Chapter 8: Political Parties: American Government
Democratic
"blue states"
Republican
"red states"
Quote (from Parties' Core Constituents)
"the Republican Party is primarily the agent of an ideological movement whose supporters prize doctrinal purity, while the Democratic Party is better understood as a coalition of social groups seeking concrete government action."
black-reform coalition (obama vs. clinton)
(DEMOCRATIC) -Barack Obama appealed to the middle-class reform element while Hillary Clinton did best among working-class regulars. -Obama, after all, had opposed the war in Iraq, while Clinton had supported it. -Clinton a victory, but Obama also gained strong support among AFRICAN AMERICAN voters. (A BLACK-REFORM COALITION was just enough to put him over the top.) (Differences between DEmocrats and Republicans)
Sander vs. Clinton
(DEMOCRATIC) -Sanders's pitch was almost entirely based on economic inequality. As a result, he was able to outdraw Clinton among white working-class voters. -Clinton was able to win over much of the middle class, especially women -Sanders did very well among younger voters, while older ones tended to prefer Clinton. -Sanders supporters perceived themselves as more radical than those backing Clinton. -Yet the two candidates were clearly headed in the same progressive direction. They were separated by strategy, not ideology. (Differences between Democrats and Republicans)
antiwar
(Differences between Democrats and Republicans) Democrats were likely to be ________ or interested in the environment, women's rights, or other causes. (ex: During the Vietnam War (1965-1975), differences between "regulars" and antiwar insurgents almost tore the Democrats apart. )
Libertarian Republicans
(REPUBLICANS) A third type of Republican, however, is strongly _____________. These voters dislike government regulation of social issues as well as economic ones. (They may also oppose U.S. intervention in foreign conflicts. This group is much smaller than the Religious Right or the pro-business bloc and has little influence on party policy.) (Differences between Republicans and Democratics)
Business-Oriented (Republicans)
(REPUBLICANS) Another group of Republicans is more oriented toward economic issues and business concerns. Such voters oppose high tax rates and are concerned about government regulations that interfere with the conduct of business. (These voters often are small-business owners or have some other connection to commercial enterprise.) (Differences between Democrats and Republicans)
Radicals and Moderates
(REPUBLICANS) In the twenty-first century, differences within the parties often pitted moderates against radicals. (Ex:The contest between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders was an example of this tendency) In 2010 and 2012, Tea Party activists and other ideological groups sought to purge the Republicans of so-called RINOs (Republicans in name only). (The rise of Trump scrambled the division between radicals and moderates, at least for a time.) (Differences between Democrats and Republicans)
Religious Right
(REPUBLICANS) One bloc of GOP voters, often called the ________ _______, is energized by conservative religious beliefs. These conservatives are often evangelical Protestants but may also be Catholics, Mormons, or adherents of other faiths. In the recent past, moral issues such as abortion and gay marriage have been important for these voters. (Differences between Democrats and Republicans)
Conservative Nationalist
(REPUBLICANS) The rise of Donald Trump exposed an additional type of Republican—___________ _________. Opposition to immigration and foreign imports were key issues for this group. (These positions put them in direct conflict with the business wing of the party, which supported free trade and relatively open immigration.) (Trump supporters were disproportionately working class, but many of them were small-business owners and others who had been relatively successful in life.) (Differences between Democrats and Republicans)
national chairperson jobs
(The party's presidential candidate chooses the national chairperson. If the candidate LOSES , however, the chairperson is often CHANGED.) The national chairperson performs such JOBS as establishing a national party headquarters, raising campaign funds and distributing them to state parties and to candidates, and appearing in the media as a party spokesperson. (The national chairperson, along with the national committee, attempts to maintain some sort of communication among the different levels of the party organization.) (Party Organization)
Impact of third parties
(Third parties have rarely been able to affect American politics by actually winning elections.) 1. Third Parties can influence one of the major parties to take up one or more issues. (Democratic Party took over the Populist demand for "free silver"—that is, a policy of coining enough new money to create an inflation) 2. Their parties can determine the outcome of a particular election by pulling votes from of the major-party candidates in what is called the "spoiler effect." (Green Party candidate Ralph Nader received almost 100,000 votes in Florida, a majority of which would probably have gone to Democrat Al Gore if Nader had not been in the race.) (The Role of Minor Parties in the U.S. Politics)
party
A _____ includes elected officials who ran under the party's banner, officers of the party organization itself, and party supporters (These supporters may be ordinary citizens who do nothing more than regularly vote for the party's candidates)
dealignment
A decline in party loyalties that reduces long-term party commitment. When realignment is no longer likely because voters are not as committed to the two major parties as they were in the 1800s and early 1900s. In this view, called _________ ____.
