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26 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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Party competition |
The battle of the parties for control of public offices |
The battle between Democrats and Republicans. Without this competition, there would be no choice, and without choice, there would be no democracy. |
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Political party |
Groups that try to win elections |
Summary of Anthony Downs definition: a team of men [and women] seeking to control the government by being voted into office. |
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Linkage institutions |
The ways through which people's concerns become politics issues on the government's policy agenda. |
In the US, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media. |
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Rational-choice theory |
A popular theory that assumes people act on their own best interest. |
People carefully weigh the costs and benefits of possible alternatives |
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Ticket splitting |
Voting for one party in one office and another party for other offices. |
Independents are the most likely to do this. |
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Party machines |
A type of political party that rewards it's members to win votes and to govern. |
Patronage was a reward in this type of party organization. |
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Patronage |
A job that is awarded for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone. |
People are given jobs they don't deserve just because they support the group. |
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Closed primaries |
Elections where only registered people can nominate for that party's candidates. |
Encourages greater party loyalty |
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Open primaries |
Elections to select party nominees where voters can decide on election day whether they want to participate in the democratic or republican contests. |
Day of choice of which group to support |
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Blanket primaries |
Elections to select party nominees where voters are given a list of candidates from each party. |
Voters can then vote for some democrats and some Republicans. |
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National convention |
Party meeting every for years |
Writes the party's platform at the event. |
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National committee |
Composed of representatives from the states and territories that keep parties operating between conventions. |
Keeps parties relevant between elections |
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National chairperson |
Responsible for day to day activities of the party |
Usually hand picked by presidential nominee. |
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Coalition |
A group of individuals with a common, not so narrow interest on which every political party depends. |
Set of individuals and groups supporting a party. |
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Party eras |
Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections. |
Times when a party has Marjory in Congress and house, along with the president. |
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Critical election |
An electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace of ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. |
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 realignment |
Displacement of the majority party by the minority. |
Usually during critical election periods. |
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New deal coalition |
Coalition formed by democrats, who dominated politics from the 1930's to the 1960's. |
Basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, catholics and jews, the poor, southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals. |
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Party dealighnment |
The gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification. |
Esentially, a disconnect from party members and representatives from the party. |
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Party image |
What a party is seen as. |
How voters see parties: conservative or liberal |
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Party identification |
A voters self proclaimed preference for a party |
"I am a Democrat/republican, because I said so." |
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Third parties |
Political contenders other than the two major parties. |
That third guy in a conversation that didn't get to say anything because they're overpowered by the other two. |
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Winner take all system |
Only first place gets awarded positions. |
No benefit to being second or third in this kind of system. |
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Proportional representation |
Seats given to a party based on how many votes the party gets. |
Used in Europe, where seats are given based off of the percentage of votes for the party. |
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Coalition government |
When two or more parties join together to form a majority in national legislature. |
Quite common in multiparty systems, where one party has almost no hope of gaining true majority. |
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Responsible party model |
How parties should work. Should offer clear choices to the voters, and uphold their promises in office. |
Helping the voter and keeping their word is this. |
