AP Gov Political Parties, Chapter 7

BCRA

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act; banned soft money- led to a rise in independent expenditures

coalition government

European parties (multi-party system) need to team up with other parties to get majority and win election; although parties are better heard, the system is unstable (new election every time this alliance of parties falls apart)

factions

Founding Fathers saw political parties as ________ and a way that the nation could become divided!

winner-take-all system

an election system in which the canidate with the most votes wins

blanket primary

currently unconstitutional; voters can vote for a candidate from any party

moderate

each party is _________ in its policies in order to attract more Americans; third parties are generally more radical/ extreme

realining election

election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in economy and society that proves to be a turning point; redefines agenda of politics and the alignment of voters/ demographics (includes 1824, 1860, 1896, 1932)

direct primary

election in which voters choose party nominees

proportional representation

election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of vote

divided gov

governance divided between the parties, as when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses in Congress

independent expenditure

individuals, groups, parties can spend unlimited amounts in campaigns for or against candidates as long as they operate independently from candidates

nonpartisan election

local or judicial election in which candidates are not selected or endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots

caucus

meeting of local party members to choose party candidates for public office and decide platform

party convention

meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and select party candidates to public office

Green party

minor party dedicated to environment, social justice, nonviolence, noninventerventionist foreign policy

Reform party

minor party founded in 1995 (R Perot) focuses on national gov reform, fiscal responsibility, political accountability

Libertarian

minor party; extremely limited government; want free market system, individual liberties expanded, free trade, and open immigration (the EXTREME RIGHT)

soft money

money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes; now illegal

political party

organization that seeks political power by electing people to office so that its positions and philosophy become public policy

honeymoon

period at the beginning of a new president's term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress

hard money

political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed/ public

open primary

primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote

closed primary

primary election in which only persons registered in the party holding the primary can vote

minor party

small political party that rises and falls with candidate or ideologies (third party)- does not last

patronage

the dispensing of government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party

Keynesian economics

theory based on principles of John Maynard Keynes, stating that gov spending should increase during business slumps and be curbed during booms

laissez-faire economics

theory that opposes gov interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property

political parties

they function to: -simplify voting choices -organize competition -unify electorate -organize government -translate public preferences to public policy -provide loyal opposition

crossover voting

voting by a member of one party for a candidate of another party

dealignment

weakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in number of independents