American Politics Final

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Group 1: Conservative

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Conservatism as a political and social philosophy promotes retaining traditional social institutions in the context of culture and civilization. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others, called reactionaries, oppose modernism and seek a return to "the way things were"

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Group 1: Liberal (TOP CHOICE)

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Liberalism is a political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality Whereas classical liberalism emphasizes the role of liberty, social liberalism stresses the importance of equality. generally they support ideas and programs such as: freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free markets, civil rights,democratic societies, secular governments, and international cooperation.

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Group 1: Framing (DO NOT STUDY)

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(DO NOT STUDY)

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Group 2: Electoral College (TOP CHOICE)

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the institution that elects the President and Vice President of the United States every four years. Citizens of the United States do not directly elect the president or the vice president; instead, these voters directly elect designated intermediaries called "electors," who almost always have pledged to vote for particular presidential and vice presidential candidates (though unpledged electors are possible) and who are themselves selected according to the particular laws of each state.

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Group 2: Plurality Rule

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electoral process in which the candidate who polls more votes than any other candidate is elected. It is distinguished from the majority system, in which, to win, a candidate must receive more votes than all other candidates combined.

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Group 2: Political Action Committee (PAC)

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a type of organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaign for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation. At the U.S. federal level, an organization becomes a PAC when it receives or spends more than $2,600 for the purpose of influencing a federal election, according to the Federal Election Campaign Act.

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Group 3: National Convention

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Convention held to decide upon the nominee for each party. This year, the republican national convention may become contested. There are 2,472 delegates to the Republican National Convention, and a candidate needs a simple majority comprising 1,237 or more delegates to win the presidential nomination. Democrat simple majority of 2,383 delegates to win the presidential nomination.

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Group 3: Primary Election

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an election that narrows the field of candidates before an election for office. Primary elections are one means by which a political party or a political alliance nominates candidates for an upcoming general election or by-election. Primaries are common in the United States, where their origins are traced to the progressive movement to take the power of candidate nomination from party leaders to the people.

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Group 3: Third Parties (Top Choice)

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all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties (Republican Party and Democratic Party). The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.

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Group 4: Cold War

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state of political and military tension after World War II between powers in theWestern Bloc (the United States, its NATO allies and others) and powers in the Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union and its allies in the Warsaw Pact). The term "cold" is used because there was no large-scale fighting directly between the two sides, although there were major regional wars, known as proxy wars, supported by the two sides. The Cold War split the temporary wartime alliance against Nazi Germany, leaving the USSR and the US as two superpowers with profound economic and political differences. Ending in late 80's early 90's.

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Group 4: Diplomacy

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the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of states. It usually refers to international diplomacy, the conduct of international relations through the intercession of professional diplomats with regard to issues of peace-making, trade, war, economics, culture,environment, and human rights.

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Group 4: United Nations (Top Choice)

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an intergovernmental organization to promote international co-operation. A replacement for the ineffective League of Nations, the organization was established on 24 October 1945 afterWorld War II in order to prevent another such conflict. At its founding, the UN had 51 member states; there are now 193.

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Essay Question: Does the political party system strengthen or weaken American democracy? In your answer, be sure to take into account the different functions of American political parties in our governmental system.

Required sources to use: Chapter 11 + Thomas Jefferson

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1) Political Parties are seeking influence over government

2) In multi-party systems there are many people who also don’t feel that they’re represented by any of the parties.

3) the two-party system has become so polarized that even good people are driven to a lockstep group think that punishes those who have original, nonpartisan ideas.

4) Creates inherent conflict between two parties rather than work together to better the country

5) Divided government (Obama unable to pass legislature/appoint judges)

6) not just narrowed our choices, it’s narrowed our thinking.

7) On practically every level, potential nominees in each party are running away from the establishment label and desperately trying to show their independence from the establishment wings of the two parties that are held in such low esteem. TRUMP + SANDERS

8) Thomas Jefferson, who said: “I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all.”