Definition: Political parties are groups of people with similar interests who work together to
Gain control over the government by winning elections
Raise money for campaigns
Create and implement policies
Ensure that local elections are won by their party
Prepare candidates for debate
Party Dominance in Texas
The _ Party dominated politics in Texas following Reconstruction and through most of the twentieth century.
Potential Answers:
Republican
Democratic
Federalist
Libertarian
Minor Parties and Ballot Access
Definition: Political parties that are formed as alternatives to the Republican and Democratic parties are known as _, or minor parties.
Challenges in the system: The two-party system in Texas has made it very difficult for ____ to get on the ballot.
Potential Answers:
Third parties
Democrats
Second parties
One party
The Shift in Southern Politics
Significant Historical Event: Following the passage of the _ of 1964, southern white Democrats began to leave the party and join the Republicans.
Acceleration of Movement: This movement was accelerated after Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which provided for federal enforcement of minorities’ constitutional right to vote.
Effects:
Voter registration and turnout increased among blacks and Latinos in Texas and other states.
Potential Answers:
Voting Rights Act
Anti-lynching Act
Americans with Disabilities Act
Civil Rights Act
Party Members in the Electorate
Definition: At its most basic level, being a member of the party-in-the-electorate means a voter is more likely to voice support for a party.
Identification: These voters are often called , as they usually represent themselves in public as being members of a party and may attend some party events or functions.
Potential Answers:
Party delegates
Party bosses
Party identifiers
Party supporters
The Structure of Political Parties
Definition: The ___ is the formal structure of the political party.
Role: Its active members are responsible for coordinating party behavior and supporting party candidates.
Importance:
Vital component as it bears most responsibility for building and maintaining the party “brand.”
Key role in helping select, and elect, candidates for public office.
Potential Answers:
Party organization
Party agenda
Party delegate
Party institution
Town Hall Meetings
Definition: ___ are a form of town hall meeting where voters in a precinct gather to voice preferences instead of voting individually throughout the day.
Timing: In Texas, ____ occur after voting in the party primary on primary election day.
Potential Answers:
Elections
Caucuses
Conventions
Campaigns
Political Ideology
Definition: A _ is a certain set of ethical ideals, principles, doctrines, myths, or symbols of a social movement, institution, class, or large group that explains how society should work and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order.
Potential Answers:
Political socialization
Political typology
Political caucus
Political ideology
Party Identification
Definition: ____ refers to the political party with which an individual identifies.
Loyalty: Party identification is loyalty to a political party.
Determination: ___ is typically determined by the political party that an individual most commonly supports (through voting or other means).
Potential Answers:
Party identification
Party organization
Party caucus
Party system
Texas Caucuses
Definition: The Texas caucuses are a political event associated with primaries, a process by which voters in Texas select their parties' nominees for various offices.
Reference: The process has been referred to as the __, named after the partner dance of the same name.
Rationale: Texans must first vote in the primary election to be eligible for participation in party caucuses where delegates are selected.