Unit 4 Flashcards
(83 cards)
Political Party
A group of people who seek to control the government through winning elections and holding public office
Party Platform
Their stance on the issues (liberal, conservative, or both)
Major Party( what are they also known as)
“Big tent Parties”
Ex: democrats and republican
Libertarian Platform(name 3)
Legalization of marijuana
Pro-choice
Decrease the size of military
Unregulated free market economy
Decrease taxes
Right to bear arms
Party Machinery(what does it include)
*National Chairsperson
“Big Tent Parties”
Major Parties are referred to as “Big Tent Parties’
“Party in Power”
President is the automatic leader of his or her party, which is at the time considered to be “the party in power”
Nominating Function
When parties select candidates to run for public office
(ex: conducting campaigns so those candidates can win elections)
Nominating Caucus
Supporters of candidates attend a series of open meeting to express presidential preferences
(open to members of a specific party, requires the most time on the part of the voter)
Open Primary Elections
Eligible American Voters(electorate) are able to cast one vote for a candidate of either party, even if they aren’t a declared member of each party.
Nominating Caucus vs. Open Primary Election
Primaries: election before the general elections
Caucus: Meetings run by political parties
National Convention
The party machinery( delegates) for each major party assemble to officially select/nominate the party’s tickets
(occurs the summer of a presidential election year)
(a get together to discuss the party’s official platform on the issues)
Informer-Stimulator Function
When parties take
stands on issues and
criticize the stands
taken by their
opponents
The party out of power
scrutinizes and
criticizes the actions
of government officials
Seal of Approval Function
When parties try to ensure that the people they nominate are qualified and of good character
Governmental functions
When parties appoint state and federal public officials on a partisan basis
Reasons for the two party system
The Historical basis( the framers of the constitution were opposed to political parties)
Framers felt they promoted
Societal divisions
* Pursuit of selfish interest
* Stifled dissent
The
Historical
Basis
In the debate over ratification, Federalists and
Anti-federalists became the country’s first parties
* However, we know that the 2 major parties today
are the Republicans (Conservative) and Democrats
(Liberal)!
The Force of Tradition
It has always existed as long as they can remember
People are wary of throwing their vote away on a minor party candidate
The Force of Tradition
Therefore, minor parties have made little headway
Since no one votes for minor parties it is also hard for them to receive any campaign funding
The Force of Tradition
However, polls indicate that Americans would like a viable minor party to challenge the two major parties
Especially in elections where the 2 candidates representing the major parties are not very well liked.
The Force of Tradition
America’s political
parties tend to take
moderate stands to
attract the largest
number of voters
- While minor party
candidates feel more
freedom to speak their
mind, since they feel
that they have no real
shot at winning the
election
Minor Parties
Any political party that is
not one of the 2 major
parties (Republicans,
Democrats)
* These parties do not win
elections very often, and
have never had their party
become the “party in
power”
* However, they still can
have a major effect on
government and politics.
Minor Parties
Minor Parties
Attract new groups of citizens, causing them to become active voters.