party platform (National Party organization)
A document drawn up at each national convention, outlining the policies, positions, and principles of the party. (_____ _________ developed at the national convention. The platform sets forth the party's position on the issues and makes promises to initiate certain policies if the party wins control of the government.) (Platform sometimes is neglected or ignored when party candidates disagree.) (Still, once elected, the parties very often do try to carry out platform promises, and many of the promises eventually become law.)
political party
A group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine public policy. (Political parties are thus different from interest group, which seek to INFLUENCE, NOT RUN, the government.)
Democratic Party
A history of appealing to groups—labor, African Americans, and later environmentalists,women, and the LGBT community—has shaped the character of the _________ _____ to this day. (Summarize key differences between the policies and supporters of the major parties) (The Parties Core Constituents) (Democratic core value)
Whig Party
A major party in the United States during the first half of the 19th century, formally established in 1836. The ____ ___ was anti-Jackson (Democratic Party) and represented a variety of regional interests. Later, the National Republicans (The supporters of Adams) took the name _____ ____, which had been a traditional name for British liberals.
splinter parties
A new party formed by a dissident faction within a major political party. Often, splinter parties have emerged when a particular personality was at odds with the major party. Some of the more successful minor parties have been those that split from major parties. (The Role of Minor Parties in the U.S. Politics)
GOP
A nickname for the Republican Party; stands for "grand old party." (After the the Civil war, the Republicans adopted the nickname ___.)
plurality
A number of votes cast for a candidate that is greater than the number of votes for any other candidate but not necessarily a majority. (At almost every level of government in the United States, the outcome of elections is based on the ____, winner-take-all principle. In a _____ system, the winner is the person who obtains the most votes, even if that person does not receive a majority more than 50 percent of the votes. Whoever gets the most votes gets everything.) (the Winner-Take-All Electoral System- One of the 4 reasons why two political parties have dominated American politics for more than two centuries)
tipping
A phenomenon that occurs when a group that is becoming more numerous over time grows large enough to change the political balance in a district, state, or country. (Even when groups of voters never change their party preferences, if one group becomes more numerous over time, it can become dominant for that reason alone.) (Consider Massachusetts, where for generations Irish Catholics confronted Protestant Yankees in the political arena. Most of the Yankees were Republicans, and most of the Irish were Democrats. The Yankees were numerically dominant from the founding of the state until 1928. In that year, for the first time, Democratic Irish voters came to outnumber the Republican Yankees. Massachusetts, which previously had been one of the most solidly Republican states, became one of the most reliably Democratic states in the nation.) (TIPPING)
Third Parties
A political party other than the two major parties-Republican and Democratic. (The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics)
two-party system
A political system in which only two parties have a reasonable chance of winning. (The United States has a ___-_____ _____ and that system has been around since before 1800.)
independent
A problem with dealignment theory is that many of the "_________" voters are not all that independent. Political scientists have long known that a majority of self-identified independents reliably support one or another of the major political parties.
realignment
A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape. One is that in realignment a newly dominant party must replace the previously dominant party. For realignment to occur, a substantial body of citizens must come to believe that their party can no longer represent their interests or values. (Realignment has often been associated with particular elections, called realigning elections)
Divided government
A situation in which one major political party controls the presidency and the other controls one or more chambers of Congress, or in which one party controls a state governorship and the other controls part or all of the state legislature. (In short means, that one is which the executive and legislative branches are controlled by different parties.) (The winning party has less control over the government when the government is divided.) (Even though the Democrats still controlled the presidency and the U.S. Senate, they could not pass legislation unless it was also supported by the Republicans in the House.)
national committee
A standing committee of a national political party established to direct and coordinate party activities between national party conventions. (At the national convention, each of the parties formally chooses a national standing committee, elected by the individual state parties. This national committee directs and coordinates party activities during the following FOUR YEARS. (Party Organization)
Independents
A voter or candidate who does not identify with a political party. (Today, more that 40% of all voters call themselves __________, although in fact 3 quarters or more of all independents lean toward either the Republicans or the Democrats) (For many years, Americans were divided fairly evenly among these three choices: Republican, a Democrat, or an independent.)
twice
Actually, realignment could easily strengthen an already dominant party. Alternatively, realignment could result in a tie. This has happened—____. (One example was the realignment of the 1850s, which resulted in Abraham Lincoln's election as president in 1860. After the Civil War, the Republicans and the Democrats were almost evenly matched nationally.)
