Party Identification and Public Polarization

Flashcards based on lecture notes about party identification and public polarization.

Party-in-the-Electorate

The degree to which parties structure the understanding/interpretation of politics and government by the common citizen.

Party Identification

A form of affective, psychological, emotional attachment to a political party. Ultimately a matter of feeling, not action.

Funnel of Causality

The importance of party identification in voter turnout, vote choice, political information, and attitudes on issues.

Party Systems

A period of relatively stable party competition, with relative dominance of the presidency by one political party, predictable alignments of the public with political parties, and a set of core issues in the political debate.

Realignment

A change in the party system with major shifting of voter allegiances to parties, often associated with a critical election.

Secular Realignment

Gradual change in party allegiances.

Dealignment

Weakening of parties in structuring politics for the public.

Affective Polarization

Increasing gap in views of the other party and its followers and own party; Rooted in sentiment, feelings, not issues.