Chapter 7 – Political Ideologies and Party Systems

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and key concepts from Chapter 7, focusing on political ideologies, party systems, and notable historical figures related to American politics.

Ideology

A set of beliefs or principles that guide political, economic, and social views.

Political Ideology

A coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government.

Pragmatism

A philosophical approach that evaluates theories based on their practical application and success.

American Conservatism

A political ideology emphasizing limited government, free markets, and traditional social values.

Burkean Conservatism

A form of conservatism based on the ideas of Edmund Burke, emphasizing tradition and gradual change.

Social Conservatism

A political stance that seeks to preserve traditional values and promote family and religious norms.

Economic Conservatism

An ideology advocating for minimal government intervention in the economy and free-market principles.

Classical Liberalism

A political ideology advocating for individual liberty, limited government, and free markets that emerged in the 18th century.

American Liberalism

A political ideology that champions social justice, civil rights, and progressive reforms.

Progressivism

A political movement focused on social reform, addressing issues like inequality and government corruption.

New Left

A broad political movement in the 1960s advocating for civil rights, social justice, and anti-war policies.

Party Primary

A preliminary election in which voters select candidates to represent a political party in the general election.

Open Primary

A primary election where voters can choose candidates regardless of their party affiliation.

Closed Primary

A primary election limited to registered party members to select that party's candidates.

Direct Democracy

A form of democracy where people vote directly on laws and policies rather than through elected representatives.

Referendums

Votes in which the electorate is invited to directly decide on a particular proposal or policy.

Initiatives

Processes that allow citizens to propose legislation or other government action through a petition.

Recalls

A political process by which voters can remove an elected official from office before the end of their term.

Party Platform

A formal set of principle goals supported by a political party or individual candidate.

National Party Convention

A gathering of party delegates to nominate presidential candidates and establish party platforms.

Proportional Election System

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

First Past the Post/Winner Takes All Election

An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they achieve a majority.

Reign of Terror

A period during the French Revolution characterized by political purges and mass executions.

French Revolution

A period of radical social and political change in France from 1789 to 1799.

Laissez Faire

An economic philosophy of free-market capitalism that opposes government intervention.

Religious Right

A term used to refer to conservative Christian political movements in the United States.

Devolution Revolution

A movement aimed at transferring powers and responsibilities from federal to state and local governments.

Maximilien Robespierre

A leading figure of the French Revolution and key architect of the Reign of Terror.

Christian Coalition

A conservative political organization in the United States that seeks to influence public policy based on Christian values.

New Deal Liberalism

A political ideology stemming from Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, focusing on government intervention to promote social welfare.

Neoliberalism

An ideology advocating for free markets, privatization, and reducing government spending on social programs.

Welfare Reform Act

Legislation aimed at changing welfare policies to promote work and reduce dependency on government assistance.

Direct Action

Protests or activities undertaken by individuals or groups to directly confront a perceived injustice.

Federalists

Supporters of a strong national government who advocated for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of a strong national government who favored more power for state governments.

Democratic-Republicans

A political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison that opposed Federalist policies.

Whig Party

A political party active in the mid-19th century that opposed the Democratic Party.

Thirteenth Amendment

An amendment to the Constitution that abolished slavery in the United States.

Fourteenth Amendment

An amendment granting citizenship and equal protection under the laws to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.

Fifteenth Amendment

An amendment prohibiting the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic depression that took place in the 1930s.

Reconstruction

The period following the Civil War in which the Southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union.

Southern Strategy

A political strategy aimed at increasing support among Southern voters, particularly white conservatives.

Solid South

A term used to describe the electoral support of Southern states for the Democratic Party for most of the 20th century.

Polarization

The division of public opinion into two opposing factions, leading to a significant ideological gap.

Realignment

A significant and lasting shift in voter allegiance from one party to another.

National Committee

The principal organization of a political party responsible for overseeing national party activities.

State Committee

A governing body of a political party at the state level that manages party affairs.

County Committee

The local branch of a political party in a specific county responsible for grassroots organizing.

GOP

An acronym for 'Grand Old Party,' commonly used to refer to the Republican Party.

Political Efficacy

The belief that one's participation in politics matters and can influence governmental decisions.

Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election.

Registration

The process of signing up to be eligible to vote in elections.

Make America Great Again (MAGA)

A campaign slogan associated with Donald Trump's presidential campaign, advocating for a return to perceived past values.

Gender Gap

The difference in political opinions or voting behavior between men and women.

Progressive Taxation

A tax system where tax rates increase as income increases, aiming to reduce income inequality.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health

A landmark Supreme Court case that addressed state regulation of abortion.

Spoiler Effect

A phenomenon where a third-party candidate siphons votes away from a major party candidate.

Single-Issue Candidates

Political candidates who focus predominantly on one specific issue above all others.

Multimember Districting

An electoral system where multiple representatives are elected from a single electoral district.

Single-Member Districting

An electoral system where only one representative is elected from each electoral district.

Run-Off Primaries

Elections held to determine a party's nominee when no candidate achieves a majority in the initial primary.

Blanket Primaries

Primaries in which all voters, regardless of party affiliation, can vote for candidates from any party.

Republican Party

One of the two major political parties in the United States, traditionally associated with conservative ideology.

Third/Minor Party

Political parties that are not one of the two major parties and often represent specific interests or issues.

Democratic Party

One of the two major political parties in the United States, traditionally associated with liberal ideology.

Edmund Burke

An 18th-century philosopher and statesman known for his conservative views and critique of the French Revolution.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

The 32nd President of the United States, known for his New Deal policies to combat the Great Depression.

Ralph Nader

An American political activist and consumer advocate known for his work on environmental issues and corporate responsibility.

William McKinley

The 25th President of the United States, known for leading the nation during the Spanish-American War.

Bill Clinton

The 42nd President of the United States, known for his centrist policies and the welfare reform of the 1990s.

Ronald Reagan

The 40th President of the United States, known for conservative economic policies and the end of the Cold War.

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States, known for his unconventional political style and nationalist policies.

Alexander Hamilton

One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, known for his financial policies and Federalist views.

Andrew Jackson

The 7th President of the United States, known for his populist approach and the founding of the Democratic Party.