AP Gov: Test 7

Political ideology

Coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups/individuals

Political socialization

Process through which individuals acquire political beliefs and values

How to get political thinking to the next generation

Political/partisan polarization

Sharp division between opposing factors at ideological extremes

Ex: far left/right

Political party

An organized group that may include office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who pursue their common interests by gaining and exercising power through the political office

Are directly and actively seeking office

Interest group

Work to influence elected officials, do not run candidates for office

Party realignments

Dramatic shifts in partisan preference that drastically alter political landscape

Secular realignments

Gradual rearrangement of party coalitions, based on demographic shifts

Critical election

Signals party realignment through voter polarization around new issues and personalities

Party identification

Citizen’s attachment to a political party based on issues, ideology, past experience, and upbringing

Tends to be a reliable indicator of likely voting choices

Party platform

Statement of philosophy and policy goals of the party

Platform planks

Each idea in the party platform is referred to as this

Political machine

An organized group that may include office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who pursue their common interests by gaining and exercising power through the electoral process

Delegates

Votes the way the party would want, regardless of personal opinion

Superdelegates

Democratic

Reserved for party official and vote is unpledged

National convention

Party meeting for selecting Pres/VP and adopting a platform

Conservatism in general favors

Limited government intervention

Individual responsibility and inequality

Social conservatives favor

Gov should support and further traditional moral teachings

1950s (post ww2)

Economic (fiscal) conservatives favor

Capitalism

Limited gov involvement in economics

Private sector

1930s (New Deal)

Political conservatives favor

Anti-federalists

Best gov is small, local gov (can control the most)

Defense

Liberalism/progressivism in general favors

Greater gov intervention (economic affairs)

Big gov

Social equality

Social liberals favor

Untraditional/alternative lifestyles

Civil liberties (abortion rights, etc.)

Economic liberals favor

Not fiscally responsible (supports taxing)

Socialist

Political liberals favor

Big, national gov over states

Moderates/centrists favor

Middle-of-the-road view on most political issues

Libertarians favor

Limited gov interference in personal and economic liberties

On the right but not a social conservative

Statists favor

Extensive gov control of personal and economic liberties

Far left

What do ideologies shape?

Thinking of individuals and how they view the world

What do political parties do concerning candidates and elections?

* Find candidates to run for office
* Raise money and help them get elected
* Vett the candidates to make sure they’re of good character/fit

What do political parties do concerning formulating public policies?

* Formulate it according to their announced platform (purpose/values/beliefs)
* It’s what elected officials do

What role do political parties have in legislating?

Make up the officials, who make up the policies

What role do political parties have in staffing the executive branch?

There’s staff from the same party

Some people cannot be hired solely because of their party

What role do political parties play in filling judgeships?

Based on how to view judges on their political ideology rather than judicial ideology

How do political parties serve as linkage among federal branches?

If members from different branches are from the same party, they are linked

How do political parties serve as linkage between voters and elected officials?

Vetting

Elected officials are accountable for votes because of what they say/how they say they will vote

Ex: if you vote for a republican, you want them to vote republican

Be able to explain the four functions attributed to ideologies: explanation

Offer reasons why social and political conditions are the way they are, especially in a time of crisis

Be able to explain the four functions attributed to ideologies: evaluation

Provide standards for evaluating social conditions, political institutions, and events

Be able to explain the four functions attributed to ideologies: orientation

Provide orientation towards issues and a position w/in the world

Be able to explain the four functions attributed to ideologies: political program

Help people make political choices and guide their actions

What influences political socialization? (aka demographics that shape ideology)

* **Age**
* **Race/ethnicity**
* **Gender**
* Family
* Peers
* Education level
* Media
* Occupation
* Religion
* Class/wealth

Political parties versus interest groups (factions)

Political parties want to capture gov and interest groups want to influence gov, they do not run candidates for office

Who makes up a political party?

* Office holders
* Workers and activists
* Voters (electorate)

Organization of state parties

* Central committees: have state conventions to select electors
* State party chairs: person in charge of each party for Ohio, 1 man and 1 women
* County central committees: Lucas County Republican/Democratic Party, 1 person for each precinct makes this up
* County party chair: needed because its highly organized because we elect so many people
* Precincts/wards: smallest political unit, based on population, everybody lives in a precinct
* Ward: grouping of precincts
* about 1440 people
* 312 precincts in Lucas county, 206 in Toledo

Organization of national party

* National party platform: statement of general and specific philosophy and party goals of a party
* National party committee made of states chairs/members of state committee
* RNC & DNC

Republican National Committee (RNC)

State chair

1 man & 1 woman from each state

**168** = 56 x 3

Party chair: run convention, help members get elected, raise money

Democratic National Committee (DNC)

State chair, vice chair (112)

Parties from territories come

Elected officials

**312**

Party chair: run convention, help members get elected, raise money

Organization of national convention

Every 4 years

Delegates & superdelegates

Purpose: nominate party’s Pres and VP (nominees)

Congressional campaign committees

DSCC: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

DCCC: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

NRCC: National Republican Congressional Committee

NRSC: National Republican Senatorial Committee

How important are political parties in state/local government?

Very important, political parties have more say than interest groups

What is the role of minor parties in elections and politics?

Prevent the other party from winning, usually run with one issue

Hindered because if their ideas become popular, large parties adopt them

What is party polarization and what is its impact?

* Sharp division between opposing factors at ideological extremes
* Parties are veryyyy polarized: Republican or Democratic
* Consequences: can become difficult to compromise
* In Congress: gridlock, less productive, nothing gets done
* Outside: intense, can lead to violence