Political Parties: Functions, Evolution, and Electoral Impact

What is a political party?

an organized group of people who share similar political beliefs and work together to influence government policy and gain political power.

List the major functions of political parties.

nomination, organization, policy choices, coordination

What does it mean for a party to act as a 'power broker'?

by negotiating and mediating between different factions or interests to build coalitions and achieve political goals.

How do parties help voters?

by providing information about candidates and policies, simplifying choices, and mobilizing voter participation.

How do parties help organize government?

by structuring the legislative process, facilitating cooperation among members, and ensuring accountability through party leadership.

What does 'partisanship' mean?

strong allegiance to a political party, often leading to biased perspectives and actions that favor one's party over others.

What does 'bipartisan' mean?

an agreement or cooperation between two major political parties, typically in the context of legislation or policy-making.

What warning did George Washington give in his Farewell Address?

he warned against the divisive nature of political parties and the dangers they pose to national unity and governance.

Federalists

A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.

Democratic-Republicans.

An early political party headed by Thomas Jefferson; stood for less centralized government

When and why did the Republican Party form?

They formed in the 1850s in response to the expansion of slavery into new territories and the desire to promote free soil.

How did political parties evolve during the 1820s?

with the emergence of more organized party structures, increased voter participation, and the rise of mass political campaigns.

What is a Single-Issue Party?

Their focus is on 1 public policy issue.

(i.e. Free Soil Party focused on slavery)

What is an Ideological Party?

A minor party organized around a specific set of beliefs

What is an Economic Protest Party?

It is regional and protests of economic conditions. Ex: Greenback and Populist.

What impact can third parties have on major elections?

They can pull votes away from major parties, like independant voters

15th Amendment (1870)

States cannot deny any person the right to vote because of race and allowed colored men to vote if they owned property

What did the Civil Rights Acts change?

aimed to eliminate racial discrimination and protect voting rights for all citizens, particularly African Americans.

What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 change?

aimed to eliminate barriers to voting for African Americans, enforcing the voting rights guaranteed by the 14th and 15th Amendments.

What is the purpose of voter ID laws?

intended to verify the identity of voters at the polls to prevent voter fraud.

What does 'political efficacy' mean?

the belief that one's participation in politics can make a difference and that government will respond to their needs.

ballot fatigue

the farther down the ballot an office is, the fewer the number of votes that will be cast for it

Independent voter

people who do not support a particular political party

Swing voter

a voter who has not made up his or her mind at the start of a campaign, can swing to either side/party

Party identification

a citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other

How does social media affect political involvement?

by facilitating communication, mobilizing supporters, and spreading information quickly among voters.

What is 'agenda-setting' by the media?

the media's ability to influence which issues are considered important and worthy of public attention.

What is 'selective exposure'?

the tendency of individuals to favor information that aligns with their existing beliefs and to avoid contradictory information.

Why is nomination considered the most important party function?

it determines which candidates will represent the party in elections, influencing electoral outcomes.

What is the winner-take-all system?

an electoral system where the candidate receiving the most votes in a state wins all of that state's electoral votes.