Organizing and controlling to government
After the election is over and the winners are announced, the focus of party activity shifts from getting out the VOTE to ORGANIZING AND CONTROLLING THE GOVERNMENT. (The Party-in-Government)
National Republicans
After the era of good feelings, organization of the two-party has returned. The supporters of Adams called themselves _______ _________. (History of the two-party system) (Democrats and Whigs)
party in government
All of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a particular political party. (Generally, elected officials do not also hold official party positions within the formal organization, although they often have the informal power to appoint party executives.) (One of the three faces of a party)
State and Federal Laws Favoring the Two Parties
All of the rules and procedures of both chambers of Congress divide committee seats, staff members, and other privileges on the basis of party membership. A legislator who is elected on a minor-party ticket, such as the Conservative Party of New York, must choose to be counted with one of the major parties to obtain a committee assignment. (State and Federal Laws Favoring the Two Parties - One of the 4 reasons why two political parties have dominated American politics for more than two centuries)
parties
American ______ concentrate on winning elections RATHER THAN on signing up large numbers of deeply committed, dues-paying members who believe passionately in the party's program.
A local representative and a preferred party
An alternative system is to let voters choose both A LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE and A PREFERRED PARTY Regardless of how PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATIVE is implemented, such a system GIVES SMALLER PARTIES GREATER INCENTIVE to organize than in the United States. (the Winner-Take-All Electoral System- One of the 4 reasons why two political parties have dominated American politics for more than two centuries)
wave election
An election in which voters display dissatisfaction with one of the major parties through a "wave'' of support for the other. In contrast to a realigning election, the result of a wave election are not permanent. (From time to time, voters demonstrate that they are relatively dissatisfied with the performance of one or another of the major parties. This dissatisfaction can produce a "wave" of support for the other party.) (Summarize key differences between the policies and supporters of the major parties) (A Series of Wave Elections)
Executive and legislative
At the national level, an important factor is WHETHER the party controls both the EXECUTIVE and the LEGISLATIVE branches of government.
era of good feelings.
Because there was no real political opposition to the Republicans and thus little political debate, the administration of James Monroe 1817-1825 came to be known as the ___ __ ____ _______. (History of America's Political Parties) (The One-Party Interlude)
economic
CULTURAL FORCES and ________ interests do not always pull in the same direction. (Differences between REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS) (Cultural Values and Party Loyalty)
Republicans
CULTURALLY CONSERVATIVE Democrats, including many Southerners and some Northern members of the working class, abandoned their party and found a new home with the __________. (Democrats was a home for the poor and working class while Republicans was a home for those who has a very strong cultural beliefs) (Summarize key differences between the policies and supporters of the major parties) (The Parties Core Constituents)
Republican's Core Value
Conservatism, as a philosophy, is central to the Republican Party and a powerful force for party unity. the Republican coalition rests on different principles than the Democratic coalition.
