Studied by 8 people
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
Note
Flashcard