American Government - Political Parties & Congress

Political Parties

Organized groups that seek to influence government policy and gain power through elections, representing various ideologies and interests within a political system

U.S. Constitution

The foundational legal document of the United States, outlining the structure of government, the powers and responsibilities of its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial)

Federalist Party

An early U.S. political party advocating for a strong central government and a robust national economy, supported by Alexander Hamilton and generally favored by George Washington

Democratic-Republican Party

Founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, this party advocated for states' rights and limited federal government power

Third Parties

Parties that operate outside the two main parties, focusing on specific issues or alternative ideologies

Economic Protest Parties

Parties that emerge during economic downturns, advocating for policies addressing financial hardships

Ideological Parties

Political parties founded on a specific set of beliefs or a comprehensive political philosophy, maintaining consistent platforms and prioritizing ideological purity over electoral success

Libertarian Party

A party focused on promoting individual liberties, free-market economics, and minimal government intervention in both personal and economic matters, one of the most enduring third parties in the U.S.

Green Party

A party prioritizing environmental sustainability, social justice, and grassroots democracy, advocating for policies addressing climate change and corporate influence

Single-Issue Minor Parties

Parties focusing on one policy concern, such as gun rights or abortion, often influencing public awareness but rarely winning elections

Progressive Party or Bull Moose Party

A third-party movement founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, promoting progressive reforms, but faded after his defeat

Two-Party System

A political system in which two major parties dominate, reinforced by electoral rules that disadvantage minor parties

Log Cabin Republicans

A group within the Republican Party advocating for LGBTQ+ rights while supporting traditional Republican principles like limited government

Blue Dog Democrats

A coalition of moderate and conservative Democrats focusing on fiscal responsibility and bipartisanship

1856 Election

The first U.S. presidential election where the Democratic and Republican parties directly competed, marking the rise of the Republican Party

Election of 1860

In this election, Abraham Lincoln won, which led to Southern secession and the Civil War.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

He was the only U.S. president elected to four terms, leading the country through the Great Depression and World War II, expanding the federal government's role.

The New Deal

Franklin D. Roosevelt's series of programs aimed at economic relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression.

Social Security

A New Deal program providing financial benefits to retirees, disabled individuals, and survivors, funded through payroll taxes

Dealignment

A trend where voters increasingly disassociate from major political parties, leading to more independent voters and ticket-splitting

Bipartisanship

A cooperative political approach where members of opposing parties work together to pass legislation, often in national crises or major policy agreements

Independent voters

Voters who do not formally align with a political party, often influencing elections by prioritizing issues over party loyalty

Hard Money

Political contributions given directly to candidates' campaigns, subject to strict limits and disclosure requirements

Soft Money

Unregulated contributions to political parties for general activities, largely restricted by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Organizations that raise and distribute funds to support political candidates or causes

527 Groups or Organizations

Tax-exempt organizations that influence elections through issue advocacy without endorsing candidates, operating independently of campaigns

Federal Elections Commission (FEC)

A federal agency enforcing campaign finance laws, regulating political donations, and ensuring transparency in elections

Presidential Election Campaign Fund (PECF)

A publicly funded program administered by the FEC providing matching funds to presidential candidates who agree to spending limits

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

A 1971 law regulating campaign contributions and spending, creating disclosure requirements, and the FEC

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

A 2002 law limiting soft money contributions and restricting corporate and union-funded electioneering

Public Financing System

A system providing government funds to candidates meeting specific fundraising criteria to reduce dependence on private donations

Interest Groups

Organizations advocating for specific policies or interests through lobbying and funding political campaigns, influencing legislation and public opinion

Divided Government

A situation in which the presidency is controlled by one party, and Congress is controlled by another, leading to gridlock but reinforcing checks and balances

Gridlock

A political deadlock preventing legislative compromise, often due to divided government

Primary Election

An election in which voters select a party's nominee for an upcoming general election

Runoff Primary

A secondary election between the top two candidates when no candidate secures a majority in the primary

Closed Primary

A primary election where only registered party members can vote, preventing influence from other parties

Open Primary

A primary election where voters may choose any party's candidates regardless of their registration

Semi-Closed Primary

A hybrid primary election where unaffiliated voters may participate, but registered party members vote only in their own party's primary

Semi-Open Primary

A primary election where voters declare their party choice before voting, but can select candidates from any party

Blanket Primary

A primary election where all candidates for the same elected office, regardless of political party, appear on the same ballot. Voters can choose any candidate and are not limited to selecting from just one party.

