not only votes but also contributes time, energy, effort, and financial resources to party affairs.
question
A party's ________ contains its philosophy, principles, and policy positions.
answer
Platform
question
A ________ is a closed meeting of a political group's members who gather to determine strategy and select candidates.
answer
Caucus
question
An individual's psychological attachment to one party or another is called a party ________.
answer
Identification
question
Dealignment refers to
answer
the decline of partisan attachment within the electorate, the growth in the number of voters identifying themselves as independents, and the rise of split-ticket voting.
question
During the nineteenth century, party machines depended heavily on ________ in order to reward loyal party supporters.
answer
Patronage
question
Third-party candidates are better off under ________.
answer
Proportional Representation
question
What is the ultimate goal of a political party?
answer
winning elections
question
________ warned Americans against the dangers of political parties in his farewell address.
answer
George Washington
question
In 1964, the Republican Party presidential nominee, ________, espoused a number of ideas, such as less taxation and less government regulation of the economy, that became major themes for the modern Republican Party.
answer
Barry Goldwater
question
Political Parties
answer
organized groups that attempt to influence government by electing their members
question
What do parties do?
answer
-Pick Candidates
-recruiting function
-provide endorsement and nominations
-run campaigns, raise money etc
-provide cues to voters
-Articulate polices etc.
question
Parties in the Electorate
answer
-how the mass public relates to participates in, or uses, the political party system
-the coalition of everyone who identifies with a particular party
question
Partisanship/Party Identification
answer
Attachment to a particular party
question
Michigan School of Thought
answer
Bias
-partisanship is a social/psychological identification
-effective attachment
-"perceptual Screen"
-partisanship--> policy attitudes
-Party ID is stable
question
Revisionist Approach
answer
Optimistic
-partisanship as a "running tally of evaluation"
-policy attitudes--> partisanship
-party ID can change
question
Partisanship and voting
answer
party ID is the single best predictor of presidential vote choice
question
Dealignment (1960's)
answer
-ticket-spilting
-rise of independents
question
Duverger's Law
answer
(design of our electoral system)
-single member districts (only 1 winner)
-pluraity system- whoever ges the most votes wins
-winner take all runner up gets nothing
-people don't want to waste their vote on 3rd parties
-this leads to only 2 parties
question
Proportional Representation system
answer
-seats allocated to parties based on % of total vote share
-leads to multiple parties
-most western democracies use this
question
Party Machines
answer
Relies heavily on patronage to win votes and govern
question
Patronge
answer
job promotions, or contracts given for political reason rather than for merit or competence
question
What ended party machines?
answer
progressive movement reforms, primary elections, civil service reforms (merit based), non-partisan city governments
question
Caucuses
answer
closed meeting to select candidates, plan strategy, etc.
question
Primaries
answer
parties members select party nominees for the general election
question
National Convention
answer
-nominates party in presidential and vice presidential candidates
-write party platform (issue positions)
question
Party Whip
answer
member of congress to make sure people tow the party line
question
A variety of strategies can be used to make people tow the party line.
answer
-campaign assistance
-information
-log rolling: exchanges of favors
question
Divided Government
answer
Party of president different than congress
question
Electoral Realignment
answer
when an opposing party replaces a long ruling party
(used to occur about every 30 year)
question
Partisan Polarization
answer
-increased intra-party homogeneity/together (with in party)
-increased inter-party heterogeneity/apart (both
question
What does partisan polarization prompt?
answer
-Gridlock and lack of compromise
-leads to more negative public opinion
-divisions for strategic reasons (not ideology or policy)
question
Types of Third Parties
answer
-Causes oriented (prohibition)
-Splinter (progressives)
-Extension of a popular individual (Ross Perrot, Ralph Nader)
question
Effect of third parties
answer
can have an impact on elections outcomes, can put new polices on the agenda
question
How should parties functions?
answer
*Responsible Party Model
-if parties did certain things voters could hold them accountable
-parties must present distinct comprehensive programs
-candidates must be committed to its programs- internal cohesion and discipline
-majority party must implement its programs
-majority party must accept responsibility
question
Power/Strength within Electorate
answer
strong, but varies over time
question
Party Strength as Organizations
answer
Have weakened over time*
-moderately strong
-weakened by candidate centered campaigns (U.S.)
-weakened by electoral reforms in 20th century
question
Party strength in government
answer
Strengthening with polarization
question
Party Strength in regards to: relationship to interest groups
