Chapter 8 - Political Parties

political party

According to Anthony Downs, a “team of men [and women] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election”

• Parties are essential for coordinating policymaking between executive and legislative branches

linkage institutions

The channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’ policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media

• allows individuals to communicate their preferences to policy-makers and influence policy

rational choice theory

A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives

party image

The voter’s perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism and liberalism

party identification

A citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or another

ticket splitting

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in American voting behavior

• Typically done by Independents, they vote for the person, not the party

party machines

A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern

• Depends on rewarding members in some material fashion

• political party organization that wins local elections and maintains power by trading tangible incentives—such as jobs, housing, and social services—for votes, primarily targeting immigrant and low-income populations

patronage

One of the key inducements used by party machines. A patronage job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone 

• ex.) Party leaders openly selling government positions to raise money for the party

  • Some of this money used to buy votes, but also in politicians pockets 

closed primaries

Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party’s candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty 

• Party can be reasonably assured that the people who participate in nomination decisions will be committed to the platform 

• Favor ideological purity and help keep policy distinctions between Democrats and Republicans clear

• Requires state election authority to maintain a record of party registration of each voter 

  • Provides invaluable info on who consider themselves party members

open primaries

Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Demoncratic or Republican contests 

• Allows for more voters to participate in party nomination decisions

  • Independents

• Possibility there will be a “raid”

  • Other party’s primary in order to give a boost to its least viable candidate

    • ex.) letting UCLA students participate in the choice of the quarterback for USC’s football team

national convention

The meeting of a party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party’s platform

national committee

One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. The national committee is composed of representatives from the states and territories

• Typically each state has a national committeeman and national committeewoman as delegates to party’s national committee 

  • Democratic committee includes assorted governors, members of Congress, other party officials

• They operate between presidential elections to manage party affairs, recruit candidates, raise funds, and coordinate strategies for national campaigns, rather than creating legislation like congressional committees

national chairperson

The person is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the party 

• Hires staff, raises money, pays bills, attends daily duties of party

coalition

A group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends

party eras

Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections

critical election

An electoral “earthquake” where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. Critical election periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era

• signals a long-term shift in voter alignment and political power, known as realignment

party realignment

The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period

New Deal coalition

A coalition forged by the Democrats who dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southeners, African Americans, and intellecutals

party dealignment

The gradual disengagement of people from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification

third parties

Electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections 

• Promote 3 basic varieties 

  • Parties promote certain causes, controvesial single issue OR take an extreme ideological position 

  • Splinter parties, or offshoots of a major party 

  • Parties that are merely an extension of a popular individual with presidential aspirations

winner-take-all system

An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies

proportional representation

An electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election

coalition government

When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems of Europe

responsible party model

A view about how parties should work, held by some political scientists. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters and once in office, should carry out their campaign promises 

• Advocates believe parties should meet following conditions 

  • Parties must present distinct comprehensive programs for governing the nation

  • Each parties candidates must be committed to the program and have internal cohesion and discipline 

  • Majority party must implement its programs, and minority party must state what it would do if it were in power 

  • Majority party must accept responsibility for the performance of the govt.

Blue Dog Democrats

Fiscally conservative (limited government) democrats who are mostly from the South and/or rural parts of the United States