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.
Sets with similar terms Recommended textbook solutionsAmerican Government
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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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