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