Chapter 8 Political Parties

A situation in which one major political party controls the presidency and the other controls one or more chambers of Congress is called

divided government

In the years between presidential elections, a political party's activities are coordinated by the

national committee

Each party holds a _________ __________ every four years to officially nominate the presidential and vice-presidential candidates and to develop the party's platform.

national convention

The rewarding of faithful party workers and followers with government jobs or contracts is called

patronage

A _________ _____ is a group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine public policy.

political party

In the early 1900s, a spirit of political reform arose in both major parties, called

progressivism

A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape is called ____________. A decline in party loyalties that reduces long-term party commitment is called ___________.

realignment; dealignment

The United States party system may best be described as

two-party system

What does it mean that the United States has winner-take-all electoral system? How does this idea differ from some of the systems used in other countries? (Be sure to include a brief discussion of the concept of plurality in your answer.)

At almost every level of governent in the United States, the outcome of elections is based on the plurality, winner-take-all principle. In a plurality system, the winner is the person who obtains the most votes, even if that person does not receive a majority of the votes. Whoever gets the most votes gets everything. In most of Europe, the chief executive is elected by the legislature, or parliament. If the parliament contains three or more parties, two or more of the parties can join together in coalition to choose the prime minister and the other leaders of the government. Many other nations use a system of proportional representation.

The __________ Party emerged out of a split in the Jeffersonian Republican Party after the elevtion of 1824. The __________ Party came about in the 1850s as an antislavery party that resulted from a split in the Whig Party.

Democrat; Republican

Summarize the key economic positions of the two major political parties.

Democratic identifiers are more likely to approce of social-welfare spending, to support government regulations of business, and to endorse measures to improve the situation of minorities. Republicans are more supportive of the private marketplace and believe more strongly in an ethic of self-reliance and limited government.

In the United States, political parties generally have a great deal of control over the candidates who run under the party labels.

False

Parties other than Republican or Democrats are usually called independent parties.

False

The number of independents have decreased significantly over the last fifty years, and voters are more likely than ever to vote a straight ticket.

False

Today, about 60% of all voters call themselves independents, claiming little to no affiliation with a political party.

False

Which of the following helps to explain why the two-party system has endured and dominated the American political landscape?

Historical foundations of the party system, The winner-take-all electoral system, and State and federal laws favoring the two-party system.

Briefly discuss some of the divisions within today's Republican Party. How significant do you think these differences might be to the party's future?

Observers have long distinguished three kinds of Republicans. One bloc of GOP voters, called Religious Right, is energized by conservative religious beliefs. Another group of Republicans is more oriented toward economic issues and business concerns. A third type of Republican, is strongly libertarian. These voters dislike government regulation of social issues as well as economic ones. I believe that this has a lot to say about the party's future and what the people want.

Which of the following is not a major function of political parties in the American system?

Rewarding faithful contributers with high-level government jobs.

Active ideological third parties today include

The Libertarian Party; The Green Party

List and briefly describe the three faces of political party.

The first component is the party-in-the-electorate. This phrase refers to all those individuals who claim an attachment to the political party. They need not participate in elevtion campaigns. It is the large number of Americans who feel some loyalty to the party or who use partisanship as a cue to decide who will earn their vote. The second component, the party organization, provides the structural framework for the political party by recruiting volunteers to become party leaders, identifying potential candidates, and organizing caucuses, conventions, and election campaigns for its candidates. The party-in-government is the third component of American political parties .The party-in-governent consists of those elected and appointed officials who identify with a political party.

Briefly explain the impact of minor parties on American politics.

Third parties have rarely been able to affect American politics by actually winning elections. Instead, the impact of third parties has taken two forms. First, third parties can influence one of the major parties to take up one or more issues Second, third parties can determine the outcome of a particular election by pulling votes from one of the major-party candidates in what is called the "spoiler effect."

Democrats dominated politics in the South during the century following the Civil War.

True

Every state party is unique, and it is impossible to describe an "average" state political party.

True