Political parties try to gain control of government by winning elections.txt

Two-Party Electoral System

A system in which two major political parties dominate the government by winning elections

Alexander Hamilton

George Washington's alignment with him led to the formation of the first political parties in the United States

Democratic Republicans

Followers of Thomas Jefferson, known as Democratic Republicans, marked the beginning of the first two-party system in the United States

The War of 1812

Lack of Federalist support for this event led to their elimination as a national political force in the United States

Election of 1860

Associated with a major realignment of the parties, signifying a significant shift in the political landscape of the United States

Plurality Rules

Rules for determining election outcomes where the winner is the candidate that gets more votes than any other candidate

Divided government

When the opposing party controls both houses of congress, making it difficult for the president to accomplish their agenda

Two-Party System

A political system dominated by two major parties, in this case, the Democrats and the Republicans

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An organization formed to raise and contribute money to the campaigns of political candidates or parties

Tillman Act

Prohibited corporations from contributing money to candidates running in federal elections

Super PACs and independent expenditure-only committees

Raise and spend unlimited money to support or attack a candidate

Republican Party

Pro-life and anti-abortion

Two-Party System

To discourage the presence of third-party candidates

Plurality

More votes than any other candidate

Proportional Representation System

Legislative seats allocated based on total share of votes

Allowing voters to pick preferred party

Ensures personal leadership styles play less of a role

Third Parties

Develop to address concerns ignored by major parties

Economic Protest Party

Galvanizes around monetary issues

Splinter Party

The Bull Moose Party

18th Amendment and 21st Amendment

Weakened political parties

Strom Thurmond

Opposed Harry Truman's nomination and formed the States' Rights Party

Ross Perot

Ran on an anti-incumbency stance in 1992

Incumbents

Have franking privileges

Gerrymandering

Manipulation of district boundaries for political advantage

Supreme Court in 1986

Declared gerrymandering unlawful

Madison's view on regulating factions

Regulate them

Interest Groups vs

Interest groups do not primarily elect candidates of a particular party

Industrial Revolution impact on interest groups

Significant increase in the number of interest groups

Lobbyists

Formal members of organized interest groups who represent the interest before the government to influence public policy through politicians

Public Interest Groups

Groups that attempt to promote public or collective goods that benefit most or all citizens

AARP (American Association for the Advancement of Retired People)

A membership organization representing the interests of people over the age of 50, lobbying on issues affecting the elderly

Lobbying Disclosure Act

Legislation defining a lobbyist as anyone who spends more than 20% of their time lobbying government officials and requiring them to report their activities

Closed Primaries

Primary elections where only registered members of a particular political party can vote for the party's candidates

Woodrow Wilson

President who attempted to end secret treaties between nations with his 14 points

Versailles Treaty

Treaty negotiated in the Palace of Versailles to end war, debated and signed in the Hall of Mirrors

Dangling Chads

Pieces of paper that led to miscounts in voting, causing incomplete punches on the ballots

Electronic Voting

A voting method where voters can press a button next to the candidate's name and a computer records the vote

Internet Voting

A voting method being considered for its convenience, but with concerns about ensuring privacy as guaranteed in the First Amendment

Election Day

The US general election day for federal public officials, set by law for the first Tuesday after a Monday in November

Midterm Elections

Elections in which the President is not up for election, including candidates running for Senator every six years, or Representative every two years

Hanging Chads

Pieces of paper that are not completely punched through on a punch card ballot, leading to miscounts

Faithless Elector

An elector who votes for a candidate other than the one they are pledged to, although this has never changed the result of an election

Electoral College

A system where the President is elected indirectly, with actual votes cast by the Electoral College, and each state's votes in the Electoral College

Absentee Ballot

A method for registered voters, such as students or members of the armed forces, to vote when they are not in their voting districts on election day

Popular vote

The total number of votes cast for a candidate by the general public in a presidential election

Electoral College vote

The process by which the President of the United States is formally elected, with each state having a number of electors equal to the total of its Senators and Representatives in Congress