American Political Parties, Voting Systems, and Electoral Processes

V.O. Key's three concepts of parties

A framework for understanding political parties, focusing on their role in the political system, their organization, and their influence on voter behavior.

Voter turnout in the US

The percentage of eligible voters who participate in elections, which varies significantly across different demographics and elections.

Purging

The process of removing individuals from the voter registration list, often to maintain accurate and up-to-date records.

Personal registration requirements

The criteria that individuals must meet to register to vote, which can include age, residency, and identification requirements.

Voting access

Factors that affect a voter's ability to cast a ballot, including polling hours, location, and accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

Poll taxes

Fees that were historically charged to voters as a prerequisite for voting, often used to disenfranchise low-income individuals.

Literacy tests

Assessments that were used to determine a voter's literacy level, often employed to restrict voting rights among certain populations.

Mechanisms that increase voter turnout

Strategies and policies designed to encourage more individuals to participate in elections, such as same-day registration and outreach programs.

Political party organizations

The structured groups that organize political activities, recruit candidates, and mobilize voters within a political party.

Nominating processes

The methods by which political parties select their candidates for elections, including primaries and caucuses.

Caucuses

Meetings of party members to discuss and select candidates for elections, often involving public discussion and debate.

Primary elections - open vs closed

Elections where party members select candidates; open primaries allow any registered voter to participate, while closed primaries restrict participation to party members.

Primary and secondary agents of socialization

Influences that shape an individual's political beliefs and behaviors, with primary agents including family and education, and secondary agents including media and peer groups.

Common political values in American political culture

Shared beliefs among Americans, such as democracy, individualism, and equality, that influence political behavior and policy.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the Constitution that formally elects the President and Vice President of the United States based on the popular vote in each state.

Why parties?

Political parties exist to organize elections, simplify choices for voters, and facilitate governance by bringing together diverse interests.

Third parties in a 2-party system

Political parties that operate alongside the two dominant parties, often influencing policy and election outcomes despite challenges in gaining widespread support.

Voting systems

Methods used to determine the outcome of elections, including majority, plurality, and proportional systems.

Majority voting system

A voting system where a candidate must receive more than 50% of the votes to win.

Plurality voting system

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

Proportional voting system

A voting system that allocates seats based on the percentage of votes each party receives, promoting representation of diverse political views.

Direct democracy vs Indirect democracy

Direct democracy allows citizens to vote directly on laws and policies, while indirect democracy (or representative democracy) elects officials to make decisions on behalf of the people.

Prospective voting

Voting based on predictions of how candidates or policies will perform in the future.

Retrospective voting

Voting based on an evaluation of the past performance of a candidate or party.

Fascism

A far-right authoritarian ultranationalist political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.

Recall

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

Referendum

A direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal and can result in the adoption of new laws or policies.