Political Parties Study Sheet

Quiz 9 – Political Parties Study Sheet

Key Points

• George Washington's Warning

  • George Washington issued a caution regarding the perils associated with political parties, hinting at their potential to create divisions and conflicts within the political landscape.

• Whig Party

  • The Whig Party is identified as not being categorized as a third-party challenger within the political framework of its time.

• Formation of Early Parties

  • Early political parties were formed primarily to secure victories in national elections through forming coalitions within Congress, leveraging shared interests and support.

• Democratic Party Strategy

  • The Democratic Party rose to prominence by concentrating on appealing to the 'common people' and employing personal politics to foster connections with voters.

• Proportional Representation

  • Proportional representation is defined as a voting system where individuals cast votes not for specific candidates but rather for political parties as a whole, impacting how representatives are allocated based on overall party support.

• Realignment Factors

  • An important point acknowledged is that changes in party strategies are NOT considered a factor in the process of realignment within political parties.

• Role of Third Parties

  • Third parties often function as spoilers in elections, which means they can draw votes away from larger parties, potentially impacting the overall election outcome.

• Ballot Access

  • Established parties may restrict ballot access as a strategy to prevent the emergence of new political parties, thus maintaining their foothold in the political arena.

• National Party Assistance

  • National political parties provide crucial support for their nominees in the pursuit of winning the presidency, offering resources and organizational backing.

• Party Organization Functions

  • Party organizations are responsible for a variety of essential activities, including:

  • Fundraising

  • Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts

  • Recruitment of candidates

  • Voter registration

• Polarization Effects

  • Political polarization yields clear choices for voters while simultaneously having the potential to cause dysfunction within the political system; both aspects are recognized as true.

• Sorting Thesis

  • The sorting thesis posits that voters align their preferences with party positions, resulting in increased polarization as a direct consequence of this alignment.

• Gerrymandering and Polarization

  • Gerrymandering is noted to contribute to polarization within political contexts, although it is specified that it is not the sole cause of this phenomenon.