Chapter 1: Politics and Political Parties Flashcards
(98 cards)
1
Q
What are activities that resolve conflicting values and interests?
A
politics
2
Q
Where does true politics only exist and why does it only exist there?
A
True Politics only exist in relation to the Government because only the Government deals with the general welfare
3
Q
What presents your opinions or facts through talking?
A
discussion
4
Q
What is speech making?
A
oratory
5
Q
What is a resolution of conflict?
A
diplomacy
6
Q
What 5 things does political action include?
A
- discussion
- oratory
- balloting
- diplomacy
- direct action
7
Q
What are the 5 reasons someone would get involved in or become a politician…?
A
1) to gain economic reward
2) satisfy their need for friendship and social relations
3) to try to influence the world in which they live
4) to gain power/ win election
5) to increase self-esteem
8
Q
What deals with issues on which they agree and ignore the rest?
A
coalition
9
Q
T OR F
The most important reason for participation in politics to gain economic reward…?
A
FALSE
Gaining economic reward is not the most important reason because the lowest income group which has the most to gain does the least
10
Q
T OR F
Today we have the spoils system and in the past, we had patronage and civil service rights…?
A
FALSE
Today we have patronage and civil service rights and in the past, we had the spoils system
11
Q
What is the most important reason someone would get involved in politics?
A
to gain power/win the election
12
Q
What three things compose a political party?
A
- party voters
- party activists
- political leaders
13
Q
T OR F
Party voters tend to help candidates running for obscure offices most…?
A
TRUE!
14
Q
What are elections won at the local level (from the bottom-up)?
A
grassroots
15
Q
What is another name for current leaders?
A
inside
16
Q
What is another name for a former leader?
A
outside
17
Q
T OR F
More candidates are nominated with party support and even fewer are elected…?
A
FALSE
Fewer candidates are nominated without party support and even fewer are elected
18
Q
How does a political party staff the government?
A
patronage
19
Q
How does the political party criticize and evaluate the government?
A
it acts as a loyal opposition
20
Q
T OR F
Most writers of the Constitution supported political parties so much so that they wrote them into the constitution…?
A
FALSE
Most writers of the Constitution opposed political parties in the Constitution itself does not mention them
21
Q
What is a temporary difference or difference of opinion that is then resolved?
A
faction
22
Q
What are permanent differences or when physical beliefs differ?
A
political parties
23
Q
why were the first factions formed?
A
They were form to support her oppose the constitution. Once the Constitution was ratified factions seized to exist
24
Q
The founding fathers supported _________ and opposed __________?
A
The founding fathers supported factions but opposed political parties
25
T OR F
George Washington ran for president without opposition and without a party label...?
TRUE!
| Well George Washington a post political parties his actions led to their creation
26
What is the main cause of the creation of political parties?
George Washington‘s actions
27
What two people lead to the creation of the political parties?
Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson
28
What is the oldest political party?
The federalists
29
What four things did the federalists support?
- A strong executive
- strong courts
- standing army
- Financial program that strengthen the central government at the expense of the states
30
What is the Jeffersonian Republicans believe?
- favorite state and local government
| - believed the legislative branch best reflected the will of the people not the executive branch
31
What were the Jeffersonian Republicans first known as?
Anti-federalists
32
What happened to the Federalist party?
Disappeared in the 1800s when Jefferson won the election
33
What are the oldest modern political parties?
Democratic Republicans and national Republicans
34
What happened to the Jeffersonian Republicans when Jefferson was elected president?
They split into two wings.
The Democratic Republicans then dropped the name Republicans and henceforth became known as only the Democrats.
The national Republicans took in old federalists who then became known as the whig party.
35
What victory did the Republicans have in 1860?
They elected the first republican president able Lincoln as a result of his house divided speech
36
What is the major criticism of the American political parties?
A common criticism is that there is no major fundamental difference between them since they are both trying to get the most votes and they therefore have to be vague
37
What are four categories where the parties are different?
- Image
- party voters
- platform
- how they view each other
38
How are republican leaders seen?
Pro business; free enterprise; economic conservative
39
How are Democratic leaders seen?
Pro labor; government regulation of the economy
40
How was the typical Republican seen?
Business; wealthy; live in the suburbs
41
How was the typical Democrat seen?
Working class; city dweller; pro union; religious or racial minority
42
In elections what four things categorized the Republican voters...?
White; college-educated; white colored; over 50 years old
43
In elections what four things categorized the Democratic voters...?
Nonwhite; grade school education; union workers; under 30 years old
44
What is a party’s statement of their beliefs?
platform
45
What is one parties statement of a single belief?
plank
46
What is the difference between a platform in a plank?
A platform is a statement of multiple believes whereas a plank is a statement of one single believe
47
In 1972 what did the Democrats and Republicans think of labor unions?
Democratics; compulsory (mandatory) union membership and eliminate right to work laws
Republican; choice
48
In 1972 what did the Democrats and Republicans think of education?
Democrats; favored bussing to achieve racial integration and educational equality
Republicans; opposed to passing
49
In 1972 what did the Democrats and Republicans think of jobs?
Democrats; supported governments ability to create the jobs
Republicans; favored incentives to private sectors to expand the job market
50
In 1972 what do the Democrats and Republicans think of welfare?