liberals
Delegates to the Democratic National Convention often take stands on issues that are far more _______ than the positions of ordinary Democratic voters. (Why does this happen? In part, it is because a person who wishes to become a delegate must be appointed by party leaders or gather votes in a primary election from party members who care enough to vote in a primary.) (Convention Delegates) (The party organization)
conservative
Delegates to the Republican National Convention are often more ____________ than ordinary Republican voters. (Why does this happen? In part, it is because a person who wishes to become a delegate must be appointed by party leaders or gather votes in a primary election from party members who care enough to vote in a primary.) (Convention Delegates) (The Party Organization)
working class
Democratic Party became something that it had never been before—a party representing the ________ _____. (In those years, President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented new social programs, including Social Security and unemployment insurance. These New Deal programs were in part an attempt to reverse the effects of the Great Depression, which had brought hard times to Americans. Roosevelt's new legislation was particularly beneficial to labor, racial minorities, and lower-income persons in general. Social programs to benefit such groups continue to be key planks in the Democratic Party platform.) (Summarize key differences between the policies and supporters of the major parties) (The Parties Core Constituents) (Democratic Core Value)
Democrats Cultural Politics
Democrats opposed what they saw as culturally coercive measures. As a result, Catholics were strongly Democratic (Post Civil-War Period)
middle-class to upper-middle-class
In addition to members of the working class and various racial and ethnic minority groups, the Democrats have long included MIDDLE-CLASS TO UPPER-MIDDLE-CLASS "reform" elements that are drawn to specific issues. (Democrats) (Difference between Democrats and Republicans)
working class
many white _________ _____ Democrats have become Republicans, even as the number of well-educated LIBERALS in the party has grown. (Democrats) (Difference between Democrats and Republicans)
progressivism
this spirit was compounded of a fear of the growing power of large corporations and a belief that honest, impartial government could regulate the economy effectively.
Republicans
urban working-class voters who believed that INFLATION would reduce the purchasing power of their paychecks and who therefore became REPUBLICANS. (Post-Civil War Period)
The several reasons why two political parties (Democrats and Republican) have dominated American politics for more than two centuries
1. Historical Foundation of the system. 2. Political socialization and practical considerations. 3. The winner-take-all electoral system 4. State and federal laws favoring the two-party system.
Functions of Political Parties (in the United States)
1. Recruiting candidates for public office 2. Organizing and running elections 3. presenting alternative policies to the electorate 4. Accepting Responsibility for operating the government 5. Acting as the organized opposition to the party in power
Ideology Functions (Third Party)
1. The members of the party regard themselves as outsiders and look to one another for support- ideology provides great psychological cohesiveness. 2. Because the rewards of ideological commitment are partly psychological, these parties do not think in terms of immediate electoral success. (The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics) (Today's active ideological parties include the Libertarian Party and the Green Party.) (Libertarian Party supports a laissez-faire "let it be" capitalist economic program) (The Green Party began as a grassroots environmentalist organization, "corporate greed," advocated universal health insurance, and promoted environmental concerns.) (The Role of Minor Parties in the U.S. Politics)
Third parties can come into existence in a number of ways
1. They may be founded from scratch by individuals or groups who are committed to a particular interest, issue, or ideology 2. They can split off from one of the major parties when a group becomes dissatisfied with the major party's policies. 3. They can be organized around a particular charismatic leader and serve as that person's vehicle for contesting elections. (Third parties have acted as barometers of change in the political mood, forcing the major parties to recognize new issues or trends in the thinking of Americans.) (The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics)
spoiler effect
3rd party pulling votes from one of the major-party candidates (One of the impact of Minor Parties) (The Role of Minor Parties in the U.S. Politics)
State Party
Each STATE PARTY has a CHAIRPERSON, a COMMITTEE, and a number of local organizations. (Party Organization)
City Machines
For immigrants and the poor, the POLITICAL MACHINE often furnished important services and protections. CITY MACHINES are now dead, mostly because their function of providing social services (and reaping the reward of votes) has been taken over by state and national agencies. (Party Organization)
Republican, Democrat, or an Independent
For many years Americans are divided fairly evenly among these three choices: ___________, __________, __ __ ______________
Is Realignment Still Possible?
For realignment to occur, a substantial body of citizens must come to believe that their party can no longer represent their interests or values. Many West Virginia voters switched from the Democrats to the Republicans in the belief that Democratic environmentalists were "anti-coal." Muslims of Middle Eastern ancestry provide another small-scale example.
Political Socialization and Practical Considerations
Given that the majority of Americans identify with one of the two major political parties, it is not surprising that many children learn at a fairly young age to think of themselves as either Democrats or Republicans. (This generates a built-in mechanism to perpetuate a two-party system.) Also, most politically oriented people who aspire to work for change consider that the only realistic way to capture political power in this country is to be either a Republican or a Democrat. (One of the 4 reasons why two political parties have dominated American politics for more than two centuries)
Member
Hardly anyone actually belongs to a political party in the sense of being a card-carrying member. To become a member of a political party, you do not have to pay dues, pass an examination, or swear an oath of allegiance.
