Parties

Front 1

Historical Eras

Back 1

1796-1824: First Party System(Federalists and Jeffersonians)
1826-1856: Jacksonian Democrats vs. The Whigs
1860-1932: The Two Republican Eras (split over slavery)
1932-1968: The New Deal Coalition
1968-Present: Era of Divided Government
For more detailed information, visit http://wps.ablongman.com/long_edwards_government_11/0,7701,718851-,00.html

Front 2

Roles/Functions of Parties

Back 2

Parties act as:
Brands- Label for people to associate with
Coalitions of coalitions- Major parties include completely different demographics
Seat Maximizers- Try to put people in their party in power
Interest Aggregators- Compile interests of their supporters
Wheel-greasers- Try to make policy passing more efficient
Minority Wrenches- Minority/opposing parties can stifle a bill
Election Mobilizers- Parties select candidates to campaign for president

Front 3

Republicans vs. Democrats

Back 3

Republicans- (Mostly) Socially and fiscally conservative. Want achievement and smaller government
Democrats- (Mostly) Socially and fiscally liberal. Want equality and fairness and larger government

Front 4

Minor/Third Parties Types

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Factional: Break off of one of the two major parties.
i.e. The Bull Moose/Progressive Party broke away from the Republican Party. Often become third parties.

Single-Issue: Only focus on one major issue
i.e Right of Life Party (only pro-life)

Economic Protest: Focus on economic issues
i.e the Populist Party (concerned with tariffs, currency/debt issues and the interests of farmers)

Ideological: Members share societal beliefs
i.e. The Communist Party

Front 5

"Sting and Die" Minor Party Roles

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A minor party that tries to take votes from one (or both) of the major parties. They "sting" and then they disappear.

Front 6

Yellow-Dog Democrats

Back 6

Someone in the south who would rather vote for a yellow dog than a republican.

Front 7

The Hatch Act

Back 7

-limits certain political activities of Federal employees both on and off duty

-political activities:
-doing something in active support of or opposition to a political party, a candidate for partisan political office or a partisan political group

Front 8

The Spoils System

Back 8

-the practice of filling appointive public offices with friends and supporters of the ruling political party

Front 9

The Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)

Back 9

-established the United States Civil Service Commission

-placed most federal government employees on the merit system and marked the end of the so-called spoils system

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The Civil Service Act of 1978

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-abolished the U.S. Civil Service Commission

-distributed its functions primarily among three agencies:
- Office of Personnel Management
-Merit Systems Protection Board
-Federal Labor Relations Authority.

Front 11

Political Machine

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-political organization in which an authoritative boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses (usually campaign workers), who receive rewards for their efforts.

-power based on the ability of the workers to get out the vote for their candidates on election day

Front 12

The Australian Ballot

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-voter's choices in an election or a referendum are confidential

-aims to ensure sincere votes

-prevents attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery

Front 13

RNC

Back 13

-Republican National Committee

-responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform

-coordinating fundraising and election strategy

-responsible for organizing and running the Republican National Convention

Front 14

DNC

Back 14

-Democratic National Committee

-responsible for promoting the Democratic political platform, and coordinating fundraising and election strategy

-central focus is on campaign and political activity in support of Democratic Party candidates, and not on public policy

Front 15

Polarization and Parties

Back 15

-parties become more polarized as public views shift to the extremes

-to compensate for divided views and gain supporters, each party shifts to divisions