Democrats; believed every family should be guaranteed an income above the poverty level
Republicans; believed that money for work and job training should be provided
51
In 1972 what did the Democrats and Republicans think of old age?
Democrats; believed retirement age should be lowered to 60
Republican; believed retirees should be allowed to earn more money without losing Social Security benefits
52
How did the Republicans see the Democrats as...?
Labor; minority groups; intellectual; city people; liberals
53
How do the Democrats see the Republicans...?
Establishment; farmers and ranchers; small-town people; conservative; small business owners; corporate executives
54
Third parties typically only get how much of the vote?
1/3
55
What are three reasons why third parties are important?
- voices of discent
- critics of the major parties
- Champions of reform
56
What makes third parties different from major parties?
Third parties have strong well-defined programs and they are not trying to be all things to all people unlike major parties
57
What is based on the set of beliefs or doctrines?
ideology
58
What are three examples of ideological third parties?
- equal rights party
- socialist party
- prohibition party
59
What is here today and gone tomorrow?
Transient
60
What are two examples of transient third parties?
- economic protest
• The populist party
• The greenback party
- secessionist
• The Dixiecrats party (Southern Democrats that broke from the actual Democrats because of civil rights in 1948)
61
What is founded by one person and maintained by charisma of that person?
personal
62
What are two examples of personal third parties?
- George Wallace and the American independent party
| - Teddy Roosevelt in the progressive/ Bull moose party
63
What is it called when a person tries to influence politics your campaign contributions such as money?
Lobbying
64
What to things did the laws Congress passed in 1970 to clean up campaign financing do...?
- Limited the amount of money a person can give to a candidate to $1000
- forced candidates to say who is contributing to their campaign
65
What was the governments purpose of trying to clean up campaign financing?
- to make candidates less depended on lobbyists
| - to make it easier for people without wealth to run for office
66
What replaced lobbying?
political action committees
67
What did the political action committees do?
- each member was allowed to give up to $5000 per candidate
- they were allowed to form a committee of one person and that person can give $5000 in both their name in the committee’s name
68
T OR F
The major political parties appeared to be decentralized or informal in reality they were highly centralized and formal...?
FALSE
The major political parties appeared to be centralized informal but in reality they were highly decentralized
69
How was real power distributed and what is the only exception?
Centralized from the bottom to the top
The only exception to this is one week every four years at the national convention with the 50 states are bound together for a week and the power is transferred from the top to the bottom
70
What two things does the number of delegates a state gets to send to the national convention depend on...?
- The population of the state
| - Bonus delegates
71
What’s another name for whether the state party was successful in choosing its president candidate in the prior election?
Bonus delegates
72
How does state law say the Delegates should be chosen by and how many states use those methods...?
- party or state conventions\committees ( 20 states use this method)
- chosen in primary elections ( 30 states use this method)
73
T OR F
Pledged delegates are pledged to vote for the candidate on all role calls and ballots...?
FLASE
Pledged delegates or pledge to vote for the candidate on the first roll call and ballot only
74
How long is the conventions typically last and how many role calls are there normally?
Typically lasts five days and there is normally one round of rollcall
75
What three committees must meet prior to the beginning of the convention and what are they do?
- Platform and resolutions committee: resolves various planks the party will stand on
- Rules committee: procedures party will follow at the convention
- Credentials committee: settles disputes over the seating of the state delegations
76
What occurs on day one of the national convention?
Keynote speaker and delegates for the next national convention are chosen
77
What are two characteristics of a keynote speaker?
- have to be a motivator\articulate\excellent speaker
| - have to be a rising star in a party
78
What occurs on day two and three at the national convention both officially and unofficially?
Officially: the standing committees report out
Unofficially: candidates are seeking out more delegates to pledge to them
79
What is it known as when a hopeful candidate request a meeting with the delegate?
caucus
80
What is it called when delegation sometimes gives all their votes to one person?
favorite son
81
What is the most important day of the national convention and why?
D4 because it is rollcall for the presidential candidate
82
What occurs on day four of the national convention?
roll call for the presidential candidate
83
What occurs on day five of the national convention?
roll call for thevice presidential candidates
84
Why is a vice president chosen?
to help unite the party and balance the ticket
85
What is the national community supposed to do in theory and what are they actually do in reality?
Theory: it is supposed to handle all national party business
Reality: they only choose the city in which the national convention is to be held in
86
Who is the national committee comprised of?
The committee is made up of one man and one woman from each state plus additional’s
87
What was the original job of the chairperson of the national committee and what is their job now?
Original job: run the campaign for the party’s candidate
Now: pay bills after the convention
88
What committee is considered a week after thought?
50 state committee
89
What are four other names for a local committee?
- District
- County
- Minicipal
- Precinct
90
What is the basic party unit that is only used with specificity?
precinct
91
What is another name for precinct?
local committee
92
Politics at the local level are also called...?
Grassroots
93
In what three ways were citizens allowed to help in politics?
- help register voters
- work in a campaign
- join a political organization
94
T OR F
30% of 20-39-year-olds are registered to vote...?
FALSE
50% of 18-29-year-olds are registered to vote
95
What is a broadly based organization of individuals who have some political interest in common?
political party
96
What are the three goals every politician has...?
- win elections
- gain control of the government
- determine public policy
97
What is it called when a political party stays in power for a long time?
political machine
98
What are the three purposes of political parties worldwide...?
- ideology
- economic interest
- religious interest