Wave Elections Threaten the Democrats
In 2010, a wave election returned control of the House to the Republicans. Many voters were convinced that Democrats were expanding government to an unacceptable degree. (The uncompromising politics of many of the new Republicans in Congress, however, may have helped President Obama win reelection in 2012. Still, the Republicans retained control of the House, even though Democratic House candidates won more votes nationwide than Republican candidates. The 2014 midterm elections appeared to be another Republican wave.) (Summarize key differences between the policies and supporters of the major parties) (series of wave elections)
unit rule
In all but two states, Maine and Nebraska, if a presidential candidate wins a plurality in the state, then all of the state's electoral votes go to that candidate. This is known as the ____ _____. Minor parties have a difficult time competing under such a system. (Because voters know that minor parties cannot win any electoral votes, they often will not vote for minor-party candidates, even if the candidates are in tune with them ideologically.) (the Winner-Take-All Electoral System- One of the 4 reasons why two political parties have dominated American politics for more than two centuries)
party polarization
In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult for legislators in either party to obtain support for important legislation from members of the other party. One reason for party-line voting is that political overlap between the two parties has essentially vanished. Political scientists calculated that by 2009, the most conservative Democrat in the House was still more liberal than the most liberal Republican—if a term such as liberal Republican still makes any sense.
wave election
In the 2006 midterm elections, the Democrats took control of the U.S. House and Senate in a WAVE ELECTION. (Wave Elections Sweep Out the Republicans) (Series of Wave elections) (Summarize key differences between the policies and supporters of the major parties)
U.S. Election of Governors and President
In the United States, the people elect the president and the governors of all fifty states. There is no opportunity for two or more parties to negotiate a coalition. Here, too, the winner-take-all principle discriminates powerfully against any third party. (the Winner-Take-All Electoral System- One of the 4 reasons why two political parties have dominated American politics for more than two centuries)
The Historical Foundation of the Two-Party System.
In the beginning, Americans were at odds over ratifying the Constitution. After the Constitution went into effect, the power of the federal government became the major national issue. Thereafter, the dispute over slavery divided the nation, North versus South. After the Civil War—cultural differences have been important. In that period, advocates of government-sponsored morality (such as banning alcoholic beverages) were pitted against advocates of personal liberty. During much of the twentieth century, economic differences were preeminent. In the New Deal period, the Democrats became known as the party of the working class, while the Republicans became known as the party of the middle and upper classes and commercial interests. In situations like these, when politics is based on an argument between two opposing points of view, advocates of each viewpoint can mobilize most effectively by forming a single, unified party. The result is a two-party system. When such a system has been in existence for almost two centuries, it becomes difficult to imagine an alternative. (One of the 4 reasons why two political parties have dominated American politics for more than two centuries)
Policy Demanders
Individuals or interest group members who participate in political parties with the intent to see that certain policies are adopted or specific groups favored. (In the Party Decides, a team of political scientists has argued that _______ ___________are a key part of any major party.)
Republican Ruling
It is true that from 1995 until the elections of 2006, the Republicans generally controlled Congress. Their margins of control, however, were very narrow. (As these conservative Democrats retired, they were largely replaced by Republicans. In 1994, Republicans were able to take control of both the House and the Senate for the first time in many years.) (Era of divided government)
Democratic on Progressivism
Like Roosevelt, Wilson considered himself a progressive, although he and Roosevelt did not agree on how progressivism ought to be implemented. Dating back to its very foundation, the Democratic Party had been the party of limited government. Under Wilson, the Democrats became for the first time at least as receptive as the Republicans to government action in the economy. (Wilson's progressivism did not extend to race relations—African Americans found the Wilson administration to be unremittingly hostile to their interests.) (The progressive interlude)
party identification
Linking oneself to a particular political party. (Dealignment happens: The chart displays a rise in the number of independent voters throughout the period combined with a fall in support for the Democrats from the mid-1960s on)
Local party organization
Local party organizations are also the most important vehicles for recruiting young adults into political work. (In many regions, local Democratic and Republican organizations still exercise some patronage, such as awarding courthouse jobs, contracts for street repair, and other lucrative construction contracts) (Party Organizations)
Proportional representation
Many other nations use a system of __________ ___________. If, during the national election, party X obtains 12 percent of the vote, party Y gets 43 percent of the vote, and party Z gets the remaining 45 percent of the vote, then party X gets 12 percent of the seats in the legislature, party Y gets 43 percent of the seats, and party Z gets 45 percent of the seats. (the Winner-Take-All Electoral System- One of the 4 reasons why two political parties have dominated American politics for more than two centuries)
State and Federal Laws Favoring the Two Parties
Many state and federal election laws offer a clear advantage to the two major parties. In some states, the established MAJOR PARTIES need to gather FEWER SIGNATURES to place their candidates on the ballot THAN MINOR PARTIES or independent candidates DO. (The criterion for determining how many signatures will be required is often based on the total party vote in the last general election, thus penalizing a new political party that did not compete in that election.) (One of the 4 reasons why two political parties have dominated American politics for more than two centuries)
two political parties
Nevertheless, in the years after the ratification of the Constitution, Americans came to realize that some permanent mechanism would be necessary to identify candidates for office and represent political differences among the people. The result was ___ ______ _____.
