Chapter 8: Political Parties, Ideologies, and Interest Groups

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing political parties, electoral systems, ideologies, key historic shifts, and political action concepts covered in Chapter 8.

Political Party

An organization formed to run candidates, win elections, and get people into public office.

Interest Group

A group that does not seek to directly control government, but aims to take a stance on issues and get candidates to support them.

Libertarians

An ideology characterized as socially liberal while tending to be more conservative on economic matters.

Conservatives

An ideology that favors small government and a high degree of individual freedom.

Liberals

An ideology that focuses on social issues and advocates for government support programs.

George Washington's Farewell Address Warning

George Washington's statement advising against political parties, warning that "it will cause divisions."

Federalists

One of the first political parties; represented English merchants, supported protective tariffs, and supported a national bank.

Anti-Federalists

One of the first political parties; represented Southern farmers, supported free trade, and favored state rights.

Plurality

An electoral system in which a candidate must receive the most votes to win a single seat or position.

Proportional Representation

An electoral system where a party winning a percentage of votes (e.g., 40%) controls that same percentage (40%) of seats in the legislature.

Whig Party

The second major party to emerge around 1830, forming primarily around charismatic leaders rather than shared political ideals.

Andrew Jackson

Elected in 1830 framed as a "man of the people, a frontiersman" (though wealthy in reality); held anti-tariff views and led a movement that later became the Democratic Party.

Herbert Hoover

President associated with the position "your debt is your problem," whose administration coincided with the Great Depression prior to FDR's election.

New Deal

FDR's program suite that established the Democrats as the nation's majority party for nearly 60 years.

FDR Coalition

The demographic base supporting Franklin D. Roosevelt, consisting of the working class, Southern white farmers, Jews, Catholics, and Black voters.

1960s Party Realignment

A shift driven by civil rights issues under presidents JFK and LBJ; LBJ's civil rights actions led to major political changes, such as the South (e.g., Texas) turning Republican.

Tea Party Movement

A 2009 movement created to oppose Obama's healthcare plans, which introduced new candidates into the Republican Party and ousted established Republicans.

Polarization

A political state in the U.S. where voters strictly adhere to their own party and avoid cross-party alignment.

Republican Base Demographics

Demographics leaning Republican, including Southerners, Mountain West voters, Caucasians, 50% of Latinos, rural residents, generally older voters, and conservative adherents.

Democratic Base Demographics

Demographics leaning Democratic, including 92% of Black voters, coastal regions, Upper Midwest, major cities, generally younger voters, and liberal adherents.

Ross Perot

A prominent third-party candidate in the election against Clinton and George H.W. Bush; his splitting of Republican votes helped Clinton win.

The Teamsters

A union representing truckers and ship workers, identified as the largest union in the U.S.

PAC

Political Action Committee; campaign funds used in election campaigns as a law loophole.

Lobbyist

Individuals with access to politicians who present policy proposals in exchange for votes and campaign funding.