Repub vs Repub

Question 13

Partisan Sorting

Answer 13

people divide/sort themselves based on their political ID

Question 14

UCLA (Cohen et al.) School approach to political parties, including:

Answer 14

parties in reality decide who should be in primary, send signals to donors, media etc, invisible primary concept

Question 15

Party Professionals

Answer 15

long time party members

Question 16

Party Amateurs

Answer 16

switch based on a key issue, issue activist who work to achieve a single goal

Question 17

American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)

Answer 17

group of 300 corporations with 2,000 republican state legislators, draft models bills. want deregulation lower taxes,