Blocking tactics (Party Polarization)
One effect of the new polarization is that interpersonal relationships between members of the parties have deteriorated. A second effect is the growing tactic of blocking bills to make the other party appear ineffective, without any attempt to reach a compromise.
national chairperson
One of the jobs of the NATIONAL COMMITTEE is to ratify the presidential nominee's choice of a national chairperson, who in principle acts as the spokesperson for the party. The NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON and the NATIONAL COMMITTEE plan the next campaign and the next convention, obtain financial contributions, and publicize the national party. (Party Organization)
Democratic Party
One of the two major American political parties evolving out of the Republican Party of Thomas Jefferson. The supporters of Andrew Jackson, who defeated Adams in 1828, formed the ________ _____. (After the era of good feeligns) (History of American's Political Parties) (Democrats and Whigs)
Republican Party
One of the two major American political parties. It emerged in the 1850's as an antislavery party and consisted of former norther Whigs and antislavery Democrats. (The Whigs were split in two) (The Whigs had been the party of an active federal government, but white Southerners had come to believe that "a government strong enough to build roads is a government strong enough to free your slaves.") (History of American's Political Parties) (The Civil War Crisis)
Federalists
One party was the _________, which included John Adams, the second president (1797-1801). The Federalists represented commercial interests such as merchants and large planters. They supported a strong national government. (History of U.S. Political Parties) (Federalist and Republican)
electors
Recall that the voters in each state do not vote for a president directly but vote for electoral college delegates who are committed to the various presidential candidates. These delegates are called _______. The winner-take-all system also operates in the election of the U.S. president. (the Winner-Take-All Electoral System- One of the 4 reasons why two political parties have dominated American politics for more than two centuries)
New Deal
Republican Herbert Hoover didn't do so well in handling the Great Depression. Roosevelt, the Democratic, started the ___ _____ relief program. Which were open to all citizens, both black and white. As a result, African Americans began to support the DEMOCRATIC PARTY- (A development that stunned Americna Politicians of the 1800s.) (The New Deal Era.)
economic interest
Republicans are more on the side of cultural value and Democrats are more on the side of __________ ______.
Multiple Representatives
Some nations implement proportional representation by creating districts that elect MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIVES. (Such a system, however, can require the creation of districts that are uncomfortably LARGE. The nation of Israel, for example, is a single, large electoral district. Every party runs nationwide.) (the Winner-Take-All Electoral System- One of the 4 reasons why two political parties have dominated American politics for more than two centuries)
Anti-federalist
The Federalist pushed for the adoption of the Constitution, whereas the ____-_________ were
elites
The PARTY IN THE ELECTORATE does not consist of ordinary Americans but of _____: opinion leaders, motivated interests, media personalities, fund-raisers, large-scale contributors, and prominent figures of all types. (Party of the electorate)
Republican Cultural Politics
The Republicans thought that the government should promote business and economic growth, but many Republicans also wanted to use the power of government to impose evangelical Protestant moral values on society. Many Republicans wanted to limit or even prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages. They favored the establishment of public schools—with a Protestant curriculum. (Post-Civil War Period)
internal improvements
The Whigs stood for, among other things, federal spending on "_________ _________," such as roads. (After the era of good feelings) (History of American's Political Parties) (Democrats and Whigs)
FEC (Federal Election Commission)
The ___ rules for campaign financing also place restrictions on minor-party candidates for president. Such candidates are not eligible for federal matching funds in either the primary or the general elections. (In the 1980 elections, John Anderson, running for president as an independent, sued the FEC for campaign funds. The commission finally agreed to repay part of his campaign costs after Election Day in proportion to the votes he received. Giving funds to a candidate when the campaign is over is, of course, much less helpful than providing funds while the campaign is still under way.) (State and Federal Laws Favoring the Two Parties - One of the 4 reasons why two political parties have dominated American politics for more than two centuries)
Federalist
The ________ pushed for the adoption of the Constitution, whereas the anti-federalists were against ratification.
