Political Parties Part 2:

What are the main functions of political parties in the organization level?

To recruit candidates, raise money, mobilize voters, and run campaign ads.

What does a political party's national committee do?

Handles fundraising, major issues, strategy, polling, research, and advertising.

What is a party platform?

A manifesto that includes the principles, goals, and policy ideas of the party.

When are party platforms usually released?

Before elections to introduce the parties and the candidates.

Who writes the party platforms for the Democratic and Republican parties?

The National Committees of each party: the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee.

What issues are typically associated with the Democratic Party?

Group inequality, environment, education, healthcare, social welfare, and civil rights.

What issues do the Republican Party focus on?

Taxation and spending priorities, economic policy, national security, and law and order.

What does party identification refer to?

The way people affiliate with a political party without formalizing it.

What are common activities to show support for a political party?

Contributions to candidates, following party endorsements, volunteering time, and attending events.

What is partisanship?

Identification as a member or supporter of a political party.

List types of partisanship based on strength.

Strong Republican, Weak Republican, Independent Lean Republican, Independent, Independent Lean Democrat, Weak Democrat, Strong Democrat.

What is ideology in political context?

Preferences that develop when our values interact with the world, guided by core principles.

Name examples of political ideologies.

Conservative, Liberal, MAGA, Libertarian, Communist, Anarchist, Socialist.

What does 'unified government' mean?

When one party controls the Presidency and both houses of Congress.

Define divided government.

When one party controls the Presidency while the other party controls one or two houses of Congress.

What is the impact of unified government on policy advancement?

It allows for easier advancement of policy due to coordination between the executive and legislative branches.

What does 'divided government' create in terms of policy advancement?

Forces compromise between parties, which may lead to gridlock and government shutdowns.

What is polarization in a political context?

The distance between political parties on policy, ideology, and voting.

When was polarization in American politics at its lowest?

In the 1940s-1960s.

What are the three types of polarization?

Elite Polarization, Mass Polarization, Affective Polarization.

What is elite polarization?

Polarization between political parties in Congress or decision-making levels.

Define mass polarization.

Disagreements on ideology and positions between ordinary supporters of each political party.

What is affective polarization?

Social distrust of people in the opposite political party.

When polarization began to rise in America

In 1977, with increases in 1995-1996 and 2007-2008.

Which political party began to polarize first?

The Republican Party.

What happened to party platforms starting in 1980?

They began to polarize.

When did the public in general begin to polarize?

In the late 2000s.

What is the role of local party members in elections?

They can run in party primaries and if they win, they advance to national elections.

What are different committee levels in a political party organization?

National, State, Congressional district, County, City, State legislative district, Ward, and Precinct.

How does voter mobilization occur?

Through recruiting candidates and running campaign ads.

What can local party activists do?

Run in party primaries and potentially represent their party in national elections.

Why do parties write platforms?

To appeal to voters and provide information about their policies.

What factors indicate political party affiliation among voters?

Contributions to candidates, volunteering, following endorsements, and accessing party symbols.

'social distrust of people in the opposite party'

characteristic of effective polarization.

challenges of a divided government present

It creates the need for compromise, potentially leading to gridlock.

How do political parties help voters?

By providing a shortcut to understand expected policy outcomes.

What are the implications of having a unified government?

It facilitates easier policy advancement due to party control over the Presidency and Congress.