Conventions

Large gatherings of party delegates where presidential candidates are nominated, and party platforms are established

Proportional Delegates

A method of allocating delegates based on the percentage of votes received in a primary, commonly used by the Democratic Party

Winner-Takes-All System

A system where the candidate with the most votes wins all of the state's delegates, even if they win by just a small margin

Caucus

A local political meeting where party members select delegates for presidential nominations, requiring active discussion

Franchise Suffrage

The legal right to vote, expanding over time to include more citizens

Rational Choice Theory

A theory suggesting voters make decisions by weighing the costs and benefits of voting, considering personal interests, and candidate competency

Sociotropic Issues

Political issues affecting society as a whole, influencing voters who prioritize the broader community's well-being

Retrospective Voting

Voting based on an evaluation of a candidate's past performance in office, rewarding success, or punishing failure

Prospective Voting

Voting based on proposed policies and future promises rather than past actions, requiring an assessment of a candidate's vision for governance

Paper Ballots

These are paper forms that voters mark by hand and submit for manual or machine counting.

Lever Voting Machines

These machines allow voters to cast their vote by pulling levers, once common but now largely replaced.

Punch Cards

These ballots require voters to punch holes to show their choices, leading to problems in the 2000 election.

Hanging Chads

These are incomplete punches on punch cards that made voter intent unclear in the 2000 election.

Optical Scan Ballots

These are paper ballots read by machines that scan filled-in bubbles or marks.

Electronic Voting

This method uses touchscreens or machines to cast votes, often without a paper trail.

Internet Voting

This proposed method would allow voters to cast ballots online, but raises security concerns.

Electoral College

The system used to elect the President of the United States, allocating electoral votes based on congressional representation, requiring a majority of electoral votes to win the presidency

First-Past-the-Post System

This voting method is often used in congressional races, where the candidate with the most votes wins even if they receive less than 50%.

Mail-In Voting

This method lets voters fill out and return ballots by mail instead of voting in person.

Voting Access Restrictions

These are laws that limit or change how people can vote, such as ID rules or drop-box limits.

Necessary and Proper Clause or Elastic Clause

This clause allows Congress to pass laws needed to carry out its listed powers.

10th Amendment

This amendment says powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or the people.

McCulloch v. Maryland

This case confirmed that federal power is stronger than state power and upheld the national bank.

Supremacy Clause

This clause means that federal law takes priority over conflicting state laws.

Bicameral Congress

This refers to the two-part structure of Congress, made up of the House and the Senate.

Congress

This is the U.S. legislative branch, responsible for making federal laws, declaring war, regulating commerce, and controlling government spending.

Bill

This is a proposed law introduced in Congress that must pass both chambers and be signed by the president.

Committee

This is a group in Congress that reviews and makes changes to bills before they go to the full chamber.

Subcommittee

This is a smaller group within a committee that handles specific topics or parts of legislation.

Rules Committee

This House committee decides how and when bills will be debated and amended.

Conference Action

This is the process of resolving differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Filibuster

This Senate tactic delays a vote by extending debate, often used to block legislation.

Cloture

This is a vote to end a filibuster and limit debate, requiring 60 senators to agree.

Veto

This is the president's power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Pocket Veto

This happens when the president takes no action on a bill, and Congress is not in session, letting the bill expire.

Pork Barrel

This refers to government money spent on local projects to help a legislator's district.

Earmarks

These are specific spending items in a bill that fund certain projects or programs.

Gerrymandering

This is the manipulation of district boundaries to favor one party or group.

Impeachment

This is the process of charging a federal official with misconduct, which can lead to removal.

Two-thirds Vote

This is the minimum Senate vote required to convict and remove an impeached official.

Franking Privilege

This privilege allows members of Congress to send official mail without paying postage.

House of Representatives

This is the lower chamber of Congress, with 435 members based on state population.

Descriptive Representation

This means elected officials reflect the demographic traits of their constituents.

Majority Leader

This is the top leader of the majority party in the House or Senate who sets the legislative agenda.

Whip Party

This party official tracks votes and encourages members to support the party's positions.

Andrew Johnson

He was the first U.S. president to be impeached, but he was not removed from office.

Bill Clinton

He was the 42nd president of the United States and was impeached in 1998 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice related to his extramarital affair. He was acquitted by the Senate and remained in office.

Donald Trump

He was the 45th president of the United States and was impeached twice: first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection. He was acquitted by the Senate both times.

The candidate must be at least 30 years old.

The candidate must have been a citizen of the United States for at least nine years.

The candidate must live in the state they wish to represent at the time of their election.

These are the basic constitutional qualifications for a U.S. Senate candidate.

President Pro Tempore

A senior majority-party senator who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is absent, next in line after the Vice President in succession.

House Elections

Elections held every two years for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives.

U.S. Census

A population count every ten years used to determine House representation for each state.

January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol

This refers to the attack by Donald Trump's supporters who attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. This event led to Trump's second impeachment.

Speaker of the House

The top House leader who oversees sessions, sets the agenda, and is elected by the majority party.

Constitution Article II, Section 4

The section of the U.S. Constitution outlining the grounds for impeachment, stating that the president and other federal officials can be removed for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.