common man
The democrats opposed the "internal improvement" policy. most favored personal liberty and opportunity for the "______ ___." It was understood implicitly that the "______ ___" was a white man—hostility toward African Americans was an important force holding the disparate Democratic groups together (History of American's Political Parties) (Democrats and Whigs)
party organization
The formal structure and leadership of a political party, including election committees; local, state, and national executives; and paid professional staff. (One of the three faces of a party) (_____ _________, provides the structural framework for the political party by recruiting volunteers to become party leaders, identifying potential candidates, and organizing caucuses, convention, and election campaigns for its candidates.)
Ideological Third Parties
The longest-lived third parties have been those with strong ideological foundations that are typically at odds with the majority mind-set. (The Socialist Party is an example. The party was founded in 1901 and lasted until 1972, when it was finally dissolved.) (Conservatives recently revived the term socialist as an insult directed at President Obama) (The Role of Minor Parties in the U.S. Politics)
Party Machinery
The lowest layer of PARTY MACHINERY is the local organization, supported by district leaders, precinct or ward captains, and party workers. (Party Organization)
National convention
The meeting held every four years by each major party to select presidential and vice presidential candidates, to write a platform, to choose a national committee, and to conduct party business. (Each party has a national organization, the most conspicuous part of which is the ________ ________, held every four years. The convention is used to officially nominate the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.) (Party Organization)
state central committee
The principal organized structure of each political party within each state. This committee is responsible for carrying out policy decisions of the party's state convention. (Also, like the NATIONAL COMMITTEE, the state central committee has control over the use of party campaign funds during political campaigns. Usually, the state central committee has little, if any, influence on party candidates once they are elected.) (party organization)
motivated reasoning
The process of beginning with the conclusion you want, and only then assembling data and arguments to back up your conclusions. This can also be called "Backward reasoning" (It is very common for people to first establish what it is that they want to believe, and only then assemble data and arguments to back up their conclusions. This is backward reasoning) (For instance, it can be difficult for a progressive to defend crops altered by genetic engineering (GMO crops) even though the scientific evidence is that such crops are harmless.) (Differences between Democrats and Republicans)
patronage
The rewarding of faithful party workers and followers with government employment or contracts. (The rewarding of the party faithful with government jobs or contracts—held the local organization together.)
nonparty independent
Third parties have also been formed to back individual candidates who were not rebelling against a particular party. (The Role of Minor Parties in the U.S. Politics) (In theory, Perot ran in 1992 as a NONPARTY INDEPENDENT In practice, he had to create a campaign organization. By 1996, Perot's organization was formalized as the Reform Party.)
Civil Rights Movement
This cause BIG RESULTS in the Democratic coalition. (Summarize key differences between the policies and supporters of the major parties) (The Parties Core Constituents) (Democratic Core Value)
Republicans
Thomas Jefferson led the other party, which came to be called the _________, or Jeffersonian Republicans. Jefferson's Republicans represented artisans and farmers. They strongly supported STATE'S RIGHTS. In 1800, when Jefferson defeated Adams in the presidential contest, one of the world's first peaceful transfers of power from one party to another was achieved. (These Republicans should not be confused with the later Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln.) (History of U.S. Political Parties) (Federalist and Republicans)
party in the electorate
Those members of the general public who identify with a political party or who express a preference for one party over another. (One of the three faces of a party) (Consisted with 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.)
