Political Systems and Party Dynamics

A collection of flashcards covering key political concepts and terms related to parties, elections, and congressional dynamics.

Parties

Organizations that seek to gain political power by electing members to public office.

Two Party System

A political system dominated by two major parties, typically leading to a binary choice for voters.

Winner Take All Elections

Electoral systems in which the candidate receiving the most votes wins the election, leaving other candidates without representation.

Duverger's Law

A principle stating that a two-party system will emerge in voting systems that use single-member districts and plurality voting.

Proportional Representation

An electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive.

Third Parties

Political parties other than the two main parties that can influence politics and elections.

Polarization

The increasing ideological distance and partisan disagreement between political parties.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another.

Blind Retrospection

Voters' evaluations of incumbents based on past performances without considering context or changes.

Electoral College

A body of representatives from each state that formally elects the President and Vice President of the United States.

Transaction Costs of Lawmaking

The expenses and difficulties associated with creating legislation, including negotiation and coordination.

Filibuster/Cloture

A legislative procedure where one party can delay or block a vote on a bill, with cloture being a method to end such delays.

Conditional Party Government

A theory suggesting that party unity and strength in Congress is conditional upon the ideological homogeneity of party members.

Hastert Rule

An informal rule that allows the Speaker of the House to bring a bill to the floor only if a majority of the majority party supports it.

Committee Jurisdictions

The specific areas of expertise and authority assigned to congressional committees for reviewing legislation.

Redistricting

The redrawing of electoral district boundaries, often based on population changes.

Doom-Loop Partisanship

A situation in which increased partisanship leads to stalemates and further division, reinforcing a cycle of extremism.

Majority Party

The political party that has the most representatives in a legislative body, giving it significant control over legislation.