party ideology and identification

Moderates

Believe in both sides’ views

Liberal

Government role is to actively promote health, education, justice

Republican

GOP Grand Old Party

Elephant (democrat is donkey)

Medicare should be privatized

Platform

Statement of a party’s principles, beliefs, positions on issues

American Exeptionalism

Republican belief that America has a unique place in human history, has a responsibility to take a significant role in world affairs

Green party

More liberal than democrats

Founded for environment, expanded to more

constitution party

More conservative than republicans

Party identification

Loyalty to a political party

State of mind (voting is a behavior)

Independent

Don’t identify with any party

Party polarization

Parties now more likely to nominate ideological, rather than centrist, candidates

Districts are drawn in dem/rep zones

2009 conservative Americans formed grassroots “tea party” organizations, helped push Republican Party to the right

Strategies to reduce polarization

Expanding electorate by encouraging more Americans to vote

Moving to proportional representation to increase 3rd party influence