Politics Ch 8 – Flashcards

a voter or candidate who does not identify with a political party... Don't align with any party. Most of the time, they will lean one way or another depending on the matter at hand.

recruit candidates, organize and run elections, present policy alternatives, responsibility for running government, act as organized opposition

party-in-the-electorate, party organization, party-in-government

those members of the general public who identify with a political party or who express a preference for one party over another... all people claiming party attachment, do not need to be politically active, composed of general supporter and political elites, no membership dues or criteria

the formal structure and leadership of a political party, including election committees; local, state, and national executives; and paid professional staff... work directly for the political party, recruit political candidates, organizes election campaigns

all of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a political party... elected and appointed officials, responsible for transforming ideology into policy

national convention, party platform, national committee, national chairperson

the meeting held every 4 years by each major party to select presidential and vice-presidential candidates, write a platform, choose a national committee, and conduct party business

a document drawn up at each national convention, outlining the policies, positions, and principles of the party

a standing committee of a national political party established to direct and coordinate party activities between national party conventions

performs such jobs as establishing a national party headquarters, raising campaign funds and distributing them to state parties and to candidates and appearing in the media as a party spokesperson

state convention, state committee and chairperson, state central committee

the principal organized structure of each political party within each state. responsible for carrying out policy decisions of the party's state convention

the rewarding of faithful party workers and followers with government employment or contacts

democratic heals division and now dominates the white south. republicans wanted to prohibit alcohol. they favored the establishment of public schools- with a protestant curriculum. as result, catholics were strongly democratic. republicans gained edge in 1890s. populist movement emerged in west and south to champion the interest of small farmers. realignment- discussed later

temporary shifts of the political party in power... a wave of one party takes over the seats of the other party; could be by issue instead of party; indicates that the party holds on for a while

the historical foundations of the system, political socialization and practical considerations, the winner-take-all electoral system, state and federal laws favoring the two-party system

can influence one of the major parties to take up one or more issues and can determine the outcome of a particular election by pulling votes from one of the major-party candidates in what is called the "spoiler effect"..... based on issues or ideology, splits from the major parties, can influence major parties on issues i.e. take votes from another organization during election time

a process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape... major constituencies shift their support to another party

a decline in party loyalties that reduces long-term party commitment... Weakening of partisan preference that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of independents

a phenomenon that occurs when a group that is becoming more numerous over time grows large enough to change the political balance in a district, state, or country... a group tips the election by becoming more numerous over time