American Government Chapter 5 Flashcards
(29 cards)
Political Party
Group of people who seek government control through winning elections / holding public office
Partisanship
Strong support of their party and it’s political stands
Party in Power
Party that controls the executive branch
Presidency at national level
Governorship at state level
2 Major Parties in USA
Republican + Democratic
Major functions of a Political Party
Nominate candidates Inform and inspire supporters Encourage good behavior among members Govern once in office Preform oversight on government actions
minor party
party without wide voter support
Plurality
largest # of votes cast for an elected office
Dosen’t have to be a majority of all votes
bipartisan
When 2 major parties find common ground on an issue
Consensus
agreement among diffrent groups on an issue
multiparty
When several major + lesser parties exists
Coalition
temporary alliance of several groups joins to form a working majority in multiparty system
GOP
nickname of the Republican Party
Grand ‘Ole Party
2-Party System
2 major parties exist and compete elections
Area of the country that was promintely Democratic until 1960s
The South
Reasons America is a two party democracy
Historical Basis
Force of Tradition
Electoral system promoting 2 major party system
How the ideological consensus of the American electorte reflects the membership of major parties
Due to the Us having be free of longstanding bitter disputes there has not been several strong rival parties
Imcumbent
current officeholder
Faction
A conflicting group
Electorate
All of the people entitled to vote in a given election
Sectionalism
a narrow minded concern for ( devotion to ) the intrest of one section of a country
First political party to appear in New U.S
The Federalist Party
How and Why did the Republican party emerge
to combat the Nebraska Act and the expansion of slavery
What is the animal for the democratic party and how did that emerge
Donkey
Jackson was labeled a jackass and took on the label, using the image in his campaign posters
What is the animal for the Republican party and how did that emerge
Elephant
It was Featured in a political cartoon