Government Alive Ch 8

democratic party

a party that usually supports a strong federal (central) government, tax cuts for the poor and raising taxes for the wealthy, government regulationof businesses, abortion rights laws and gun-control laws, and an increase in minimum wage

Public Policy

a plan or course of action initiated by government to achieve a stated goal

Platforms

a political party's statement of principles and objectives

Two-party System

a political system in which two parties dominate the electoral process and control the government

Political Action Committees (PACs)-

an organization that raises and distributes funds to candidates running for office

Political Parties

an organization that seeks to achieve power by electing its members to public office

Lobbying

an organized effort to influence the policy process by persuading public officials to favor or oppose action on a specific issue

Interest Groups

an organized group whose members share a common goal and try to promote their interests by influencing government policymaking and decision making

green party

political party that helped raise awareness of environmental issues

socialist party

political party that promoted government ownership of basic industry

republican party

political party that supports limiting the size of government, broad based tax cuts to encourage economic growth, and usually prayer in school. Usually oppose pro-abortion or gun control laws.

Pluralism

the idea that political power should be distributed and shared among various groups

steps of policy making

1. Identification 2. Agenda Setting 3. Policy Formation 4.Adoption 5. Implementation 6. Evaluation

Special Interest Group

a group that seeks to influence government policymaking and decision making to further its particular goals;

dixiecrat party

The "States Rights Party"-seperated from the Democratic party to oppose desegregation-1948

Precinct

a local voting district of a city or town

libertarian party

favors reducing the role of government in citizens' lives

bull moose party

the progressive party. Separated from the republican party to promote progressive reform

Grassroots Mobilization

the rallying of strong and vocal support from a large group of people at the local level