What are the major causes of the decentralized nature of political parties quizlet?

1. Increasing number of voters refuse to identify or register with either party

2. Many more voters split their votes between the parties

3. Some states are forcing more political processes (ie. Allowing independents to vote in party primaries)

4. Changing campaign strategies, such as using new technologies (this makes candidates less reliant on the party machines for mobilizing the voters

5. Interest groups (special interests) that exist independently from the parties have been playing a greater role in fundraising, etc.

In a multi-party system, parties may organize around a particular issue, economic class, religion, sectional loyalty, or ideology. These systems offer more diversity, but often lead to unstable governments. For example, if no party controls a majority in the legislature, several parties must form a coalition to govern. These coalition partners will be rivals in the next election, however, so loyalty only goes so far.

A one-party system is usually associated with dictatorship. However, many democracies (including about 1/3 of our states) have a dominant party that wins most elections.

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Terms in this set (50)

political party

A group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office

major party

The republican and democratic parties

partisanship

Government action based on firm allegiance to a political party

party in power

In American politics, the party in power is the party that controls the executive branch of government—i.e., the presidency at the national level, or the governship at the State level

what political parties do

-Nominate Candidates—Recruit, choose, and present candidates for public office.
-Inform and Activate Supporters—Campaign, define issues, and criticize other candidates.
-Act as a Bonding Agent—Guarantee that their candidate is worthy of the office.
-Govern—Members of government act according to their partisanship, or firm allegiance to a party.
-Act as a Watchdog—Parties that are out of power keep a close eye on the actions of the party in power for a blunder to use against them in the next election.

why we have a two party system

-The Historical Basis. The nation started out with two-parties: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.
-The Force of Tradition. America has a two-party system because it always has had one. Minor parties, lacking wide political support, have never made a successful showing, so people are reluctant to support them.
-The Electoral System. Certain features of government, such as single-member districts, are designed to favor two major parties.
-Ideological Consensus. Most Americans have a general agreement on fundamental matters. Conditions that would spark several strong rival parties do not exist in the United States.

minor party

One of the political parties not widely supported

two party system

A political system dominated by two major parties

single member district

Electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office

plurality

in an election, the number of votes that the leading candidate obtains over the next highest candidate

bipartisan

supported by two political parties

pluralistic society

A society which consists of several distinct cultures and groups

consensus

general agreement among various groups on fundamental matters; broad agreement on public questions

multiparty

A system in which several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for, and actually win, public offices

advantages of a multiparty system

Provides broader representation of the people.
More responsive to the will of the people.
Give voters more choices at the polls.

disadvantages of multiparty system

Cause parties to form coalitions, which can dissolve easily.
Failure of coalitions can cause instability in government.

coalition

A temporary alliance of several groups who come together to form a working majority and so to control a government

one-party system

A political system in which only one party exists

Examples: Dictatorships such as Russia
-EX 2: Republican North adn Democratic South until the 1950s

Federalists

Led by Alexander Hamilton
Represented wealthy and upper-class interests
Favored strong executive leadership and liberal interpretation of the Constitution

Era of the democrats

1800-1860
Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections.
The Whig Party emerges in 1834, but declines by the 1850s, electing only two Presidents.
The Republican Party is founded in 1854

Anti-federalists

Led by Thomas Jefferson
Represented the "common man"
Favored Congress as the strongest arm of government and a strict interpretation of the Constitution

Era of the Republicans

1860-1932
Republicans dominate all but four presidential elections.
The Civil War disables the Democratic Party for the remainder of the 1800s.

Return of the democrats

1932-1968
Caused by Great depression. Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections.
Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected President four times

1968-1976

Republicans hold the presidency
Congress is controlled by Democrats

1976-1980

Democrats hold the presidency
Congress is controlled by Democrats

1980-1992

Republicans hold the presidency
Senate controlled by Republicans 1980-1986, controlled by Democrats from 1986 to 1994

1992-2000

Democrats hold the presidency
Congress controlled by Republicans, 1994 to present

2000

Republicans hold the presidency
Congress is controlled by Republicans

incumbent

currently holding an office

faction

A conflicting group

electorate

all of the people entitled to vote in a given election

sectionalism

a narrow-minded concern for, or devotion to, the interests of one section of a country

minor parties

ideological parties, single-issue parties, economic protest parties, splinter party

ideological parties

Parties based on a particular set of beliefs, a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters

EX: Libtertarian party

single issue parties

political parties that concentrate on a single public policy issue

EX: Free Soil party

economic protest parties

Parties rooted in poor economic times, lacking a clear ideological base, dissatisfied with current conditions and demanding better times

EX: The greenback party

splinter parties

Parties that have split away from one of the major parties

EX: The "bull moose" Progressive party

Minor parties play several important roles

"Spoiler Role," Critic, Innovator

Spoiler Role

Minor party candidates can pull decisive votes away from one of the major parties' candidates, especially if the minor party candidate is from a splinter party.

Critic

Minor parties, especially single-issue parties, often take stands on and draw attention to controversial issues that the major parties would prefer to ignore.

Innovator

Often, minor parties will draw attention to important issues and propose innovative solutions to problems. If these proposals gain popular support, they are often integrated into the platforms of the two major parties.

ward

A unit into which cities are often divided for the election of city council members

precinct

The smallest unit of election administration; a voting district

split ticket voting

voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election

The Decentralized Nature of the Parties

The party out of power lacks a strong leader.
The federal system distributes powers widely, in turn causing the parties to be decentralized.
The nominating process pits party members against one another because only one person can chosen to be the party's presidential candidate.

National party machinery

The national convention, national chairperson, congressional campaign committees, national committee

all four elements of both major parties work together loosely to achieve the party's goals.

state and local party machinery

States are divided into congressional districts.

in cities, districts are divided into wards

Wardes are divided into precincts

In large cities, the smallest unit of perty organization may be a single appartment building

party components

The party organization: Those who run and control the party machinery.

The Party in the Electorate: Those who always or almost always vote for party candidates.

The Party in Government: Those who hold office in the government.

Voters

Weakened connections to political parties:

More people are unwilling to label themselves as "Democrats" or "Republicans"
Split-ticket voting—voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election

candidates

Weakened connections to political parties:

Structural changes have increased conflict and disorganization within parties
Changes in the technology of campaigning, especially the use of television and the Internet, have made candidates more independent of the party organization
The growth of single-issue organizations provides candidates with another source of financial support

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What factors contributed to the development of political parties?

Political factions or parties began to form during the struggle over ratification of the federal Constitution of 1787. Friction between them increased as attention shifted from the creation of a new federal government to the question of how powerful that federal government would be.

What caused the first political parties to form quizlet?

Why did the first political parties form? Disagreements between Hamilton and Jefferson.

What is the main motive of political parties?

A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific ideological or policy goals.

What is the major function of political parties in America?

A political party is made up of individuals who organize to win elections, operate government, and influence public policy. The Democratic and Republican parties are currently the primary parties in Congress.