U.S. Political Parties, Elections, and Voting Rights

Political Parties

Main Function Link citizens to government, recruit candidates, run campaigns, organize government.

Big Tent Party

Party that includes many different groups to attract more voters.

Why Two-Party System?

Winner-take-all elections, tradition, and ballot access laws favor large parties.

Plurality vs. Majority

Plurality = most votes; Majority = more than 50% of votes.

Winner-Take-All Effect

Hurts minor parties; reinforces two-party system.

Role of Third Parties

Influence issues and policy, even if they rarely win.

Who Votes More?

Older, educated, higher-income people.

Demographic Trends

Women → Democratic; Evangelicals → Republican; Blacks → Democratic.

Why Low Turnout in U.S.?

Registration barriers, weekday voting, lower political efficacy.

Political Efficacy

Belief that one's participation matters.

Straight-Ticket vs. Split-Ticket

Straight-ticket = same party for all offices; Split-ticket = different parties.

Open vs. Closed Primary

Open = any voter chooses party ballot; Closed = only party members can vote.

Caucus

Local meeting where party members vote for candidates.

National Convention

Formal party meeting to nominate presidential candidate.

Political Machine

Party organization trading jobs/services for votes (e.g. Tammany Hall).

Critical Election

Major shift in party loyalty (e.g. 1932, FDR/New Deal).

Realignment

Long-term shift in party coalitions.

Dealignment

Decline in party loyalty; rise of independents.

Hard Money

Regulated donations given directly to candidates.

Soft Money

Unregulated money to parties for 'party-building.'

McCain-Feingold (BCRA)

Banned soft money; limited issue ads before elections.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Allowed unlimited independent spending by corporations/unions → SuperPACs.

PAC vs. SuperPAC

PACs donate limited money directly; SuperPACs spend unlimited independently.

527 Groups

Tax-exempt groups promoting issues, not candidates.

15th Amendment

Banned racial discrimination in voting.

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote.

23rd Amendment

Gave Washington D.C. 3 electoral votes.

24th Amendment

Abolished poll tax.

26th Amendment

Lowered voting age to 18.

Total Electoral Votes

538; 270 to win.

Winner-Take-All States

Exception Maine and Nebraska.

Criticism of Electoral College

Popular vote winner can lose presidency.

Swing States

Competitive states targeted heavily in campaigns.

Referendum

Provides voters chance to directly approve or disapprove a legislative proposal

How often is a National Convention

4 years

Split Ticket

Voting for one party for one office, another party for another office

26th Amendment

Amendment that gave 18 year olds the right to vote

Big Tent

This is the concept of bringing in people with different perspectives and priorities in the same political party

Closed Primary

Primary in which you are bound to vote on your party's ballot

Winner takes all

48 out of 50 states follow this method for electoral college votes

19th Amendment

This amendment gave all women right to vote

24th Amendment

Amendment abolished poll tax

Platform

The beliefs that a party stands for

15th Amendment

Amendment gave all men the right to vote

McCain-Feingold Act (BCRA)

Eliminated soft money donations to political parties

Nothing

This is what the constitution says about political parties

Citizens United v. FEC

Court case allows cash donations because of free speech through superPACs

Third Parties

Although they are rarely successful electorally, they sometimes influence the public policy positions of the two major parties

National chairman

This person manages the day-to-day operations of a political party

Party identification

Most important factor in how someone votes

Political Machines

These were local party organizations that dispensed patronage in the 19th and 20th centuries

Plurality

Winning the most votes, but not necessarily a majority

Critical Election

Realignment often occurs after this ______

Rational choice theory

It describes someone voting in their best interest, supporting the candidate whose platform will give them the most favorable outcomes.

Retrospective voting

It describes voting based on the recent record in office of a candidate or others in their party.

Prospective voting

It describes voting based on how a citizen thinks a candidate will act and perform if elected to office.

Party-line voting

It describes consistently voting for candidates of the same political party at all levels of government.