Ap Political Parties

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Democratic Party

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One of the two major U.S parties; that now believes in the growth of the federal government, social programs, and civil rights.

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Republican Party

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One of the two major U.S parties; they believe in big business interests, Christian beliefs, and states' rights.

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Party Identification

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A citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party of the others.

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Ticket-Splitting

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Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in American voting behavior.

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Linkage Institutions

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The channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. E.g., elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

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Party Machines

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A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern.

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Closed Primaries

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Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for the party's candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty. Independents cannot vote in any party primary.

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Open Primaries

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Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests. You can vote in ONLY one primary, but you can vote in either one. Independents are not precluded from participation.

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Blanket Primaries

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Elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of candidates from all the parties. (Some of these have been declared unconststitutional.)

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National Committee

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One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. The national committee is composed of representatives from the states and the territories. Ex.: RNC, DNC

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National Convention

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The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.

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Coalitions

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Groups of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends.

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Critical Election

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An electoral "earthquake", where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is 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

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Party Eras

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Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections.

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New Deal Coalition

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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.

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Dealignment

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The gradual disengagement of people from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification. More people identify as INDEPENDENTS.

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Rational-choice Theory

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A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as Politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.

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Proportional Representation

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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.

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Winner-Take-All System

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An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies. It's generally SMD (Single Member District) and requires only a plurality. The British call it First-Past-the-Post. (FPTP).

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Coalition Government

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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.

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Divided Government

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A government in which the presidency is controlled by one party and Congress is controlled by the other. This has become a common occurrence in recent decades as voters have begun to act more independent of parties and have voted split tickets.

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political party

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a gtroup of people seeking to control public policy by winning elections to gain public office

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party in the electorate

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a political party as it exists with voters that identify themselves as members of a party

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party as organization

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a political party as it exists with leaders, offices, staff, and budget; keeps the party running

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party in government

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a political party as it exists with government officials that identify themselves as members of the party

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Five main tasks of political parties

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1. pick candidates
2. run campaigns
3. cue voters
4. articulate policies
5. coordinate policymaking

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1) party in the electorate, 2)party as an organization, and 3)party in government

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three-headed party (three arenas where a political party rears its head and plays a role)

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critical realignment

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election in which a group changes the way they've voted and becomes permanently associated with a different part

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minor parties

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AKA third parties; typically do not win major elections but often bring more voters into the electorate; often spoil elections for a major party; may bring issues that the major parties will adopt

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patronage

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key inducement used by parties; included a job, promotion, or contract given for political reasons rather than merit

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responsible party model

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asserts that parties should offer clear choices to voters; once in office, parties would carry out campaign promises

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splinter

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a new party that splinters off from an existing one

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spolier

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a candidate that draws votes primarily from one of the two major party candidates and throws the election (TR in 1912; H. Ross Perot in 1992)

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Abraham Lincoln

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only 3rd party candidate ever to win the American presidency

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two conditions when third parties tend to arise

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1. when a group of people are left out by the two main parties

2. when an issue about which people care is being ignored by the two major parties

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cults of personality (Bull Moose Party and Teddy Roosevelt)

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In the 19th century, American third parties tended to center on ideas. 20th century American third parties tended to center around charismatic individuals and are viewed as ____.

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Henry A. Wallace and the Progressive Party

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third party and candidate who splintered from the Democratic Party to the left in 1948 on foreign policy issues (no to Cold War with USSR)

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Strom Thurmond and the States Rights Party )(DIXIECRATS)

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third party and candidate who splintered from the Democratic Party to the right in 1948 on civil rights issues (opposed desegregation)

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"Read my lips, no new taxes."

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Six words which, in many ways, cost G.H.W. Bush re-election in 1992

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H. Ross Perot and "United We Stand" - THE REFORM PARTY

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third party candidate who acted as a spoiler in 1992 and his party

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"It's the ECONOMY, Stupid!"

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Sign posted in WAR ROOM at Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign headquarters; calls attention to issue which is KEY determinant in elections if we aren't at war

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the ECONOMY

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issue which trumps scandals and everything else in importance in American elections if we aren't at war

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by national convention

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how American parties chose their presidential nominees in the 19th century; first held by Anti-Masons

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by primary elections

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how American parties have chosen their presidential nominees since progressive reforms in the 20th century

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Anti-Masons

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Early American 3rd party which appealed to those who felt left out and cheated by elite insiders and were charmed by conspiracy theory; held the first presidential nominating convention

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Thomas A. Dewey

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Republican nominee who was expected to win in 1948, but who offended voters by refraining from campaigning while Harry Truman blitzed the country with a whistle-stop campaign

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PRAGMATIC

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American political parties tend to be ____________ rather than IDEOLOGICAL.

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Major parties co-opt their issues and voters

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What generally happens to American third parties?

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Ralph Nader

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Green Party candidate who took votes that would have gone to Al Gore in 2000 and served as an election spoiler

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when 3rd parties tend to arise

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when people are left out and ideas are ignored by the two major parties

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ballot petition

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how 3rd party candidates get on the ballot in the 50 states and Washington, D.C.; each has different rules and requirements