AP Government Chapter Eight
What two clear patterns regarding party identification have been evident in recent elections?
-democrats and republicans are now on an even slate compared to the previous years where democrats used to greatly out number republicans -since 2012, 42% of the population identified themselves as independent
What are the five tasks political parties should perform if they are to serve as effective linkage institutions?
-pick candidates -run campaigns -give cues to voters -articulate policies -coordinate policy making
List four elections that might be considered "critical" or "realigning." Explain why.
1. . Andrew Jackson founded the Modern American Political Party (Democratic Party) 2. Abraham Lincoln started the civil war, leading to a 60 year strive for republicans in government 3. Franklin Roosevelt created the New Deal coalition. Democratic Party gained support from people that were involved with the New Deal plan 4. Nixon created republican dominance. House of Representatives has a republican majority now
What are two ways in which third parties can have an impact on American politics?
1. Brought new groups to the electorate 2. Have served as safety valves for popular discontent
List the four conditions that advocates of the responsible party model believe the parties should meet.
1. Parties must present distinct, comprehensive programs for governing the nation 2. Each party's candidates must be committed to its program and have the discipline to carry out program 3. The majority party must implement its programs, and the minority party must state what it would do if it were in power 4. The majority party must accept responsibility for the performance of the government
What are the three basic varieties of third parties?
1. Parties that promote certain causes or take an extreme ideological position such as socialism or libertarian 2. Splinter parties, off shoots of a major party 3. Parties that are merely an extension of a popular individual with presidential aspirations
Party identification
A citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other.
New Deal coalition
A coalition forged by the Democrats who dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.
Coalition
A group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends
Rational-choice theory
A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voter as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.
Party machines
A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern.
Responsible party model
A view about how parties should work, held by some political scientists. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters and once in office, should carry out their campaign promises.
Critical election
An electoral "earthquake" whereby new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. Critical election periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era.
Winner take all system
An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies. In US presidential elections, the system in which the winner of the popular vote in a state receives all the electoral votes of that state.
What are the differences between the following types of party primaries?
Closed: elections to select party nominees. Only people who have registered with the party can vote for the party's candidates. Encourages party loyalty Open: elections to select party nominees. Voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in democratic or republican contests Blanket primaries: voters may pick one candidate for each office without regard to party lines; for instance, a voter might select a Democratic candidate for governor and a Republican candidate for senator.
Closed primaries
Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party's candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyality
Blanket primaries
Elections to select party nominees in which voter are presented with a los of candidates from all the parties.
Open primaries
Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on election day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.
Third parties
Electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections
Party eras
Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of elections
What is the function of each of the following national party organizations?
National convention: write party's platform and nominate it's candidates for president and vice-president National committee: keep party operating between conventions National chairperson: day to day activities of the national party. Hires staff, raised money, pays bills, and attends daily activities of the party
What is the key problem of the American political parties today?
No longer the main source of info & attention (media is its rival)
National committee
One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. The national committee is composed of representatives from the states and territories
Patronage
One of the key inducements used by party machines. A patronage job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.
Explain the three heads of the political party in the expression "a three-headed political giant."
Party in the electorate, party as an organization, and party in government
Linkage institutions
The channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.
Party realignment
The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, ususally during a critical election period
Party dealignment
The gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties, as seen in party by shrinking party identification
National convention
The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform
National chairperson
The national chairperson is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the party and is usually handpicked by the presidential nominee.
What is the relationship between party promises and party performance?
The promises influence who joins the party's coalition. Nearly 3/4 of the promises result in policy actions
Party image
The voter's perception of what the Republicans and Democrats stand for such as conservatism or liberalism.
How does the American party system affect the scope of government?
There is a lack of cohesion, so the scope is not as broad as other democracies (Europe)
What is the most important consequence of two-party governance in the United States?
They're too decentralized to take a single national position and then enforce. Most candidates are self selected, gaining their nomination by their own efforts rather than their party's
Ticket splitting
Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in American voting behavior.
Coalition government
When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems of Europe
Proportional representation
an electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election.
