Government Unit II

political parties

-people and interests with a primary goal of gaining *control* by winning elections -chiefly concerned with the recruitment, nomination, and election of citizens to governmental office

Road to the White House

1) announcement for running for presidency 2) primary campaign/election 3) party convention 4) debates 5) general campaign/election 6) victory!

Grandfather Clause

A clause in registration laws allowing people who do not meet registration requirements to vote if they or their ancestors had voted before 1867. ended by the voting rights act of 1965

national conventions

A meeting held every four years by each of the major political parties to nominate a presidential candidate.

Green Party

A minor party dedicated to the environment, social justice, nonviolence, and the foreign policy of nonintervention

Disenfranchisement

Condition of being deprived of the right to vote

civil rights act of 1960

Created federal voting referees who helped correct conditions to prevent voter discrimination; required that voting and registration records for federal elections be preserved

literacy tests

Method used to deny African-Americans the vote in the South that tested a person's ability to read and write - they were done very unfairly so even though most African-Americans could read and write by the 1950's they still failed. ended by the 15th amendment.

primary election

Nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election

civil rights act of 1957

Primarily a voting rights bill, was the first civil rights legislation enacted by Republicans in the United States since Reconstruction; authorized the us attorney general to seek court injunctions against deprivation and obstruction of voting rights by state officials

24th Amendment (1964)

Prohibits federal and state governments from charging poll tax

poll taxes

Small taxes levied on the right to vote that often fell due at a time of year when poor African-American sharecroppers had the least cash on hand. This method was used by most Southern states to exclude African Americans from voting. Poll taxes were declared void by the 24th Amendment in 1964.

roe v wade

The 1973 Supreme Court decision holding that a state ban on all abortions was unconstitutional. The decision forbade state control over abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy, permitted states to limit abortions to protect the mother's health in the second trimester, and permitted states to protect the fetus during the third trimester.

15th Amendment (1870)

U.S. cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or creed *ended literacy tests*

All White Primaries

White primaries were primary elections held in the Southern United States in which only white voters were permitted to participate. White primaries were established by the state Democratic Party units or by state legislatures in many Southern states after 1890.

voting rights act of 1965

a law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African-American suffrage; ended th grandfather clause

the ideology line from left to right

communism, socialism, liberalism, libertarian, conservative, fascism

general election

election in which voters decide which candidates will actually fill elective public offices

third parties

electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.

ideologies are philosophies on how a governing body should govern; political parties are the CHAMPIONS of the ideology

how is an ideology different than a political party?

interest groups are more concerned with ________________ policy and law political parties are more concerned with ___________ policy (law) and government

influencing controlling

Electoral College

the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice-president

-expanded social programs -tax cuts for lower-middle income and small businesses -higher tax rate for the upper income and big corps -universal healthcare -more in support of open border immigration policy -progressive social values and policies

what are some common platforms of the democratic party?

-free market economy (least govt involvement) -comprehensive immigration reform -increased levels of military spending -lower taxes for general public and corporations -"traditional" values -NOT in support of Roe v. Wade

what are some common platforms of the republican party?

1800, 1828, 1860, 1896, 1932, 1980, 2016

what are some examples of critical elections?

-advertising -battleground states -vice pres selection -incumbent vs open elections -the platform -candidate familiarity

what are some strategies used in the general elections?

conservatism, libertarianism, liberalism

what are the 3 major ideologies?

-prefer social/economic systems largely untouched by govt -opposed to govt assistance -2 types: fiscal and social

what are the main aspects of conservatism?

-favor govt regulation of economy -govt obligated to aid unemployed, alleviate poverty, and guarantee equal rights

what are the main aspects of liberalism?

minimal govt role in economic and social matters

what are the main aspects of libertarianism?

primary and general

what are the main types of elections?

rare generational event that attains landmark significance; opens up new possibilites

what is a critical election?

the GOP: grand old party

what is another name for the republican party?

they are reserved powers! -closed primaries -open primaries

what is something important to remember about primary elections?

many people wanted Congress to select the president whereas others wanted a popular vote democratic process. the compromise was the electoral college.

what is the history behind the electoral college?

poll Taxes, grandfather clause, literacy tests, all white primaries

what were some disenfranchisement policies?

-traces back to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison -modern day party founded in 1828 by Andrew Jackson *oldest active political party -started as a pro limited govt party since the new deal with FDR

when and why was the democratic party established?

-started in 1854 by opponents of Kansas Nebraska act- allowed for the potential expansion of slavery into certain territories -started as an anti-slavery faction of the whigs (who were pro slavery)

when and why was the republican party established?