Chapter 9: Political Parties Key Terms, Types of Political Parties and Nominating a President

Key Terms Political party: a group that seeks to elect candidates for public office (ie - Republican, Democrat, Socialist, Communist, Green) Social Movements: a group of people or organizations working together toward a common goal relating to human society or social change (ie – women’s rights, civil rights, environmentalism) Split-ticket voting: voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election.

Key Terms Interest groups: a group of people that seeks to influence public policy on the basis of a particular common interest or concern (ie – National Rifle Association, Planned Parenthood) Divided government: the type of government in which one party controls the executive branch while another party controls one or both houses of the legislative branch Pro: encourages more policing of those in power by the opposition; limits spending and expansion of undesirable laws; can lead to compromise Con: government becomes lethargic; can lead to gridlock

Political Parties Political parties exist in order to: - put a label in the minds of the voters - put a set of leaders in government - organize, recruit and campaign US political parties are different from those in Europe due to: 1. US federal system decentralizes power 2. Parties closely regulated by state/federal laws 3. Candidates chosen through primaries, not party leaders 4. President elected separately from Congress 5. US political culture (party affiliation is as important)

Party realignment A critical or realigning period is defined by a sharp, lasting shift in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties. There are 2 kinds: 1. A major party is defeated so badly that it disappears and a new party emerges 2. Two existing parties continue, but voters shift their loyalty from one to another Five realignments so far: 1800: Jeffersonian Republicans defeat Federalists (end of Federalists) 1828: Jacksonian Democrats come to power (end of property ownership to vote, beginning of popular vote) 1860: Whigs collapsed; Republicans won (slavery issues brought new loyalties) 1896: Republicans defeated William Jennings Bryan (economic issues – urban v. rural) 1932: Democrats come into office under Franklin D. Roosevelt (economic depression relief brought new support base to Democratic party)

Party realignment 1980: Reagan not considered a realignment/resurgence of Republican party - Reagan won because he wasn’t Jimmy Carter - Congress was still primarily Democratic 1972-2004: Major shift in voting patterns of the South - has become more conservative (Republican) than the US as a whole - if this continues it will constitute another major realignment period

This means every 4 years.