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18 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What are the 3 "faces" of a political party?
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Party in the electorate
Party organization (in elections) Party in government |
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Party in the electorate
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those members of the general public who identify with a political party or who express a preference for one party over another
*aggregate: build coalitions *integrate: platform *educate |
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Party organization (Parties in elections)
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the formal structure and leadership of a political party, including:
*election committees*local, state and national executives *paid professional staff |
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How do parties in elections provide the structural framework for the political party?
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recruiting volunteers to become party leaders
identifying potential candidates organizing caucuses, conventions and election campaigns for its candidates |
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Party in government
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all of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a political party
-after the election, the focus of the winning party shifts from getting to vote to organizing and controlling the government |
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What is a divided government?
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one in which the executive and legislative branches are controlled by different parties
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Why has the two-party system continued?
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1. historical foundations
2. political socialization and practical considerations 3. the winner-take-all electoral system 4. state and federal laws favoring the two-party system |
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What are the historical foundations of the two-party system?
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-when politics is based on an argument between two opposing points of view, advocates of each viewpoint can mobilize most effectively by forming a single, unified party
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What is political socialization and the practical considerations of why we have a two-party system?
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-most people identify with one of the two major parties, so their children grow up learning to be either democrat or republican
-most people who aspire to work for change know that the only realistic way to capture political power is to be either a democrat or a republican |
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the winner-take-all electoral system
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-plurality system: the winner is the person who obtains the most votes, even if that person doesn't receive a majority (more than 50%) of the votes
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Types of minor political parties
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Ideological third parties
-libertarian party -green party Splinter parties |
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What are mechanisms of political change?
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realignment, dealignment
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What is realignment?
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the process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape
-example: 1932 election |
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What is dealignment?
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a decline in party loyalties that reduces long-term party commitment
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Independent voters
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voters are less willing to vote a straight ticket (voting exclusively for the candidates of one party)
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Split-ticket voting
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voting for candidates of two or more parties for different offices, such voting for a republican presidential candidate and a democratic congressional candidate
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Swing voters
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the group of individuals who are less likely to repeatedly affiliate with either party. will "swing" their support from one party to another
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What is a political party?
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a group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the government and determine public policy
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