swing voters
Voters who frequently swing their support from one party to another. (A problem with dealignment theory is that many of the "independent" voters are not all that independent. Political scientists have long known that a majority of self-identified independents reliably support one or another of the major political parties.) (Dealignment)
straight ticket voting
Voting exclusively for the candidates of one party. That is, to vote for all the candidates of one party. (Not only has the number of independents grown over the last half century, but voters have also been less willing to vote a ______ ____) (Dealignment)
split-ticket voting
Voting for candidates of two or more parties for different offices, such as voting for a Republican presidential candidate and a Democratic congressional candidate. (In the early twentieth century, straight-ticket voting was nearly universal. By midcentury, 12 percent of voters engaged in split-ticket voting. By the 1970s and 1980s, 25 to 30 percent of all ballots cast in presidential election years were split-ticket. In recent years, however, conservative Democrats have become scarce, and the incidence of split-ticket voting has ranged only from 17 to 19 percent.) (Dealignment)
different points of view
We remarked earlier that cultural conservatism propelled some white working-class voters out of the Democratic Party and into the Republican ranks. A number of these voters may initially have retained certain progressive economic ideas. Yet it is not comfortable to hold progressive economic views while supporting a conservative party. (CLIMATE CHANGE can serve as an example.) (Today, almost all progressives believe that climate change is a problem, and almost all conservatives believe that it is not.) (Cultural Values and Party Loyalty) (Differences between Republicans and Democrats)
party in the electorate, party organization, and party in government
What are the three faces of a party?
policy demanders
What does PARTY IN THE ELECTORATE consists of? (In the Democratic Party, for example, teachers' unions function as _____ ____________ who favor increased spending on education and policies that benefit teachers. Among the Republicans, a variety of _____ ________ oppose legislation that would grant legal status to unauthorized immigrants.)
Importance of turnouts
While the Republican triumph in 2014 was undeniable, some observers questioned whether that success was really due to a wave election. Some thought that the nation might be moving into a long-term pattern in which Democrats did better in presidential years, while Republicans held the majority in the midterms. (Many minority group members and young Democrats failed to vote in the midterms) (Such a pattern might have emerged if Hillary Clinton had won in 2016. In fact, the electoral college winner was Donald Trump. Even on the day he was elected, Trump was the less popular candidate, as measured by the popular vote.) (Trump's disapproval ratings in the polls rose above 50 percent and stayed there. In special elections and in the few state elections held in November 2017, Democratic turnout rose to unprecedented levels. If the Democrats were to display such energy in November 2018, the Republicans would be in serious trouble.) (Summarize key differences between the policies and supporters of the major parties)
-Individuals of low incomes -Individuals with advancing degrees -Jewish -Hispanics -African Americans -City dwellers
Who are the people that support the Democrats? (Summarize key differences between the policies and supporters of the major parties) (The parties Core Constituents)
-Businesspersons -White evangelical Christians (churchgoers) -Rural People
Who are the people that supports the Republicans? (Summarize key differences between the policies and supporters of the major parties) (The Parties Core Constituents)
Populist Movement
_______ ________ emerged in the West and South to champion the interests of small farmers, who were often greatly in debt. Populists SUPPORTED INFLATION, which benefited debtors by reducing the real value of outstanding debts. (DEMOCRATS) (few western farmers who were drawn to the Democrats by this step was greatly outnumbered) (Post-Civil War Period)
Cultural Values
________ ____ have played a growing role in defining the beliefs of the two major parties. For example, in 1987 Democrats were almost as likely to favor stricter abortion laws (40 percent) as Republicans were (48 percent). Today, Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to favor stricter abortion laws (50 percent to 25 percent). (Cultural Values and Party Loyalty) (Differences between Republicans and Democrats.)
greater levels of education
progressives often assumed that GREATER LEVELS OF EDUCATION might change people's minds on an issue such as climate change. (As it turns out, better-educated Republicans are more skeptical of the importance of climate change, not less. If you are better educated, you are more likely to know what your party's position is on an issue such as this) (Cultural Values and Party Loyalty) (Differences between REpublicans and Democrats)
realignment
refer to this kind of large-scale change in support for two major parties.
rolling realignment
that is, a realignment not tied to any specific election year. (when realignment happens gradually over time and not in one particular election) (Example:Culturally conservative Democrats, including many Southerners and some Northern members of the working class, abandoned their party and found a new home with the Republicans.)
