Political Parties (ch.17)

Development of Political Parties

  • Political party – group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy
  • Patronage – practice of granting favors to reward party loyalty
  • Third party – any political party other than one of the two major parties
  • Single member district – an electoral district in which only one candidate is elected to each office
  • Proportional representation – system in which several officials are elected to represent the same area in proportion to the votes each party’s candidate recieves
  1. How do political parties help educate the public about major issues?Publish pamphlets, press conferences, speeches, television, radio, news, and online advertisements
  2. What is the difference between a one – party system and a two – party system?1 party system is usually found in authoritarian governments
  3. What role do third parties, or minor parties, play in the United States?Influence the outcome of national elections, and they can introduce new ideas that major political parties can and have adopted

Party Ideology and Identification

  • Liberal – belief that the proper role of government is to actively promote health, education and justice
  • Conservative – belief that government should play a limited role in citizens’ lives
  • Moderate – belief in both liberal and conservative platforms
  • Platform – statement of a political party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on vital issues
  • Independent – voter who does not support any particular party
  1. What is the difference between a liberal ideology and a conservative ideology? Liberal ideology promotes the idea that government should actively promote health, education, and justice; Conservative ideology promotes a limited government role and believes that people should solve their own problems without government involvement
  2. What is American exceptionalism and how does influence Republican foreign policy? Belief that it is America’s responsibility to take a significant role in world affairs; leads toward increased military spending and a reduced role for the United Nations
  3. What are the demographic differences between voters who identify as Republican and voters who identify as Democrats?Republican – South, mountain West, rural areas; Democratic – east coast, west coast, cities
  4. In which parts of the United States do people tend to be members of the Republican Party? The Democratic Party?Republican – white male, educated and religious; Democratic – women, minorities, and young members

Party Organization and Nominating Candidates

  • Caucus – private meeting of party leaders to choose candidate for office
  • Direct primary – an election in which party members select people to run in the general election
  • Closed primary – an election in which only members of a political party can vote
  • Open primary – an election in which all voters may participate
  • Plurality – largest number of votes in an election
  1. Why is party organization and membership important to government?It involves voters becoming more interested in the political process by volunteering or donating money, thus increasing their influence on government
  2. What role do delegates play in nominating the president and vice president? Candidates compete for delegate support and at the nominating convention, delegates votes. The candidate receiving the majority of the votes becomes the nominee.