1. Chapter 5: Political Parties Review
Chapter Test Study Guide

2. Political Parties What is a political party?
A group of people who work to influence policy agendas and get candidates within their party elected to public office.
What is a political party?
Democratic Party and Republican Party
What are the 2 major political parties in the US today?
By their beliefs, principles and policy agendas.
How do you differentiate one political party from another?

3. Political Party Eras 1796-1824 Federalist Party
Democratic-Republican Party
Led by Alexander Hamilton.
Weathly/educated.
Strong central government.
Commerce & manufacturing.
Led by Thomas Jefferson.
For the “common” people.
Agrarian (farming) and small business interests.

4. Political Party Eras 1828-1856 Democrats Whigs
Previously known as Democratic-Republicans.
Led by Andrew Jackson.
Opposed strong central government and a national bank.
Policies for the “common” man and eliminate elitism.
Led by Daniel Webster and Henry Clay.
Supported bankers, merchants, industrialists and planters.
Wanted to defend federal authority and a high protective tariff.

5. Political Party Eras: Republican Party Monopoly 1860 - 1928
Gained support when the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) re-opened the issue of slavery in the US.
Initially a 3rd party consisting of many former Whigs.
Strong anti-slavery platform.
Supported by farmers, laborers, business owners, and newly-freed African-Americans.
Elected Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860.

6. Political Party Eras: New Deal Democrats 1932 - 1968
The Progressive Party helped bring focus back to the Democratic Party after the stock market crash of 1929/Depression.
President Franklin D Roosevelt passed “New Deal” legislation uniting laborers, minorities, southerners, an urban voters.
Government became more involved in economic and social conditions of the nation.

7. Functions of Political Parties
Individuals who share concerns can work together to build coalitions and help elect candidates with similar concerns.
They create rally points for groups that share concerns.
They limit the number of candidates in elections by nominating the ones with the best fit.
They simplify the voting process for the electorate.
They organize rallies, conventions & speeches so voters can get to know the candidates & their platforms.
They generate excitement about an election.
Strong party affiliation has led to partisanship.
Officeholders align their decisions with the party’s interests.
They organize the government.
People that have supported candidates of specific political parties make sure that campaign promises are fulfilled. If they, they may vote for a different party in the future.
They help people to hold politicians accountable for fulfilling platforms and campaign promises.

8. Third Parties What are 3rd parties? Why do they form?
3rd parties are political parties than gain influence even though they are not 1 of the 2 major parties.
They often begin as single-issue parties, ideological philosophy, economic issues or offshoots of one of the 2 major parties.
What are 3rd parties? Why do they form?
Influence elections.
Some Congressional seats.
Bring new platform issues to US politics.
Force major parties to accept specific issues
What role do they play in government?
The Electoral College system limits election opportunities for 3rd party candidates.
They are not eligible for Federal funding for campaigning if they do not meet certain requirements.
How do political institutions limit the power of 3rd parties in America?
Spoiler Effect (pull votes from a major party candidate causing the party to lose the election).
How can 3rd parties affect major parties in close election races?

9. Organization of Parties
What are the functions of a political party’s National Committee?
Provides guidance to the party between election, and promotes the party.
Organizes the National Convention where the presidential candidate for the party is formally nominted.
What are the function of a political party’s State committees?
They host fundraisers, promote key issues and help organize primary elections.
Act as special interest groups and lobbyists between elections.
What are the function of a political party’s local committees?
They work to register voters, recruit new party members, and find local candidates.

10. Roles & Participation Among Members
Party Activists
Highly involved in the electoral process.
Donate funds.
Demand a say in party agendas.
Strong belief in party ideology.
Party Purists
Put issues ahead of winning elections.
Do not support candidates that do not share their views on issues.
Active in special issue groups and caucuases.
Rank-and-File Members
Registered as party members.
Vote in the primary and general elections.
Party Regulars
Work at the polls.
Take non-leadership party roles.
Donate money to campaigns.
Vote along party lines.

11. Party Identification Race and Ethnicity Gender Religious Beliefs
White = Rep
African American, Asian Hispanic = Dem
Gender
Women = Dem.
Men = evenly divided Dem/Rep
Religious Beliefs
Mormons/Evangelicals = Rep.
No affiliation = Dem
Jewish = Dem
Catholics = Rep
Education
Post-grads = Dem
Otherwise split Dem/Rep
Economics
Middle-class white-collar = Rep
Blue-collar, union = Dem
Age
Millenials = Dem
Seniors – Rep
Young = vote with their parents