Chapter 8: Political Parties Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Chapter 8: Political Parties Deck (23)
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1
Q

What are the four main linkage institutions?

A
  • political parties
  • elections (voting)
  • interest groups
  • media
2
Q

What is party competition?

A

The battle between republicans and democrats on who controls public offices

3
Q

What three things are referred to when speaking of the “Three Headed Giant” in political parties?

A
  • party-in-the-electorate (voters)
  • party-as-an-organization (republican and democrat national conventions, staff that runs the party)
  • party-in-government (Washington DC)
4
Q

What are big components in party-in-the-electorate?

A
  • party identification
  • split ticketing
  • all of this leads to divided government (policy gridlock)
5
Q

What are big components in party-as-an-organization?

A
  • political parties are decentralized and fragmented
  • party machine (organization that works for a party based on patronage)
  • primary season (open, closed, and blanket primary)
  • National committee (representatives from states keep party running between conventions)
  • National convention (meets every four years, 1) addresses party platform, 2) nominates president and vp)
6
Q

What is important to remember with party-in-government?

A

They are doing their best to get re-elected

7
Q

What is the Rational Choice Theory?

A

Parties and politicians want to win office, so they have a broader appeal, which means they are more moderate to attract more voters

8
Q

What are Party Eras?

A

This is an era of time where one party dominates politics. A critical election is what separates these eras, and it is referred to as a “political earthquake.” New ideas emerge and changes occur

9
Q

What is party realignment?

A

This is when the minority party becomes the majority

10
Q

What was the first party era?

A

1796-1824. Federalist era under Hamilton. The critical election had to do with political parties

11
Q

What was the second party era?

A

1828-1856. Jackson and the Democrats. Critical election was slavery

12
Q

What was the third party era?

A

1860-1928. Two republican eras. Critical election was the Great Depression

13
Q

What was the fourth party era?

A

1932-1964. The New Deal coalition. Dominated by democrats

14
Q

What is the fifth party era?

A

1968-present day. Divided government, flipping back and forth between democrats and republicans.

15
Q

What is party dealignment?

A

This is when people deviate from the two major parties, democrat and republican, and register otherwise, usually as an independent

16
Q

What are third parties?

A

Any political party that is not republican or democrat

17
Q

Who are some important third party figures?

A
  • Ross Porot, 1992. He ran as an independent with the most important issue being federal debt
  • Rold Nader, 2000. He was a green party, and the most important issue to him was environmentalism
18
Q

What is the winner takes all philosophy?

A

Majority wins

19
Q

What is proportional representation?

A

Legislative seats are given based on a percentage. This is how it is in Europe

20
Q

What is a coalition government?

A

This is when two or more governments work together (Germany)

21
Q

What responsibilities are under “The Responsible Party Model?”

A
  • represent their party’s interests

- carry out every program

22
Q

What are “Blue Dog Democrats?”

A

Democrats that are fiscally conservative

23
Q

What are the two most important terms associated with divided government?

A

Policy gridlock and ticket splitting