chapter 8 test Flashcards by Luciana Beltran

political party

a group of citizens who organize to win elections, hold public office, operate governments and determine public policy

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meaning of political party

to win elections and seek control in governemtn

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3 types of party

party in electorate
party as an organization
party in government

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party in electorate

party membership

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party as an organization

party’s national, state, and office and staff, budgets and rules

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system in the US for politics

winner takes all system
not proportional system

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party in government

elected officials who are members of party and main spokespeople for party

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winner takes all system

single member districts
candidate with most votes win seat
loser gets nothing

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proportional system

political parties in legislature receive number of seats proportional to percentage of vote received

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partonage

a job, promotion, or contract given for political reasons rather than merit
Used by party machines to gain vote or contributions

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grass roots

parties reaching voters personally and GOTV on a local level

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Party machine

type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements to win votes and to govern

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national convention

meeting of party delegate every 4 years to choose presidential ticket and write party platform
choose committee and conduct party business

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national committee

one of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions

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Congressional campaign committee

supports their own party candidates

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national chairsperson

responsible for day to day activities of party and lead the national committee

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types of primaries

closed, open, and caucus

(less important are blanet and run off)

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closed primaries

voters must be registered with their party in advance and only vote for that party

open primaries

voters decide on election day which party to participate in, then only that party

front loading primaries

rush to be the first, early primaries are most influential
long news lull between primaries and national conventions, due to early primaries

candidate centered campaign

the campaign is more focused on the candidate and their personality and goals than the political party they stand for

party eras

historical periods in which majority of votes cling to the party in power

critical elections

an electoral earthquake where new issues and new coalitions emerge

2 examples of party eras (1)

1828-1856 Jackson and the democrats vs the whigs
modern democrat party founded by Jackson formed with realignment of democratic republicans
whigs formed under Martin Van Burne to oppose Democrats
Whigs were anti slavery and Democrats were pro slavery
More southerns joined the democrats because pro slavery.

2 examples of party eras (2)

1860-1896 two republican era republicans rose as the antislavery party in late 1850s whigs became Republicans with lincoln democrats control south after reconstruction til 1960 1896 election revolved around gold standard and republicans won with McKinley brought more people to republican side

gridlock

a freeze in the government action, since the political parties are polarized and can't find agreement in voting public policy

what causes gridlock

clear issue differences between parties media effect on politics direct primaries changing campaign finance rules

Divided government

when there is dealignment and neutrality leads to gridlock

divided government modern example

1968 to present more independent parties form and weaken political party power

why do third parties not win elections

winner takes all system less money less media major parties take policies onto their own platform

why have political parties weakened over time

more divided government and less trust in the government

caucus

when people come to meet in person to vote for a candidate they need a specific percentage for their candidate to be included

party polarization

division along party lines or increasing ideological differences higher in house than senate

ticket splitting

voting for different candidates of different parties (not focusing on a specific party)

straight ticket

voting for only all candidates of the party they register for

why 2 parties in America

results of tradition and election policies political parties aren't in constitution

realignment

the displacement of the majority party by the minority party usually an effect from critical election

dealignment

disengagement of people in a party

ways political parties impact elections

mobilization, GOTV educating voters and policymakers establish a party platform recruit and nominate candidates support campaigns

1796-1824

first party system Madison warned of factions first party was federalist (Hamilton) jefferson and democratic Republicans led 1800-1820

1896-1932

4th party system progressive power and republican dominance big Buisness Republicans vs. Jim crow democrats

1932-1968

5th party system the new deal coalition forged by Democrats - relied upon urban working class, labor groups, Catholics jews got rid of republicans

Nixon southern strategy

support state rights (anti-civil rights) law and order, strong military win southern Democrats and made realign to republicans

1968-present

era of divided party government lots of party realignment and independence